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Shore Excursion Survival Guide

SHORE EXCURSIONS are still a point of irritation for many of you when we ask how your trip went.  There is some variation, but this is a problem across just about ALL the cruise lines, and in many different regions around the world.

First, the reasons why:

  • Professional tour guides are highly skilled people.  They are almost always university educated, and speak several languages.  You can’t hire “just anyone”!
  • After not getting paid for two years during the pandemic, many of these capable, skilled people left the industry and haven’t come back. 
  • The cruise lines contract their shore excursions out to local providers… so the same providers are servicing all the cruise lines.
  • About 2.2 MILLION more people got on cruise ships in 2023, than in 2019 (the last “normal” year).  Those extra millions are booking shore excursions with fewer providers.  

So this is both a supply and a demand problem!

What YOU can do about it:

  • Book Early – Don’t wait until the last minute to consider your shore excursions. 
  • Book Independent Excursions — You don’t have to buy your excursions from the cruise line, and it’s a myth that if you stick with cruise line shore excursions, they’ll hold the ship for you if you come back late.  Certainly, some ships HAVE delayed departure because of late comers.  However, more often, the captain of the ship does NOT have the discretion to delay departure.  Tides, commercial traffic, and the Harbor Master’s instructions trump the skipper’s ability to delay departure.
  • Book a Car & Driver — if you have 4 people or more, then it will probably be cheaper, and you’ll have a far better experience than on a motorcoach with 50 others.  The photo is of me, Bob, and our friends Julie & Jesse, when we hired a car and driver in Malta, instead of taking a shore excursion with 40 others on a motor coach.  It was WAY better. 
  • Pay for Privileged Access – Some excursions allow you to pay more to skip the line, or go before/after hours.  For example, both Tauck and Uniworld have some privileged access options.
  • Independent Exploration – you DON’T have to take an excursion.  In the old days, I would buy a guide book, and do self-directed tours of places I was visiting.  Today there are APPs you can download for a specific location that will provide an audio tour, and a map with the highlights.  You can use public transit, taxis or Uber to get around.  
  • Take a Foodie Tour – this a great way to get oriented, there’s usually fewer people, and you get to experience the connection between a people, their culture and their food.  
  • Look at the Big Picture – If you don’t think you’re going to get back to a place, and you have a specific interest, it may very well be worth paying for an upgraded excursion.
  • Ask How Many People will be on your Excursion — and consider whether you’d be better off paying more.  The “death-shuffle” with 40 others is not a good experience.
  • Do some Homework – In ports like Rome (that is over an hour from the port), you’ll want to have organized excursions to help you bridge that distance.  In ports like Vancouver, the ship docks downtown, so you can walk right off the ship and into the city.  These are just two examples, but knowing what you want to do in a particular port of call, and how logistically easy it will be to do that, will help you immensely. 

This is a problem that will probably self-correct, but it’s unclear as to when that will happen.  Until then, it’s worth getting in front of your shore excursions.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

TAUCK RIVER

PORTUGAL & SPAIN on the Douro River for one-week:

  • Visit Porto, Douro valley, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Mateus Palace, Guimaraes.
  • See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
  • Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon. 
  • Family departures available if you want to take your grandkids on a river cruise.
  • Departures April through November 2025 from $5890.

PRAGUE to PARIS for 14-days

  • Visit Paris for 2-nights, then board your ship in Luxembourg, and stop at Trier, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Bayreuth, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.  Then transfer to Prague for 2-nights.
  • Departures April through October from $9790

OKTOBERFEST:  Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September

  • Visit Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Lucerne, Munich
  • Reserved space in traditional brewery tent for Oktoberfest
  • Departures in September from $8190.  

OCEANIA 

There a few days left to take advantage of Oceania’s sale that will get you an upgrade, and some other goodies.  Here’s a link to the included sailings: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/black-friday?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser 

ALASKA:  Seattle round-trip departing August 8, for 10-days

  • Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, Juneau, Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Victoria
  • Veranda fares from $4299 including beverage package and $400 per person OBC.
  • See our ship tour video:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU 

HAWAII & TAHITI: Honolulu to Papeete departing September 30, for 15-days

  • Visit Kauai, Maui, Kona, Hilo, and then on to 5 ports in French Polynesia including an overnight in Bora Bora before finishing in Papeete. 
  • Fares from $3899 including beverage package and $500 per person OBC

ICELAND, GREENLAND & CANADA: Reykjavik to Montreal departing July 11, for 16-days

  • Visit 3 ports in Iceland, 3 ports in Greenland, 2 ports in Newfoundland, 2 ports in the Quebec Eastern townships, Quebec City, and Montreal (overnight).
  • Fares from $6649 including beverage package and $500 per person OBC.

