Posted by David Porter on November 17, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Carol and I sailed Crystal Cruises in Alaska this summer and fell in love! To read our review, click here.
And now, we’re very excited to bring you these exciting last-minute offers…
2016 Book Now Fares: Best Available Fares on ALL 2016 Voyages!
Appealing to the sense of adventure of our well-traveled guests, Crystal Cruises announces our 2016 collection of worldwide voyages boasting an impressive collection of 26 maiden calls. From Aitutaki in the Cook Islands to Sibenik on the Dalmatian Coast, these little-known destinations are a mere sampling of 245 ports of call, both popular and undiscovered, which create 60 enriching itineraries visiting 77 different countries.
Regardless of what inspires your wanderlust, aboard the two highest rated ships in the world – Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – you will experience a vacation that sails far beyond the ordinary with all-inclusive style and luxurious discovery.
New England & Canada (September/October) – No where else in the world does Mother Nature display her painterly talents as she does in this corner of the world in autumn. Travel between New York and Québec to explore stunning wildlife and incredible history.
Expedition Cruise – Northwest Passage (August/September) – Crystal’s Northwest Passage heralds the beginning of a new chapter of exploration in the enviable story of the World’s Best cruise line. Crystal Serenity will become the very first World’s Best luxury ship ever to transit the fabled Northwest Passage, visiting a series of U.S, Canadian and Greenland destinations, most of which never before called upon by any other luxury cruise line. Designed for those with a true wanderlust for the rare and undiscovered, this incredible 32-day expeditionary-style voyage travels from Anchorage/Seward to New York City, marrying a passion for extreme wilderness adventure with a penchant for unsurpassed luxury travel.
Caribbean (October-December) – Come relax on white sand beaches, play in crystalline waters and relax in rejuvenating sunshine while exploring world-renowned reefs and maiden ports in Virgin Gorda; plus, overnight stays in lively New Orleans.
Mediterranean (August-October) – Follow the stunning shores of classical antiquity to discover treasured destinations long renowned for their history, art and architecture; today revered for their welcoming hospitality and fashion-forward style. Enjoy overnights in Barcelona, Rome, Haifa, Ibiza, Istanbul, Lisbon, Monte Carlo and Venice, and maiden calls in Crotone, Italy; Puerto de Alcudia, Mallorca,; and, Sibenik, Croatia.
Pacific Coast (November) – From the laid-back yet on-trend charms of California to the ruggedly beautiful coastlines of the Pacific Northwest, these voyages promise both serenity and adventure with overnight stays in San Diego, San Francisco and Vancouver, as well as a maiden call to Catalina Island.
Book now and enjoy:
- Limited-time 2-for-1 Cruise-Only Fares from $1,630 per person
- Limited-time Book Now Savings between $700 to $2,500 per person
- Exclusive Crystal Society savings of up to $1,100 per person for returning Crystal guests
- Complimentary select fine wines, champagne and premium spirits.
- Complimentary gratuities for all dining, bar, housekeeping and Penthouse butler staff.
- Complimentary evening of specialty restaurant dining at least once in Silk Road or the Sushi Bar celebrating the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa, and at least once in Prego. Additional reservations or visits available for a modest fee*.
- Complimentary enrichment via the innovative Creative Learning Institute® and the Computer University@Sea® with classes in diverse topics such as world affairs, art, wine appreciation, digital photography and iPad filmmaking; free Wi-fi and Internet access.**
- Complimentary fitness programs with classes in yoga, mat Pilates, Spinning®, and so much more!
PLUS, Book Early and Save! All guests paying in full 180 days prior to departure also receive 2.5% additional Early Full Payment savings. And don’t forget to ask about our optional Personal Select Air program available on every voyage in 2016. Look below and find your perfect 2016 cruise escape!
Note: click the charts below to see a much larger view.
To learn more, or to book your last-minute Crystal Cruises sailing, 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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Posted by David Porter on November 17, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Note: click photo for larger views. ©2012, David A. Porter
November 17 is National Take a Hike Day for 2016. Carol and I have logged hundreds and hundreds of miles hiking scenic trails over the years. However, the hike that most stands out in our minds was hiking the Navajo Loop Trail in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. As you can see from my photograph, this trail offers some of the most otherworldly views we’ve ever experienced.
To learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park, click here. If you haven’t explored the canyon lands of southern Utah, you must!
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Posted by David Porter on November 17, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Note: click on photo for larger view. ©2012, David A. Porter
I snagged this photograph of London’s Buckingham Palace in April of 2012. Early spring is a wonderful time to visit London as the parks are full of flowers in bloom and the summer crowds are months away. As you can see in the photograph, crowds were beginning to form for the daily changing of the guard that occurs from April through July, and every other day in other months.
