Blog - The Pampered Cruiser

River Cruise Solo WITHOUT Paying Double

Travelling solo has both benefits and challenges.

Perhaps the most significant challenge is paying double for accommodation – and the higher-end your trip, the more the single supplement bites.

That’s why I was pleased to see AMA Waterways’ current offer, where the single supplement is waived on select 2017 and 2018 sailings if you book before October 31st.

You are NOT limited to the base category cabins (i.e. window-only), which is the normal situation. A a range of stateroom types is available with the waived single supplement, including balcony and French balcony cabins.

So… what’s the catch?

None that I can see!

(By the way, in case you think this sounds rather cynical, I can assure you that I have become trained to be think this way becomes some travel providers will advertise a marvellous-sounding deal such as this one, but it often turns out to be only available on one or two departure dates, for example).

Yes… there are some date restrictions with AMA’s offer, but I was pleasantly surprised when I went to check the availability.

AMA is offering the waived single supplement on a wide variety of departures in 2017 and 2018, along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers. What caught my eye about this is that these are the most popular rivers for cruising in Europe, and even though there are some great itineraries along the other rivers, it is these two rivers that garner them most interest from our clients.

I have personally sailed with AMA (on the Rhine, from Amsterdam to Basel), and was very pleased with the entire luxurious experience.

I recently spent some time with Gary Murphy at Virtuoso Travel Week this year, where AMA Waterways won “Cruise Line of the Year”.

Gary is the Senior VP of Sales and co-owner of AMA Waterways. I asked him a few things about AMA that I thought might be interesting to anyone considering a river cruise.

Here’s a condensed version of our chat:

AMA has 20 ships in Europe, and have been cruising the rivers there for 15 years.
It is an American, family-owned business.
Their ships have won numerous awards, and have a maximum of 164 guests (compared to 190 on the same sized Viking ship)
This is the river cruise line for “Foodies”. Tapas are available all day, and there is a 5-course meal every night.
Premium wines and beer are included for all meals, and for “happy hour” before dinner.
Internet access is included in the fare
Fare includes an excursion in every port

As regular readers will know, it’s not very often that I promote a specific cruise line or offer. I prefer to put good information out there, and let people use their own judgment. However, when I see an offer that I feel truly stands out, then I do like to make people aware of it.

If you’re a solo traveller who has been considering a European river cruise, but you’ve always been put off by the cost, then now might be a good time to look at a river cruise with AMA Waterways. Remember, you must book before Oct. 31st to get the single supplement waived.

Planning a Cruise? I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Last Chance for Crystal’s Northwest Passage Cruise!

This morning, I was on board the Crystal Serenity for lunch and a ship tour.

If you’re not familiar with Crystal, this is a luxury, all-inclusive cruise line (they also offer river cruises, but that’s a story for another day).

The Serenity, with a capacity for 1070 guests and 655 crew, leaves Vancouver later today for a 7-day Alaska cruise, ending in Anchorage.

However, some of the guests boarding today were preparing for a much longer voyage.

Immediately following the 7-day Alaska itinerary, the Serenity continues with an amazing 32-day Northwest Passage voyage, from Anchorage to New York City.
Some guests are doing back-to-back cruises, travelling all the way from Vancouver to New York.

Here is a short (1:23 min.) video that gives you a flavor for the Northwest Passage itinerary:

When Crystal first offered the Northwest Passage trip last year, it sold out almost instantly. So, I was surprised to discover that there is still availability for this year. I had assumed it was sold out months ago.

Imagine sailing into New York Harbor, past the Statue of Liberty, having followed in the footsteps of explorers through the northern-most reaches of the continent!

Icebergs, isolated artic communities, whales, and polar bears… you would see it all.

This is not like other cruise destinations, where one ship after another visits the same ports.

Instead, you would be one of the first cruise visitors ever to visit these ports of call.

On last year’s voyage, a group of local native performers came on board at one of the ports, to entertain the passengers. Although everyone was impressed and delighted by the performance, what the guests will remember forever is this: the children who came on board to perform were entranced, not by the elegant décor or the appreciative audience, but by the potted trees throughout the ship. The children gazed at the trees in amazement, and cautiously stroked the leaves. Why? These children live so far north that they had never seen a tree before!

That’s how remote some of these communities are.

Needless to say, I quickly did some mental gymnastics to figure out if there was any way I could rearrange my business and personal life to stay on board for the next month, rather than disembarking after lunch (sadly, no).

However, maybe your schedule is more flexible than mine, and you can jump at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This is truly a trip of a lifetime, as Crystal is not offering this itinerary again after 2017.

If a Northwest Passage cruise is on your bucket list and you can travel last-minute, please get in touch immediately so I can secure a stateroom for you.

You can learn more about Crystal’s 2017 Northwest Passage cruise here: http://www.crystalcruises.com/voyage/details/northwest-passage-explorer-7320

Prices start at USD $24,479 per person (including taxes and port fees) for this luxurious, all-inclusive experience. The cruise departs Anchorage on August 15th, 2017 and arrives in New York on September 15th.

