Open for Sale: An Incredible 2023-24 All-inclusive Luxury Expedition Collection

RESERVATIONS NOW OPEN! 
10- TO 28-NIGHT ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPEDITIONS
15% REDUCED DEPOSIT BEFORE JUNE 30, 2021

Crystal Expeditions is now taking reservations on a thrilling expedition cruise aboard the world’s newest and most spacious luxury expedition yacht, the all-suite, all-verandah, all butler-serviced Crystal Endeavor. From Antarctica’s ice cathedrals and Svalbard’s polar bears to Indonesia’s magical Raja Ampat Archipelago and the windswept wonders of the Scottish Isles, the German-engineered, PC6 polar class vessel is set to explore the farthest reaches of Earth on 27 all-inclusive voyages in 2023-2024.

With a limited-time 15% reduced deposit for all voyages (normally 25%), your options range from expeditions to the Northeast Passage, Russian High Arctic or the Faroe Islands to remote offshore islands including Brazil’s Arquipélago dos Abrolhos and Uruguay’s Isla de Lobos Nature Reserve. You can cruise to Andalusia, Morocco, and the Côte d’Azur, or enjoy unique explorations by the river to dock in the heart of Seville, Rouen, and Bordeaux. Singular seasonal itineraries include springtime in the British Isles and autumn in Japan to see spectacular gardens awash in vibrant color. From Kamchatka and The Kurils to the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania, we invite you to explore with Crystal Expedition Cruises… Where Luxury Roams Freely.

Contact me soon to secure your voyage.  The reduced deposit promotion is only valid until June 30, 2021. 

 

Private Beaches & Luxury Villas

Let's talk about luxury villas...which could make for the perfect multi-generational family vacation, but also for a corporate sales incentive, board retreat, or other team gatherings where a traditional hotel might not be the best choice.

When looking for a luxury villa rental we know that ultimate privacy, seclusion, and peace and quiet are top of mind. Each villa featured here is located in lush and hidden landscapes, many of which even have their own private beach, far away from prying eyes and the hustle and bustle compared to a hotel or resort.

Antigua | Barbados | Belize | Cayman Islands | Costa Rica | Fiji | Mexico - Punta Mita and Riviera Maya | Saint Martin | Turks & Caicos | US Virgin Islands | and many other locales are available!

When you're tired of the same old thing, looking for a more unique experience, reach out and let me know. We have a plethora of luxury vacation packages and rentals like these available.

clingren@cruiseplanners.com | 317.776.1733 | www.icanshowyoutheworld.vacations

#MoreThanJustCruises #luxurylife #luxuryvillas #landvacations #multigenerationaltravel #corporateevents #corporateincentives #BeachHouse #islandliving

NEW for 2022! ZERO Supplement Solo Suites on Crystal River Cruises

Calling all solo travelers! Crystal Mozart, Europe’s most spacious river ship invites you to cruise the Danube in 2022 in one of 38 newly dedicated Solo Suites with zero single supplements on all voyages – an industry first. Beginning in Spring 2022, the all-suite, butler-serviced ship will cruise weekly from Vienna roundtrip on a 7-night Danube Dreams & Discoveries itinerary featuring overnights in the Austrian capital and Budapest trip to Salzburg from Linz, daytime cruising through the Wachau Valley and more.

From Michelin-inspired cuisine to unparalleled enrichment both aboard and     ashore, the Crystal River Experience is unrivaled among European river lines as shown here. Crystal Mozart will cruise at a reduced capacity with the highest crew-to-guest ratio of any ship on Europe’s waterways, further elevating Crystal’s genuine hospitality. At 219 square feet, Crystal Mozart’s Solo Suites are up to 56% larger than comparable guest rooms on the rivers of Europe, a tempting opportunity for you to relax and discover the joys of cruising with Crystal. 

 

Did You Know We Can Book That? BEACH VACATIONS & RENTALS

SAND AND WATER!

 

If your dream vacation includes plenty of sun, sand, and water…we’ve got a wide range of great options for you across the country! How does overlooking the water sound? Or being just down the road from the saltwater with your own freshwater pool or hot tub to enjoy when not at the beach. Whether a condo, vacation home, bungalow, or luxury villa at or near the beach is your idea of the perfect vacation, then reach out and give us the opportunity to help you plan it this year. From simple to complete luxury we’ve got connections for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 bedrooms, and depending on location, even more!

 

You might only think of us as just a cruise agency because of the name, but we truly are SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST CRUISES!

