What better time than Thanksgiving to return to our “DREAM” series of articles, where we revisit some of our favourite trips, and invite your comments.  Two weeks ago, we visited the haute couture of France when we “visited” Paris and the beaches of Normandy.

Today we’re exploring the rugged beautify of Alaska.

Alaska really is different than any other state.  Its size alone is remarkable – more than three times as big as Texas, and over 6600 miles of coastline. 

About half of cruise ship passengers to Alaska opt to spend some time on land and visit crown jewel of Alaska: Denali National Park.

Larger than Massachusetts, this National Park houses North America’s highest peak: Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). 

A common misconception amongst Alaska cruisers is that they’ll take in Denali on their own on the day of embarkation or disembarkation.  Unfortunately, Denali is nearly 400 miles from where the cruise ships dock.

Have you ever looked at the Denali extensions on Princess’ or Holland America’s websites? It requires a PhD in physics to figure out!  It’s a bit easier if you think of it this way: much like a cruise ship calls on a different port of call every day, the Alaska cruise land packages are structured the same way.  

Here’s a bit a cheat sheet as to the various “ports of call” when you add a land package to your Alaska cruise:

• Seward or Whittier – these are ports where your ship will dock because Anchorage does not have a deep enough harbor to accommodate cruise ships.  It’s about 2 hours to get between Anchorage and either of these ports.
• Anchorage – This is the largest city in Alaska, and home to about 300,000.  It is fine as far as cities go, but you didn’t come to Alaska for the urban experience.
• Kenai – there are remote lodges on this peninsula south of Anchorage.  These lodges are great for fishing, hiking, outdoor activity, or curling up by the fire to read a book.
• Talkeetna – This is a small frontier settlement southeast of Denali with a bit a seedy (but interesting) backstory, whose lodges are well set up for spectacular views of Denali.
• Denali – The township of Denali is manufactured – a bit like a ski resort – and is set up to provide access to Denali National Park.  Ironically, you can’t actually see Denali from the township that bears its name – but this is the gateway to the National Park tours, which will grace you with views of Denali if the weather gods cooperate.
• Fairbanks – This is Alaska’s second largest city with about 30,000 people. It largely serves tourists and is charming in its own way.

The Train:  All the cruise line land packages include some time on the train, although the amount of time, and ground covered by train, does vary by itinerary.

Here’s a link to the playlist on our YouTube Channel from when we visited all these lodges in 2018: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEZh4TwDNnSFedD8FOItXHe

What we like about this trip:

• It’s an easy add-on to any Alaskan Cruise.  If you’re going all that way, you might as well see as much as you can. 
• Alaska’s scenery, wildlife and natural environment is not like anywhere else in North America.
• It is foreign, but still American.
• There are tons of options for both those who are looking to be active in the Alaskan wilderness AND those who prefer to stare out at its majesty while drinking a glass of wine.

When to go:

Like any high-latitude vacation, there will be trade-offs to when you go.  The cruise ship season runs from April through October, but the season in Denali is slightly shorter than that.

• May & June:  This is the time of the midnight sun, and it is also the driest part of the year in that part of Alaska.  However, the National Park is often not fully open until the first or second week of June.
• July & August:  The weather is warmest during these months, but the crowds are greater, and you have a higher chance of rain than in the spring.
• September & October:  The daylight hours begin shortening quickly at this time of year, but the parks and lodges will also have fewer people.

There is abundant wildlife viewing throughout any of these months, but the probability of seeing certain species of whale, fish or game changes by the month.

Who it appeals to:

• Scenery people looking for more than one-week cruise.  The scenery of the land packages is entirely different than the beauty you see from the ship. 
• Outdoor “soft” Adventurers who like to hike, fly-fish or participate in nature-based activities.
• National Park passport stamp collectors
• Indigenous Culture:  Those with an interest in the First Peoples of North America will find Alaska abundant with their rich culture. 

Insider Tip:  Choose a package that starts or finish in Fairbanks rather than Anchorage.  The packages that start or finish in Anchorage double back on themselves.  You will see more of Alaska if your package starts or finishes in Fairbanks . Also – choose a package that includes 2 nights at Denali – this is the only way you can do the full version of the park tour, which takes 9 – 11 hours.

