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

You still have a few days to take advantage of our exclusive Partner of the Month promotion with Viking Cruises, but more on that in a minute.

We’re going into the Memorial Day long weekend – the traditional unofficial start of the summer season.  I would invite everyone to spend a few minutes reflecting on what this holiday is intended for – remembering those who fought and died for this country.

This became even more meaningful when someone pointed out to me that our last international pandemic occurred just as the First World War was ending.  About 15% of those who fought in that war didn’t return.  And many of those who did survive the war managed to get the Spanish Flu on the way home and died from that.  All of a sudden, our petty grievances about wearing masks (or whatever else we’re angry about) seem quite trivial.

That got me to thinking about other lessons this most recent pandemic has taught me:

• Breath mints and deodorant are the next thing to hoard.  After more than a year of standing six feet away from other humans (if you’re in the same room at all), personal hygiene will take on a renewed importance.
• Zoom meetings suck.  ‘Nuff said!
• Do things you really want to do while you can.  We’re all aware of our own aging and health, but the pandemic has shown us that other factors beyond our control can also take opportunities away. 
• Eating at home is pleasure I had forgotten. 
• $5 seems like a reasonable price to pay for a head of cauliflower.  Yep… I’ve become completely desensitized to the cost of some things.  It’s like living in Europe.
• Travelling is a privilege.  We’ve (very) occasionally had conversations with clients complaining about restrictions in the countries they want to visit, and it is framed as a “rights” issue.  Our rights only extend to our borders, and when we are visitors in others’ countries, we accept their rules as a condition of passage.
• Travelling with others is life changing.  There have been times in the past year when I’ve wondered if I would ever get to travel again, and I nostalgically recalled the travels of my past.  The trips that stood out the most were those where I travelled with friends or family.

Viking is our Partner of the Month

There are still a few days to take advantage of our exclusive Partner of the Month promotion with Viking.  You’ll get you an extra $100 per person onboard credit on ANY Viking cruise booked by the end of May, and Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee enables you to cancel without penalty as late as 2 weeks prior to departure (the Risk-Free Guarantee is also set to expire at the end of the month).

There have been a number of developments with Viking’s return to service.  Here’s the latest:

Western Mediterranean.  Italy and Spain are back open!  Take an 11-day cruise visiting Malta, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Florence/Pisa, Genoa, and Barcelona.  Sailings start on July 27^th, and fares start at $3599 per person.  

Greece & Croatia.  For those who couldn’t decide between these two countries, Viking now offers an extended 21-day cruise that visits both.  You’ll visit Montenegro, 4 ports in Croatia, 2 ports in Malta, and 5 ports in Greece (including an overnight in Athens).  This itinerary is available July through September, and fares start at $6998 per person.

To see ALL of Viking’s ‘Welcome Back’ cruises, CLICK HERE: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/welcome-back.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Where Exactly is Malta, Anyways?

Viking is home porting all its Mediterranean cruises for 2021 in Valetta, Malta.  Here’s a 30-second Social Studies class on the tiny nation of Malta:

• This independent nation is a series of islands in the Mediterranean 50 miles south of Italy.  On an unmarked map, many people will assume it is part of Italy.
• Maltese and English are the official languages.  Italian and Sicilian also spoken.
• The country is only 122 square miles in area and has 500,000 residents.
• Malta is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency.
• Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (along with the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand amongst others).
• Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was the site of the first in-person meeting between President George HW Bush and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbacev, a conversation that effectively ending the Cold War.
• With over 70% of their residents fully vaccinated, they are the first country to achieve herd immunity against Corona Virus.

Here’s Viking’s video about their new Mediterranean itineraries.  If you watch the first 2 or 3 minutes, it gives a really great feel for Valletta, Malta (CLICK the arrow to start the video):

You’ll also want to check out “Viking TV”.  Viking launched this channel shortly after the pandemic started, and it’s a great resource for learning not only about Viking, but also destinations, people, history and culture of the places that Viking visits: https://www.viking.tv.  There are some REALLY cool programs here, including one that features the actor who plays Jesus in the Oberammergau play (to locate the video, type ‘Oberammergau’ into the search box at the top of that page).

