If you keep up with the news, you may have caught the quiet announcement from the Prime Minister of Canada earlier this week that our northern border will reopen to US residents on August 9th. Most of our clients travel by cruise ship, and Canadian ports will not reopen until November so at first, I was ready to dismiss this announcement as not particularly relevant.
Regardless of whether you have a desire to visit our northern neighbor, the psychological aspect of this reopening is huge. The boundary between the two countries is the world’s longest border (over 5500 miles), and other than a couple of days in September of 2001, it has never been closed. Canada also represents our LARGEST trade relationship (not Mexico, not China, not Europe).
There are about 2 million Americans who live in Canada, and nearly 1 million Canadians who live in the United States, all of whom have been effectively isolated from their home countries for the past 15 months. That alone makes this announcement significant. We have so often taken for granted our ability to move freely between other like-minded nations, and that all changed with this pandemic.
Perhaps most important is that this border opening signals the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic. Canada and the United States had very different experiences over the past 15 months. Canada (amongst a handful of other nations) isolated early, endured long lock downs, and proceeded with extreme caution. The fact they have chosen to reopen to American visitors is a positive sign that we might be getting near the end of all this nonsense.
Our news media, in its ongoing quest to secure viewers by stoking the emotions of anger and fear, will not offer commentary on positive news such as this. We still have work to do to tame the pandemic, but the reopening of the world’s longest border surely qualifies as positive sign.
In recognition of this announcement, here are some travel ideas if you did want to make a trip North:
Rocky Mountaineer
We’ve highlighted the new Denver to Moab route lately (https://pamperedcruiser.com/trip-ideas-for-2022-and-beyond/), but Rocky Mountaineer is most famous for its trips through the Canadian Rockies, where it has operated for more than 30 years. Your trip starts in Vancouver on the western side of the Rockies, and travels to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper on the eastern side of the continental divide. The scenery and wildlife are spectacular, and the train journey itself ranks up there amongst the best in the world. Here are a few examples:
- Vancouver to Banff National Park. 2 days on the rail with one night hotel from $1637 per person.
- Vancouver to Jasper National Park. A 6-night journey visiting Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff and Jasper starting at $4469 per person.
- Vancouver round-trip. A 9-night journey visiting Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper and Kamloops starting at $5497 per person
Rocky Mountaineer is operating in Canada now and will continue through October.
Vancouver & Whistler
Many people experience Vancouver as a cruise ship port, but it is a destination in and of itself. With steep mountains to the north, the Pacific to the west, and the US border to the south, this cosmopolitan city of 2.5 million is one of the most scenic urban places in the world. The world-class ski resort of Whistler is 90 minutes north and is worth visiting at any time of year. Here are a few different Vancouver packages:
- Vancouver to Whistler “land-cruise”: (8 days for $2287 per person – Sep 2021). Experience the urban flair of Vancouver, then drive over the Mountains to British Columbia’s wine growing region (often described as being similar to Napa before it was over developed). Then take the remote back route through the wilderness to Whistler, where you spend your last couple of days at this former Olympic site.
- From the Rockies to the Coast “land-cruise”: (9 days for $2699 per person – Sep 2021). Start in Calgary, and transfer to Banff National Park (and visit Lake Louise), and then travel through several mountain ranges to arrive in Kelowna (BC’s wine growing region). From there, travel through a few more mountains to the coast, and spend your last 2 nights in Vancouver.
Quebec City
Quebec is North America’s only walled city – left over from the early days of colonization. Back then, the English and the French fought for dominance in the New World, but today they coexist in the Province of Quebec. Quebec City itself is very French, and you will feel very much like you are in Europe when you visit this unique part of North America.
- Canadian Cities Highlights “land-cruise”: (9 days for $4690 per person – Sep 2021) – Start in Toronto, and take in one of the world’s most diverse cities, then visit Niagara falls on your way to Ottawa. Like other capital cities, Ottawa is full of parks and museums, and you’ll fully experience both the English and French culture of Canada. From there head over to Montreal to take in that city’s unique cultural and food scene before finishing up in Quebec City.
- Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) – starting at $359 per night – Every year in January through March, this hotel just outside of Quebec City opens up. Many people think they have travel to Europe for such an adventure, but you can do it much closer to home. If you would rather stay in the comfort of a conventional hotel in Quebec City, you can purchase tickets to go visit the Ice Hotel, and then return to the comfort of your heated room.
Viking 2024 World Cruise
OK… not a Canadian trip, but hot off the press. Viking announced its 2024 world cruise this week. Here are the details:
- Departs LA on January 9, 2024 and travels westbound to London over the course of 121 days visiting 23 countries.
- Fares start at $49,995 per person for a veranda room, and include:
- Business Class Air and all transfers
- A shore excursion in every port (50 of them)
- All taxes and fees, as well as the cost of all visas
- A $2000 per person credit for optional excursions, and $1000 shipboard credit
- All gratuities, beverages and wifi on board the ship
- Luggage shipping service
- As usual, you’ll receive extra perks when you book a cruise through us rather than directly with the cruise line.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