CARIBBEAN:  Miami round-trip departing March 27 for 12-days

  • Visit Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, Bahamas
  • Veranda fares from $4899.  Includes Beverage Package, $400 per person on board credit.
  • See our VISTA ship tour video:  https://youtu.be/nN5lyXCEy_g 

SPAIN & PORTUGAL:  Lisbon to Barcelona departing April 12 for 12-nights

  • Visit Lisbon, Seville (for 2 nights!), Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Majorca, Barcelona
  • Golf excursions available on this trip!
  • Veranda fares from $3819.  Includes beverage package and $200 OBC.

OCEANIA CULINARY.  We get lots of inquiries about Oceania’s food and wine program, so we put together this Video: https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo 

LAND CRUISES WITH INTREPID TRAVEL

COSTA RICA:  San Jose to Tamarindo for 12-days

  • Costa Rica is both exotic, but nearby (under 4 hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami). 
  • Visit BOTH Caribbean and Pacific Coasts, see a turtle sanctuary, enjoy coffee where it is harvested, slide into the hot springs at Arenal Volcano, see the abundant wildlife in the rainforest, and take a surfing lesson in Tamarindo (or maybe just watch it!).
  • Departures November through February from $4947

MOROCCO:  Casablanca to Marrakech for 15-days

  • If you’re in Southern Europe, then this North African country is close by, and in many ways is more comparable to travelling in Europe, than Africa. 
  • Visit the Museum of Judaism, and Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca.  Walk the Medinas and Souks in Meknes, get a home-cooked dinner in Fes, visit the desert oasis town of Erfoud, go for a camel ride during your stay at a Sahara Desert Camp, stop in at Ait Benhaddou (where Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, and many other movies have been filmed), stay overnight in a village in the High Atlas Mountains, and finish in Marrakech, where you’ll experience the crossroads of cultures that makes up the place. 
  • Weekly departures year-round from $4520

JAPAN: Tokyo to Kyoto for 12-days

  • Visit the thriving metropolis of Tokyo for 3-nights, and then travel by rail through Hakone, Takayama, Shirakawa, to Hiroshima for 2-nights, and then on to Kyoto for 3-nights.  
  • Several departures per month (year-round) from $7322

In Case You Missed It:

INSIDE LOOK AT THE PAMPERED CRUISER:  If you’ve ever wondered what we do, what we don’t do, and how we differentiate ourselves…

https://pamperedcruiser.com/insiders-look-at-the-pampered-cruiser/

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND Destination Focus:  The cruise ship season on the St. Lawrence is just ending, so here’s some information if you’re looking for next fall:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/canada-new-england/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Viking Pre-Trip Mail-out Package.  If you’re taking a cruise with Viking, when will you get your luggage tags, and what else can you expect from them pre-trip?  We made this quick video to answer those questions:

https://youtu.be/62QlltkT7xo

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

  • $100 per person on board credit
  • 6-month final payment date
  • $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries. 

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

Have something to say about this?

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING – I hope you are recovering well from eating too much, and you DIDN’T spend all day today standing in a line-up at some awful shopping mall.  

I DO hope that you spend some time this long weekend with family and other people that are important to you.  At our house, Thanksgiving is a mix of different traditions, and like many families where there’s an American and Canadian in residence, you end up doing the whole thing once at the beginning of October, and then again this week. 

We’re in Mexico right now, and celebrated with some other expatriates.  We managed to find something beyond rice, beans and tortillas that somewhat resembled a Thanksgiving dinner.  Turkey is not a big part of the Mexican diet, and the Mexicans are more focused on Christmas at this point.  

I find myself largely ignoring the Black Friday marketing – it is more hype than anything substantial – and focusing more on what I believe we should be on this holiday.  Like most of you, I am immensely thankful for the people around me, and the peace and fortune in which I live.  Some of our acquaintances are pretty sure we’re enduring the apocalypse as we speak, and while most of those people are intelligent, contributing members of society, they have two things in common:

  1. They are addicted to television news.  This is not compatible with a healthy mental state, and can be every bit as devastating as other addictions.  And no… it doesn’t matter what channel you watch.  Our brains are not meant to witness a constant stream of images of death, destruction, and other sensationalized bad news on a daily basis. 
  2. They don’t travel.  If you get out into the world, you quickly realize we’ve got a good thing going here.  Yes – we should always look to be aware of those countries that do better than we do at certain things, and learn from that.  On balance – we are very fortunate, and must not forget that.  