Alternatives:

Maybe you’ve already done this trip or are looking for a similar option elsewhere.  Here are some ideas:

• Rocky Mountaineer.  This luxury rail trip through the Canadian Rockies is logistically easier than a trip to Denali, and the scenery and wildlife viewing is every bit as good.  As of last week, the Rocky Mountaineer will also be operating in the US between Denver and Moab, Utah.
• Columbia River Cruise.  You don’t get the glaciers, but the volcanoes, wildlife, waterfalls and scenery are spectacular on the route between Portland and Spokane. 
• National Parks Tours of the Southwest.  Although very different, the deserts of the Southwest rival the beauty of Alaska.  We can offer you itineraries between 7 and 14 nights that start/finish in either California or Phoenix.
• Hawaii.  The 50^th State doesn’t have as many volcanoes as Alaska, but they’re much easier to find in Hawaii.  When you add the tropical rainforests and beaches, it might be a better choice for some people.  We have 7 to 14 night small-ship (36 passengers) itineraries that encompass four islands for those who like to explore and travel beyond the resorts in the 50^th State.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2870014769947685

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

There is an aspect of traveling by train that cannot be matched by other modes of transportation.   

Given the importance of the railway to the development and history of this country, we are woefully underserved by the likes of Amtrak (I am reminded of when I used to travel between Philadelphia and New York, spooning with perfect strangers with questionable hygiene on a train that didn’t appear to have seen a vacuum cleaner since the Johnson Administration). 

In Europe, the Orient Express has long been a bucket list trip for railway enthusiasts.  In Russia, the Golden Eagle runs the 5600 miles between Moscow and Vladivostok.  The Royal Belmond offers luxury tours in Scotland.  Even South Africa has the Blue Train between Pretoria and Capetown.   

More recently, the Rocky Mountaineer brought luxury train travel to the New World, with rail trips through the Canadian Rockies.  This has been a popular trip extension for Alaska Cruisers. 

It seems Rocky Mountaineer has been listening to their clients, and they rightly identified the demand for luxury train service in the United States. 

I am excited to tell you that Rocky Mountaineer announced this week that they will soon be operating in the US Southwest. 

Starting in August 2021, you can experience luxury train travel right here in the US! 

They call this the “Rockies to the Red Rocks” itinerary, and the trip takes you across the continental divide from Denver to Moab (or reverse), with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs.   This area is best experienced by train, as the route travels along the mighty Colorado River and through canyons and other areas inaccessible by car.   

There are multiple different packages to choose from, similar to the Canadian product. No matter which package you choose, your trip will include two days on the rails through spectacular scenery, with beverages and locally inspired cuisine served right at your seat, and even an onboard storyteller so you can learn about the area you are travelling through.   

For this first season, there will be just 40 departures in 10 weeks, from August to October 2021.  Can you imagine how popular this trip will be?

Bob and I are preparing a video to showcase this exciting new product and I’ll send you the link as soon as it’s ready.  However, I’m certain that given the limited number of departure dates being offered this year, combined with the pent-up demand for travel (especially domestic travel)  that this could sell out very quickly. 

Call us now to reserve your seat on the train.  There’s no risk.  A $25 per person refundable deposit secures your reservation, with a 20% non-refundable deposit is due at the end of January.  Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. 

Don’t miss out! Click here to get in touch today.  I look forward to helping each one of you get on board the Rocky Mountaineer.

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I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

There are an infinite number of ways to experience Paris, but if you’ve also got an interest in World War II history or the Impressionist Painters, then a river cruise between Paris and Normandy is a great way to see this part of France.

All the major river cruise lines have ships on this stretch of the Seine River.  Just about all of them are one-week cruises, but they all offer trip add-ons so you can make this into an 11 or 14-day exploration of France. 

When we were planning our own Paris to Normandy river cruise, my first thought was “I’m pretty sure on a previous trip to France I drove the length of this river cruise in a couple of hours”.  This is the perfect illustration of how little you move on river ships, and how focused they are on shore activities. 

It is only 200 kilometers (or 120 miles) between Paris and Le Havre on the Atlantic Coast where the Seine River terminates.  To spend a week travelling this stretch of France really allows you to immerse yourself in Normandy.

