Posted by David Porter on January 3, 2018 · 2 Comments
Scottsdale, Arizona: AmaWaterways River Cruises Informational Evening
River cruising continues to be a hot trend with baby boomer travelers, and AmaWaterways continues to rack up the awards.
In 2017, Cruise Critic named AmaWaterways “Best for Active Cruisers”, our Virtuoso Travel Network named them “Cruise Line of the Year”, Travel Weekly raved with Gold Awards with “Best Luxury Ship Restaurant Design”, “Best Luxury Ship Cabin Design”, and Best Cruise Expedition Itinerary” giving a nod to AmaWaterways’ Wine Cruises.
Further, Carol and I give them big thumbs up from our own personal experience which you can read about by clicking here.
Travelers have quite a number of choices when considering a river cruise, and AmaWaterways is one of our “go to” river cruise lines for those who desire a more upscale experience but don’t really care to pay for a white-gloved butler.
In our minds, AmaWaterways is the perfect blend of luxury, value, comfort, and experience.
Therefore, to allow you to explore a possible river cruise with AmaWaterways, we’ve invited them to Scottsdale, Arizona for a special informational evening replete with light appetizers, wine, beer, and soft drinks. Plus, we’re told that they will be bringing along a special offer for attendees.
AmaWaterways and Roaming Boomers Travel Services Invites you to a fun and Informational Evening
When: Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Where: Terravita Desert Pavilion, 34109 N. 69th Way, Scottsdale, Az. 85266
What: Complimentary AmaWaterways Cruises presentation with light appetizers, wine, beer, and soft drinks
Why: Because this is a very fun way to learn about AmaWaterways award-winning river cruises. PLUS, all attendees will receive a special booking bonus from AmaWaterways. 🙂
Space is limited, so RSVP by calling our office at (480) 550-1235, or simply complete the secure form below. Please RSVP by January 10, 2018.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on December 18, 2017 · 2 Comments
U.S. Airlines are Quickly Banning Smart Luggage and Bags
If Santa brought you a shiny new smart bag or smart luggage for Christmas, you’d better check to see if it has a removable lithium-ion battery.
If not, you will be banned from bringing it aboard the airplane.
As of this writing, three airlines have banned any so-called “smart bag” that has a non-removable lithium-ion battery for fear that they might explode and cause a fire on the plane in flight.
Remember the mess over the exploding Samsung smartphones a while back? Same thing.
Here’s a press release from Delta:
“Effective Jan. 15, 2018, Delta and Delta Connection will no longer accept as checked or carry-on luggage so-called “smart bags” or smart luggage with non-removable lithium-ion batteries, due to the potential for the powerful batteries to overheat and pose a fire hazard risk during flight. The safety of Delta’s customers and employees remains the airline’s top priority.
Smart bags with removable batteries will still be allowed if the battery can be removed on site and taken on board the aircraft with the customer, similar to Delta’s policy today requiring customers to place spare lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage.
Smart bags have grown in popularity in the past year and often include lithium-ion batteries to power built-in features like GPS and Bluetooth locators, weight scales that prevent overpacking, USB ports to charge personal devices and motors to propel the bag.*
Delta in 2015 banned hoverboards and other battery-powered self-balancing personal transportation devices over similar concerns. As with the hoverboard ban, other airlines, including American Airlines, have also implemented a smart bags ban. Also, the International Air Transport Association has provided guidance on restricting the carrying of smart bags on board.
Many smart bag manufacturers advertise their products as being approved by the Federal Aviation Administration or Transportation Security Administration, which may give customers the false impression that all smart bags are accepted for transport. To date, neither the TSA nor FAA have endorsed a smart bag as approved.
With the proliferation of powerful lithium-ion batteries used in devices, and as a result of high-profile instances of overheating smartphones and other devices in flight, Delta last year equipped all of its aircraft as well as regional jets operated by its Delta Connection partners with in-cabin containment bags in the event a device powered by a lithium-ion battery experiences a thermal runaway event or fire on board.
*NOTE: Smart bags with a motor allowing them to be used as personal transportation devices, either as stand-up scooters or sit-on vehicles, do not meet the definition of mobility devices.”
While this is going to be a problem for some folks, imagine being the manufacturer of a piece of luggage with an un-removable lithium-ion battery. Recalls, returns, and re-engineering. Oh, my! 🙁
Smart luggage photograph courtesy of Bluesmart Luggage website.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on December 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Viking Sun Sets Sail on First World Cruise From Miami to London
Sold Out 141-day Itinerary Will Bring Guests to 35 Countries on Five Continents
When we opened our travel agency in January of 2014, we spent a fair amount of time studying the travel industry to determine where we wanted to carve our niche.
As our primary target audience is the baby boomer traveler, and as a very large number of them were drawn to European river cruises, we decided early on to make one of the pillars of our business river and ocean cruises, and specifically: Viking Cruises.
This has paid off for our clients as they consistently come home wanting another Viking cruise. And, it has paid off for our business as Carol, and I have grown this portion of our business to a #1 position out of Virtuoso’s 16,000 travel advisors and also as one of the top 5 selling agents in the world with Viking.
You can read more about that by clicking here.
Viking Cruises dominates the world’s river cruise market, and they are aggressively looking to build a dominant position in the world’s ocean cruise market as well. Viking has it’s 5th ocean liner due out next summer, and they have five more on order.
Viking Cruises First World Cruise
Just last Friday, Viking Cruises accomplished another first as they set out on their inaugural World Cruise sailing from Miami around the world to London. Here’s the scoop from Viking:
Los Angeles (December 15, 2017) – Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) today celebrated the kickoff of its inaugural World Cruise on its fourth and newest ocean ship, Viking Sun®, welcoming guests in Miami for the sold out 141-day itinerary. Viking Sun will spend nearly the next five months on the World Cruise, which spans five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports. During this journey from Miami to London, guests will first explore Cuba and the Caribbean, before sailing the Panama Canal to call on Los Angeles, the home of Viking’s U.S. headquarters and first West Coast port of call. Viking Sun will then sail to the South Pacific, Australia and Asia, where the ship will be christened in Shanghai on March 8, 2018. From there, Viking Sun will continue on with ports of call in Asia and then Europe, before finishing the World Cruise in London on May 5.
“Our World Cruises are the most extensive and culturally immersive journeys available in the industry. For two decades, we have continued to expand our destination-focused itineraries to new regions of the world, so as our fleet grows it is a natural progression for us to offer grand voyages of this scope for our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Our guests are experienced travelers who want to explore the world in comfort; our offerings allow them to be immersed be in the cultures of the world when they are onshore and when they are onboard our award-winning fleet of sister ships.”
In addition to guests, also sailing on the World Cruise will be six casks of Viking’s own “Linje” Aquavit. In keeping with a Norwegian tradition that dates back hundreds of years, the Scandinavian spirit will mature in oak barrels during the sailing, crossing the equator (linje) twice as part of the maturation process. According to the tradition, it is believed that the moving seas and frequent temperature changes cause more flavor to be extracted from the casks.
Viking Sun will continue to sail the globe during Viking’s 2019 World Cruise. The recently announced 128-day itinerary from Miami to London, will visit five continents and immerse guests in the rich cultures of 21 countries from South America and the South Pacific to Australia and Africa. Like on all Viking itineraries, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 64 ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi; they will also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.
Viking Sun
Viking’s ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, have 465 staterooms and host 930 guests. Classified by Cruise Critic® as a “small ship,” the all-veranda Viking Sun is the newest addition to Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet, which also includes Viking Star®, Viking Sea® and Viking Sky®. Viking will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, including Viking Orion® in summer 2018; with the arrival of a sixth ship in 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Two additional ships are also on order for delivery in 2021 and 2022.
The Viking Difference
Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. Onboard, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. All-veranda ships mean that guests experience every day with a new, expansive vista. With the most al fresco dining at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking’s guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences onshore and onboard. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
In addition, Viking Inclusive Value provides a small ship experience at a big ship value and no nickel-and-diming – with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; premium dining reservations; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room service—an included value of more than $200 per person, per day for an average cruise.
Viking Cruises 2019 World Cruise
Note: click map for a much larger view.
While the 2018 Viking World Cruise has left port, it’s not too late to make your booking for their 2019 World Cruise. For more information, CLICK HERE.
For more information, our expert advice, and some special complimentary VIP perks we have for you, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on December 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Carol and I traveled with Abercrombie & Kent back in 2013 before we started Roaming Boomers Travel Services.
We sampled one of their “Connections” journeys in Spain where we visited exciting cities like Barcelona, Granada, Malaga, Ronda, Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid.
We loved it, and you can read about our journey at this link.
As you know, we’re big fans of ocean and river cruises. But, the simple truth of the matter is that a great many places in the world are best explored on land and not poked at from the ocean. Further, there are only but a few rivers in the world that can accommodate a flourishing river cruise industry.
Therefore, we highly recommend that you reserve space in your mind for small group travel journeys as you contemplate your travel dreams. After all, spending ten days on the ground in Tuscany is much better than trying to poke at it with day trips from the ocean. And, Venice is a completely different experience when the 10s of thousands are back on their cruise ships at night.
As one considers a land journey, there are a number of ways to accomplish such an experience:
- Large group coach tours – the advantage here is the economy of scale. These tours will give you the lowest cost of entry with the trade-off being that you will be traveling with 40-50 people and be moving about by a large bus.
- Small group tours – here, you will still enjoy some economy of scale, but your groups will generally be 20 people or less. We like this niche because it is far easier to obtain hotel rooms for 20 people, the crowd is far more manageable to enjoy a restaurant together, and the smaller group makes new friendships a little easier. If we’re not traveling on a private journey, Carol and I enjoy a small group experience.
- Private tours – the advantage here is that you can do what you want and when you want to do it. There is no group schedule that you must abide by. If you feel like sleeping in one morning, then go right ahead. It’s your party, and you can cry if you want to. 😀
Abercrombie & Kent is one of our most valuable partners when it comes to land journeys. Many of our best clients have come to trust Abercrombie & Kent over the years and the question from year to year is: where shall we travel with Abercrombie & Kent this year?
We have clients who enjoy A&K’s small group private jet tours, and with Abercrombie & Kent having offices on the ground in 52 countries of the world, we have also come to rely on them to help us craft private land journeys for our clients all over the world.
Abercrombie & Kent doesn’t offer large group tours, but we highly recommend that you take a peek at the catalogs below for their 4-star Connections Journeys and their 5-star Luxury Small Group Journeys:
CLICK TO VIEW CATALOG
CLICK TO VIEW CATALOG
After you take a peek at these catalogs, I’m certain that you will have many questions.
Therefore, we invite you to direct your questions our way. Carol and I are expert travelers and very capable of helping you determine which of these fun journeys might fit your desires and travel style.
Plus, Roaming Boomers Travel Services is a member of the $22 billion Virtuoso Travel Network, and our back-channel connections will come in very handy for you in the planning stage.
To learn more, or to book one of these exciting land journeys, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on December 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
NEW! Viking Ocean Cruises: Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes
See Unparalleled Natural Beauty
From Norway, travel to the end of the North Sea and beyond to unlock mysteries of the far north and experience nature at its most magnificent.
Contrast the pleasant urban setting of Ålesund with the robust beauty of Geiranger’s fjord landscape. Meet the people who thrive on the water’s edge of the Faroe archipelago, and encounter polar fox, tern, eider ducks and members of the whale family in Iceland’s majestic, distant north.
This brand new 2019 Iceland itinerary is certain to sell out fast!
As we shared with you in the Top 5 Travel Trends for 2018, Iceland is a hot destination. So hot, in fact, that this island nation is struggling to keep up with the lodging demand.
And, for those travelers who prefer a 5-star experience, Iceland is currently devoid of those options at the moment.
So, methinks, why not explore Iceland in a near circumnavigation with Viking Ocean Cruises. Plus, as an added bonus, you’ll get to explore the fjords of Norway as well. Plus, you may well want to explore a pre/post experience in Reykjavik to float around a bit in the world-famous Blue Lagoon.
Viking just released this exciting new itinerary, and if you have interest, call us right away as this is certain to sell out fast.
There are four 2019 sailings beginning on May 27, June 8, Aug 1, and Aug 13.
To learn more, CLICK HERE. Plus, we may well have some of our Virtuoso perks to share with you on top of Viking’s best offers.
For more information, or to book this or any Viking Ocean Cruise, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you.
You may also enjoy reading our recent article: Best Way to Book an Ocean or River Cruise
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 800 travel agency partners with more than 16,000 elite travel advisors in over 45 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than (U.S.) $21.2 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
The Roaming Boomers