It is also at Thanksgiving that I start planning family trips for the following year.  It is a tremendous privilege to be able to share unique experiences with family and close friends, and for an increasing number of people in my orbit, investing in experiences is far preferable than standing in line at the mall, buying more stuff we really don’t need (especially on Black Friday!)

I once heard a mall described as “a place we go to buy things we can’t really afford, and don’t really need, to impress people we don’t really like.”  Perhaps a bit cynical, but perfectly illustrates why many of us would rather invest in experiences with those that are important to us.

So today, rather than bombard you with more noise about Black Friday advertisements, I thought I’d highlight trips that lend themselves well to travelling with family and close friends.

Because those are the experiences to be truly thankful for.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS

If you want to travel with a multi-generational group, AMA makes that easy.  There are lots of rooms with a third berth, several adjoining rooms, and they allow people under 18.  Here are a few examples, if you’re working around kids in school:

MEKONG River: Vietnam & Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7-nights

PARIS & NORMANDY departing March 13, 15, 22 or 27 for 7-nights

FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam for 7-nights

  • Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwignshafen, Strasbourg, Basel

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

This luxury lifestyle brand has large rooms (some with 3rd berths), and is one of the only luxury small-ships with dedicated public space for those under 18 who like to travel with their families.  

Click here to learn more about the Explora Journeys experience: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-explora-journeys-experience-43wo3

CARIBBEAN round-trip MIAMI departing February 14 for 7-nights

SPAIN & MOROCCO from Rome to Barcelona departing April 23 for 11-nights

See our Explora ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/LHjAS0JKCQ0 

ATLAS YACHTS to REMOTE LOCATIONS

If you’d like to take your kids or grandkids to the more remote parts of the planet, then ATLAS has some options for you:

We are really excited about Atlas and we think this relatively new brand is a great fit for our clients!  Click here to learn more about the Atlas Ocean Voyages experience: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-atlas-ocean-voyages-experience-wx208

ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires departing December 17, 2025 for 11-nights

  • Includes charter flight to Ushuaia and 6-days of scheduled landings on the continent.
  • Fares from $12,654.

ICELAND & GREENLAND departing Reykjavik to New York – August 9, for 10-nights

  • Visit Iceland, and make 8-stops in Greenland, the board a charter flight (included) back to New York.
  • Verandas from $7999

BALTIC SEA departing Stockholm on July 30, for 9-nights

  • Visit Stockholm, Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki, 2 stops in Latvia, Gdansk, Ronne (Denmark), Binz (Germany), and finish in Copenhagen
  • Fares from $5799

TAUCK Bridges LAND CRUISES

Tauck has a whole series of products designed for travelling with children and grandchildren.  The itineraries are especially designed for all ages and generations to enjoy together.

Click here to learn more about Tauck Bridges Family Journeys (they offer Bridges Family River Cruises too!): https://inspires.to/experiences/tauck-bridges-family-journeys-1dgpo

MT. RUSHMORE & NATIONAL PARKS from Jackson WY to Rapid City for 8-days

  • Visit Jackson, Snake River Ranch, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Cody WY (for Buffalo Bill Center), Ucross, Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

COSTA RICA from San Jose to Liberia for 8-days

CANADIAN ROCKIES: Round-trip from Calgary for 7-days.

  • Take your kids or grandkids to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and visit Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Maligne Canyon, ride across the Athabasca Glacier and travel the Icefields Parkway.  
  • Cycling, light hiking, paddling, and optional river rafting.
  • Departures June through August from $5890.  If you depart in early July, you can travel independently pre or post trip and take-in the CALGARY STAMPEDE – the world’s LARGEST rodeo.  
  • Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/canadian-rockies-family-tour?tcd=yr2025&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

In Case You Missed It:

DESTINATION CANADA:  It’s right next door, and has become a top tourist destination for Americans.  Here’s some ideas on what to see in this vast country:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/destination-canada/

GLOBAL ENTRY and other frequent traveller programs.  Are these programs worth it?  Which one is best for you?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/trusted-traveller-programs-which-one/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Viking Pre-Trip Mail-out Package.  If you’re taking a cruise with Viking, when will you get your luggage tags, and what else can you expect from them pre-trip?  We made this quick video to answer those questions:

https://youtu.be/62QlltkT7xo

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid029RkDV93LHmBHdyrWGdizCZZthFq7Tfv53cnYoAUQjDuMCm5hUqK23w6eMby47VAJl

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Try the Train

LUXURY TRAIN TRIP – You’ve probably heard of Rocky Mountaineer, but you may not know that it is recognized as one of the world’s must-do rail journeys – both for train enthusiasts, and those that just really enjoy great scenery and wildlife spotting.  National Geographic describes the Rocky Mountaineer as “one of the world’s greatest trips”, and it’s routinely listed amongst travellers’ favorite rail trips.  