 

 

Here's just a sampling of where we can find a beach vacation rental for you:

 

Hawaii | Myrtle Beach | Naples | Cape Cod | Santa Barbara | Destin | Holden Beach | Gulf Shores | Pismo Beach | Sanibel | Port Aransas | Clearwater | Hilton Head | Panama City | Newport Beach | Marco Island and many more

 

Intrigued? Ask us! We love helping people get out & explore with land-based vacations and vacation rentals!

 

#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #exploremore #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking #getbacktonature #beachgetaway #beachvacation

Happy March! Where Will Your Next Adventure Take You?

It's March, and here are some fabulous things to consider for your next vacation. I'd be happy to help you score some of these great experiences!

FEATURED OFFERS:

Celebrity Cruises - Choose from the lowest available fare with a non-refundable deposit or two free perks, including onboard credit, beverage packages, and more

Sandals Resorts - Save up to 65% when you book a minimum of 3 nights

AMA Waterways - Enjoy up to $2,000 in savings, up to $100 onboard credit, and a complimentary stateroom upgrade or prepaid gratuities on select sailings

Reach out and let's chat. clingren@cruiseplanners.com | 317.776.1733 | www.icanshowyoutheworld.vacations

#morethanjustcruises #takethetrip #makememories #itstimetoplanyournextadventure #useatravelprofessional

Oceania's 2022 Around The World Voyage – Reservations Open Soon!

 

We are delighted to share this destination masterpiece voyage – Oceania Cruises' 2022 Around the World 180-day voyage, opening for bookings on January 15, 2020.

 

Here are the Top Reasons to Sail on Oceania Cruises’ 2022 Around the World Journey.   Voyage dates:  January 6, 2022-July 5, 2022

• Explore 6 continents and 44 incredible countries: this means French Polynesia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Africa, and beyond all on one incredible voyage.
• Bragging rights: sought-after destinations and more than 60 accessible UNESCO sites all from the comfort of the intimate and luxurious Insignia.
• Incredible perks: fares start at only $43,999 and you get so much for FREE – First-Class Roundtrip Airfare, Pre-Paid Gratuities, Laundry Services, Exclusive Shoreside Events & so much more.
• New lifelong friendships you’ll cherish for years to come.
• 6-months of life-changing travel and endless memories.

Reservations open for this destination masterpiece on January 15th, 2020. Contact Christopher now to be in the queue as annually this voyage sells out in mere days.  317.776.1733 | clingren@cruiseplanners.com |  Request a Quote

 

Suggested Itinerary: Western Australia's THE KIMBERLEY Region

The Kimberley awaits!

Three times larger than England and with a population of less than 40,000, the Kimberley region – spread over Australia's entire north-western corner – is one of the world's last wilderness frontiers. Here you'll find prolific wildlife, majestic canyons, freshwater swimming holes, and several outback stations, as well as one of Australia's greatest 4WD road trips. Despite the area's remoteness, it's also a place of great food, luxury accommodation, friendly locals, and one of the most romantic beach towns on Earth.

Who's ready to explore this amazing destination? I'm ready to help you do it. Let's chat about your dream Aussie holiday.

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Resevations Now Open for Celebrity's Newest Ship - Celebrity Edge

Celebrity Edge sets sail on Dec. 16, 2018. Reservations opened today for this amazing new ship, that will revolutionize cruising once again. Contact me at 317.776.1733 for info and pricing or www.icanshowyoutheworld.vacations. Alternating between the eastern and western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, this new ship shouldn't be missed.

Tips on Thursday - Gratuities

Gratuities

The subject of gratuities can and often does provide much angst among travelers.  How much should I give?  To whom should I give to?  Do I give to one and not the other?  How should tips be given?  Many cruise lines provide travelers with the option of pre-paying their gratuities when booking, some do not.  If you feel this amount needs to be adjusted, whether increased or decreased, arrangements can be made onboard the ship, generally at the end of your cruise. Tipping guidelines vary slightly between the individual cruise lines, and are usually detailed fairly well once onboard.  

On most ships, plan on tipping your room steward about $3.50 - $4.00 per person per day, and an equal amount for your dining room waiter, with half of that amount for the busboy; tip the maitre d' or dining room captain only if you ask for special favors or table-side service - $5 to $10 is normal;  tip bartenders and wine stewards approximately 10 to 15% of your bill, however many cruise lines will automatically add the amount directly to your bar or beverage bill.  Be sure to check your bill to see how it is handled.  

Tips for special services such as salon & spa treatments and room service are left to the discretion of the guest, depending on services rendered.

Gratuities are generally placed in envelopes from your cabin's stationery supply, and passengers on cruises of 10 days or less will tip at the end of the cruise.  On longer voyages, you might find that tipping weekly is the norm.

Please note that most luxury cruise lines discourage tipping, including Azamara, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, and Swan Hellenic.  Crew members on these lines are paid at a higher rate than other cruise lines, and therefore are not as tip dependent; therefore many will outright refuse the gesture when offered by travelers. 

Tips on Thursday - Gizmos, Gadgets and Cruise Ships

Gizmos, Gadgets and Cruise Ships

If you don’t know a USB device from a motherboard and are otherwise “electronically challenged”, then this news from Crystal Cruises will be welcomed.   Did you know that the cruise line has on-board technical concierges to assist guests with all types of personal electronics from iPods and iPhones to Androids, Blackberries and regular laptops. 

The concierges provide consultation at no charge to anyone onboard. They're located in the ships' computer centers, where guests can check e-mail and use the Internet, aboard Crystal Symphony and aboard Crystal Serenity.

Personally my favorite button on these devices is the one that turns it off so I can enjoy a holiday on my holiday.  A lot of folks today, go on vacation to get away from it all and then try to bring as much of “it” with them as they can.  While staying in touch on your  cruise is an important consideration, too much of a good thing can be distracting.  However, like everything else connected with vacations at sea, there are multiple choices and options and this is just one more to be added to the list.

Crystal operates two 5 Star luxury lines on voyages to ports throughout the world.

Tips on Thursday - II for Tea and Tea for 2

As the second longest reigning monarch in over 1,000 years of British history, Queen Elizabeth II just marked her Diamond Jubilee - 60 years on the throne, second only to her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years.  Both of these queens have Cunard passenger ships named after them, and only one of them can rightly claim to be “iconic”.  Named after a reigning monarch, the Queen Elizabeth 2 sailed for 41 years with Cunard, and in November 2008 was retired by Cunard to begin a new life as a floating hotel and conference center in Dubai.  While the hotel has not yet opened, plans remain in place for the hotel in the near future.  Since her launch, the QE2 traveled over 6 million nautical miles while sailing to fascinating ports around the world and hosting 2.5 million guests on 1,428 voyages.

 Classic ship historians can spend hours recounting stories about this most famous Cunarder.  One particularly interesting tidbit is how the ship’s name was decided upon.  Without a doubt, the British have a strong sense of tradition and protocol and the naming of the ship in 1967 represented an interesting challenge.  The ship was designed by the Cunard team in Liverpool but built at John Brown’s shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland.  She  was to be named at the launching ceremony by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and also carry her name.  But after the launch things became more complicated.  Cunard’s chairman, Sir Basil Smallpiece determined after consulting with Royal aides that the ship should be named Queen Elizabeth 2 with the Arabic letter and not the Roman numerals “II”.  Why?  Because until that time only Royal Navy vessels had carried a reigning monarch’s Roman numeral suffix.  And, Her Majesty was also Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland, where the ship was built.  Therefore, she was named QE-2 instead of QE-II and went on not only to be the most famous ship in history but the one whose name was misprinted most often.    

Sunday Spotlight - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort_® & Spa first opened at Walt Disney World_® Resort on June 28, 1988 and provides the ultimate in luxurious accommodations at Walt Disney World_® Resort, as the only AAA-Four Diamond resort hotel on-site.

The resort is themed to invoke the golden era of Florida’s coastal destinations of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, taking design inspiration from notable resort destinations such as Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire , Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California, and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleview, Florida.

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort_® & Spa features 867 guest rooms.  All rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests plus 1 child under 3 in a crib; featuring either 2 queen-size beds plus a day bed or a king-size bed plus a day bed.

The resort includes 1 feature pool with waterslide and 1 quiet pool;  a children’s pool; white sand beach for sunbathing;  marina for watercraft rentals; fishing; sand volleyball; fitness center;  an arcade and other assorted recreational activities including Disney movies in the evenings. A full service spa offering massages, therapies and other treatments is on-site, available on a reservation and fee basis.

The resort features 5 table service restaurants:  Victoria & Albert’s, Citricos, Narcoossee’s, Grand Floridian Café and 1900 Park Fare – and 1900 Park Fare features a breakfast Character Dining experience daily, and a separately themed dinner Character Dining experience featuring different Disney characters.  It also features 1 quick-service restaurant: Gasparilla Grill & Games; as well as a lounge/bar location: Citrico's Lounge and Mizner's Lounge. 

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort_® & Spa is deluxe level resort located on the shores of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon, across the water from Magic Kingdom_® Park, just a short monorail or boat ride away. Additionally, nearby is the Transportation & Ticket Center, where guests can easily transfer to the Epcot_® Monorail line. Convenient bus transportation will take guests to all other parts of Walt Disney World_® Resort.