What are your plans for this Independence Day holiday long weekend?  Many people will do some travelling, while others are still in the DREAMING phase.  I’ve got some domestic travel ideas below, but more on that in a minute. 

Something happened this past week that hasn’t occurred in 15 months, and it has made me somewhat reflective:  We got paid. (YAY!)

Although the work never stopped during the pandemic (in fact it increased with having cancelled and rebooked some people 3 or 4 times), the nature of the travel biz is that you only get paid once people travel.  And slowly… that is beginning to happen.  People are starting to travel again.

It will be a long march back to “normal”, but it made me think about some things that I wanted to share. 

First of all… thank you.  The overwhelming majority of our clients are truly kind people who were tolerant and flexible in the face of confusion, delays, and ever-changing conditions over the past 15 months.  It affirmed my faith in humanity that so many people showed genuine concern for Bob and me, as we worked our way through this crisis. 

In reality, the travel industry will take several years to rebuild itself.  Our clients and travel suppliers are at the front edge of the recovery – luxury leisure travel is always the first to come back.  Other segments of travel industry will take years.

It is worth noting that (as usual) those from developing economies have suffered disproportionately through the pandemic and will take longer to recover economically.  For all of the tourist industry’s strengths and weaknesses, there is no doubt it can be a highly efficient way to transfer wealth from rich countries like ours, to other regions that are still developing.  This is one key reason we need to continue to travel. 

Now, on to this week’s travel opportunities. 

Alaska

If you want to do a round-trip cruise to Alaska from Seattle, that is still available this year (although availability is tight).  If you want a quick trip to get a flavor of the last frontier, these cruises fit the bill.  Most people who do these round-trip cruises choose to return to Alaska another time later, so they can experience ports and attractions only accessible by ship AND discover the splendor of Denali National Park and the land portions between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

All the major cruise lines will be back in Alaska in 2022, so here is my suggestion for the ultimate Alaska trip:

1. Fly to Fairbanks – Enjoy this small town, visit the 40-below room (to see for yourself what it’s like there in the winter); go to Gold Dredge #8 to explore Alaska’s gold mining history; take the paddle wheeler boat trip down the Chena River.
2. Visit Denali National Park – Larger than Massachusetts, the namesake volcano (formerly known as Mt. McKinley) is North America’s highest peak.  You need at least 2 nights in the township of Denali because your park tour is one full day.
3. Take the train to Talkeetna – this small town with a seedy history is the perfect place to drink wine and take in the scenic majesty of Denali.  If the town of Denali is about going into the park, Talkeetna is like sitting in a ski-lodge with huge windows to appreciate the views.
4. Fishing or light hiking/walking on the Kenai Peninsula – a couple of days to kick back, and be close Alaska’s unique nature.  For those looking for a more urban experience, Anchorage is nearby, and offers many attractions for the city slickers.
5. Board a ship in Anchorage.  Most Alaskan cruises are 7-night voyages, and the land itinerary described above is 5 to 7 nights.
6. Disembark in Seattle or Vancouver and spend a couple of days there.  You can, of course, do this trip starting in Seattle/Vancouver, and more northward.

There are expedition ships, small ocean luxury ships, and mega-ships that visit Alaska, so there really is something for everyone.  Bob and I have been to Alaska many times, with many different cruise lines, so we are uniquely positioned to help you make the best choices for you.

Normally the booking window for Alaska is September through December for the following year BUT for 2022, it will be largely sold out before that due to the travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021.  You’ll want to book early.

Great Lakes

The Europeans have been coming to the United States and Canada for decades to experience our incredible Great Lakes.  It’s about time we discovered this region for ourselves.  The mega ships can only get as far down the St. Lawrence Seaway as Montreal, but smaller ships are able to travel further, to Duluth, Minnesota. 