On this trip, we were aboard Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre.  Uniworld is billed as the Boutique Hotels of river cruising, and this is reflected on their ships.  Each Uniworld ship is designed and decorated to reflect the region it sails through.  Whether on the ship, or ashore, there was no question we were in France.

If you want to see our video blogs of the Uniworld Joie de Vivre, or the ports of call on the Seine River, here’s a link to that playlist on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEP9ouRrZGrhocmhYp7EUPW

What we like about this trip:

• Paris is easy to get to.  There are lots of direct flights from major US gateways to Paris.
• Variety.  There is something for everyone on this cruise: The urban experience as well as the art and history of Paris; the French countryside in Normandy; Monet’s Gardens for the art fans; Normandy Beaches for the WW2 history enthusiasts.
• It’s France.  There is a reason this is one of the most visited countries in the world.

When to go:

• Paris to Normandy cruises are available from March through December.
• Any month of travel in northern Europe involves trade-offs.  We went the first week in April, and enjoyed the fact there are relatively few tourists there at this time of year.  However, it was not warm.  We were lucky with the weather (it was never below freezing), but sweaters and jackets were definitely required.
• July, August, and the first half of September all have reliably warm weather, but it is also very crowded in Europe.
• October through December have fewer tourists, but the daylight hours are greatly reduced (remember that Paris is north of Montreal (in terms of latitude), so the days are short in November and December). 
• Christmas Markets do exist in France, but not to the same degree that we see them in Germany. 

Who it appeals to:

• If you’re travelling with others who value different things, this trip is a good compromise.  There are three main focus areas for this cruise:
  • WW2 History:  The Normandy Beaches are tremendously moving to visit.  Most river cruises only include one (long) day at the landing beaches, so for the WW2 history enthusiast, it may not be enough.  There are five landing beaches, and normally your visit off a river ship will include a visit to ONE of those beaches, as well as the American Cemetery. 
  • Impressionist Art:  Just about all these river cruises include a visit to Monet’s house and gardens.
  • Paris urban experience:  Most of the river cruises include a night or two in Paris.  There are also trip add-ons to add more nights in Paris to truly experience this unique city. 
• We typically don’t see families with children on these cruises, but rather those in the 40 -75 age group with an interest in one of the above things.
• Most often a Paris to Normandy cruise is part of a larger experience in France or Western Europe.

Insider tip: 

Check to see if your river ship docks right in Paris or at Le Pecq.  Our ship was docked at Le Quai de Javel, right next to a Metro Station downtown, so for the two nights we were in Paris, we had a beautiful view of the Eifel Tower and were able to walk right off the ship and into the city.  Some river ships dock at Le Pecq, which works just fine if you’re there just for the river cruise, but the location is about 20 kilometres from downtown Paris.

Alternatives:

Maybe you’ve already done this cruise or are looking for a similar option elsewhere.  Here are some ideas:

• Mississippi River Cruise.  It is difficult to equate European history with American history, but the history of the Mississippi River IS the history of the United States.  If you want something closer to home, this is worth investigating.
• French Polynesia.  If you’re looking for a French experience, then remember that Tahiti is warmer, and closer (if you live in the Western half of the country).
• Military History at Home.  Military History enthusiasts don’t have to go to Europe.  We have a 9-day “land-cruise” package from Washington, DC to Philadelphia that includes visits to museums and landmarks of significance from the American Revolution, and the Civil War. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2857139554568540

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

Many of you have commented that you appreciate our tagline:  DREAM.TRAVEL.SHARE.  It acknowledges that travelling is more than the simple transaction of taking a trip, and there is as much pleasure in anticipating travel, and sharing the cherished memories after travelling. 

DREAMING is also a great coping strategy when you’re unable to travel, and it looks like we’re now back into the DREAMING phase.

Even though we’ve been told to expect a second wave of the pandemic (and it’s arriving right on schedule), it is still psychologically challenging (“NOT this again….!”). 

Over the next few weeks, I will share with you some memories from our favorite trips, and invite your comments if you’ve done a similar trip yourself.  Perhaps you had a similar trip postponed in 2020, and you can see what others have thought about it.

We’ll start next week with Seine River Cruise from Paris to Normandy on board Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre. 

For those with trips scheduled for 2021

We have been fielding many queries as to what people with booked travel in 2021 should do.  We are always happy to lay out the options for people, but our predictions for the future are no more prescient than anyone else’s.  Having said that, we do place more weight on the opinions of medical experts than we do on politicians of any partisan stripe.