If you’d like to get a tour of Buckingham Palace, you’ll want to visit in August and September as the rest of the year the property is used by the Queen as her London residence and for state parties.
To learn more about visiting Buckingham Palace, click here. And to learn more about visiting London, click here.
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Posted by David Porter on November 17, 2016 · 2 Comments
So, now that the election is over, what might that mean for the travel industry?
Answer? Post-election travel bookings are surging and many travel suppliers are seeing record bookings!
Let me give you a few examples:
- Roaming Boomers Travel Services – November is generally one of the more lackluster months for booking travel. Folks generally have their holiday travel plans booked, and they’re busy thinking about the coming holidays. However, as of yesterday, our travel agency’s bookings are up over 250% from this time last year. Now, certainly some of that is the result of fundamental growth in our business, but I wouldn’t expect that large of an uptick in November. Therefore, it seems, with the election behind us, folks are ready to start traveling in earnest.
- Crystal Cruises – just yesterday, Edie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Crystal Cruises, was interviewed on one of the business news channels. She commented that Crystal Cruises is “very bullish” about the future and stated that they are seeing “record bookings after the election”.
- Viking Ocean Cruises – yesterday, we had a client call who wanted to book two staterooms on a Caribbean Viking Ocean Cruise in late-February. We called Viking and we were totally blown away to learn that Viking is completely sold out in the Caribbean for 2017. There wasn’t one stateroom left! Our back-channel Viking contact was blown away as well.
Moral to the Story
It has become quite clear that travel bookings are seeing a large surge after the election and that folks are booking their 2017 travel plans earlier this year. Therefore, if you plan to check off another destination on your bucket list for 2017, we highly recommend that you get started right now.
To get an early start on your 2017 travel plans, 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.
If you’re uncertain about your travel plans for 2017, explore our travel dreams website by clicking here.
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Posted by David Porter on November 17, 2016 · 2 Comments
London Horse Guards Parade – Note: click on all photos for larger views. ©2012, David A. Porter
Jo, our client, at the Trooping of the Colour
With the sharp decline of the British Pound following the Brexit vote last June, Americans are flocking to Great Britain in droves (see article). Last week, I sent our British in-country travel planning partner an email asking if she’s seeing an increase in bookings to Great Britain; she said, “Absolutely! Its been utter madness!”.
Carol and I last visited London in 2012 and we’re itching to go back. With the decline of the British Pound, our American dollars bring nearly 40% more buying power, no language barrier, untold numbers of centuries-old historical sites to visit; kind locals, and the best cabs in the world, I’m absolutely dying to go back, and to spend more time in the British Museum.
I snagged the above photograph in April of 2012 as we made a fabulous stroll from our hotel (The Stafford Hotel) past Buckingham Palace, and through St. James Park as we made our way to see Big Ben, Westminster Palace, and Westminster Abbey. You can see all of the posts from our visit at this link.
Our British Connections
One of the great benefits we bring our clients are the in-country travel planning partners we have located in nearly every country in the world. These relationships come to us through our affiliation with Virtuoso®, the world’s leading international luxury travel agency network. These relationships are decades old, stringently curated, and bring our clients access to experiences that are simply not possible booking on the Internet.
Let me give you an example: this year was HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. Without question, the grandest event in London this year was her birthday bash at the annual Trooping of Colour on the grounds of the London Horse Guards.
Thousands and thousands packed the streets, all hoping for the slightest glimpse of the Queen. Through our connections, we were able to get “up close and personal” tickets for our clients Bob & Jo where they enjoyed all of the pomp and circumstance within ear-shot of the Queen.
The picture above was taken by Jo with her smartphone. As you can see, we got them fabulous seats. Right!
Bottom Line
Listen, it’s no secret that you can book a trip to Great Britain on your own. But, let me ask you a gentle question: would you rather be in the street packed among 10s of thousands of people, or would you rather use our connections and observe the event from the perspective above? Stand with the crowds, or let us VIP you to an unforgettable experience?
This is just one example of thousands. Through our world-wide affiliations and in-country travel planning partners, we bring you buying power, access, and exclusive privileges that you simply can’t get on your own.
If you haven’t yet made your 2017 travel plans, we highly recommend that you consider England, Wales, or Scotland. All three of these countries within Great Britain will bring you the financial boon from the falling British Pound, and we have the tools and resources to help you regardless of your travel style. Want to golf Scotland’s Old Course? Perhaps this is the year! 😁
To explore the many different options we have available for a visit to the UK, call our office at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you’re a 4-star+ traveler, you might enjoy this small group travel option from our friends at Tauck, one of our nation’s most highly respected small group tour operators. To explore further UK travel options, come visit our travel dreams website: click here. To book these or other available options, just give us a call.
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The Roaming Boomers