Ultimate Great Lake Itinerary

This cruise travels between Chicago and Montreal over the course of 13 days.  Both Chicago and Montreal are great destinations in their own rights, with well-served airports for those us who have to fly there.  Here’s what else you get to see:

• Mackinac Island:  This National Historic Landmark is like travelling back in time to the 19^th Century, will full Victorian building restorations.  There are no cars on the island, so it truly does harken back to a different time.
• Sault Ste. Marie:  This small city is right on the Canadian border, with towns on both sides bearing the same name.  These were once a single city, but the war of 1812 put the international border where it is now.
• Manitoulin Island:   This is the world’s largest freshwater island, and is home to a thriving indigenous community, and a spectacular natural environment.
• Detroit: Visit the Henry Ford Museum, the Museum of African American History or one of the other attractions in Motown.
• Cleveland:  Visit one of this city’s many museums, and/or take in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
• Niagara Falls:  Not just for honeymooners and day trippers from Toronto.  This is one of North America’s true natural splendors and well worth the visit.
• Toronto:  Experience one of the world’s most diverse cities with the collision of multiple languages and cultures.  It’s still Canadian though – the Hockey Hall of Fame is right downtown.

This cruise is available in July, August, and September, with prices starting at $5999 per person.  This price includes all beverages, wifi on the ship, shore excursions, and a pre-cruise hotel the night before embarkation.  Of course, you may want to also spend a few days pre/post cruise.  There are also 7-night itineraries if you prefer a shorter trip.

Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tour and National Parks

This is another great domestic trip.  Here’s the link if you’ve missed what we wrote about it in the past: https://pamperedcruiser.com/trip-ideas-for-2022-and-beyond/

River Cruising in the United States

You don’t have to go to Europe.  Both the Columbia River system (Washington and Oregon), and the Mississippi River system have river cruise options.  There is a little bit of space left for 2021, and 2022 look just fine at this point.  Video: https://youtu.be/LLPzn1wD8_Y

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

For the first time in 15 months, we have clients travelling abroad again. 

If this isn’t a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is! 

Here’s what you can expect if you’re travelling in the next few months:

• There will be hiccups.  Travel requirements change daily, and they are different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  I fully understand you want to know how it’s all going to unfold two or three months from now.  But we don’t know… and neither does anyone else.  A high tolerance for ambiguity is required if you are travelling in 2021.  The people who will have the best time will be those who consider this part of the adventure.
• Service levels will vary.  Cruise lines are having to retrain their crews.  Restaurants and hotels are facing similar situations.  Great customer service is a reasonable expectation of the higher end cruise lines and hotels.  You’ll need to cut them a little slack as they get back in the game.
• Air travel will be challenging.  We get more negative feedback about airlines and air travel than all other things combined.  Expect to wait longer to check in and clear security.  I’d bring a good book to read while I’m waiting to make it a little less frustrating.
• There will be confusion over protocols.  Expect to repeatedly show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test, and wear a face mask.  If any of these requirements are NOT in place when you travel (they will all go away at some point), then consider that a bonus.  You will be much happier if you set your expectations in advance as having to jump through all these hoops, and then be pleasantly surprised if one or more of them is waived at your time of travel.
• Check your documents well in advance.  Many of us haven’t looked at our passports in over a year – check the expiry date, and make sure it is valid for six months past your RETURN date.  Bring original proof of vaccination and also have a picture of it just in case.
• Bring proof of travel insurance.  You don’t need a full copy of the legalese produced by the insurance company, but you may be required to show proof of travel insurance.  Most people fully realize the importance of having such coverage, but if you’re asked to prove it, will you be able to quickly locate those documents?
• Itineraries will change.  The cruise lines are incredibly risk adverse, so if there are any covid flare-ups, they will skip ports.  This is much less of a risk with river cruises and ocean cruises that visit only one country. 
• Shore attractions will be altered.  In an effort to enable social distancing, venues may restrict the number of entrants on a certain day.  River and ocean cruises were operating last summer in Europe (although without Americans), and we didn’t get reports of any huge disruptions to shore activities, but (again) there is a need to be flexible. 
• Masks are the new normal.  You will be wearing a mask on planes until further notice.  Indoor public spaces in many countries will require masks.  As visitor to other countries, we are obliged to comply with their rules, so those will significant opposition to wearing a mask should stay at home until such requirements are lifted in other countries. 
• New home ports and destinations are popping up.  For example, a substantial percentage of the world’s cruise ships home port in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand.  All three of those countries are closed to tourists, which has caused the cruise lines to go looking for alternatives like Malta, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Iceland.  It’s not clear whether such itineraries are a temporary measure or will be more permanent. 
• There are going to be cases of covid on ships.  Don’t expect zero covid cases.  We saw a handful of cases both last summer and again in the past few weeks as guests returned to cruising.  The good news is that the containment and mitigation measures are working.  There have not been substantial disruptions to these cruises.

