In last week’s message, I pondered where you could travel if you had your 2020 plans interrupted by the pandemic.
I suggested that domestic travel would be less subject to variables like airline schedules and the decisions of foreign governments.
I also put forth the idea of a “land-cruise” knowing that most of valued subscribers are dedicated cruisers.
I then asked you where you might be interested in exploring within the United States.
The response was overwhelming. Several hundred of you replied! Thank you very much for your participation.
As I sorted through the responses, a few trends became apparent:
- 65% said they would like to better explore our National Parks
- 55% indicated an interest in domestic river cruises
- The Pacific Northwest was the most mentioned destination. This was interesting given that most of our subscribers are from the eastern time zone, on the other side of the country.
- Respondents were receptive to the idea of a “land cruise” – particularly if it included less-travelled places
- Many respondents mentioned a desire to replicate experiences they were looking forward to in Europe, like cooking classes, art or historical exploration, or visits to wineries and breweries
The most specifically mentioned product was the Rocky Mountaineer train trip. We are quite familiar with this offering as it is a common add-on to Alaskan cruises. There is NO DOUBT that the Rocky Mountaineer luxury train journey through the Canadian Rockies is very quickly becoming one of the world’s must-do train trips.
If you were planning to travel this fall, or next year, this is an excellent choice. However, if you are looking for something in the next couple of months, you will need to be cautious. We tend to view Canada as part of our domestic market (for very good reason). It is, however, a sovereign country that currently has its borders closed. Rocky Mountaineer has suspended its operations through to July 1st, and I suspect that could be extended if the Government of Canada chooses to extend the border closure. Don’t rule this trip out though – it is well worth the potential wait.
There are seemingly limitless options for domestic travel, and here are some ideas to get the thought process started. In coming weeks we will speak in more details about some of the options below:
- Mississippi River: 9-day cruise between New Orleans and Memphis. Prices start at $2499 per person on American Queen Steamboat Company.
- Columbia/Snake Rivers: 8-day cruise between Portland, OR and Spokane, WA. Prices start at $5395 per person on UnCruise Adventures and the price includes a wide variety of activities. They operate this trip August through November, but there are several other operators here if you want to go earlier. As an add-on, consider spending some time in Eastern Washington State, and discover the area’s wineries – one of the country’s best kept secrets.
- Rocky Mountaineer: 8-day train trip between Vancouver and Calgary. Prices start at $3035 per person. The actual train journey between these two Canadian cities over the Rockies, is actually only two days, but it makes way more sense to spend time pre/post in these cities as well as Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. The trains begin operating again on July 1st, and run through to November.
- Pacific Northwest: The above two trips should satisfy those asking for PNW options, but here’s one for those who want to tick that box while experiencing something off the beaten path: A 10-day ‘Land Cruise’ travelling round trip from Seattle, with visits to Glacier National Park, Hell’s Canyon and Washington’s wine region. Prices start at $3219 per person, and trips run June through September.
- Southwest Canyons: A 9-day ‘Land Cruise’ travelling round-trip from Salt Lake Cit, visiting Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, as well as a helicopter tour over Bryce Canyon NP. Prices start at $5395 per person. There are variations of this trip that are tailored to photographers and hikers.
- Music, Food & Culture: A 15-day ‘Land Cruise’ between New Orleans and Washington, DC via Tennessee and the Carolinas. Prices start at $3229 per person, and the trip is offered in August.
The first two trips above are river cruises and compare very well with what you would expect in Europe. The remaining trips have varying levels of inclusions, and we would consider them all to be “land cruises” in so far as you are escorted through a variety of different locations within a region. In all cases, your transportation and accommodation are included, and in some cases meals and activities are also included.
There is no doubt that domestic travel will be much easier than international options for the next few months, so why not take advantage of this opportunity to explore your own back yard?
Have something to say about this?
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2684832595132571
If you’re planning a Cruise or a “Land Cruise”, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