If you’re looking to do something with Viking in the next few months, hopefully the information above has given you some ideas. 

If you’ve been following our Partner of the Month promotion, you will have seen our past posts about:

• Viking’s Ocean Cruises
• Viking’s European River Cruises, including newly released departures for July 2021
• Viking’s Expedition Cruises

The World of Viking

To wrap up our look at the World of Viking, today I’ll draw attention to some of the lesser-known parts of Viking’s portfolio of products:

Combination River/Ocean:If you can’t decide between River or Ocean, then how about a package that includes both? https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/ocean-river-voyages/rhine-and-viking-shores-and-fjords/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Mississippi River.  The wait is finally over.  Viking starts sailing the Mississippi in 2022. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/mississippi/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Egypt:  Go round trip from Cairo on this 12 day tour. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/egypt/pharaohs-pyramids/2022-cairo-cairo/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Viking Mekong River. Travel between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia on this 15-day tour. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/asia/magnificent-mekong/2022-hanoi-hochiminh/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Grand Voyages and World Cruises:  These range from 29 – 138 days and visit all corners of the world.  https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/world-grand/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

We love working with Viking, and their past guests have a fierce loyalty to the Viking experience and brand, with good reason.

Remember, book ANY Viking cruise by May 31^st and you get an extra $100 per person onboard credit through our Partner of the Month promotion.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3011957402420087

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

I feel like I need a souvenir program (or some type of flowchart) to keep up with all the changes related to travel right now.

My head is spinning!

BUT this IS the news we’ve been waiting for since last March – 14 months ago in “calendar time” and a lifetime ago in “perceived time” (especially if you’re in the travel business).

As part of our Viking’s Partner of the Month campaign, last week I wrote about Viking’s River Cruises in Europe.  A couple of days ago, Viking opened up a bunch of sailings in France, Portugal, and on the Rhine River for July 2021.  Besides creating new travel opportunities for those wanting to go abroad this summer, it also signals a return to normal, and a high confidence level that cruises will go later in the year.  Here’s our announcement if you missed it: https://pamperedcruiser.com/july-2021-river-cruises/

Other river cruise lines followed shortly after with announcements of their own:

• Uniworld River Cruises will resume operations on June 20 on the Po River in Italy.  In July, they’ll start up again in France.
• Ama Waterways restarts the first week of July in Portugal and adds other destinations throughout July.

In what can only be described as a miracle, the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed a temporary exemption from the Passenger Services Act of 1886 (yes, that ridiculous law is that old) to enable ships to bypass Canadian ports, and sail directly from Seattle to Alaska this summer:

• Princess Cruises will resume sailing one-week round-trip itineraries from Seattle to Glacier Bay National Park on July 25.
• Holland America will also be sailing round-trip from Seattle starting July 24.  HAL is also visiting GB National Park.
• Celebrity Cruises will resume one-week round-trip itineraries from Seattle starting July 23^rd on the newly refurbished Summit.

So… does this mean we’re back to “normal”? 

NO – but it does indicate we’re finally on the road to recovery of the travel industry.  There will be a few adjusted conditions for anyone travelling in 2021:

• Almost without exception, proof of vaccine is required to travel in the short term. 
• Negative covid tests are still required.
• There will be frequent covid tests, temperature checks, and health questionnaires required to board ships.
• Masks will be required indoors in areas where social distancing is not possible (hallways, for example).  Masks will not be required in dining or entertainment venues.
• Depending on where you’re travelling to, you may be restricted to sanctioned shore excursions as the local authorities attempt to keep people in bubbles.

Some people will question whether these compromises are worth it.  This is a question everyone has to answer for themselves.  These requirements will eventually be dropped as the pandemic subsides, but for now, you will need to be comfortable with these adjusted conditions.  If you’re not, then my best advice is to delay your travel into next year.

Viking Expedition Cruises

In the middle of all of this fantastic news, our Viking Partner of the Month promotion continues with a look today at Viking’s newest product – EXPEDITION Cruises.  I am really excited about the possibilities here, as Viking introduces its very first Expedition ship, the Octantis, later this year, followed by her sister ship, the Polaris next year. 