The bottom line is that a healthy dose of patience and tolerance for ambiguity will be required to get the most out of your travels this year.  Just about all of our clients are in this frame of mind, so I have nothing but optimism for their upcoming adventures.

On to today’s travel opportunities.  I went looking for offers that expire on June 30^th so I could give you the heads-up in case you are contemplating such a trip.

Greek Isles with Seabourn

Seabourn is the all-inclusive, all-suite small ship cruise line with impeccable attention to detail that is perfect for those craving great food and incredible service.  The Seabourn Ovation is doing one-week trips round-trip from Athens, but if you wanted to do 2 weeks, the itineraries are alternating so you can back-to-back cruises without repeating any ports.  Here’s an example:

• July 31, 2021 one-week round trip from Athens from $4999 per person for a 300 square foot veranda suite. 
• Visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Nafpilon
• Includes all beverages and specialty dining, gratuities, internet, transfers, and a $150 per person on board credit
• Air add-on:  $699 per person round trip economy to Athens.
• There are lots of other dates this summer with similar fares, as long as it’s booked by June 30^th.

Croatia with Viking

Viking has two ships home-porting in Malta between now and October.  Don’t know where Malta is?  Don’t worry about it – the Viking Air department will fly you there directly from Newark (and arrange your connections if you don’t live near NYC).  Here are the details:

• Multiple departures (4 -5 per month) between now and the end of September
• 11-days visiting Valletta, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Mgarr
• Fares from $3599 for a veranda suite, and air from $1299 (round trip economy)
• Includes a shore excursion in each port, wifi, beer/wine with meals, transfers.
• Between now and the end of this month, they are throwing in the Silver Spirits Beverage Package (all beverages available at all times), and a $400 per person past passenger discount (if you’re new to Viking, they’ll knock $250 off your fare).
• Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee is set to expire on June 30^th, so for maximum flexibility you’ll want to book before the end of the month (any Viking cruise, not just Malta)

Mississippi River with American Queen Steamboat Company

AQSC resumed operations on the Mississippi back in June, and have a few cabins left in 2021.  They are offering $1000 off per stateroom for sailings on the American Countess in July and December, as long as you book by June 30.  Here is an example:

• July 24^th, 2021:  8-night package travelling from New Orleans to Memphis.
• Fares from $1699 for an inside cabin, and $3499 for a veranda
• Includes 1-night pre-cruise hotel, all dining, all beverages, wifi, and shore excursions on their Hop-on, Hop-off bus in every port of call.

This is a great opportunity to get back into travel mode AND experience the rich culture and history of the Lower Mississippi River.

Have something to say about this?

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Last week I listed some international cruises that are available if you want to travel in the next 3 or 4 months.  The cruise lines are working hard to get people on board, so there are some good value opportunities for those fully immunized and willing to travel this year.  Here’s the link if you missed it:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-opportunities-between-now-and-september-2021/

Not everyone is willing or able to travel this year, so 2022 is a better choice for some (and some of you want to travel now AND next year – maybe several times!).  We are assuming a return to “normal” for 2022 and beyond, but I thought I’d throw a few ideas out there for those wanting to make some plans.  Availability for many 2022 trips is much tighter than we would normally see this far in advance.

Rocky Mountaineer

This world-class rail experience has attracted travellers from around the world to the Canadian Rockies for the past 30 years.  In August of this year, Rocky Mountaineer will finally be operating trips in the US Rocky Mountains between Denver and Moab, Utah (with extensions to either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City).  Both trains run from April through October in a “normal” year (some modifications for 2021). 

Rockies to Red Rocks (USA):

• 3-night packages starting at $1469 per person
• 7-night packages start at $3434 per person
• For 2021 departures, you can save $300 per couple simply by choosing an Eastbound trip (time limited special)

Rocky Mountaineer (CANADA):

• We don’t anticipate the Canadian border opening until at least Labor Day, so if you want to go this year, it will have to be late in the season.  For 2022, you can go as early as April, and right through the summer until October.
• 3-night packages starting at $2053
• 7-night packages starting at $3387

We’ve recently updated our Rocky Mountaineer “Rockies to the Red Rocks” video.  Here’s the new link: https://youtu.be/OYO1WoxJ-e0

Tahiti

Normally Australia and New Zealand are popular destinations November through March.  However, we don’t believe either of these countries will fully reopen in that time frame (I would love to be WRONG about this).  On the other hand, Tahiti is open NOW to US tourists.  Tahiti is often compared to the Polynesian Paradise Hawaii was 75 years ago.  Our preferred cruise line in Tahiti is Paul Gauguin Cruises (especially when you add a few days in one of those over-water bungalows you see on all the magazine covers!).  They are currently running a sale with reduced prices on many sailings (sale ends June 25^th):

• 7-nights (October through December 2021) starting at $4095 per person. 
• Includes round-trip flights from LA, all transfers, all onboard meals and beverages, gratuities, and select watersports.
• Remember that Tahiti is only 2 hours past Hawaii by plane, but a million miles away in terms of crowds. 

