When people ask me what my job is, it can sometimes make me pause. 

Bob and I don’t really consider this a “job” – it’s more of a passion project we’re pursuing because we’re too old to be on a corporate food chain somewhere, and too young to “retire”. 

If this is a job, then there is no doubt it is the best job ever.

The most obvious perk is that we get to travel a fair bit.  This past summer, we were the onboard Virtuoso Hosts for an Alaskan cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn. 

But more on that in a minute.

What is a Virtuoso hosted cruise, and why might that make any difference to your experience?

Virtuoso is the travel consortium that our agency is affiliated with.  There are about 25,000 Virtuoso Travel Advisors world-wide, and it is through this network we are able to get you extra benefits and amenities on many cruises.

Sometimes, that additional benefit is just an onboard credit, but on Virtuoso Hosted Voyages there are often some interesting goodies:

• An onboard welcome reception exclusively for Virtuoso guests.  This is a great way to jump-start getting to know people on your voyage.  After having been a host, it is always amazing to me how much our Virtuoso guests have in common with each other, and how quickly they connect.
• An exclusive “Shore Experience”.  This is different than a shore excursion in so far as it is not something available for purchase by other guests.  Sometimes it is after-hours access to a local attraction when it is not overrun with tourists.  Other times it might be an exclusive dinner, or other food and wine experience.
• The services of the Virtuoso host.  The Hosts are not members of the ship’s crew, nor are they tour leaders.  It is more like travelling with a friend who knows the ropes really well. 

As I mentioned earlier, we were the Virtuoso Hosts on board the Seabourn Sojourn to Alaska this past summer.  It’s taken us a while to get our videos posted, but they are all on our YouTube Channel now.  Here is the link to that Playlist:

We can help with any cruise you may have in mind, but if the video clips inspire you to take a small ship trip to Alaska, NOW is a good time to book Seabourn for next season. 

Until November 20^th, Seabourn is offering the following booking incentives for Alaska:

• A Veranda Suite upgrade (get a Veranda for the price of an Oceanview stateroom)
• Up to $500 on board credit
• Up to $1000 Air Credit
• 300 free internet minutes
• 50% reduced deposit

As always on Seabourn, gratuities, all beverages (including an in-suite mini bar stocked and refilled with your preferences), and specialty dining is included in the fare. 

Seabourn ran this same promotion last fall, and we had more than one person that called us after the promotion was over asking us when it would come around again. 

It’s here now.

Book before Nov. 20^th to get the extra perks from Seabourn mentioned above.

Many of Seabourn’s Alaska sailings are hosted Virtuoso Voyages, so you’ll receive the Virtuoso benefits in addition to the Seabourn incentives!

You must book through a Virtuoso agency like mine to get the Virtuoso benefits (you will NOT receive these benefits if you book directly with the cruise line).

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

India is exciting, exhilarating, exotic… more than a little scary for many of us. 

I spent a fair bit of time in my 20’s backpacking around parts of Europe and the South Pacific.  I also ventured to Africa, where Buthe absence of railway and other basic infrastructure forced me into my first experience with organized group travel, which turned out to exceed my expectations.

But India? 

India is a paradox.  It is one of the world’s fastest growing economies and has British-inspired legal and governmental institutions and rule of law; yet it has history and culture that is entirely unique.

It is also a place I would hesitate to travel on my own.  The logistics are just too complicated.

It is interesting that Europe is the most popular place on the planet for river cruising, and yet Europe by any measure is very easy to travel.  For those of us from North America, we love the idea of being able to see a depth of history and culture that we just don’t have back at home.  If you can do this on a river ship, and only unpack once, then so much the better.

A cruise on the Ganges River in India offers those same advantages, but even more so because travelling in India is somewhat more challenging than Western Europe.

Uniworld, a  brand most people recognize from their boutique river ships in Europe, also has a ship on the Ganges.  It goes round-trip from Kolkata, but their 12-night itinerary includes all the major attractions in Northern India:

• New Delhi
• Mother Theresa’s House
• The Taj Mahal
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Kalna
• Matiari
• Murshidabad, Baranagar
• Mayapur, Chandannagar

I think I’d like to do this trip just so I could do yoga on the top deck of the river ship while cruising the Ganges River!

Uniworld runs their ships in India early in the year (Jan to Mar), and again in the fall (Sep – Dec). 

The ship only carries 56 passengers and 36 crew, so it is an intimate experience.

Prices for a Signature Suite (260 square feet with a French Balcony with floor to ceiling windows) start at $7500 per person for a 12-night cruise. 

It’s a good time to book, as Uniworld is offering 10% off their 2020 cruises when you book by Oct. 31^st, 2019 and pay in full at time of booking.