If you’ve spent any time on the Rocky Mountaineer website, it’s easy to get confused with the dozens of different options, so here is a quick cheat sheet:

The Canadian Train

There are dozens of different packages, but they are all centered around 3 different rail routes:

  • Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise (via Kamloops) – this is the original Rocky Mountaineer itinerary that has been operating since 1990.
  • Vancouver to Jasper (via Whistler, and Quesnel) – this routing is a bit further around and crosses the Rockies further north than the Banff itinerary.
  • Circle Journey round-trip Vancouver – this incorporates both the above routings.
  • Gold Leaf service is a double-decker, domed rail car, where you enjoy the scenery upstairs, and retire downstairs for your meals on board the train.
  • Silver Leaf service offers the same food, but it is served to you at your seat on a single-deck domed rail car. 
  • Calgary (for Banff) and Edmonton (for Jasper) are the nearest major airports on the Eastern terminus of these itineraries.  Vancouver Airport is well served, and about 8 miles from where the train boards.  Some of our Vancouver cruise clients also use Seattle Airport (about 120 miles south).  

Where it gets unnecessarily confusing is that there are literally dozens of different packages ranging between 2 and 14 days.  My best suggestion is to sketch out the itinerary you want (how many days in Vancouver, Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise etc.), and then we can help you choose the itinerary that best suits you.  

Here is ONE example for each of these rail routes:

Vancouver to Banff for 6-nights

  • Vancouver (2), Kamloops, Banff (2), Calgary.
  • Prices range between $2926 – $5127 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October. 

Vancouver to Jasper 6-nights

  • Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2)
  • Prices between $4237 – $5661 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

Circle Journey 12 -nights

  • Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3), Lake Louise (2), Jasper (2), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
  • Goldleaf service from $8672 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

The USA Train

Rocky Mountaineer began operations in the United States in 2021 with itineraries between Denver and Moab, Utah (via Glenwood Springs).  

  • Much like its Canadian counterpart, there are several itineraries, but they all incorporate this two-day rail journey into them.
  • There is no Gold Leaf service in the US, because the tunnels along the route are not large enough to accommodate the double-decker Gold Leaf cars.
  • If you’re looking for something more than Silver Leaf service, then Silver Leaf Plus is offered.  This enables access to a lounge car with a bar, and outdoor viewing platform. 
  • Moab does have a regional airport, but most people use Las Vegas or Salt Lake City for the western terminus of their trip. 
  • There is an option to go round-trip from Denver.

Here are two examples of US itineraries

Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

  • Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
  • $5209 to $6474 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Denver round-trip for 7-nights 

  • Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
  • $4895 – $6484 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Some notes on all Rocky Mountaineer itineraries

  • You don’t sleep on the train – otherwise you’d miss some of the incredible scenery.  The train operates in daylight hours, and you sleep in hotels at night.  They take care of your luggage, so the logistics are made as easy as possible.
  • These trips are about scenery, wildlife, food and wine.  The scenery on the Canadian side rivals what you would see in Denali National Park in Alaska (some would argue the Canadian Rockies are even more impressive).  On the US side, the scenery is different, but every bit as spectacular, and you have close proximity to several of the Southwest’s National Parks.

Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES

Uniworld has custom built and decorated ships specific to the region in which they sail.  Fares in transfers, a choice of shore excursions at each port, an open bar, and gratuities. 

TULIPS & Windmills departing Amsterdam for 10-days:

  • Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Haarlem (for Keukenhof Gardens), Hoorn, Nijmegen, Rotterdam (Kinderdijk), Veere, Bruges, Antwerp (overnight)
  • March 25 from $3429.  
  • April 3 from $3359
  • May 5 from $3709

VENICE & Northern Italy for 7-nights

  • Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
  • Departs every Sunday from April – October from $2939.  This is far more cost-effective than staying in a hotel in Venice for a week.

There are a number of add-ons you can make to this cruise: 

  • ADD: 2-nights in Milan to see Davinci’s Last Supper (after hours access), and a City Tour of Milan.  Stop in Verona and Valpolicella Wine Cellar en route to Venice.
  • ADD:  Lugano (Switzerland)  & Lake Como
  • ADD: Train to Istanbul.  If you want to add to your country-count, then transfer from the ship to board the train in Venice and stop in Trieste, Ljubljana (Capital of Slovenia), Belgrade (Capital of Serbia), Montenegro (beaches every bit as spectacular as Greece, but undiscovered), Bulgaria, and 2 nights in Istanbul.
  • ADD: Rome 3-nights.  Includes a city tour, and a tour of the Vatican.
  • ADD:  Train from Budapest.  Board in Budapest, then visit Vienna, Innsbruck, Zurich, Lake Como, Verona, Trieste, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, then disembark train in Venice to board  the ship. 

Here’s a link to our video blog when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=IJvnYEJlqJt_iV4n 

CRYSTAL CRUISES Upgrade Sale

Guests booking a Veranda will be automatically upgraded to an Aquamarine Veranda Suite. 

JAPAN & PHILIPPINES from Tokyo to Manila departing February 14 for 11 nights

  • Visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, Busan, Jeju, Shanghai (overnight), Currimao, Manila (overnight)
  • Fares from $6800

MEDITERRANEAN from Lisbon to Istanbul departing March 31 for 14-nights

  • Visit Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Malta (overnight), Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus, Istanbul 
  • Fares from $6800

REMOTE DESTINATIONS with HX

Travel on the world’s first Hybrid Electric cruise ships, with only 500 guests to the remote corners of the globe.

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage departing May 29 for 13-days

  • Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, Haines, William Henry Bay, Sitka, Icy Bay, Cordova. 
  • Fares from $5626

Includes drinks with meals, wifi, gratuities, and outdoor gear.  

See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

  • 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.
  • Depart January through March from $6727
  • Depart May through August from $7021

Greenland, Newfoundland & Labrador from Reykjavik to St. John’s for 18-days

  • Start in Reykjavik, and then visit 2 ports in Greenland, before travelling down the Labrador coast to Newfoundland, and finish in St. John’s. 
  • Depart September 18 from $10,169

ANTARCTICA with VIKING including FREE AIR

  • Round-trip from Buenos Aires for 13-days.  Fly to Ushuaia (included) to board the ship.  Travel the Drake Passage and have 6-days of landings on the continent.
  • Viking has a submarine, special operations boat, kayaks, and zodiacs at your disposal. 
  • Departures in January and February 2025 from $9995 per person with FREE AIR from the US.
  • See our Ship Tour video here:  https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo 

In Case You Missed It:

HOW TO CHOOSE A RIVER CRUISE LINE:  At first, the river cruise lines look almost the same.  The ships are all the same size, and they go to all the same places.  So which one’s right for you?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-do-you-choose-a-river-cruise-line/

NORTHERN LIGHTS:   The Aurora Borealis have been very active in the past few months, so you’ve been asking about the best way to see them.  Here’s an article we wrote a few months ago that answers those questions: https://pamperedcruiser.com/northern-lights-and-winter-solstice/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Windstar STAR BREEZE ship tour video.  Wander with Bob through this 320-Guest motor yacht:

https://youtu.be/VSsLmFZPqdI

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

  • $100 per person on board credit
  • 6-month final payment date
  • $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries. 

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

Have something to say about this?

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Destination Eastern Europe

We’re just winding up a trip in Eastern Europe, and much like many of you, we didn’t previously have much experience travelling this part of the world.  For some of you, it might not even be on your radar, so here are some reasons to consider Europe’s Eastern countries:

You haven’t been here – When you travelled in Europe as a younger person, these countries were behind the iron curtain, and not available to you.  They are every bit as rich in history, culture, music and food as Western Europe, just not as well known.

The history of conquer and occupation – All of Europe has a violent history, but the countries of Eastern Europe have been conquered, occupied, and reconquered for centuries.  Given the closer proximity of Eastern Europe to Asia and Africa, there are many more influences here.  Each of those invaders left evidence of their time in the region.

Optimism and Hope – In the 1980s, these countries were falling apart as the Soviet Union was collapsing.  There is lots of work yet to do, but the progress made in these countries in a relatively short period of time is inspiring.  

Fewer Tourists – I wouldn’t call it “quiet” in Eastern Europe, but the crowds aren’t as overwhelming as London, Paris or Rome.  

Scenery – The Iron Gates Gorge on the Lower Danube rivals the Wachau Valley or the Rhine Gorge in terms of scenery.  At its most narrow point, the river is only a bit wider than a football field, so you’re up close.  