With that in mind, here is some generic advice for anyone with travel plans in 2021:

• Do not get caught up in the news of the day.  A couple of weeks ago, I quoted some research that showed that we are unduly influenced by the news media we consume on any particular day.  Remember that the conditions 6 or 9 months from now will be completely different than today.  Don’t base medium or long-term decisions on the news of the day.
• Understand your booking conditions.  You quite likely have very relaxed change policies on your trip plans.  Know what these policies are, and remember that the longer you wait to make decisions, the better information you’ll have to work with.  If your cancellation conditions are the same today as they will be 6 months from now, there is no rational basis to rush and make decisions today.
• Understand the risks to cancelling.  Most people think they are eliminating risk by cancelling their plans.  There is some truth to this, but you add a risk of not being able to get what you want when we get the “all clear” signal.  For example, river cruises in Europe are about 15% MORE booked up for 2021 and 2022 than they would normally be this far in advance.  Small ship ocean cruises are about 10% more booked up.   Cancelling a trip scheduled a year from now, with the intent to rebook it once we feel more comfortable travelling makes sense.  But everybody else will be doing the same thing, so you’ll be competing for reservation space amongst a whole population of people that are desperate to travel after having sat at home for a year or more.  That spike in demand could drive prices up.

Above all else, remember that we are all on this psychological roller coaster together.  We are not alone in having anxiety around travel plans and how to manage them. 

I’ve decided to set aside my anxiety for a while and instead focus on happier times.

For the next weeks, join us on a journey of DREAMING about travel by cherishing memories of past trips, and anticipating future travel experiences.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2850176498598179

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 didn’t catch the news on Friday, the CDC lifted the “Do Not Sail” advisory that has been in place since March, that forbids cruise ships from operating in US waters.  Even though the lifting of the ban has been anticipated for several weeks, there is some question as to what it actually means.

Is this the “all clear” signal cruisers have been waiting for to resume their plans?

Well… it’s a big more complicated than a simple YES or NO answer.

Most of the cruise lines have voluntarily suspended their operations into 2021, so this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to hop on a cruise ship for Thanksgiving.  The CDC order does place a number of hurdles in place for cruise ships before they begin operating again.  They will all need to be recertified, with several new requirements such as onboard Covid testing, and quarantine facilities.  There will also be simulated voyages, and enhanced crew protections put in place prior to anyone getting on a ship again.  

We watched a very similar situation play out in Europe this past summer, and with the occasional hiccup, the return to cruising over there generally went well.  

Interestingly, the cruise lines are generally in front of this – they put plans in place to mitigate risks well in advance of the CDC ordering them to do so.

So yes… this is a positive step that indicates a move towards our new normal.  This, of course, needs to be weighed off against the fact we appear to be entering the predicted second wave of the virus.

In reality, the earliest return to cruising is likely January, and the approach will be phased in with many ships not returning until April or May.  In some ways, this timing is about right.  Prior to the pandemic our clients’ average time between booking and sailing was about 9 months.  That period has doubled since March, showing that people are still making plans, they are just making them significantly into the future.  

This has also shown itself in 2021 and 2022 cruise itineraries being much more booked up than they normally would this far in advance.  I was surprised last week when booking a Danube River Cruise for June of 2022, and I had to ask our clients to be flexible with their dates because several departures were sold out.

What should we make of all this?

1. We know there is pent-up demand for travel out there.  Availability is already getting tight for some products in 2021 and even 2022.
2. The lifting of the CDC order may be a catalyst for people to book travel.  Lots of people already have plans on the books for 2021 and 2022, and this latest development may cause a rush for others who have been in “wait and see” mode.
3. The cruise lines themselves are going to be excessively cautious (as they have been in Europe) when resuming operations.  They know they have to get this right.
4. The original CDC order only applied to ships with more than 500 people and only those operating in US waters.  Expect to see US-based river cruises back first, followed shortly by small-ship ocean cruises.  The big ships will ease back into service, likely with the first cruises being conducted with reduced capacity to ensure social distancing.

Is this signal we’ve all been waiting for to return to “normal”? NO.

But it is a positive step in the right direction during a news cycle that is almost entirely negative.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2846297878986041

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