While YOU read this, WE are on our way to Las Vegas for Virtuoso Travel Week. Going to Vegas in August is a bit like standing in front of the oven, just to see how hot it is. Except rather than hanging by the pool, we’re in business attire in overly-air conditioned rooms with NO windows.
I would rather be just about anywhere else in August than Vegas, but this trade show is so valuable to us and our clients, we look forward to the trek.
WHAT is VIRTUOSO TRAVEL WEEK?
It’s an invitation-only week-long luxury travel trade show and exhibition. It is to travel what Paris Fashion Week is to that industry. It brings together those shaping the future of luxury and experiential travel. There will be 6000 people from over 100 countries in attendance this year.
WHY DO WE ATTEND (because Vegas in August… really?)
- SHARPEN KNOWLEDGE: About new products, destinations, technologies and itineraries.
- RELATIONSHIPS: Executives from our most important vendors will be there.
- PEER MENTORING: We learn a ton from other high-producing luxury travel advisors.
- TRENDS: How is the industry changing, and how that impacts our clients.
- IMPROVEMENT: These combine to make us better, so we can better serve you.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR CLIENTS:
- PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN: You tell us you like it when we talk about how the luxury travel industry works, and Virtuoso Travel Week is a prime example.
- YOUR NEXT TRIP: We’ll have more suggestions for your bucket list (that keeps growing!)
- OUR Network. YOUR Trip. Usually your trips go just fine. Occasionally something goes sideways, and we need to leverage our relationships with key vendors.
- NEW PRODUCTS: Like Celebrity River Cruises, American Cruise Lines and Seacloud.
- NEW ITINERARIES: Like AMA Colombia, and VIKING Oberammergau.
- TRENDS that affect travellers: like geo-political events, and economic considerations.
- TECHNOLOGY that helps us spend LESS time on admin, and MORE on client interface.
TRENDS and THEMES WE’RE WATCHING
- MULTI-GEN TRAVEL: Generations are travelling TOGETHER. We notice this in our business – our clients want to create memories with their kids and grandchildren.
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and Automated Tools will radically change the travel industry. We are excited about the possibilities to better automate the behind the scenes functions of booking YOUR travel, so it gives us more time for the personal connection. Algorithms DON’T travel… we do.
The old adage “What Happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas” is exactly the opposite of what we do. We leave Vegas with the intent of bringing YOU the benefit of everything we learned and experienced there. We also leave with caffeine withdrawal, and the need for a nap.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob and Kim pull back the curtain on Virtuoso Travel Week—the most important annual event in the luxury travel industry—and explain why it matters to YOU.
In Case You Missed It:
US CARIBBEAN TERRITORIES: These are often overlooked, but they’re different than home, logistically easy, and with no passport requirement:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/luxury-caribbean-travel-without-leaving-the-usa/
QUIET SEASON TRAVEL: If you’re ready to wear longer sleeves, you can beat the crowds (and probably pay less) if you travel off-season (which is becoming increasingly shorter)
https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-best-time-to-travel-why-quiet-season-may-be-the-answer/
TAUCK LAND TOURS: You can’t go everywhere by ship, so if you’re looking at a land-cruise… particularly if you’re interested in domestic destinations, then take a look at Tauck:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/land-cruises-with-tauck/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
AMA WATERWAYS Shore Excursions: If you’re looking for more choices for your included river cruise shore excursions, then look at AMA. Brand Ambassador Kristin Karst explains how AMA does it differently.
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
AZAMARA Small Ship Experiences
Remember Pacific Princess? She’s now Azamara Onward, along with her three identical sisters carrying just 680 guests. They offer an affordable way to get on board a smaller ship for a more intimate experience, and better destination immersion:
GOLF CRUISE in JAPAN: Kobe to Tokyo departing May 6, 2027 for 14-nights
- This one is great for golfers, OR those really wanting to explore Japan.
- Visit Kobe (overnight), Kochi, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Busan, Sakaiminato, Kanazawa, Niigata, Akita, Aomori, and Toyko (overnight)
- Verandas are currently priced at $9089, but we’ve got 2 more staterooms available for $7409. Once these two sell, they’re gone.
- GOLF: 5-rounds with all the logistics managed for you: $4395 per person.
NEW ENGLAND & QUEBEC: Boston to Montreal departing October 4, 2027 for 12-nights
- Start in Boston and visit Portland, Rockland, Saint John, Halifax, Corner Brook, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Sept-Iles, cruise Saguenay Fjord, Saguenay, Quebec City, Trois Rivieres, and finish in Montreal.
- Veranda fares from $6379
CHRISTMAS MARKETS RIVER CRUISES with AMA WATERWAYS
I know it’s the heat of the summer, but CHRISTMAS IS COMING. If you want to visit the Christmas Markets in Europe, space is getting tight for 2026. Here’s a few suggestions:
RHINE: (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland) departing December 16:
- Start in Basel (Switzerland), and visit Christmas markets in Colmar, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rudesheim, Cologne, and Utrecht. Finish in Amsterdam.