What we can learn from the people here – Many of the people you’ll meet in Eastern Europe remember the “Communist Times” and the Balkan wars.  If we’re willing to learn, they have much to teach us about protecting freedom, healing, forgiveness, and co-existing with others whose opinions may differ from our own.  

Food – particularly if you like perogies or yogurt.

Castles and Fortresses – Europe’s full of palaces (a place where sovereigns live/lived), but there are many more castles (places that were built for defence), and fortresses (large fortifications with thick walls, moats, and drawbridges) in Eastern Europe.  If you really want immerse yourself in the remnants of the medieval feudal period, there’s no shortage of this in Eastern Europe

Today’s Travel Opportunities

LAND CRUISES in Eastern Europe with COLLETTE

POLAND from Warsaw to Krakow for 12-days

  • Visit Warsaw, Malbork, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Czestochowa, Auschwitz, Krakow
  • Departures in April and May from $2699

GREECE and the BALKANS from Zagreb to Athens for 16-days:

  • Travel from Croatia, to Bosnia/Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania before finishing in Greece.  Visit Zagreb, Karanac, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tirana, Athens
  • Departures June through October for $5299

RIVER CRUISE OPTIONS in EASTERN EUROPE

BUDAPEST to BUCHAREST for 13-days with TAUCK

  • Visit Budapest for 2 nights, then travel to Mohacs, Pecs, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade (with a private Palace evening at Royal White Palace of Serbian royal Family), Iron Gates scenic cruising, Ruse (also known as little Vienna), Constanta & Mamaia, then disembark to visit Bucharest and Transylvania.  
  • Depart August 1 or 7 from $7190

VIENNA to BUCHAREST for 17-days with VIKING

  • Visit Vienna (2-nights), Bratislava, Budapest (overnight), Mohacs, Vukovar, Ilok, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Donji Milanovac, Iron Gates Scenic Sailing, Vidin, Pleven, Constanta, and Bucharest (2 nights).
  • Depart March through November from $5999

AMSTERDAM to BUCHAREST for 24-days with Uniworld

  • Visit Amsterdam, Cologne, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Vienna, Budapest (2 nights), Mohacs, Batina, Vukovar, Belgrade, Golubac Fortress, scenic cruising Iron Gates, Vidin, Ruse, Giurgiu, Bucharest (2 nights). 
  • Depart May through July from $9809

ATLAS EPICURIAN EXPEDITIONS

What do you do with your luxury Antarctic 200-guest vessel in the off-season?  If you’re Atlas, you swap out the Expedition Team for a team of Culinary experts, and run foodie tours in the Mediterranean. 

GREECE & CROATIA from Athens to Dubrovnik departing August 16 for 9-nights

  • Visit Athens, Nafplion, Corinth Canal, Delphi, Olympia, Kefalonia, Corfu, Albania, Kotor, Dubrovnik (overnight).
  • Fares from $5499

PORTUGAL & SPAIN from Lisbon to Barcelona departing September 27 for 10-nights

  • Visit Lisbon, Portimao, Cadiz, Marbella, Cartagena, Ibiza, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, Port Vendres, Barcelona
  • Fares from $4369

CLOSER to HOME CRUISE OPTIONS with WINDSTAR

We were on board Windstar in the summer, and are still able to extend the 10% buy on board discount on any of their cruises.  Here are a few examples:

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND from Montreal to New York departing October 7 for 12-days

  • Visit Montreal, Quebec City (overnight), Gaspe, Cap aux Meules, Louisbourg, Halifax, Portland (overnight), Cape Cod, NYC (overnight).
  • This is a James Beard Foundation Foodie Cruise… for those that want to add an elevated culinary experience to the incredible scenery.
  • Fares from $7199 LESS 10% discount. 

PANAMA CANAL from San Juan to Puerto Vallarta departing April 6, 2026 for 22-days

  • Visit San Juan, Isla, Catalina, Santo Domingo, Cartagena (overnight), San Blas, Colon, Full daylight transit, Panama City (overnight), Isla Parida, Golfo Dulce, Quepos, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, Playas del Coco, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Manzanillo, PV.
  • Fares from $8399 LESS 10% discount.

In Case You Missed It:

Have you been to our YouTube Channel?  It DOESN’T have all the slick, edited videos with professional models like the cruise lines have.  This will look a lot more like your own vacation videos.  https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-we-post-on-youtube/ 

Are TRIP ADVISOR and CRUISE CRITIC a waste of time?  Probably not, but you need to be very careful how you use them:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-trouble-with-wiki-sites/ 

Latest YOUTUBE Post:  

Windstar STAR BREEZE ship tour video.  Wander with Bob through this 320-Guest motor yacht:

https://youtu.be/VSsLmFZPqdI

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.