If India’s on your bucket list, but (like me), you might have thought you were too old to manage what India might throw at you, this could be an excellent option.

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

The first time I saw them must have been in a Bond Film. 

You know what I’m talking about – luxurious private, thatched bungalows built on stilts over turquoise, 80-degree ocean water.

Such an outing has been on my bucket list ever since.

The good news is that these resorts are not just the purview of the James Bond types any more.  While typically selling for more than your standard Motel-6, such adventures are generally within reach of those of us trying to get this tick in the box.

There are lots of different places to experience the James Bond style floating hotel rooms that I dream of, but there’s no doubt that Tahiti is the top of this list. 

Tahiti also happens to be the home port of Paul Gauguin cruises.  Here’s an interesting little tidbit that I never considered before:

By air, Tahiti is only two hours further away than Hawaii.  That’s just one movie or a couple of cocktails!

Now, I realize that for those living in the Eastern or Central time zones that Hawaii is, in fact, a long way away.  But if you’re going to invest that amount of time, then you might want to consider Tahiti instead.

Paul Gauguin makes it easy, by including your flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco in the cruise fare.  This is obviously great for those who live in California but given that it is often cheap to get from many parts of the country to So-Cal, the journey to Tahiti doesn’t look so ridiculous.

There are a lot of inclusions on Gauguin too.  Besides your air, the price also includes gratuities, beer & wine, snorkel gear, and selected other water sports. 

We are seeing some interesting deals from them for departures this December, with 7-night cruises starting at $4995 per person.  

As a travel agent, I can tell you that when I first started to market small-ship cruise lines, Paul Gauguin really stood out to me. 

Each of the cruise lines has their own claim to fame, but Paul Gauguin is very clear in their unique offering:  a high-end, truly Polynesian experience, with a high level of adventurous water-based activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.  Oh yeah… and a pre-cruise stay at one of those James Bond resorts.

If Tahiti is on your bucket list and/or you’re looking for a special way to celebrate a personal milestone, then a Paul Gauguin cruise might be a good fit and I’d love to help you explore the idea.

Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

The world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship, Hurtigruten’s Roald Asmundsen, is making her North American Debut today (Friday, September 27, 2019).  I probably wouldn’t bother to bring a ship debut to everyone’s attention, but I do so for two very specific reasons:

The first reason is a little bit self-indulgent – Bob and I were invited to be on the inaugural sailing of this innovative vessel along with a small number of lucky other travel industry professionals.  We will take as many pictures as we can, and post some stuff on Facebook and YouTube – just give us a day or two to get that done.

The other reason is the poetry by which Roald Asmundsen has chosen to make her debut.  The ship is named after the first person to reach the South Pole – a true explorer.  What is less known is that Asmundsen was also the first person to sail the Northwest passage from Europe to the West Coast of North America.

We don’t build cruise ships in North America, so normally when they are dispatched here from Europe or Asia, they arrive in New York or San Francisco after leaving the shipyard where they were constructed.  They are usually escorted into the welcoming harbor by local authorities with much pomp and circumstance.

In contrast, Roald Asmundsen chose to make her debut by sailing from Europe, across the Arctic Ocean, through Greenland, the northern most part of Canada, and into Alaska via the Bering Strait.  Just like her namesake did. 

We will be taking a motor coach up from Seattle to board the Roald Asmundsen in Vancouver.  Incidentally, about a mile from where we will board the ship, is the permanent museum-home of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch.  The St. Roch was the first vessel to sail the Northwest Passage from West to East.  It took two years – the ship was frozen in the ice for an Arctic Winter. And now, there is a hybrid cruise ship making the journey across the Northwest passage in only four weeks during a northern hemisphere summer.  Times change quickly!

Cruise ships have become increasingly innovative in the past decade or two, and I am exceptionally pleased that such innovation has moved beyond the floating amusement parks that carry 5000+ passengers. 

We’ll post lots more about this ship after we’ve travelled on her, but here are some points to hold you over until then:

• The Roald Asmundsen is 21,000 tons, and holds 500 guests.
• The hybrid engines reduce fuel consumptions and CO2 emissions by 20%.  Hurtigruten’s ultimate goal is to operate completely carbon-neutral, and they are passionately leading the cruise industry in pursing this goal.
• Equally as impressive is the ability to cruise in remote areas of the planet without the dull roar of diesel engines.
• She is purposefully built for polar regions, so will service Alaska in the summer of 2020, as well as the Northwest Passage.  Between now and then she’ll visit Chile, Patagonia, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and in repositioning times, she’ll sail through Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Canada/New England coast.
• She has all outside cabins, 50% with balconies.
• The ship is built for looking outside – with a gorgeous two story indoor/outdoor observation deck.
• She is an expedition ship, but a comfortable one with premium onboard experience and a gym, wellness centre, infinity pool, and hot tubs.
• Excursions are the ‘main event’ on Hurtigruten.  The expedition team on board each ship are knowledgeable and passionate experts dedicated to helping guests discover the best of each destination.  On board, there is a Science Center with microscopes and other equipment for total immersion in your destination and all that it offers

Stay tuned… more to come.