- Enjoy the Christmas shopping, drink the mulled wine, and listen to local entertainers. Very different from Europe in summer!
- Departing December 16 for 7-nights from $4349*
- Optional land extensions to Amsterdam and/or Lucerne/Zurich in Switzerland.
Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary) departing December 20:
- Take in some Hungarian Christmas Markets, and board your ship, and then visit Bratislava, Vienna, Melk Abbey, Linz, Passau, Vilshofen, and fly home from Munich.
- Enjoy the Christmas shopping, drink the mulled wine, and listen to local entertainers. Very different than Europe in summer!
- Departing December 20 for 7-nights from $4349*
- Optional land extensions to Budapest and/or Prague.
If you want to try somewhere warmer, how about SOUTH AMERICA? We’re doing this cruise in September, and will have lots more to share:
COLOMBIA: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights with FREE AIR on select 2026 departures.
- Take in a Carnaval celebration, take a stilt-house village tour, enjoy a jazz street performance, and San Felipe Castle and Walled city tour. Enjoy the Latin music, sample the famous coffee, and take in the tropical rainforest.
- Only a 4 HOUR FLIGHT from many US Gateways, and if you want to go this year, there are several dates with FREE AIR.
- Pre/post available to Medellin and/or Panama.
- Departures year round. Pricing starts at $3149*
Here’s a short video of a MOTHER-SON trip with AMA in Colombia that perfectly captures this fascinating destination:
https://youtu.be/tGbLg6R7mfI?si=YLDqAyklNozmvlM2
*On 2026 departures of these itineraries, our agency can get you an additional $150 per person on board credit, and free pre-paid gratuities.
TAUCK Premium Guided Land Journeys
If you like the structure of a cruise, but want to try out some places on land, then take a look at TAUCK. Here’s two itineraries in the US:
MICHIGAN 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.
- 2027: Departures May through October from $5990
- Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/michigan-lakes-mackinac-island-escorted-tour?tcd=mi2025&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser
NEW YORK to WASHINGTON for 12-days
- New York (dinner at ONE World Observatory, Walking tour of Manhattan, 911 memorial, Central Park), Valley Forge NP, Philadelphia (early access to Museum of American Revolution, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell), Amish Country in Lancaster, Gettysburg National Military Park, Harper’s Ferry, Charlottesville, Jefferson’s Monticello, Richmond, Williamsburg, George Washington’s Estate, Washington DC (National Mall, Early Access to National Archives to see Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights)
- 2026: Depart December 2nd from $6,990
- 2027: Departures March through December from $7590
- Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/freedom-footsteps-philidelphia-washington-dc-guided-tour?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser
SEA CLOUD Salt-Water River Cruise Experiences
You may have been to these places before. This time see them up-close, and get to where larger ships can’t take you.
Eastern CARIBBEAN: round-trip Philipsburg departing December 6 for 8-nights
- Visit Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Iles des Saintes, Nevis & Antigua.
- Sail the scenic Eastern Caribbean islands, and get into small coves and harbors on board the 136 guest Sea Cloud Spirit.
- Fares from $5995
SCOTLAND & IRELAND: Edinburgh to Dublin departing June 28, 2027 for 8-nights
- Start in Edinburgh and visit the Orkney Islands, Isle of Lewis, Isle of Mull, Oban, Belfast, and finish in Dublin.
- Fares from $9135
REMEMBER: On ANY SEACLOUD sailing, we can offer an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit to spend on Spa Treatments, an elevated Shore Experience, OR a great bottle of wine!
ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES Remote Adventures
All of ATLAS’ yachts carry less than 200 guests, so they can get you into some of the smaller places, and you’ll see the larger places differently. Here are two in the POLAR REGIONS:
ANTARCTICA: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia departing February 19 for 11-nights
- Start in Buenos Aires, then take an included flight to join the ship, and traverse the Drake Passage. There are 7-days of scheduled landings, before returning to Ushuaia
- Fares from $16,499
GREENLAND, CANADIAN ARCTIC & NEWFOUNDLAND: Departing September 21 for 17-nights
- Visit Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut, and Disko Bay in Greenland, Qikiqtarjuaq, Lady Franklin Island, Monumental Island, and the Button Islands in Nunavut Territory, Saglek Fjord, Hebron, Tikkoatokak Bay, L’Anse aux Meadows, Red Bay, Norris Point and Woody Point in Newfoundland, as well as St. Pierre & Miquelon (France) and finish in St. John’s.
- Fares from $13,945
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, 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 (even if you booked ON BOARD).
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.
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
Sue Bradley