Oberammergau

If you’re unfamiliar with this, the Passion Play is produced every TEN years in the German village of Oberammergau.  The play recounts the story of Jesus Christ, and was originally produced in 1634, as a thanks for sparing the village from the plague.  With a few interruptions (including in 2020), it has been reproduced every 10 years since.  The rescheduled Passion Play takes place in 2022 (May through September), and several of the river cruise lines offer itineraries that include tickets to the play:

• 10-day packages in August 2022 starting at $4399 person.

Floriade

This horticultural expo is a must for gardening enthusiasts, or those who just want to see the tulips in Holland.  This also happens only once every ten years (Europe is going to be very busy in 2022). 

• 7-night river cruise that includes tickets to Floriade: starting at $3299 per person.

Galapagos Islands

This cluster of islands is located off the Pacific Coast of South America, and is politically part of Ecuador with Peru often included in the packages to get there.  Both these countries fared quite well through the pandemic, and they are open to visitors again.  The number of tourists, and the conditions under which they are permitted to visit the Galapagos is tightly controlled, so we are seeing some availability issues, but it looks OK in 2022 and beyond. 

• Prices from $9899 per person in September 2022
• Includes a 7-night cruise around the Galapagos Islands
• 2-nights pre-cruise AND 1-night post cruise Quito
• Includes flight from Quito to Galapagos
• All meals, drinks, gratuities while on the ship
• $750 Air credit to get to South America

Sailing Trip

Ever dream of sailing in the Mediterranean or Caribbean on a small sailing vessel?  Don’t worry – these trips aren’t just for hard core sailors.  There’s a full crew, and you’ll enjoy a few hours of sailing every day, with the focus on finding small coves and beaches to have barbeques and drink rum-punch.  You’ll be giving up the Broadway shows and casinos found on cruise ships, but you’ll get to explore corners of the Caribbean or Mediterranean you’ve never been to before.  Here are a couple of trip examples:

• Caribbean:  $1999 per person.  7-nights round trip from Tortola (British Virgin Islands). October 2022.  Sail on a catamaran with 4 double staterooms (each with private toilet facilities)
• Greece:  $1579 per person (August 2022). 7-nights from Athens to Mykonos.  Sail on a 52 ft sailboat with 8 passengers. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3027616914187469

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

“Revenge Travel” continues to be the trend.  If you are feeling the need to get out there again, then you are apparently in good company.  We are being barraged with communications about new and different offerings for our clients who want to get back out there, so I thought I’d offer a bit of run down of what is available.

We have found that our clients tend to make decisions based on destination, and then look to see what brands are operating there, so here is the list for cruises departing between now and the end of September.  Next week I will write you about trends we’re seeing in 2022.  Of course, the regular disclaimers apply to my list below (fares last only as long as available, as well as a ton of other fine print) but contact us directly if you are interested in any of the trips below:

• Alaska
  • Celebrity:  7 days round from Seattle.  Fares start at $1099.
  • Holland America:  7 days from Seattle starting at $1909. 
  • Princess:  7 days round trip from Seattle starting at $799
  • SilverSea:  10/11 days from Seattle starting at $6900.  Includes air, shore excursions, gratuities, all drinks.
• Bermuda
  • Viking Ocean:  8-days from $1799 (air from $599).
• Caribbean
  • Celebrity:  7 days round trip St. Maarten.  Fares start at $629
  • Seabourn:  7 days round trip Barbados.  Fares start at $2999
• Croatia
  • Viking Ocean:  11 days from $3599 (air from $1299).  Direct flight available from Newark.
• Galapagos Islands
  • SilverSea:  7-days from $11,700 including air, expedition excursions, all beverages, gratuities, transfers.  2 nights pre-cruise hotel, 1-night post cruise hotel.
• Greece
  • Celebrity:  8 days round trip Athens.  Fares start at $1589.
  • Holland America:  7 days round trip Athens.  Fares start at $849.
  • Seabourn:  8 days from $4999 (air from $699). On some sailings we can get an additional $300 On board credit.
  • SilverSea:  10-days from $7800 including air, excursions, all bevs, grats, transfers.  20 days available too.  On some voyages we can get an additional $300 on board credit.
  • Viking Ocean:  11 days from $3599 (air from $1299).  Direct flight available from Newark.
• Iceland
  • SilverSea: 10 days from $7000 including air, excursions, all beverages, gratuities, transfers.
  • Viking Ocean:  8 days from $2799 (air from $999)
• Western Mediterranean
  • Viking Ocean:  11 days from $3599 (air from $1299).  Direct flight available from Newark.  Visits Malta, Italy & Spain.

Rivers in July and August

• Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary)
  • AMA Waterways:  Starting July 21 with up to $2000 off per stateroom
  • Viking: $250 off, OR $400 past passenger discount & Silver Spirits Beverage Package
• Rhine (Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland)
  • AMA Waterways:  Starting July 29 with up to $2000 off per stateroom
  • Viking: $250 off, OR $400 Past Passenger Discount & Silver Spirits Beverage Package.
• Italy: (Po River)
  • Uniworld:  8 days round trip from Venice.  Prices from $3999.
• Portugal (Douro River)
  • AMA Waterways:  Starting July 3 with up to $2000 off per stateroom
  • Viking River:  $250 off, OR $400 Past Passenger Discount & Silver Spirits Beverage Package.
• France – Provence (on the Rhone River)
  • AMA Waterways:  Starting July 22 with up to $2000 off per stateroom
  • Viking:  $250 off, OR $400 Past Passenger Discount & Silver Spirits Beverage Package.
• France – Paris and Normandy (on the Seine River)
  • Viking:  $250 off, OR $400 Past Passenger Discount & Silver Spirits Beverage Package.

The list above is far from comprehensive, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for, please give us a call.  It seems there are more countries opening up, and more ships returning to service every week, so we’ll do our best to keep you up to date. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3023008634648297

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

If you like wine but could do without some of the pretentiousness that sometimes accompanies it, you’re in good company. 

When a sommelier tells me I should “detect a licorice taste with a hint of smoke” or “it’s busy, but never precocious”, I nod my head, as if I know what’s she’s talking about (even though I don’t have the slightest idea).

I just want to enjoy the wine.

There is no doubt there is an element of wine tasting and wineries that allows some people to be pretentious.  This is usually quite comical, and easy to dismiss.  

Truly though, I admire people who can truly appreciate a bottle of wine worth several hundred dollars. 

I am not that person, but I do have a genuine appreciation for wine.  It’s partly about the care that goes into producing it, and partly about the experience. 

I like it when someone tells me about what I SHOULD be smelling or tasting with a particular wine.  I don’t always register the sensations that are being described, but I still enjoy it. 

The trick for any of the cruise lines that offer wine cruises is to cater to those who are true enthusiasts, without intimidating the wine idiots (like me) who are really just there to enjoy great food and wine pairings. 

Here are three very different wine cruises that have achieved that balance:

Seadream Yacht Club from Rome to Barcelona

Departing October 31, 2021 for 7-nights

• There are just 5 cabins left, ranging in price from $4199 – $7899 per person.
• Book any Seadream cruise through us and receive a $200 spa credit (exclusive benefit for booking with the Pampered Cruiser).
• Includes all specialty dining, open bar, gratuities, watersports on the ship’s marina, wine on board the ship, mountain bikes to borrow for shore trips
• After departing Rome, you’ll visit Porto Stefano Santa, Portofino, Monte Carlo (overnight), Cannes, Cassis, and Costa Brava before arriving in Barcelona. 
• Your wine-related activities:
  • Wine tasting at Conti di San Bonifacio
  • Wine Maker’s dinner at Bellavista & Petra in Portofino
  • Wine tasting and visit to Chateau St. Martin in Taradeau, France.
  • Wine tasting on board.  Cassis, France.
  • Wine tasting and visit to Martin Faixo Wine Cellars in Cadaques, Spain.

With just 112 guests, Seadream is much more like a river cruise on the ocean.  They pay attention to details, and with 95 crew, the guest to crew ratio is almost 1:1.

