Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Golf With a View
Thursday, April 29, 2021
BIG NEWS for Land Lovers & Cruise Lovers Alike!
EUROPE IS SET TO REOPEN!
CRUISING FROM US PORTS LOOKS LIKELY THIS SUMMER!
OPA! Greece is Now Reopen!
MORE EXCITING NEWS! Greece has reopened!
Here are the basics:
-Starting April 19, Greece began allowing entries for residents of the US & several other countries.
-Travelers must present a negative PCR test for entry OR show proof of vaccination (must be 14+ days since the last dose of a vaccine from the approved list).
-Due to the successful control of the first wave in 2020, Greece reopened tourism last summer so our partners are well-prepared to provide a safe, healthy experience for guests!
-As of May 3, restaurants in Greece will open for outdoor seating.
-There are more details to know other than what we listed above, and this is subject to change. It is important to review all entry requirements at https://travel.gov.gr prior to travel.
If Greece is on your list or you'd really like to make a visit this summer, please reach out. I'd love to help you. 317.776.1733 | clingren@cruiseplanners.com | www.icanshowyoutheworld.vacations
Open for US Visitors - KENYA!
DID YOU KNOW?
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
NOW OPEN...Iceland! Welcoming Visitors Once Again in 2021
Sunday, April 25, 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.
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Discover the USA... Christopher's GET OUT & EXPLORE Suggestions
Suggested Itinerary: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
(This one is SPECIFICALLY for adventurous ones in the 18-35 set. Similar yet different opportunities are available for those beyond that range)
This trip (and others like it across the US) is exclusively for young travelers 18-35, and while you get to enjoy cool accommodations, tasty and authentic meals, and incredible experiences, you'll also create something very special that money can’t buy: friendship. It’s something you often miss out on if you travel independently. Call it a cliché, but it’s the truth, and the equation isn’t complicated. You + a coach of other young travelers + shared experiences + a new part of the world = lifelong friendships and memories.San Francisco | Sonoma Valley | Muir Woods | Bass Lake | Yosemite National Park | Palm Springs | Santa MonicaINCLUDED EXPERIENCES• Picnic lunch in Muir Woods• Wine tasting in the Sonoma Valley• Entry to Yosemite National Park• Yosemite base camp orientation• Yosemite park shuttle• Yoga by the pool in Palm Springs• Afternoon pool party with DJ (seasonal)• Brunch at a local caféOPTIONAL EXTRAS• Hot Air Ballooning in Sonoma• Bike rental in Sonoma• Forest Flight Tour Ziplining in Sonoma• Food & wine pairing dinner in Sonoma• Parasailing in Santa Monica• Surf Lesson in Santa Monica6 Nights/5 Days • 5 Breakfasts & 1 Lunch
This itinerary has MULTIPLE Departures available May 24 - August 30From $1,607 pp. You can join us as a 'solo' traveler, with a partner, or in a group.
Interested? Ask me, and let's get you booked! Know someone who might be? Share it! I love helping people of all ages get out and explore on land vacations!
Suggested Itinerary: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Thursday, April 22, 2021
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.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Summer Getaway Idea - Grand Hotel
Discover the USA Suggestion... GRAND HOTEL & MACKINAC ISLAND
Friday, April 16, 2021
Discover the USA... Christopher's RIDING THE RAILS Adventure Suggestions
Suggested Itinerary: NORTHERN RAIL EXPERIENCE
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Discover the USA... Christopher's RIDE IN COMFORT Suggestions
Suggested Itinerary: COASTAL MAINE
Saturday, April 10, 2021
STILL MORE Opportunities to Cruise in Summer 2021!! NEWLY ADDED ITINERARIES!
MORE CRUISE NEWS - BACK TO SAILING
Friday, April 9, 2021
Go Active Itinerary Suggestion: SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON
Suggested Itinerary - Multi-Adventure Vacation
Welcome to the San Juan Islands, where the summer sun shines, the sea glistens and the pace of life slows. Find your rhythm biking along quiet country roads, spend time kayaking in peaceful inlets and connect to nature hiking amid old-growth forests. A hidden gem of the Pacific Northwest, this natural playground is perfect for an active outdoor adventure.
- Behold postcard-perfect Pacific Northwest scenery as you ferry from island to island with the locals
- Bike through majestic fir and cedar forests, explore driftwood beaches, and savor the day’s fresh catch
- Sail on a wildlife cruise and keep your eyes peeled for the chance to spot whales from the open water
- Admire views of emerald islands, Mount Baker, and Canada’s coastal peaks from atop Mount Constitution
There are 13 possible itinerary departures from mid-June to late September 2021. These 6 days, 5-night adventures are truly special!
Friday, April 2, 2021
EXCITING NEWS ABOUT TRAVEL!
New today! Vaccinated people can once again travel without testing or quarantining unless a destination requires it. I'm beyond excited and ready to help you plan!
