European Parliament Calls for Measure to Force Americans to Apply for Travel Visas Prior to Visiting This SummerThe travel industry is abuzz as media outlets are reporting that the European Parliament is seeking to force American travelers to apply for travel visas before they visit member countries this coming summer.
Why is this happening? Well, this has been brewing for a number of years as Washington refuses to grant visa-free access to people from four east European states and Cyprus, while those from the other 23 member states can enter using the U.S. visa waiver program. EU rules call for equal treatment for all Union citizens (Rueters article).
Obviously, if this were to come to pass, this would create a nightmare for the millions of American citizens who have travel plans booked for the coming year.
We have already received a few calls from concerned clients, so I called our local congressional office yesterday to inquire about this issue. In my conversation with a congressional staffer, I was told that my congressman was aware of and monitoring the situation, but suspects that this will ultimately go down as “political theater”.
Think about it, the European Parliament can force attention to the issue by getting millions of American travelers up in arms about having to apply for a last-minute travel visa to enter member EU countries this summer.
Our Take
As I contemplated this situation, I can’t imagine the European Parliament bringing this threat to pass before the busy summer travel season. American travel to Europe is very important to the EU member countries, and this monkey wrench in the process could potentially hurt the economies of those countries involved. This is particularly true for countries like Italy and Greece who are still dealing with struggling economies.
Further, I can’t imagine that they have a travel visa application process in place that could handle the millions of potential applications. It would certainly wind up being a nightmare for all involved.
What to do?
As we speak, there are currently no requirements for American citizens to seek and receive a travel visa for visits to EU countries. As our congressional staffer told us, this will most likely blow over as political theater. However, stranger things have happened. Right?
We’ll keep an eye on this issue, and if we see this threat becoming reality, we’ll most certainly bring it to your attention in a timely matter. For now, stay tuned.
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If you haven’t noticed, Viking Ocean Cruises seems to be taking the world by storm. After pulling off last year’s “World’s #1 Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure, now they stick another feather in their cap by totally dominating this year’s Cruiser’s Choice Awards. Just take a peek at this year’s ocean cruise rankings…
Note: click chart for larger view.
Carol with Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen.
Newcomer Viking Ocean Cruises, I’m quite certain, has a lot of cruise industry board members scratching their heads wondering how this new kid on the block is causing such a stir.
And while we’re fans of a great many of the other participants on the awards list, it seems to me that Viking Ocean Cruises has managed to hit that sweet spot between luxury and value.
As we shared with you in this article, from our sailing with Viking Ocean in October of 2016, we came away very impressed.
Here’s Viking Ocean Cruises’ press release on their most recent win…
Los Angeles (February 16, 2017) – After another year of impressive travel industry awards, Viking Ocean Cruises® this week received a new set of accolades from the popular online cruise resource, Cruise Critic®. The fast-growing cruise line is today celebrating that its 930-guest sister ships, Viking Star® and Viking Sea® , received top honors in ten categories in the Small-Mid Size (400-1,199 passengers) class of the Cruise Critic® 7th Annual Cruisers’ Choice Awards.
Viking’s two ships won the top two placements in nearly every category where they were eligible. Viking Sea received First Place placements in six award categories in its first year of service: Best Overall, Best Entertainment, Best for Fitness & Recreation, Best Public Rooms, Best Service and Best Shore Excursions. Viking Star received First Place placements in four award categories: Best Dining, Best for Value, and for the second year in a row, Best Cabins, and Best for First-Timers. Unsurprisingly, Best for Families was the one category where Viking did not place in one of the top two spots, as the line remains focused on catering to an audience of adults and experienced travelers and does not feature accommodations or activities for children. Cruise Critic is the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, and the Cruisers’ Choice Awards name the best cruise ships in the world, based solely on ratings submitted with member reviews published on the Cruise Critic website for cruises taken in 2016.
“It is an honor for our first two ocean ships to be distinguished as the best ships by the members of the Cruise Critic community,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “After just two years in service, I am proud to see Viking Star and Viking Sea receive such high accolades from the industry and our guests. And while awards and cruise line rankings come and go, the Viking scores reflected in the Cruisers’ Choice Awards are entirely consistent with our internal quality ratings, in which 99.8% of our guests rate their Viking experience above or far above expectations.”
“With these awards we consolidate the thousands of reviews submitted to Cruise Critic each year and honor those lines that received the best ratings from cruisers,” explained Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor, Cruise Critic. “Reviews offer incredibly helpful insights for those planning a cruise but also highlight the remarkable experiences and levels of service that people encounter every day on a cruise. We’re thankful to everyone who added their voice to these awards by taking the time to write a review.”
In addition to the First Place wins, Viking’s ships also took the Second Place honors in most of the same categories. Viking Sea took second place, behind Viking Star, in Best Cabins, Best Dining and Best Value. Viking Star took Second Place, behind Viking Sea, in Best Overall, Best for Fitness and Recreation, Best for Public Rooms, Best for Service and Best for Shore Excursions.
Viking’s Ocean Ships
The all-veranda, Viking Star, Viking Sea and newly delivered Viking Sky® have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, boast 465 cabins and accommodate 930 guests. Viking’s fourth ship, Viking Sun® will be delivered in November and will spend her maiden season sailing the company’s first-ever World Cruise. Viking Spirit® will join the fleet in 2018 and will sail itineraries in Australia, Asia and Alaska. A sixth, yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in 2019 and will mark Viking as the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including the same interior design team responsible for the award-winning fleet of Viking Longships®, Viking’s ocean ships feature:
The Viking Difference
Designed for discerning travelers, Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. The Viking Difference is providing guests with extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring them closer to the cultures of the world. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port, more overnights and fewer days at sea. 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—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.
Booking Details
From now until February 28, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2-for-1 cruise fare and air – plus a new “choice” offer, allowing guests to choose between a free beverage package, $400 shipboard credit per stateroom or prepaid onboard gratuities – for all 2017 sailings of the Viking Homelands itinerary. Viking is also offering 2-for-1 cruise fare and free air from more than 150 U.S. cities for all 2017 and 2018 sailings of the Panama & Central America itinerary.
To learn more, or make a booking on a fun Viking Ocean Cruise, call our travel agency 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 sailing Alaska with Crystal Cruises
If you’ve been a reader of ours for any period of time, then you’re surely aware that we’re big fans of Alaska cruising.
While we don’t believe cruising is the end-all and be-all to those who desire to explore the world, an ocean cruise is really the only practical way to explore Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Carol and I have taken three Alaska cruises, and I’m quite confident that we’ll do it again. For those who are willing to get away from the expensive dock-side shopping at the ports, Alaska offers some of the most stunning scenery in the world.
Our White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Journey
We’ve been close enough to humpback whales to smell their breath (article link), our seaplane journey to the Taku River Lodge was beyond stunning (article link), watching and hearing ice calving in Glacier Bay National Park was humbling (article links), and riding the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is an absolute must.
I was reading an article this morning in Travel Market Report, and they’re reporting that the upcoming 2017 Alaska cruise season is on track to be a real block-buster:
“A spokesperson for CLIA Alaska told TMR that the cruise sector will break its all-time record in 2017, welcoming 1.06 million passengers. The previous record was set in 2008, with 1.03 million. The numbers have been steadily rising in recent years, she said. In 2015, cruise passengers numbered 999,600 and last year the total broke 1 million.”
Moral to the Story? If you’re thinking about an Alaska cruise for 2017, book now!
We photographed these humpback whales in Juneau.
“OK”, you ask, “so how much does it cost to take an Alaska cruise, and what are the available options?” Perhaps the easiest way for us to answer that question is with our cruise search tool: CLICK HERE.
This handy tool will allow you to search across all cruise lines and sort them by brand, date, price range, and much more.
Lastly, the easiest way to get information is to give us a call. We don’t bite, and we’re happy to help.
For more information, or to book a fun Alaska cruise, call our travel agency office at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
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European Gems
When it comes to creating distinctive travel experiences across Europe, we always like to think outside of the box.
That’s because we have an insider’s perspective, gained through experience and well-nurtured relationships with the finest travel brands and premier local contacts.
Whether you dream of sleeping in an Irish castle, floating among Greek isles or golfing in Spain, this is the year to make it happen.
Explore Europe through our eyes. You’ll love the view: CLICK HERE.
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Exclusive Offer: Azamara Club Cruises, Greek Isles + AdriaticIf you were to ask my opinion about the #1 itinerary for a Mediterranean ocean cruise, my answer would be, “this one”.
Secondly, I would also tell you to do it with Azamara Club Cruises as they cater to the boomer traveler with small ships, port-intensive itineraries, and with their recent multi-million dollar bow to stern overhaul, their ships more resemble floating boutique luxury hotels than a typical, run-of-the-mill cruise ship.
While Carol and I are big fans of many of the 5-star luxury cruise lines, Azamara Club Cruises might best be defined as occupying the sweet spot between the luxury lines and the monster ships appealing to the budget cruiser. Let’s call Azamara Club Cruises 4+-star.
Spa Suite. Click for large view.
Think of it this way, Azamara Club Cruises is not Four Seasons, but more akin to a Westin. Still very nice, but not commanding the prices of the more expensive luxury brands.
But, more important, in my humble opinion, is this port-intensive itinerary. It starts in historic Athens, makes stops in Mykonos and Santorini to experience the world-famous whitewashed architecture with contrasting blue rooftops; then up the Adriatic to Croatia to experience the city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming site for the Game of Thrones, and ending in Venice, Italy, arguably one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Sounds fun. Right? But wait, we have perks and bonuses when you book through Roaming Boomers Travel Services:
This is a Virtuoso Voyages sailing*. So all passengers booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor (that’s us) will receive a dedicated onboard hosts (that’s also us), a Virtuoso-only welcome aboard cocktail reception, and an exclusive Virtuoso-only shore excursion in Dubrovnik.When you add it all up, we’ve got thousands of dollars worth of reasons for you to book this fabulous itinerary.
Prices start at $3,699/person, but if you book by 2/24, the second person will be half-off and you’ll get from $300 – $500 in shipboard credits/stateroom.
For booking information, please call our travel agency office at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
*Note: Virtuoso Voyages benefits require a minimum of 16 booked guests. As of this writing, there are 14 booked guests on this sailing.
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The Roaming Boomers