Viking’s Expedition fleet will have Class 6 ice hulls and hold 378 passengers – the perfect size for exploring remote polar regions.  If you’ve been on Viking River or Ocean cruise, these expedition ships will feel very familiar to you with a common deck configuration and vibe on board.  Imagine sitting in the Aquavit Terrace, but rather than looking out at the Parliament Buildings in Budapest, you’re looking out at the rugged terrain of Antarctica!

Much like Viking Ocean ships, the best-priced cabin on the Expedition ships is a large Veranda stateroom with an in-suite drying closet (important in polar regions), a mini-bar, and all the other on-board comforts you’ve come to expect from Viking. 

In the next two years, we’re seeing 4 types of itineraries on Viking Expedition:

• Coastal Norway and the Arctic – 13-day itineraries round-trip from Tromso, including a stop at Svalbard, and a scenic cruise to the Arctic polar ice cap (tick that off on your bucket list!).  You will travel well-north of the Arctic Circle – something not possible on an Alaskan cruise. 
• Antarctica – Itineraries ranging between 13 and 19 days that include Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
• Grand Journeys – these are cruises between 10 and 44 days that take place when the ships are transitioning between the two polar regions.  The ship has segmented itineraries that visit Ireland, New York City, Bridgetown Barbados, and Rio de Janeiro. 

The fourth type of itinerary is our featured cruise for this week, Great Lakes & Canada Expeditions:

• For example, the “Niagara & the Great Lakes” itinerary is a one-week trip between Milwaukee and Toronto visiting Niagara Falls, Point Pelee, Detroit, Alpena, Mackinac Island, and Traverse City.
• Trips are offered from April through September, with fares starting at $6495 per person.
• Click here to see details about Viking’s Great Lakes Cruises: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/great-lakes-canada/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Receive a bonus $100 per person shipboard credit when you book ANY Viking cruise (River, Ocean, or Expedition) through us before the end of May 2021.

And, as usual, here are a couple of ideas for those that want to travel this year, but would rather stay in the Lower 48:

City Slickers Land Cruise

If you remember the classic Billy Crystal movie, you won’t get herd cattle, but you’ll still get a feel for Cowboy Country.  This “Land Cruise” travels between Rapid City, South Dakota and Jackson Hole Wyoming:

• Enjoy stunning views of the American West as you make your way through Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, and more. Overnight in the cowboy towns of Jackson Hole and Cody. Experience the Wild West as it once was with a visit to Deadwood, a town built on gold and gunpowder. Experience Yellowstone National Park, home to an incredible array of wildlife. Search for free-ranging herds of buffalo in Custer State Park. Marvel at Grand Teton National Park’s towering peaks, marked with mountain glaciers. Soak in stunning views of Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorials. Grab your Stetson hat and saddle up for an adventure as you discover natural wonders and cultural treasures.
• Includes 7-night accommodation, all transportation between Jackson Hole and Rapid City, all breakfasts, and 3 dinners.
• Availability in June, September and October, with prices starting at $2599 per person. 

West Coast Explorer by Rail

Journey from the Pacific Northwest down the California coast and into Southern California on this unforgettable journey. Start off in Vancouver where you will get to adventure around the “Hollywood of the North.” Then take a quick jaunt south through the Cascade Mountains to Seattle where you will get to visit the Space Needle, Seattle Waterfront, and experience what makes the “Emerald City” so special. From there, the scenic Coast Starlight route will guide you south and into San Francisco, where you will explore the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf as well as the nearby Napa and Sonoma Wineries. Also, no trip to Northern California is complete without a stop in Yosemite National Park! From there you will continue down to Southern California for time in both Hollywood and San Diego. This is a complete Pacific Coast journey!

• 13-days from Vancouver to San Diego.  (immediate departures will begin in Seattle until such time as the Canadian border has reopened)
• Pricing from $3449 per person, includes all rail travel and accommodation.
• Trip highlights:
  • Hop-On, Hop-Off sightseeing in Vancouver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
  • Seattle CityPASS to visit the Space Needle, Aquarium, Harbor Cruise, Chihuly Gardens.
  • Sightseeing tours of Yosemite National Park, Sonoma, and Napa Valley
  • Sightseeing Harbor Cruise in San Diego

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3007343819548112

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

Do you remember Kermit the Frog’s ‘News Flash’ on Sesame Street?  Getting his update on Humpty Dumpty’s big fall was the most exciting part of the program for me.   

