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?

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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

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?

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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

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?

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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

We’re all anxiously watching the news seeking a crystal ball that will predict when we’ll get to travel again.

I’ve been doing some homework, and here are a few tidbits you might find interesting:

• Travellers aren’t concerned about flying during covid.  They’re concerned about their activities being restricted at their destination.
• Travel recovery will begin before there is widespread access to a vaccine, but it will be in specific pockets.
• There is pent-up demand for travel, but people are choosing to “wait and see”.
• There is a high correlation between sentiment (based on the news that day), and people’s buying intentions for travel.

It is this last bullet point I want to talk about, but first let me tell you where I’m gathering this information from. 

McKinsey is a big management consulting firm, and they have always differentiated themselves by doing deep and extensive research.  They authored a report in late September called “The Travel Industry Turned Upside Down”.  It is NOT a “light” read – it’s jammed with great information, but for me it was a little bit like being back in college trying to sort through 100 pages of stats and insights, trying to mine out the relevant bits. 

I managed to distill that down to the four bullet points above (likely to the dismay of the report’s authors).

The fourth bullet point above jumped out at me.  Essentially it is saying that people’s willingness to buy travel is directly related to how they feel that day, and this sentiment is largely based on the news they consume. 

Most of us are bombarded with several hours per day of TV news that is both repetitive and lacks context.  So, it shouldn’t be a shock that it has big influence on both our “sentiment”, and future purchasing decisions.

So why do I think this is valuable?

The next several weeks are likely to be full of bad news.  Public health officials told us many months ago to expect a second wave of covid in October/November time frame.  It is clear this is underway in Europe already, and last time we weren’t far behind them.  This also fits the pattern of the 1918 pandemic, so there is a reasonable assumption that things will temporarily get worse before they get better.

All the cruise lines and other travel companies have employees who work in a department aptly named “Revenue Management”, and who are going to be FREAKING OUT in the next few weeks, as people’s “sentiment” causes them to further delay purchase decisions.

The opportunity here is much like purchasing stocks when the market is low.  If you are able to see beyond the short term, you can end up doing very well in the longer term.  This applies whether you are considering new travel plans ssor are struggling with whether to keep the plans you have. 

We’re already seeing some signals from vendors.  Here are a few examples:

AMA Waterways:  Free air to Europe on selected departures (but the list of departures is fairly large).  AMA is particularly well suited to those like more active options when on a river ship. 

Seabourn:  Suite upgrades and 10% off when you pay by November 20.  All the staterooms on Seabourn are suites (minimum 300 square feet), and it’s really nice to get a veranda for the price of an ocean view, and the option to save an additional 10%.

SilverSea:  Much like Seabourn, this an ultra-luxury product, and they are offering included air, 10% off, or a $1000 on board credit.  Our agency also often gets additional goodies on SilverSea, and for many 2021 cruises you can combine many, if not all of these offers.

There are two things to consider as we work our way through this pandemic:

1. What is actually happening, and how that will affect our ability to travel.
2. How the situation is affecting the psychology of people’s willingness to travel.

An awareness of these factors could serve you very well in making your next vacation plans.

Remember, the next few weeks are likely to be full of bad news.  The cruise lines may react to public sentiment by offering some great deals, like the ones mentioned above.  You’ll have the opportunity to “buy low” if you keep the longer term in mind.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2839901169625712

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

Some of you have spoken to Bob on the phone or seen the videos he posts on our YouTube Channel.  If you have, you’ve probably noticed he’s got a slight accent that’s a bit strange and might be hard to place. 

That’s because he was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, which means he makes some strange vowel sounds (particularly the “o’s”), speaks (really bad) French, is nauseatingly polite, and loses his mind during the Stanley Cup hockey playoffs. 

It also means we celebrate both American and Canadian holidays in our house.  This past Monday was Thanksgiving in Canada, so we get to celebrate and reflect in both October and November every year.

Everyone else will be putting out their list of things they’re thankful for in about 5 weeks, so I thought I would use this opportunity to beat everyone to the punch.

For some people, it’s been a year where they have to work really hard to find things to be thankful for.

Not me. 

There is no doubt the pandemic has caused significant pain. 

We have had all the restrictions and limitations that everyone else has faced AND we make our living selling travel (not the best industry in 2020). 

There is also the generalized societal anxiety, which has manifested itself in all kinds of civil and political upheaval.

So why am I thankful?

If this is our generation’s burden to bear, then we have gotten off very lightly. 

Seventy-five years ago, we would have been sending sons and grandsons off to fight a war in Europe. 

One-hundred years ago, a very similar pandemic had far more devastating effects on both public health and the economy. 

In the 500 years since the Renaissance, there have been countless wars, plagues and misfortunes.  Life was much shorter and much more brutal.

The fact that I didn’t get to Mexico this year seems like a fairly minor grievance in comparison.

For the past several months we’ve been asked to stay at home and/or limit the number of people we see in person and maintain distance when we do so.  This seems comparatively minor when viewed in the context of all the pain that those who came before us had to endure. 

This is not to minimize anyone’s pain.  It is also in full acknowledgment of the real struggles people are facing – I get it personally – Bob and I only get paid when people travel, and that hasn’t happened in a very long time.

I still feel tremendously privileged to live in this time and place.  I would not trade covid-19 for any of the other calamities our species has faced previously. 

So, yes, it will be a bit longer before I get out into the world again.  I’ll spend the money I would have spent travelling supporting local businesses in my community.  And I’ll rise above all the nonsense being hurled at me by the nightly news.

There’s much to be thankful for – For one thing, I’m thankful I get to celebrate Thanksgiving in both October and November.

Hang in there… it will get better.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2829779680637861

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