You’ve seen the headlines of locals protesting tourism or about cruise ship ports closing or at least restricting traffic.  If you’re like me, you’re wondering where it will all end.  

Yes… there is a backlash to tourism:

Several cruise ship ports HAVE taken steps to reduce ship traffic:  Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Palm Beach, Juneau, Santorini, and Venice (to name a few).  Some limit the number of ships or guests.  Others are adding taxes or fees to either discourage traffic.

Under Tourism?

What is talked about less is that in many of these destinations a substantial portion of the economy is driven by tourists, and (as we learned during the pandemic) UNDER-tourism is also a problem.  So it’s not an effort to eliminate tourism, but rather to reach a better balance.

What’s Happening in Juneau, Alaska?

This is an instructional example.  Juneau has a permanent population of about 30,000 (and many of those are in the tourist trade).  On a busy day in summer, there might be six ships in port, each carrying 3000 or 4000 people.  You can imagine what 20,000 tourists can do to a town that size!

The discussion has been happening in Juneau about what to do about visitors, and how that might impact the 3000 local residents directly involved in the tourist trade.  Not surprisingly, the highest proportion (46%) of surveyed residents felt tourism was a mixed blessing.  Thirty percent viewed it as entirely positive, and only 11% viewed it as entirely negative.  Similar dynamics are undoubtedly in place in busy cruise ship ports around the world.  

It’s also worth noting that outside of North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, many cruise ship ports are in emerging economies, and tourist dollars are an effective way to redistribute wealth (by supporting local businesses and jobs).  

What can YOU do?

• First… don’t pay too much attention to the tourism protests that you see on the news.  They are not particularly widespread, and if you get into the details, I’m sure you’ll see something similar to Juneau with residents viewing tourism as a mixed blessing. 
• Be somewhat patient: each jurisdiction is going to have to find an equilibrium that works for both the people that live there, and for visitors.  Venice has been working on this for several years, and they still don’t entirely have it sorted out.
• Visit in the off-season.  Visiting the Mediterranean in the winter, for example, is a great way to see cultural and historical sites without all the crowds.
• Go on a small ship.  I’ve been to Juneau on a mega ship (that all dock there mid-week), and I’ve also been there with Seabourn with 450 guests, and no other ships in port (because Seabourn visits on the weekend).  Juneau is pristine and charming when there’s only a handful of people there. 

Equilibrium will be achieved… it’s just that different jurisdictions are in a period of trying to figure it out. 

Today’sTravel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

Uniworld is the fully inclusive river cruise line that custom builds each ship for the area through which it is travelling.

Mekong River between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi for 15-days

• Visit Ho Chi Minh City for 2-nights prior to embarking the ship at My Tho, and visit Tien Loi, a local farm in Vinh Long, the fishing village at Sa Dec, Gieng Island, Phnom Penh (to tour the city, and take a tuk-tuk ride), The Killing Fields near Anchor Ban, a children’s school at Wat Hanchey, and disembark at Kampong Cham.  Then spend 3 nights at Siem Reap, and fly to Hanoi for 3 nights. 
• Optional extension to Ha Long Bay for 4 days. 
• Departures in March & September from $7109.  Departures October & November from $7469

Amazon Headwaters round-trip from Lima for 11-days

• 7 nights sailing on the Amazon and 4 nights in Lima. 
• Your ship, the Aria Amazon, only holds 32 guests, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows in every suite, offering unparalleled views of this pristine part of the world
• Have lunch with a family in Lima, visit a remote Amazon village, shop at a local market, take a skiff ride at night to view nocturnal creatures, visit local artisan and craft markets, and more. 
• Departures January, February, or May through November from $11,699
• Optional extensions to Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls

Bordeaux, France for 7-nights – Wineries and more:

• Visit Cussac for Medoc (for Oyster tasting), Cadillac (Toulouse-Lautrec’s house), Blaye (for Blaye Fortress a UNESCO site)), Bourg sur Gironde, Libourne (for the Farmer’s Market), Saint Emilion
• Departures April from $3039.  May/June from $4049, and July/Aug from $3779.
• Optional extension to Biarritz Basque Country (3-nights PRE) and/or Paris (2-nights post).

OCEANIA

Oceania offers a small-ship experience with unique itineraries, and a strong focus on culinary.  They are offering substantial discounts on select sailings.  Here are a few examples:

GREECE, TURKEY & CYPRUS from Istanbul to Athens departing July 27 for 12-days

• Visit Istanbul, Dikili, Izmir, Samos, Bodrum, Rhodes, Antalya, Alanya, Cyprus, Kos, Crete, Santorini, Athens
• Verandas from $5310 (represents 25% off)

SCANDINAVIA and the Kiel Canal from Kiel to Copenhagen departing July 8 for 12-days

• Visit Kiel, 5 stops in Norway with an overnight in Oslo, 2 ports in Sweden, and 2 ports in Denmark with an overnight in Copenhagen
• Verandas from $5490 (represents 10% off)

PANAMA CANAL from Miami to Panama City departing March 23 for 10-days

• Visit Miami, Bahamas, Costa Maya, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, full daylight transit of the canal, and Panama City (overnight).  
• Verandas from $4999 (reflects 25% off)

ATLAS

Atlas is new cruise line specializing in unique yachting experiences.  They are fully inclusive including all beverages and onboard gratuities on their 200-person ships.  They are currently offering select voyages at up to 20% off.  Here are some examples:

PORTUGAL, SPAIN & MOROCCO round-trip Lisbon departing April 20 for 7-nights

• Visit Lisbon, Portimao, Seville (overnight), Gibraltar (overnight), Tangier
• This cruise is called an “Epicurean Expedition” for full immersion in the culinary experience  
• Verandas from $3189

ANTARCTICA round-trip Buenos Aires departing February 25 for 14-nights

• Depart from BA, fly to Ushuaia, then visit the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Sandwich Islands. 
• Fares from $12,354

IRELAND & ICELAND from Reykjavik to Dublin departing August 29 for 7-nights

• Start in Reykjavik, then visit 2 more ports in Iceland, Stornoway and Tobermory in Scotland, then to Isle of Man before finishing in Dublin.
• Fares from $4084

LAND CRUISE with COLLETTE

Thailand from Bangkok to Phuket for 15-days

• Visit Bangkok, fly to Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, fly to Phuket, fly back to Bangkok
• See the street life in Bangkok, take a private boat trip Bangkok, see the reclining Buddha at Wat Po, Grand Palace of Siam, do a Tuk tuk Ride, see the archeological sites at Sukhothai, visit the Golden Triangle, take a boat ride on Mekong River, visit the Opium Museum, experience the Buddhist Temples in Chaing Mai, see an elephant sanctuary, and relax on a tropical beach in Phuket, 
• January to March departures from $3799.  September – December from $3699

NORTHERN LIGHTS in Alaska for 7-days

• Visit Anchorage, Prince William Sound, Talkeetna, and travel the railroad to Fairbanks
• March departures from $3999.

National Parks of America from Phoenix to Rapid City, SD for 12-days.

• Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Buffalo Bill Center, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, Lake Powell.  
• Departures May through October from $4999. 

In Case You Missed It:

NORTHERN ITALY:  There’s more to Italy than Rome and Tuscany.  Take a look at Venice and Northern Italy.  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/northern-italy/

TRAVEL APPS THAT I USE:  There are a handful of travel APPs I keep on my smartphone that I use where we’re travelling.  Maybe you’ll find some of these useful:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-websites-and-apps-that-i-use/

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.

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

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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