Planning a Cruise? I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Maybe This is The Excuse You Need to Try Out Luxury!

A couple of weeks ago however, I attended an industry function put on by Crystal Cruises. It made me want to share more about this cruise line with my readers, as I believe it offers great value.

I was especially excited to learn more about Crystal’s new River Cruises, but that’s a topic for another day.

For those not familiar with Crystal, they are a luxury, all-inclusive cruise line.

Crystal normally costs quite a bit more than Princess or Holland America. For some people, the additional cost is well worth it to get the inclusions and high quality amenities and services that all guests enjoy.

Crystal is currently offering some good deals that I thought I’d let you know about. It’s a great opportunity to try out luxury cruising for the first time, whether you’ve considered ‘moving up’ to luxury, or if you’ve cruised the Caribbean many times and are looking for something new. More about those deals in a minute.

But first – a bit more about Crystal.

Like all the luxury lines, Crystal operates smaller ships, with their largest carrying just over 1000 passengers. The obvious advantage is better service, and unique port stops that aren’t as crowded. About half of Crystal’s passengers sailed on Princess or Holland America on their most recent cruise, and the average age is about 60.

Crystal is the luxury line for active people. Crystal promises “Participative Vacations” whether it be in health, fitness, art, or culture. There are many more options on a Crystal ship than sitting on the deck chairs watching the world go by.

The other really nice thing about Crystal, is that it has far more inclusions than any of the mass-market lines. If you’ve ever gotten to the end of a cruise, and found that your on-board charges exceeded your fare, you’ll appreciate this. Here are some of the inclusions you can expect on Crystal:

Specialty restaurants included
Complimentary fine wines, champagne, and premium spirits
Open bar, everywhere on the ship
Specialty coffee, waters, juices and sodas
All gratuities included in the fare
24 hour room service included.
Broadway style entertainment, and learning/enrichment activities on board.

So if your bar-bill, gratuities, and on-board activities on your last cruises cost you several hundred dollars, then it might be better value for you to try a luxury line.

Here are some especially good deals that might interest you:

7-night cruise round-trip out of Fort Lauderdale, visiting Turks/Caicos, Grand Cayman, and Key West, departing on November 20, 2017, starting at $1995 per person (before taxes and port fees).
Learn more here: http://www.crystalcruises.com/voyage/details/tropical-treasure-7330

9-night cruise round-trip out of Fort Lauderdale, visiting Tortola, St. Bart’s, and St. Maarten, departing on November 27, 2017, starting at $2595 per person (before taxes and port fees).
Learn more here: http://www.crystalcruises.com/voyage/details/caribbean-cachet-7331

You don’t have to worry about that price being an inside cabin next to the engine room – there are no inside cabins on Crystal – all the staterooms have picture windows and/or verandahs.

If you’ve been curious about the luxury lines, there won’t be a better opportunity than this to check it out.

Planning a Cruise? I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

What Would It Be Like To Cruise For Months Rather Than Days?

In the past, I was always the type of person who really enjoyed going on vacation, but then enjoyed coming home even more.

I always viewed the idea of going away for months on end to be a bit of a non-starter for me. A week or two is one thing, but several months? I never thought that was my thing.

A few years ago, that changed.

Circumstances beyond our control meant that we (my husband and I plus our two-year-old son) had to move out of our house, where we were firmly settled in a peaceful, almost idyllic day-to-day life.

That is, as peaceful as co-existing with a two-year old can possibly be!

After an initial panicky period where we desperately starting searching for another suitable house, we decided to instead put all our stuff in storage, and be “homeless” for a few months.

We decided to look at this unexpected (and unwelcome) turn of events in a different way, and consider it to be an opportunity instead. We would make use of this ‘found time’ without the large monthly expense of rent or a mortgage payment to do some travelling.

At the time, we didn’t have school age kids, and were able to work remotely. The only thing stopping us was our own fear – which was considerable, I may add.

To make a long story short, we ended up spending several months in Mexico, and what I quickly learned is that being away for months at a time is NOT anything like being on vacation.

Gone was the pressure to soak up the sun, and drink as many margaritas as possible before returning to reality a few days later!

Instead, we developed new routines, and in hindsight, it was a period of tremendous growth. We eventually did return to “reality”, but those months away from our home and regular routine changed my outlook, and provided memories to last a lifetime.

Now, I’m contemplating another long trip – this time on a cruise ship.

At first, I was thinking of maybe 3 or 4 weeks, but then a specific cruise caught my eye.

It is six-month itinerary!

As much as I love cruising, a part of me thinks that this might be too long on a ship.

I wondered why I was feeling this way.

I don’t have professional excuses; one of the great things about my job as a travel advisor is that I can work from anywhere.

After a bit of self-examination, I realized that this might simply be another version of the same fear that almost kept me home from Mexico all those years ago… the fear that could have cost me a life-changing experience.