But not as exciting as this. 

This morning, Viking added a number of July 2021 European river cruises to their schedule.   That’s only a few weeks away!   You guys, I am SO excited about this announcement – both for the opportunity to offer you river cruises in July AND to give optimism to our clients with trips scheduled in August and later this year.   

Here are the July river cruises on offer:
(CLICK the links below for more details about dates, itinerary, and prices)

• Portugal’s River of Gold (between Lisbon and Porto) – 9 nights
• Rhine Getaway (between Amsterdam and Basel) – 7-nights
• Paris & the Heart of Normandy (round trip Paris) – 7-nights
• Lyon & Provence (between Lyon and Avignon) – 7-nights
• France’s Finest (between Avignon and Paris) – 14 nights

These cruises are available only to fully vaccinated guests. There are only 4 departures on each itinerary, so we expect this to sell out quickly.   Book one of these July trips by May 31st and receive:

• Complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package
• Bonus discount of $400/person for Past Viking Guests
• $100 per person shipboard credit as part of our Viking Partner of the Month promotion (you would not receive this by booking directly with Viking).

For more information or to book one of these Viking cruises, click here to get in touch or give us a call: 800-876-0168.

Have something to say about this? Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3007323382883489

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

If you’ve got the bug to travel again, you’re in good company. 

We kicked off our Partner of the Month promotion with Viking Cruises last week, and featured their cruises this summer to Iceland, Bermuda, Greece and Croatia, and the response has been tremendous.  These are selling really quickly, but there’s still some space left if you want to travel in the next few months.  Here’s the link if you missed it:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-viking-is-the-pampered-cruisers-partner-of-the-month/

If you book one of these ‘Welcome Home’ cruises between May 14^th – May 31^st, you’ll receive a complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package!

(Please note this is for NEW bookings only and cannot be added to existing reservations).

Not only that, but if you book ANY Viking cruise (Ocean, River or Expedition) through us during the month of May 2021 you’ll also receive a $100 per person shipboard credit from us.  Everything is exactly the same as booking directly with Viking (including the price) – except you’ll benefit from our friendly, professional service AND you’ll get an extra $100 per person to use towards pre-paid gratuities, Silver Spirits Beverage Package, or optional excursions.

This week, we’ll talk about what Viking is known best for:  European River cruises.  Viking is on all the major European Rivers and are the largest operator there.  Most first-time river cruisers end up on the Rhine (Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland), or the Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary).  But there are other rivers in Europe that Viking sails too:

• France (Normandy, Provence, or Bordeaux regions)
• Portugal (Douro River). 
• Elbe River (between Berlin and Prague)
• Russia (Volga River between Moscow and St. Petersburg)

For those who have been on many ocean cruises, but never been on a Viking Longship, there can be things you need to “unlearn”.  Many of our Viking Clients come from Celebrity and Holland America, and we really like those cruise lines, but the Viking River experience is much different. 

We’ll have new to river cruise clients request “an outside cabin, near mid-ship” – a perfectly reasonable request on the ocean, but one that makes very little sense on a Viking Longship.  The ships are much smaller, and most of the time you have to look out the window to know whether or not the ship is moving.  Here are some other things you can expect on a Viking Longship:

• All the ships are new (2015 or newer) and they are identical.  In the larger ports, you have to be careful you’re getting on YOUR Viking longship (they have over 70 of them in Europe).
• Your cruise is about what you do on shore, and you’re on shore every day, for MOST of the day.  The ship is NOT the destination (although when you are on board, it is very comfortable).  A Viking cruise is about the destination.
• Immersion in local food – there will be two sides to your menu every day.  One side stays the same throughout your cruise and contains a good variety of guest favorites.  The other side of the menu is intended to offer you a taste of the local cuisine of the area through which you are travelling.
• No corkage fee – if you visit a winery on a shore excursion, and you want to bring a bottle back to the ship, they don’t confiscate it upon reboarding like the big ocean cruise lines do.
• No X-raying of bags – you don’t have pass through airport-grade security every time you get back on the ship.  There is security, but the ship is small enough that the security people know the guests on the cruise, and they simply wave you on board.
• Entertainment – there is a resident piano or guitar player that accompanies you on your cruise.  There is also entertainment brought in from shore that is again intended to reflect the culture and people of the region through which you are travelling.
• Shore Excursions – There is a shore excursion in every port of call included in your fare.  Normally, this a walking tour with a local guide of the town you are in.  Sometimes you walk right off the ship, and other times there is a motor coach ride involved to get you to the local attractions.  There are optional shore excursions offered as well (for a fee) and these are great for those with a specific interest.  If you’re just trying to get a feel for the place, the included excursions are just fine.

A Typical Day on a Viking Longship in Europe:

• You arrive at your destination before you wake up in the morning.
• You have breakfast on the ship, and prepare for your shore excursion
• A local guide takes you out for a tour of the area.
• You return to the ship for lunch.  TIP:  If it’s nice outside eat at the Aquavit Terrace at the front of deck 3 for al fresco dining.
• Afternoon is free time, where you can wander around on your own (now that you know your way around a little), OR you can take an optional shore excursion.
• Cocktail hour is around 6.00pm and the Cruise Manager will fill you in on what is happening that evening and the next day.
• Dinner is around 7.00 pm, followed by entertainment in the lounge.
• The ship will travel overnight, and you’ll wake up in a new town the next day to learn more about that place. 

There is, of course, some variation in this routine, and the ship does sail in the daytime sometimes.  

Featured Trip:  The Passage to Eastern Europe

Bob and I have already been lucky enough to experience various river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, and Seine rivers.  Of course, we’re always thinking ahead and planning our next trip 🙂 Here’s the next Viking River Cruise on our list:

• 11-day river cruise travelling between Budapest, Hungary and Bucharest, Romania.
• Travels through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
• Prices start at $3599 per person and run from May through November.
• Viking has a 3-night extension if you want to visit Dracula’s home in Transylvania.

What we like about this trip:  All the countries on this journey are former Soviet Bloc nations, so they weren’t available for travelling when many of us were younger and back packing around Europe.  I realized I know very little about these countries, so what a great opportunity to learn more.

Tip: If you wanted to travel from one side of Europe to the other, there’s also a 23-day version of this trip that goes all the way from Amsterdam on the Atlantic, to Bucharest on the Black Sea.  This might be a good way to make up for the travel time you lost during the pandemic 🙂

Domestic Travel Opportunities

New England ‘Land Cruise’:  7-nights from Providence RI to Cape Cod (with possible extension to Boston), starting at $2199 per person.  Several departures a month between now and October.  Visit the mansions of Newport, the artist colony of Provincetown, visit the islands of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Brock Island, and take part in a local Lobster feast.  Plus… you can go back to where it all started at Plymouth Rock.  Your ‘Land Cruise’ includes:

• All accommodation
• Transportation between Providence and Cape Cod
• 11 meals
• A cooking demonstration, and a New England Lobster and Seafood dinner

Charleston to Jacksonville ‘Land Cruise’:  7-nights starting at $2099 per person with availability on departures from September through November.  Check out the cobblestone streets and historic homes of antebellum Charleston and do a trolley tour in historic Savannah, then spend 2-nights at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club.  Your ‘Land Cruise’ includes:

• 6 breakfasts and 3 dinners
• A cooking demonstration showcasing regional specialties in Savannah
• 7 nights’ accommodation
• All transportation between Charleston and Jekyll Island.

If you really want to get back to travel, maybe do both land cruises!

In Case You Missed It:

• Alaska Cruise:  There are a few cabins left on the American Constellation in July and August for this most unusual year when there will be NO mega ships in Alaska, and you’ll have the place practically to yourselves.  Read more: https://pamperedcruiser.com/officially-tired-of-the-pandemic-cruising-is-back/
• National Parks of the Southwest:  Take this ‘Land Cruise ‘to fill up your National Parks Passport.  Read more: https://pamperedcruiser.com/3-trips-you-can-take-in-2021/

That’s it for this week!  Even though we’re not back to “normal” quite yet, it’s very encouraging to see people making both domestic and some international travel plans.  I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait until the whole past year is a distant memory.

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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