AMA Waterways Burgundy & Provence

Departing July 28, 2022 for 7 nights

If you’re not ready to travel this fall, then we have a group on AMA Waterways wine cruise next summer that might be of interest: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2022/essence-of-burgundy-provence-wine-cruise

• We can get you $250 per person off published fares on this cruise, as well as a $250 per person on board credit (exclusive benefit for booking through the Pampered Cruiser).
• AMA includes all specialty dining, a choice of shore excursions in every port, beer & wine with meals (and happy hour right before dinner every night), a wellness program (that includes classes aboard the ship, and activities ashore),
• You board the ship in Chalon-Sur-Saone (north of Lyon), and travel to Tourus, Macon, Villefranche sur Saone, Lyon, Vienne, Valence, and Avignon before finishing in Arles.
• AMA wine cruises are hosted by a wine expert (usually a sommelier, a winery owner, or a wine instructor), that travel with you throughout your journey.  There are wine themed events both on board and ashore. 
• This part of France not only has spectacular vineyards and wineries, but also Roman and medieval ruins, Abbeys and Cathedrals, as well as several UNESCO world heritage sites.

As mentioned above, we have some incentives on the July 28, 2022 cruise, but if this date doesn’t work for you, AMA has dozens of wine cruises in many different parts of Europe.  Here’s a link to their site: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/wine-cruises/2022

American Queen Steamboat Company

You don’t have to go to Europe to experience a wine cruise.  One of the best kept secrets in this country is the wineries of the Pacific Northwest, and AQSC can get you there on a Columbia River Cruise. 

Sailing between Portland, Oregon, and Spokane Washington, these 9-day journeys include the spectacular waterfalls, volcanoes, wildlife and scenery of the region, AND a spotlight on all those incredible wineries you’ve never heard of.  Remember that the summer days are much longer in Washington than they are in California, and some varietals of grapes thrive with the extra sunlight.

The AQSC’s American Empress runs its Grapes and Gorges tours in October and November every year:

• Book any AQSC cruise with and you’ll receive a $50 per person shore experience credit (exclusive benefit for booking through the Pampered Cruiser).
• There is still some availability for 2021, with prices starting at $2999 per person for the 9-day package.  Here are the wine related activities:
  • You will stop in Stevenson, Washington, that is the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, and is dotted extensively with wineries and craft breweries.
  • The Dalles, Oregon marks the end of the Oregon Trail, and is part of the Oregon high desert with a long growing season, and a warm climate – perfect for grapes.
  • Your journey will start or finish in the Spokane Valley.  This charming city of 250,000 has a thriving wine scene.  Its urban core has what they call the Cork District that is full of restaurants and venues focused on the local wine industry.

If you ever thought how nice it would have been to visit Napa or Sonoma 40 or 50 years ago, before it was discovered, this might be a similar opportunity before everyone is visiting the Columbia River wine region.

Uniworld for Half Off

Uniworld is a true luxury river cruise operator and is well known for their floating boutique hotels.  Each ship is custom designed to reflect the area through which it sails.  It is also fully inclusive, so the opportunity to get on board their ships for 50% off represents incredible value. 

This offer is for cruises departing this summer.  Here are some examples (prices are per person, based on double occupancy):

• Paris & Normandy $2249
• Bordeaux $1999
• Burgundy & Provence $2249
• Portugal Spain $2999 (11 days)
• Milan, Venice & Northern Italy $2499 (10 days)

Book ANY Uniworld cruise through us and receive a $400 per couple shipboard credit (exclusive benefit for booking with the Pampered Cruiser).

The Uniworld fare includes private transfer to/from the airport at the destination, all beverages included at all times, shore excursions, all specialty dining, all gratuities, and an elevated level of comfort and service on their incredible river ships.  We had the opportunity to travel with Uniworld on a Paris & Normandy Cruise.  Here’s a link to our video blogs:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEP9ouRrZGrhocmhYp7EUPW

Finally, the pent-up demand for travel that everyone is talking about is real, but it’s not impossible to get away if you want.  If you are flexible with dates, and you are only looking for one cabin, then there are still lots of options available.  If you are travelling with a larger group and/or have a narrow window for which you can travel, then you are best advised to be looking late into 2022 or even 2023.

Either way… let us know.  We’re ready to help.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3018186741797153

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley