Venture to a place where the crashing ocean meets craggy mountains, forging the awe-inspiring majesty of the Norwegian fjords. Come discover the HIGHLIGHTS OF NORWAY!
April 29 - May 7, 2022
9 Days ● 12 Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Trip Highlights: Oslo, Fram Museum, Stave Church, Flåm Railway, Sognefjord, Briksdal Glacier, Geirangerfjord Cruise, Bergen
Optional Extensions:
OPTION 1: 5 Days 3-Night Stockholm Pre Tour Extension -OR-
OPTION 2: 4 Days 3-Night Iceland Post Tour Extension
Have you ever dreamed about going on a journey from pole to pole? This 93-day Grand Expedition on Hurtigruten would be unlike any other voyage you've ever been on, taking you on an immersive journey from north to south, visiting the most iconic destinations along the way, and experiencing the amazing diversity of cultures and wildlife of the Americas and Antarctica. Departs August 8, 2022, from Vancouver. Rooms are selling quickly and space is limited. Let's get it on your calendar. Book Now while you still can.
Hello Europe...we've missed you! River cruising resumes next month...how about some great discoveries on the Douro this summer? Both Emerald Cruises and Scenic Cruises are returning to the rivers of Europe in July. Contact me to explore availability with either of these sister lines.
In its latest COVID-19 operations manual update, the CDC gave cruise operators much more leeway regarding fully vaccinated travelers and near normalcy for ships with at least 95% of crew and passengers fully vaccinated.
The measures go a long way toward restoring the traditional cruise experience — and even allow self-serve buffets in specific circumstances. Click the image below to read more in the story from FoxNews.com
Thanks to the work by the US Congress to modify the long-held Passenger Services Vessel Act, there WILL BE an Alaska Cruise Season THIS YEAR! Shortened yes, but cruise ships will be sailing the Inside Passage once again!
There are now five cruise lines sailing Alaska this season. Contact us and book quickly if you want to see Alaska this year.
Here's a list of all your options.
Royal Caribbean & Celebrity
Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Endicott Arm fjord and Dawes Glacier starting July 19th.
Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau and Skagway starting August 13.
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Summit will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Ketchikan, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, Juneau and Skagway starting July 23.
Guests age 16 and older must have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination. Guests under the age of 16 are only required to provide proof of a negative PCR test in order to sail. However, as of August 1, 2021, all guests ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated, and guests under 12 are only required to provide proof of a negative PCR test in order to sail. All crew will be vaccinated.
Norwegian, Holland America & Princess
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Glacier Bay National Park or Holkham Bay Glacier Fjord starting August 7, 2021.
Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam will sail 7-day Alaska itineraries roundtrip from Seattle visiting Stephens Passage, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan, starting Saturday, July 24.
Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess will sail 7-day Alaska itineraries roundtrip from Seattle visiting Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, and Ketchikan, starting Sunday, July 25. On sale now!
Sailings on Norwegian, Holland America, and Princess are available exclusively for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination. All crew will be vaccinated.
Looking for something different and exciting? How about joining in an adventure in February 2022 for the elusive Northern Lights and discover fascinating Finland with a small group of explorers?
Each year, during the winter months, travelers journey to Finland and venture out into the dark to see the magical but elusive northern lights. This natural phenomenon is the product of collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere, yielding spectacular results. Streaks of colorful light that change from white to pink to purple, and most commonly, to green, dazzle and move the open sky like it’s nature’s own dance party. It is known that the best time to witness the northern lights in Finland is from late September to mid-April when the nights are the longest. Well worth the pursuit, this is a truly remarkable light show that’s not to be missed.
These small group tours give travelers access to the world in a truly authentic way. On these active, immersive journeys, travelers connect with the cultures of the world on a deeper, more meaningful level in ways that are hard to replicate. The group size is kept small, allowing these journeys to be the most active, engaging, and rewarding experience possible. With just 12-24 passengers, these are the personal adventures that today's cultural explorers dream of.
Introduce yourself to majestic Lappish reindeer and meet Santa Claus himself.
Lead your very own dog sled team.
Spend the night in a glass igloo amid the Lappish wilderness.
The good news just keeps coming as more and more of the world is re-opening! Starting right now, Italy will be welcoming vaccinated travelers back. From the historic architecture of Rome to the vineyards of Tuscany, Italy is waiting for you.
More European River Cruises are Returning to Service in 2021
AmaWaterways today announced its plans to return to the rivers of Europe resuming sailings onboard select ships beginning July 3, 2021, in Portugal.
Specific sailing dates are as follows:
o July 3rd, AmaDouro will commence sailings through Portugal
o July 21st, AmaMagna will commence sailings on the Danube River o July 22nd, AmaKristina will commence sailings in France on the Rhône River o July 22nd, AmaLyra will commence sailings in France on the Seine River o July 27th, AmaVida will commence sailings in Portugal and Spain o July 29th, AmaDolce will commence sailings through Bordeaux, France
o July 29th, AmaSiena will commence sailings on the Rhine River
Yesterday the US House of Representatives approved a bill that the US Senate had already approved regarding a revision to the long-standing PSVA which will effectively allow for an abbreviated Alaska cruise season to happen in 2021! This is huge news for the people of Alaska who are very dependent on travel and tourism and were affected greatly in 2020 with the complete shutdown of the industry. The PSVA controls the movement of foreign-flagged ships within US ports and a big hurdle for the Alaska cruise market is the fact that ships must dock in Canadian ports per the PSVA, but very early this year the Canadian government banned any ships from their ports until at least February 2022. This bill from the US Congress will effectively modify the PSVA making the stop in Canada, not a requirement, so there can be roundtrip sailings from Seattle up into Alaska! Following the passage in the House, three of the Carnival Corporation brands - Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Carnival Cruise Line - announced that they will be resuming sailing this summer, beginning in early July for 10 departures each. Each line will have one ship sailing these itineraries, and all guests must be fully vaccinated.
This summer, Europe’s rivers will be open for exploration again!
Viking has announced a return to sailing in Europe THIS JULY. You can reserve a voyage along the waterways of Europe and marvel at iconic cities and legendary landmarks in comfort onboard their iconic longships. These highly anticipated summer departures to Germany, France, Portugal, and beyond will sell fast, so call us today to reserve your stateroom.
FEATURED VOYAGES include:
Portugal’s River of Gold: 10 DAYS | Lisbon to Porto
Rhine Getaway: 8 DAYS | Amsterdam to Basel
Paris & the Heart of Normandy: 8 DAYS | Paris to Paris
More great news comes today from the European Union as 27 member nations have endorsed the plan to allow foreign nationals who have been vaccinated in once again! This is wonderful to see and will allow Americans to once again travel to Europe.
Las Vegas lifts social distancing requirements June 1,
2021
From our friends at the Las Vegas Convention & Vistors Authority...
The Clark
County COVID-19 mitigation plan will expire June 1, allowing for the
return of pre-pandemic guidelines that lift restrictions involving capacity
limits, large gatherings, and more.
The new CDC guidance on
masks recommends that those who are not vaccinated continue wearing masks and
following social distancing and other precautions until fully vaccinated. The guidance allows fully vaccinated people to stop wearing face coverings in
crowds and in many indoor locations
Additionally, masks still
must be worn in hospitals and healthcare facilities and on planes, buses,
trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out
of the United States, and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
More guidance about masks is on the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/
NEW TO THE SHOP this week is the beginning of our THE SHIRT ON YOUR BACK COLLECTION, with adventure apparel for men, women, & children. We've partnered with a great print-on-demand supplier with some great quality items, many of which can be further customized as you shop. We invite you to check the initial line and be sure to check back as new designs and apparel items will be added soon.
For all those who are waiting anxiously to be able to resume cruising, here's the most current info on the assorted cruise lines and any vaccination requirements they have put into place. The list included is fairly extensive, though not all cruise lines have made their plans & requirements known yet. My team and I continually monitor the available information so that our guests have what they need to be prepared for their vacations.
FINALLY! The CDC has just announced that IF YOU ARE VACCINATED you can TAKE OFF YOUR MASK, both INSIDE and OUTSIDE. No more social distancing, for any size crowd! Oh, Happy Day! They have finally caught up with the science!
The islands are open and would love to get to know you this year. If you've been considering a getaway, the six different islands of Hawaii that you can visit each have their own unique personality and would make for a fantastic getaway. Reach out and let's have a conversation about it. I'd be honored to help you find your Aloha.
This summer you can discover one of the world's most awe-inspiring places as The Galapagos Islands is opening up for visitors once again. Starting July 4, 2021, Celebrity's newest all-suite expedition ship, Celebrity Flora will be returning to the islands for discovery, following by Celebrity Xpedition starting on July 24, and then Celebrity Xploration on September 18. These amazing ships are already small ships with a small capacity, so the assorted health and safety protocols are easily implemented. Fabulous voyages of discovery lie ahead...will you be part of them? Reach out and let's get you booked. clingren@cruiseplanners.com | 317.776.1733
How about some golf and incredible views this summer along with complimentary golf, greens fees, and transfers? There are some terrific inclusions available at Sandals in both The Bahamas and St Lucia. Check it out, and then let's chat to get you booked! https://tinyurl.com/GolfwithaView