The cruise I’m looking at leaves in early 2019 from New York City on the Oceania Insignia. Before finishing in Florida 180 days later, I can visit the Panama Canal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand, India, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, Ireland, and Canada. And those are just the bigger stops.

That’s a lot of items on my bucket list I could tick off, all on a single trip!

Here’s the cruise I’m looking at: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/180-day-world-cruises/new-york-to-miami-INS190111H

This is just one of FIVE Round-the World cruises offered by Oceania in 2019: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/world-cruises/

One of the things I learned last time I was away for months rather than days is that there are a number large costs that temporarily disappear – such as those required to operate a car.

The price for this cruise starts at around $43,000 per person (double occupancy), which works out to about $250 per day. Admittedly, this is a hefty chunk of change. But when I stop and seriously look at how much I spend at home in 6 months, this looks like pretty good value to me – especially on a line like Oceania where I’ll be subject to great food, entertainment, and service in a casual atmosphere. And yay, cocktails are included too (if I want – which I do)!

All guests on any Oceania Around the World Voyage also get the Exclusive Prestige Package, which includes ALL of the following:

Free Pre-Paid Gratuities – a value up to $8,200
Free Onboard Medical Care
Free Unlimited Internet
Free Laundry Services
Free Exclusive Shoreside Events
Free Visa Package
Free Luggage Delivery
Free 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Stay
Free Roundtrip Transfers

NOTE: This promotion is subject to change on July 1st, 2017.

It may not be for everyone, but if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of a longer stay on board a ship, then this Oceania promotion is worth considering. Maybe the only thing stopping you is the same fear I experienced (and overcame) a few years ago.

Planning a Cruise? I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

“My Travel Agent Retired” – Now What?

I often hear from people who have lost their travel agent to retirement, and now they’re trying to figure out what they’ll do without them.

In most cases, these people have resorted to booking their cruises directly with the cruise lines, unknowingly forfeiting valuable perks that are only available when you book through a travel agent.

However, their biggest sadness is that they miss the ‘personal touch’ of working with a travel agent.

In the past, a long standing relationship with a travel professional would have been the natural result of having a bricks and mortar travel agency located close to their home.

In the past couple of decades, much of the travel industry has shifted to the web.

As a result, the role of the travel agent has changed dramatically.

In the 1980s and 90s, your travel agent was the only one who could access detailed travel information and booking engines. They were the gate keeper. You had to use a travel agent to get any information about dates and pricing; there was no other choice.

The internet changed all of this.

Now, consumers have all the same tools that travel agents have. There is complete transparency with prices, itineraries, and dates.

So why use a travel agent now?

With a virtually unlimited amount of information out there, it can be extremely difficult, frustrating, and time consuming to sift through it all.

Most people who contact me are completely overwhelmed!

Unfortunately, many travel agents have not made the shift, and still view their role as someone who provides ‘quotes’. I disagree.

Here’s my view of the value your new travel agent should be offering instead.

If twenty-five years ago, you had to go to a travel agent to GET information, then now the focus is much more de-coding or translating information.

Your travel agent should help you narrow down your choices, and guide you to focus on information about each of those choices that is personally relevant to you.

This is sometimes difficult to do. Many times I have already been to the destinations that clients are considering, or done the cruise they want to do. I have to resist the urge to tell them what I consider to be the “right choice”, because my personal preferences may be different than theirs.

So, your next travel agent should ask you lots of questions before making a recommendation.

She should also be comfortable telling you when she doesn’t know something.

I feel I know the cruise market very well, and yet with some regularity one of my clients will ask me a question I don’t know the answer to.

It is certainly my job to find out, and I usually know where to find the answers, but I don’t always have them off the top of my head.

It used to make me very uncomfortable to admit that I didn’t know the answer to a question. But over time I came to realize that with the vast amount of information available to me, and the speed with which things change within the travel industry, it is literally impossible for me to know everything.

I also came to realize that it builds credibility with a client when I tell them that I need to get back to them with the answer to their question, in order to be sure I am giving them accurate information.

So you don’t want your next travel agent to be a know-it-all. Instead, you need someone who will get you good information when you ask a thoughtful question – not someone who will fake their way through it.

Woody Allen said that 80% of success is showing up. There is some truth to this. If your new travel agent goes days without returning your phone call or email, then that person is not “showing up”. Travel agents often have several open files demanding their attention on any given day, but it is critical to be responsive, and that means getting back to people in a timely manner.

Finally, the travel agent of the 21st century is a person who views the relationship with the client as collaborative.

Ubiquitous information means that you’ll find plenty of opinions on any given topic.

It should be a shared responsibility between agent and client to evaluate opinions and information to ensure that your trip is the best it can be.

Planning a Cruise? I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

River Cruise Solo WITHOUT Paying Double

Last Chance for Crystal’s Northwest Passage Cruise!

Maybe This is The Excuse You Need to Try Out Luxury!

What Would It Be Like To Cruise For Months Rather Than Days?

“My Travel Agent Retired” – Now What?

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