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

In the cruise industry, it seems that everything cold is ‘hot’ right now. 

Antarctica, Norway, and Patagonia are all fast-growing cruise markets.  Alaska has been around for a long time, and it is still hot.

Due to the relatively short flights required for Americans to visit Alaska, as well as its unmatched scenery, wildlife, glaciers, and indigenous culture, the Alaska cruise market continues to grow every year. 

Every major cruise line that serves the US market is in Alaska, so you can visit there with your favourite.

You’ve probably noticed the travel section of your weekend newspaper is currently jammed up with Alaska advertisements for 2020. 

That’s because 50% of all Alaskan cruises are sold in September & October for the following year.

If you wait until the New Year, you can probably still get a cabin on the sailing you’re looking at, but if you’ve got specific ideas about where you want to be on the ship, when you want to go, or what lodges you want to visit on land, then some of your choices might become a bit scarce if you wait too long.

Here’s a look at four different ways to visit Alaska:

Princess Cruises

• Who it appeals to:  Princess attracts a lot of families and multi-generation groups.  They have excellent children’s programs, and they serve more guests than anyone else in the Alaska market.
• Ships:  Princess has 8 ships in Alaska.  Six of those are Grand Class vessels that hold around 2800 people.  The Royal Princess is also there, which carries 3600.  The Pacific Princess (675 guests) has also returned to Alaska for those wanting something smaller.  You can depart from Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver. 
• Why go Princess?  The product is well priced, and they have extensive infrastructure on land with 5 lodges, and their own rail cars.
• Incentives:  Princess is currently running “3 for Free” – their most popular promo of the year.  You get a) Gratuities Included, b) Location upgrade, and c) on board credits. 
• Note:  Holland America is the 2^nd largest cruise line in Alaska, and has many of the same advantages.  HAL might be a better choice for you if you want a slightly smaller ship (about 2000), or if you prefer fewer children.

Regent Seven Seas

• Who it appeals to:  Regent Seven Seas is probably the most inclusive of the cruise lines with flights, drinks, gratuities, and shore excursions (amongst other things) all included.  They also have a kids program.
• Ship:  The Seven Seas Mariner holds 700 people and goes back and forth between Anchorage and Vancouver.
• Why go Regent?  You know all your costs at the front end, and won’t come home wondering how your on board charges exceeded your cruise fare.
• Incentives:  First Class air to/from Vancouver/Anchorage included in your fare if you book in September.

Seabourn

• Who it appeals to:  Seabourn attracts a lot of non-cruisers on its Alaska itineraries.  This is partly because much of Alaska can only be seen by ship, and partly because Seabourn bills itself as one of the world’s finest resorts (that just happens to be at sea).  They also run their Ventures program in Alaska, which gives you the opportunity to participate in expedition style excursions off a luxury ship. 
• Ship:  The Seabourn Sojourn holds 450 guests – all in oceanfront suites.  Sojourn is based in Vancouver next season, and will alternate 7-night runs to Juneau, and 11-night runs to Anchorage.
• Why go Seabourn?  These guys have luxury travel ‘nailed’.  If you love great food and intuitive service, you won’t be disappointed on Seabourn.
• Incentives:  Seabourn is currently offering verandahs for the price of window suites, free internet, up to $500 on board credits, and an air credit of $500 per person.

Hurtigruten

• Who it appeals to: This Norwegian company is new to the North American market, but has been around for many years serving clients from other parts of the world.  The Roald Amundsen is an expedition style ship that is the fleet’s first hybrid-electric cruise ship.  You won’t find Broadway shows on board, but it does have a Science Center, and many other features intended to immerse you in the outdoor splendour of Alaska.  You will find immersive outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking, and expedition experts on board 
• Ships:  The Roald Amundsen accommodates 530 guests and will operate out of Vancouver with a few itineraries out of Anchorage.  She will run 13 to 17 day itineraries in Alaska in 2020. 
• Why go Hurtigruten?  If you want to get up close and personal with nature, if you want to travel on a brand new ship, or if you want some bragging rights for supporting ‘green’ cruising (the Roald Amundsen is a hybrid powered ship).
• Incentives:  Hurtigruten is offering 15% off some itineraries, an air credit on others, and $500 on board credit on other Alaskan cruises. 
• Note: This is the cruise line I chose for my trip to Antarctica last year.  I’m so excited to be able to offer this option to my clients in Alaska next year.

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley