If you’re like many people, you might have made a New Year’s resolution or two. 

I gave up on these years ago – apparently, I don’t have the discipline to follow through in any meaningful way.  I do, however, use these first few days of each year to do some planning, and the best part of that is travel planning.

It will be particularly sweet this year, after spending an entire year “on the bench”.  I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out there again.  The last time we were on a plane was almost exactly one year ago (and a domestic flight at that).  By rough calculation, I haven’t been “grounded” this long since the mid 80s.

My challenge now becomes narrowing down my travel choices 2021.  I’m having a hard time deciding so I thought I would put it out to our readers and ask for YOUR opinion. 

Under normal conditions, we take a trip approximately once per quarter – part of the fun of being the travel industry is that we get to call this our “job”.   

My thought here is to put forward TWO ideas for each quarter of the year and get feedback from our readers.  Based on your feedback, we’ll do one of those trips, and put a group together so any of you that want to join can come along.

In the next two or three weeks, I’ll provide a better description of each of these trips, but here’s a sneak preview for you:

Winter: 

We’ll be sitting it out for the first quarter.  Even if there weren’t a bunch of restrictions in place on where and how we can travel, we are insanely busy.  It seems that many people have decided that a year “on the bench” is enough, and they want to get busy planning.  This is the part of the job we enjoy most, so we’re happy to help people book that next trip.

Spring: 

Here are two trips that have caught our eye for this spring:

• Mississippi River Cruise:  We’ve loved our river cruise experiences in Europe.  Now it’s time to explore our own back yard.
• Alaska on a small ship:  We go to Alaska just about every year, and really missed the opportunity in 2020. 

More on both of these options next week.

Summer: 

If you want to join us, here are the two trips we’re contemplating this summer.  We’ll offer more details in the next couple of weeks:

• Great Lakes:  Yes…believe it or not there are cruises on the Great Lakes, and they visit some really interesting corners of our own backyard.  We are eyeing up a cruise from Chicago to Toronto with a whole bunch of port stops in between that most of us have never heard of!
• Rocky Mountaineer Denver to Moab, Utah:  Although Rocky Mountaineer has been traversing the continental divide through the Canadian Rockies for 30 years, the US route is a brand-new product we can hardly wait to check out.

Autumn:

The two trips we’re considering in the fall are a study of contrasts.  Maybe we’ll do both!  We’ll provide more detail on these options in three weeks:

• French Polynesia on Paul Gauguin:  It’s time to live the Polynesian Dream, complete with a few nights at one of those over-water bungalows you see on the cover of all the travel magazines.
• Christmas Markets in Europe:  A Rhine or Danube River cruise looks much different in the winter months, and the European Christmas Markets have been imitated in other countries, but never matched. 

Over the few weeks, we’ll provide more details about these trips.  We invite your feedback if you’ve done any similar trips previously, or if you might be thinking about that trip yourself.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2905074876441674

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

Here we are in the last two weeks of 2020, which means we’ll all be deluged with media pontificating about the year that just was. 

I’m quite happy to forget 2020 completely, so I’m rebelling and instead doing a “Year in Preview” article today.

There is no doubt that our last year under house-arrest will impact how we travel for many years to come, but here are the trends we are seeing now for the immediate months ahead:

Domestic Travel:  The first half of the year will be all about domestic travel, and we are seeing keen interest in Alaska Cruising, as well as the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers, and luxury rail trips in both the United States and Canada.  Cruising on the Great Lakes has also increased enormously in popularity.  Here are links to a few articles we’ve written lately about these domestic travel offerings:

• US-based river cruises:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/river-cruising-in-the-us/
• Alaska Lodges: https://pamperedcruiser.com/guide-to-alaska-land-packages/
• Luxury Rail in the US: https://pamperedcruiser.com/rocky-mountaineer-us-itinerary-rockies-to-the-red-rocks-luxury-train/

Close-in Bookings for 2021.  With so much uncertainty, we will see many people book at the last minute.  It makes sense to wait until you’re sure you’ll be able to do your trip the way you want to do it before committing.  Just remember that everyone else is doing exactly the same thing, so you are risking that your preferred trip will be sold out.  If you really want to do a trip in 2021, but are unsure, you’ll want to be sure you check out the relaxed booking policies that many suppliers are offering – you get the best of both worlds this way.

Earlier Bookings for 2022 and 2023.  It seems that travelers didn’t take kindly to their 2020 plans having been cancelled, so they’re rebooking with a vengeance.  2022 is about 15% more booked up than it would normally be this far in advance (small ship and river cruises).  Normally 2023 wouldn’t be available for booking yet, but it’s already open.  Do you need to panic?  No… you’ve still got lots of time, but if you’re the type of person that is very specific about when, where, stateroom selection etc., then you’ll want to be planning earlier than usual.

Less Inventory (and Newer Cruise Ships).  The cruise lines have accelerated their retirement of older vessels as a cost savings measure for 2020 (the Carnival Group of companies alone retired 13 vessels).  In addition, some of their new builds have been delayed as a result of the pandemic.  The result: there will be a reduction in number of berths available for 2021 and 2022, and those remaining products will be newer. 

From “High Touch” to “No Touch”.  Princess announced that during their furlough, they managed to upgrade all their ships to the Medallion technology.  The Princess Medallion is wearable technology that is connected to your smart phone.  Its most basic features replace the traditional keycard used onboard ships, but it does much more than that.  It expedites embarkation and disembarkation, allows you to order drinks or food from anywhere, acts as an onboard GPS, and reduces the need for physical contact, while enhancing the level of service.  Princess may be first, but they won’t be the last – similar onboard technology is the future of cruising.

Brand Repositioning.  Celebrity made the decision to include beverages, gratuities and wifi in the base cruise fare.  This is a vast improvement over their previous confused marketing efforts that included some perks, for some people, some of the time.  Having these inclusions also sets them apart from their main competitors, and aside from their larger ships, puts them in the category of the luxury lines in terms of inclusions.  SilverSea has made the move to include both return airfare and shore excursions in their fares.  This takes a luxury product and elevates it further.  PrincessPlus fares, where you can pay an extra $40 per day to have beverages, gratuities and wifi included, gives clients a simple choice between a more inclusive offering, or a best-priced fare.  These are just a few examples.  Expect to see other cruise lines make similar moves. 

Deals:  As noted above, we are more likely to see the cruise lines include more in the price rather than providing deals in the form of price reductions.  In the first half of 2021 you’ll see great incentives to get on board a ship.  Most cruise lines have relaxed cancellation policies but be aware:  most of those cancellation policies give you a future cruise credit but NOT a refund.  You won’t lose anything, but don’t expect a cash refund.  In the second half of 2021 and beyond, we do not expect to see price incentives to fill up the ships.  With fewer ships, and reduced inventory, we may see the opposite.

Small is Big.  There is no doubt that travelers are going to be more comfortable with the idea of smaller ships with fewer guests.  This makes river cruising a no-brainer (river ships carry 100-180 guests), and as such river cruises are significantly more booked out for 2021 and 2022 compared to previous years.  Small ocean ships (1000 passengers or less) are seeing similar trends.  The movement towards smaller ships was already in motion prior to the pandemic, so this trend will accelerate beyond 2021.

Bubble Travel:  This term would have required definition just one year ago!  We are seeing a trend towards more multi-generational and multiple-family travel groups.  Some yachts, and also land-cruise operators offer free spots with as few as 8 people.  Part of the move to “bubble travel” is logistic – it’s pretty safe if you control who’s in your group.  The other aspect is the pandemic has made the desire for people to travel with their children and/or grandchildren that much more urgent.  We’ve realized life is short, and we never know when opportunities will be taken away from us (even if only temporarily!).

Longer Duration Vacations.  This has been partially motivated by the necessity (for some of us) to quarantine when we get home, but the larger reason is because we missed travelling in 2020.  In either case, we are seeing diminished interest in one week trips, and much more interest in trips 14-21 days or longer.  The Europeans have been doing longer duration vacations for decades – maybe we’re finally catching up.

Covid Hangover:  I have avoided telling people what to expect on their next cruise, simply because this a target with ever-changing goal posts.  The requirements change weekly, and there is no ONE authority.  The CDC controls all cruises touching a US port (hence maximum 7-night cruises for 2021), but international jurisdictions have their own authorities and their own rules.  Also, the rules in April of 2021 will likely be vastly different than if you choose a cruise in November of 2021.  There are a few things you can likely expect until further notice:

• Masks:  You can expect air travel to require masks until further notice (it will be years).  Outside of the United States, masks are not really a political issue, so any foreign travel will likely require a component of mask-wearing in crowded areas for at least another year.
• Regular testing:  There will likely be daily testing on ships for all passengers and crew.  This is a non-invasive saliva test.  Viking recently put out a short video to explain how they will test all guests.  Here’s the link:  https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/my-trip/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html
• No self-serve buffets:  Those ships that insist on keeping buffets will have staff serve you.
• Lower capacity:  The ships will start up with far fewer passenger (probably 50%), and gradually work their way back to full capacity.
• Sanctioned shore excursions:  In the short term, only shore excursions offered through the cruise lines will be available.  This will be highly dependent on the regulations in the port of call and will change frequently.  It is possible that on a cruise with 6 ports of call, there will six different sets of regulations for shore excursions.  As the virus subsides, this will likely be the first thing to return to normal. 
• No fears about repatriation:  The isolation of passengers aboard cruise ships last February and March is now universally recognized as a mistake.  Authorities were working with the best information they had at the time, and the benefit of hindsight has put alternative protocols in place for cruises going forward. 
• Vaccination requirements:  There is NO indication that proof of vaccination will be required to board a cruise ship.  However, there are some countries in the world that WILL require proof of vaccination that may affect your vacation plans. 

The bottom line is that the environment onboard cruise ships can be much more tightly controlled than at hotels or resorts.  One simple example is that on cruise ships, the crew does not go home to their families/communities every night like hotel workers do, so the risk of introducing unknown variables is greatly reduced. 

The cruise lines are being very careful in how they resume service.  While there were no cruises in North America this past year, there were both river ships and ocean ships sailing in both Europe and Asia.  There were occasional hiccups (that were propelled to the top of the TV news).  What the news media didn’t report were the thousands of guests that took cruise vacations in 2020 with some minor modifications, but who were otherwise pleased with the experience.

We have the benefit of the lessons learned by our European and Asian colleagues, as well as the vaccine, more reliable testing, better treatments, and increasing herd immunity. 

While I don’t believe there will be a lead-up to some definitive “all-clear” signal, I do think we will see a phased and gradual return to safe travelling. 

Bob and I have decided we will leave our mind open to possibilities as they present themselves in the first part of the year.  We have also booked our first post-pandemic cruise.  HINT:  It’s domestic, and rich in food, music, history, and culture… but more on that in the New Year.

All the very best for Christmas, (belated) Hanukkah, New Years, and whatever else you may be celebrating this month. 

2021 has much better things in store for us.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2891109417838220

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

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Charles Dickens wasn’t talking about a pandemic when he wrote A Tale of Two Cities, but the quote holds true for those of us in the travel industry.

There are two simultaneous (and seemingly paradoxical) things occurring right now.  In the United States, we are seeing the worst days of the covid crisis right now.  At the same time, we are seeing unbelievably strong travel booking activity – particularly for domestic leisure travel.

This does make sense.  The vaccine rollout started this week.  There is also a lot of positive news regarding both treatment and detection of the virus.

We don’t have an “all clear” signal yet, but the medium-term news is more positive than it’s been in months. 

The pent-up demand for travel is starting to reveal itself.

There’s still a lot of uncertainty regarding international travel, so many clients are looking for something closer to home in 2021.

A few months ago, we suggested American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) for journeys on either the Mississippi River, or the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.  The uptake was strong then, so we thought we’d revisit this domestic favorite. 

River cruising offers the unique feature of being able to cover a fair bit of ground in a one or two week cruise, WITHOUT having to continually pack and unpack.  Here are some of the other things we really like about AQSC:

• Shore Excursions:  AQSC has hop-on/hop-off buses that follow the ship along the river.  If you’re a person who doesn’t like being herded around in groups, you’ll love exploring each port on your own terms.
• Riverlorian:  On every sailing there is a resident expert who sails with you and helps you better understand the history, geography, and culture of the places you’re visiting.
• Accessibility:  On the AQSC, all mobility levels are easily accommodated both onboard and on the motor coaches.
• Families & Children:  There are no kids’ clubs on board, but children and teenagers are certainly welcome on AQSC.  What a great way to experience American History with your kids or grandchildren! 
• Entertainment:  I love the local musicians on the European river ships, and you get those same sorts of entertainers on AQSC.  There is also a larger theatre with Broadway quality production shows.  So, you get both.
• Pre-cruise Hotel Night:  I think all the cruise lines should do this.  With American Queen, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in your city of embarkation is included in your fare.
• History:  The history of the Mississippi (and even the Columbia) is the history of our country.  It is certainly more recent history than you experience in Europe, and the events that occurred particularly along the Mississippi River are those events that shaped the country as it is today.  A better understanding of that history is nothing but good.

The vibe on board AQSC vessels is very casual, and the food and service are outstanding. 

To learn a bit more about this domestic travel option, you can watch our video, “7 Things You Need to Know About River Cruising in the US”:

https://youtu.be/LLPzn1wD8_Y

The video has been updated to reflect even better prices that are now available through American Queen’s “Come Home to America in 2021” promotion.

We also have a private sale running with American Queen right now.

You’ll receive a $200 onboard credit ($100 per person) when you book any American Queen river cruise between now and the end of the month – but only if you book with us. 

What better way to cope with “the worst of times” than by planning a trip for when we return to the “the best of times”.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2884544011828094

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

While we’re waiting for travel to return, we’re doing a “DREAM” series of articles, where we revisit some of our favorite trips, and invite your comments.  So far we’ve “visited” Paris and the beaches of Normandy: https://pamperedcruiser.com/im-dreaming-of-paris-right-now/

We’ve also been to the Lodges of Alaska:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/guide-to-alaska-land-packages/

Today, we’ll dream about the Danube – one of the two most common river cruise experiences in Europe (the other is the Rhine).  There are several different variations of this cruise, but if you travel from west to east, you’ll board your ship somewhere in southeast German province of Bavaria.  Most of these cruises are 7-nights long, and you travel through Bavaria, Austria, and Slovakia before ending in Budapest, Hungary.

About half of Danube River Cruise guests extend their stay in Eastern Europe and include a visit to Prague (Czech Republic).  Prague is the historical capital of Bohemia, and often described as “Paris of the East”.  It bears some of the features that makes Paris famous: a river running through the center of town, tons of museums and cathedrals, and a sidewalk café food and drink culture. 

If you want to see our video blogs of our trip to the Danube and Prague, here’s a link to that playlist on our YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVFxRaTWvnN1x-8f9dFUpUIN​

What we like about this trip:

• Eastern Europe is “new”.  For many of us that were travelling in Europe decades ago, it worth remembering that the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary were not open to us until the 1990s.
• Diversity of countries.  All four (five if you go to Prague) of the countries visited are very different from each other and offer something unique to visitors.
• Walk off the ship.  Almost every port puts you right in the middle of the place you’re visiting and doesn’t require a motor coach ride to get to the action. 
• Variety.  There is something for everyone on this cruise: The urban experience of Vienna and Budapest, the incredible scenery of the Wachau Valley, and the food and wine in Bavaria.

When to go:

• Danube River cruises are available from March through December.
• Any month of travel in northern Europe involves trade-offs.  Spring in Bavaria, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary offers moderate weather, but with a wide range (45 to 75 degrees).
• July, August, and the first half of September all have reliably warm weather, but it is also very crowded in Europe during these months.
• October through December have fewer tourists, but the daylight hours are greatly reduced (remember that this entire stretch of the Danube is north of Montreal (in terms of latitude), so the days are short in November and December). 
• Christmas Markets run from the last week in November through December and are most prevalent in Germany (although you’ll find some version just about everywhere). 

Who it appeals to:

• People who have travelled Western Europe and want to branch a bit further out. 
• Beer & Wine People.  We typically associate Bavaria with Oktoberfest (a fair association!), but there are also several wineries worth visiting along the Danube.
• History Buffs.  Rivers have been the transportation conduits in Europe for centuries, so much of the history of Europe over the past 2000 years takes place around its rivers.
• Scenery Lovers:  When you see a photo of a lonely river ship winding its way through castle-dotted hills, that is probably the Danube River.
• 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.

Insider Tip:  There are a wide variety of itineraries available on this stretch of the Danube.  Some focus much more on Bavaria, while others focus much more on Austria and Slovakia.  Make sure you choose the itinerary that best suits your interests.

Alternatives to a Danube River Cruise:

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

• Great Lakes.  There are 7-to-10-day cruises between Chicago and Toronto, and they are structured much like a river cruise: You start and finish in larger cities, but every day there is stop at some small township, where you can get out and immerse yourself in the local people and culture. 
• Lower Danube.  The source of the Danube is in the Swiss Alps (not far from where many cruises start/finish in Bavaria).  It drains into the Black sea, and there are some cruises that you can board in Budapest, and then sail east through Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, before finishing in Bucharest, Romania.
• 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.  The most common river cruises on the Mississippi are 7-night cruises between New Orleans and Memphis, and 2-week summer cruises between New Orleans and Minneapolis.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: PamperedCruiser/posts/2876786612603834

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

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