We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.

We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.

There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).

If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02xVzRmbuCRDjCjvKLggnvxBANe8Kh11oGGSER8bsKFiocfASUAAcz3aBckr7xb2hvl

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

On Veterans’ Day

Bob speaking….  If you follow us on Facebook, you know that Sue and I are on a swing through Eastern Europe right now.  I want to share a personal experience that is somewhat appropriate with Veterans’ Day coming up Monday. 

The photo collage above tells well more than a million words, but I’ll keep it short.  The fellow on the left is my Uncle Bill (actually my mother’s Uncle).  He passed away in 2009, but this photo was when he was 20 years old.  Like other young Canadians of his generation, when the war in Europe broke out in 1939, he was drafted into the Canadian Air Force, and spent the next three years flying missions over occupied France.

In September of 1942, his luck ran out, and he was shot down over Dieppe.  He parachuted out, and eluded capture for two weeks in enemy territory.  Desperate for something to eat, he knocked on the door at a French Catholic Church, who fed him and then promptly turned him over to the Gestapo.  

He was transported to Stalag 344 in Lamsdorf, where he spent the next two plus years, before being walked at gunpoint westward across Europe (on the “Death March”) in January of 1945 with the Soviet army advancing from the east.

My earliest memory of this incredible man is walking down the street with him, and running into some tourists that he had guided the day before around his home town of Banff.  He wasn’t speaking to them in English or French, so I asked him what language it was, and where he learned to speak it.  He told me he had been a “guest” of the Germans in the 1940s, and while he was there, learned their language.

Now (in the 1970s), his retirement job was offering German tourists guided tours of Banff.  If you ever wondered why they are called the Greatest Generation, this story must answer the question. 

The middle photo is me visiting the remains of his German “home” at Stalag 344 this week in what is now Lambinowice, Poland.  I was able to walk the same ground my great-uncle walked more than 80 years ago, although where he had machine guns pointed at him, there wasn’t even so much as a ticket booth obstructing my visit.  

I imagined walking with the 20-year-old version of my uncle, and telling him he would survive this ordeal, and go on to live a long, full life, and be a pillar of his community.  I told him that the atrocities of this war were far worse than he could have imagined during his time there.  I then told him that Poland was now a model of democracy with a strong, independent and free people.  I let him know that thanks to him, that Europe was mostly united as another model of freedom and democracy.  France and Germany now don’t have a border and share a currency.  

I finally told him about my son… who is now 20-years-old (the right picture above with Sue and me in Bosnia last year).  My son, who has travelled all over the world, and backpacked with his friends through Europe at the same age that Bill was when he was a prisoner of war.  

My imaginary conversation with my great uncle Bill ended with me thanking him for fighting for all of us for 6 years, with 3 of those years that could only have been a living hell as prisoner of war.  I told him I can’t pretend to understand his sacrifice but have immense gratitude for it.  I told him I was worried that we have not learned the lessons we should have from his experience.  That I was embarrassed by the anger and entitlement our current society seems to embrace.  What can we possibly be angry about, if he was touring his captors around his home town only a few years after his incarceration?

Finally, I told him that the ONLY reason I am able to travel the entire world (and help others do likewise), and the only reason my 20-year-old son can run around Europe under MUCH different circumstances is because of the sacrifice he made at Stalag 344.

Bill is one of millions of veterans from many countries with similar stories.  The ONLY appropriate tribute to these incredible people is to remember what they fought for, what they fought against, and just how fortunate we truly are, and that ALL of our current grievances are petty and shallow by comparison. 

Today’sTravel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS

AMA is a great option if you’re looking for an elevated culinary experience, and like lots of options for your included shore excursions.  

EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing June 23 for 7-nights

  • Travel through Hungary, and then visit Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.  We’re on this cruise right now if you want to follow along on Facebook.
  • Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
  • Fares from $4040 including $150 per person on board credit.

PARIS & NORMANDY departing July 5 or August 2 for 7-nights

  • Start in Paris, then visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens) before returning to Paris
  • Fares from $3839 including $150 per person on board credit.

BORDEAUX WINE Cruise departing August 28 for 7-nights

  • Enjoy the famed wine region, historic architecture, and ancient castles
  • Fares from $4470 including $150 per person on board credit.