End of an Era
After more than a Decade, My Wood Badge Adventure Comes to an End
A couple of years back, in 2019, I shared how I was named the Course Director for a special training program within Scouting. I’ve been an adult leader in Scouting since 2005 and went through the training program myself as a participant in 2010. That program coupled together with Scouting in general, along with numerous roles that I’ve had within the movement has definitely helped me break out of my shell more than anything I’ve ever done in my life, and has served me well as a business owner, too. For the extremely shy little boy in preschool who would hide under the table, many who knew me then wouldn’t recognize who I’ve become, pretty much thanks to Scouting. I’m still introverted, yes, but absolutely know how to “turn it on” and become an outgoing “quasi-extrovert” when I need to be...so much so that several people in Scouting have been shocked to learn that I really am an introvert and nowhere as outgoing as I portray in those settings.
After several times of being on staff, in 2017 I was asked and given the opportunity to serve in the backup role for 2018 and then for 2019 as the Course Director for the Fall Wood Badge course in my Scouting council. For my friends and family who have never been part of Scouting or perhaps have but have never been through the course, Wood Badge is the highest level of adult leadership training available. The course’s roots go back over 100 years to 1919 when the founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powel determined that youth need adult leaders to be trained to better help mentor and guide them in their journey. The course has gone on through time to be the premier training course in Scouting the world over, with it taking place in each country where Scouting can be found.
The course I led was scheduled during the actual 100th anniversary of the program, with our 2nd day taking place on what was the 1st day of that original course in England back in 1919, which was a thrill to be leading a true Centennial course, and not just one during the 100th anniversary year.
The course itself is a highly respected program that many industries and employers, including the military, often emulate, but ours is much more interactive, engaging, and fun as we move throughout the course timeline between indoor and outdoor activities. The session that I would oversee was a 6-day development program filled with classroom-style, small group breakouts, and plenty of outdoor situations where our participants would immerse themselves in topics such as “Living the Values”, “Bringing the Vision to Life”, “Models for Success”, “Tools of the Trade”, and “Leading to Make a Difference”. Each of the assorted modules that make up these central themes are so much more than just Scouting related – we teach and impart LEADERSHIP, in a Scouting setting drawing the history and tradition of the movement, but the skills taught and received transcend Scouting and are very applicable in their jobs, homes, families, and other volunteer settings they are involved with. (All of these skills have made me a better business person through the years, so I'm grateful professionally for the experience as well!)
When asked to serve as a Course Director you are given one opportunity to make it successful. No less than 30 days prior to the start of the course you must achieve a minimum attendance of 30 participants, with a maximum of 48 unless by necessity you are granted an extension waiver for 56. The staff rallied to the full course goal that I had set, and by golly, we sold out the course needing that extension waiver. It was granted and we sold out again…with a waiting list! That was so exciting. But as things always happen, we had some cancelations prior to the start, but thanks to that waiting list, we still ended up having a full course by Day 1. 48 participants.
During the course itself, we’re actively together for 6-days over two 3-day weekends, and then at the end of the 6 days, we send the participants away back into the world, with “homework”. They have to create a “Ticket” of 5 Goals that they write during the 6-days and then are given 18 months to complete those goals. As with anything in life, some are quicker than others, but in the end, our goal was for all of them to complete what they started in writing those goals. Over the 18 months which just ended a few days ago, some made some slight revisions to their goals due to covid realities, and some revised a goal or two entirely as their situation in Scouting evolved from when they were on course. But at the end of the 18-months, these amazing individuals gave me an incredible gift, in that ALL 48 of them successfully completed their Tickets.
Much like the rank of Eagle for the youth in the Scouting program, adults who participate in Wood Badge don’t always complete. For the youth, there’s something like 8% of the youth who actually achieve the rank of Eagle. For the adults in Wood Badge, it’s a comparable number but probably less as once they leave the “safety” of the course environment…life gets back in the way and often hits hard. Time management can be a detriment for many participants as they often put off the necessary work to get their goals accomplished. Sometimes their life situation faces upheaval through death in the family, divorce, job loss, or other things. Sometimes people’s priorities change and they just don’t see the need or benefit of finishing.
Thursday, April 1, 2021
Have You Experienced a River Cruise Yet?
River cruising is an excellent way to explore a destination and really experience the heart of it all! You'll discover the culture in each locale, see the sights, and enjoy the amazing local cuisine. Plus you can explore on your own during port stops, or join the included guided tours. There's a unique adventure awaiting you on the great rivers of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. From the enchanting Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Danube, and Duoro rivers; to the timeless wonders of the Mekong, Nile, and Amazon; or the mighty Mississippi, Snake, and Columbia rivers; amazing itineraries and immersive experiences are yours for the asking. Check out this video to learn more, and then reach out and let's chat about the itinerary that's best for you. And if you have friends or family that want to sail with you, we can easily turn it into a group!
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Selected for 2021 GTM West!
Thrilling News! I've Been Selected Once Again!
Thursday, March 25, 2021
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CRUISE THIS SUMMER!
For all Cruisers Anxious to Get Back to Sailing...there are now MORE Opportunities for 2021!
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Did You Know We Can Book That? SNOW SKI ADVENTURES
#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking #exploremore #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #getbacktonature #skivacation #skitrip #skiing #snow #WinterGetaway
images © ski.com
Friday, March 19, 2021
CRUISES RETURN IN 2021!
- Royal Caribbean: https://tinyurl.com/RoyalisBack2021 (booking starts March 24th)
- Celebrity: https://tinyurl.com/CelebrityisBack2021 (booking starts March 25th)
- Crystal Cruises: Booking started today, so be sure to reach out if interested!