FRANCE:  Paris, Normandy and Bordeaux back to backs for 14-nights

  • Do the above 2 cruises back to back.  You’re going all the way to Europe anyway, so why not take in these completely different regions of France, with all the logistics between ships taken care of.
  • Visit during harvest!  Depart October 2, 2025 from $8179 ($500 off)

AZAMARA Small Ship Itineraries

If you want small ships (680 guests) with immersive itineraries, then Azamara may be the right fit for you:

SOUTH AMERICA: Santiago to Buenos Aires departing February 2 for 23-nights

  • Visit 6 ports in Chile, and 2 days in the Chilean Fjords, Ushuaia, a sail-by of the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Montevideo
  • Fares from $5849 with a $750 cabin credit

ICELAND, GREENLAND, CANADA: Reykjavik to Montreal departing August 30 for 14-nights

  • Visit Reykjavik (overnight), 3 ports in Greenland, St. John’s, 2 ports in Quebec Eastern townships, Quebec City before finishing in Montreal.
  • Fares from $4099 with a $500 cabin credit

ITALY INTENSIVE: Nice to Venice departing October 9 for 11-nights

  • Visit Florence, Pisa, Rome, Salerno, Sicily, Crotone, Taranto, Kotor.
  • Fares from $4549 with $400 cabin credit

HX 

Travel on the world’s first Hybrid Electric cruise ships, with only 500 guests to the remote corners of the globe.

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage departing May 29 for 13-days

  • Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, Haines, William Henry Bay, Sitka, Icy Bay, Cordova. 
  • Fares from $6027

Includes drinks with meals, wifi, gratuities, and outdoor gear.  

See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

  • 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.
  • $7456 for departures May through August

TAUCK DOMESTIC LAND CRUISES

Michigan Lakes and Mackinac Island from Traverse City to Detroit for 8-days

  • Visit Traverse City (for the sand dunes, vineyards, and sandy beaches), Petoskey, Mackinac island, Midland, Bay City, Frankenmuth Bavarian Village, Dearborn (for Henry Ford Museum), Detroit.
  • Departures from May through October from $5290 per person.

SOUTHEAST from Jacksonville to Charleston for 8-days

  • Visit St. Augustine, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Beaufort.
  • Departures March through October from $4990

FREE AIR Promo with VIKING

It’s NOT unusual to see Viking offer FREE AIR.  It IS unusual to see it to these destinations:

JAPAN & ALASKA.  Toyko to Vancouver departing April 17 for 26-days

  • Visit Tokyo (overnight), Sapporo (overnight), Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Yakutat Bay, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, then sail the Inside Passage to Vancouver
  • Fares from $4999 ($3000 off) including Free Air.  This is a repositioning cruise, and the cost per day is unheard of.  

AUSTRALIA & BALI.  Sydney to Bali departing March 21 for 17-days

  • Visit Newcastle, Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Cairns, Thursday Island, Darwin (overnight), Komodo NP, Lambok.  
  • Optional 6-night pre-trip land extension to Ayers Rock and Port Douglas.
  • Fares from $7499 with Free Air.  

EGYPT.  Round-trip Cairo for 12-days with several departures February to June

  • Do 3-nights in Cairo (for the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids & Sphinx, then fly to Luxor to board the ship, and visit the temples of Karnak and Luxor, Qena, Valley of the Kings, Esna, Aswan, Felucca Ride, Edfu.
  • Fares from $5999 with Free Air.

In Case You Missed It:

Do you need a visa to visit Europe?  https://pamperedcruiser.com/do-you-need-a-visa-for-europe-or-the-uk/ 

Mediterranean in the off-season?  There will be fewer crowds, for sure, but what else do you need to consider?   https://pamperedcruiser.com/quiet-season-mediterranean/

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

  • $100 per person on board credit
  • 6-month final payment date
  • $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries. 

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32

Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

Latest YouTube Post:  AMA Waterways Shore Excursions

Bob sits down with Kristin Karst – Co-Founder, Owner, and EVP at AMA to discuss how they do their shore excursions differently than the other river cruise lines in Europe:https://youtu.be/YK30TUkkueY

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0p4BSSk4FZ5LTXV9MtHcXc4aAPzUW6RqEkABxCEp1Bcb2dSog29tQaF2wFTqd2jzzl

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Hi There!

My mission is to help my clients accomplish the dream experiences on their travel-related 'bucket lists'.  Often, that includes a small ship cruise.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sue Bradley

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The Pampered Cruiser

The Pampered Cruiser