My late picks - November 2018

Flexible schedule? If you can get away last minute, here are some interesting sailings this month that still have space ~ and good deals!

Check out these escapes to warmth as the northern lands grow chilly...

South Pacific from Tahiti!

November 11, 2018

15-Nights

Sailing from Papeete (Tahiti) to Auckland on Holland America's ms Maasdam

Very nice South Pacific cruise, offering great value.

Ports on this sailing include: Papeete, French Polynesia - At Sea - Rarotonga, Cook Islands - At Sea - Alofi, New Zealand - International Dateline - Vava'u, Tonga - At Sea - Savusavu, Fiji - Suva, Fiji - Dravuni Island - At Sea - Nuku`alofa, Tonga - At Sea - At Sea - Auckland, New Zealand
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Great Middle East cruise!

November 11, 2018

15-Nights

Sailing from Rome to Abu Dhabi on the Celebrity Constellation

A great choice if you'd like to disembark in Abu Dhabi

Ports on this sailing include: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Catania, Italy - At Sea - Piraeus, Greece - Suez Canal, Egypt - Suez Canal, Egypt - Al 'Aqabah, Jordan - At Sea - At Sea - At Sea - At Sea - At Sea - Muscat, Oman - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

New Orleans cruise

November 25, 2018

11-Nights

Sailing roundtrip from New Orleans on the Norwegian Breakaway

Wrap your Caribbean cruise with a little New Orleans jazz!

Ports on this sailing include: New Orleans, Louisiana - At Sea - At Sea - Ocho Rios, Jamaica - Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Roatan, Honduras - Belize City, Belize - Harvest Caye, Belize - Costa Maya, Mexico - Cozumel, Mexico - At Sea - New Orleans, Louisiana
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

3 weeks in the Caribbean

November 25, 2018

21-Nights

Sailing roundtrip Tampa on Holland America's ms Rotterdam

Lovely, relaxing 3 week long cruise... claim your deck chair!

Ports on this sailing include: Tampa, Florida - Key West, Florida - At Sea - Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala - Roatan, Honduras - Costa Maya, Mexico - At Sea - Tampa, Florida - Key West, Florida - At Sea - At Sea - San Juan, Puerto Rico - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands - St John's, Antigua and Barbuda - Castries, Saint Lucia - Soufriere Bay, Saint Lucia - At Sea - Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles - Oranjestad, Aruba - At Sea - Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - At Sea - Tampa, Florida
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Panama Canal

November 30, 2018

14-Nights

Sailing from Miami to Los Angeles on the Norwegian Star

A surprisingly affordable Panama Canal opportunity

Ports on this sailing include: Miami, Florida - At Sea - At Sea - Cartagena, Colombia - Panama Canal - At Sea - Puntarenas, Costa Rica - Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala - At Sea - Acapulco, Mexico - At Sea - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - At Sea - Los Angeles, California
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.



==============================================

None of these your cup of tea?

I'm happy to help you plan an adventure wherever you'd like to go.

Please contact me to begin the planning process.



Related resources
Roberta's picks - hand picked by me
Vancouver cruise opportunities - hand picked by me
Solo-friendly picks - a list of ships with single staterooms
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me

Parikkala Sculpture Park

Creative Commons image mikeancient on Flickr 

Just 3 hours east of Helsinki, tucked next to the Russian border, lies the town of Parikkala.

Creative Commons image
1030333033@N08 on Flickr 

While relatively isolated, the tiny town receives more than its share of visitors, drawn to incredible sculptures created by Veijo Rönkkönen.

Officially known as the Parikkala Sculpture Park, the Veijo Rönkkönen Sculpture Garden is one of Finland's most important examples of contemporary folk art.

"Rönkkönen is more than an installation or a sculpture park; it’s a community, and although some of the artwork is disturbing, the forest is unquestionably quite magical, an amalgamation of many different worlds coming together all in one place." (The Culture Trip)

Creative Commons image 1030333033@N08 on Flickr 

What causes the sometimes 'creepy' reaction is the facial expressions of the concrete statues. Some even have human teeth. The uniqueness of each statue is also what makes the whole collection so special.

"Veijo Rönkkönen was only 16 years old when he started working on his park. Veijo had recently got a job as a press worker in a paper mill in his hometown Parikkala, a job he held for 41 years. With his first pay check, he purchased ten apple tree seedlings and a bag of concrete to create a garden around his family home. For the next fifty years, until his death in 2010, he dedicated all his spare time and money planting flowers and trees and creating hundreds of caricature-like sculptures, mostly of full scale human figures." (Amusing Planet)

Creative Commons image
1030333033@N08 on Flickr 

A recluse who enjoyed his own company and practiced yoga, Veijo continued to live in the family home, adding to his works.

"Veijo Rönkkönen's yard, and the path leading to it, are filled with over 450 statues, 200 of which are self portraits of the artist in Yoga positions he has mastered. The statues have loudspeakers hidden inside them, and the sound effects add to the eeriness of this place." (Oddity Central)

Creative Commons image 1030333033@N08 on Flickr 

While Rönkkönen was happy to share his sculptures, leaving his park open to the public, he never wanted to meet his admirers. Instead, visitors left impressions and notes to him in a guestbook.

Veijo Rönkkönen was recognized with the Finlandia prize in 2007, but sent his brother to collect the prize on his behalf.

Following his death in 2010, Rönkkönen's family sold the site, hoping it would be preserved. The ITE Association is partnering with the new owner, an art lover named Reino Uusitalo, to repair the sculptures and provide guided tours.

Curious?

Satisfy your curiosity with this view of the park entrance (on Google Street View).

Creative Commons image mikeancient on Flickr

If you go, why not stay a few days? There is plenty to see and do, including ample birdwatching, Ateljee-Koti Seppo Saukkonen (250 works by the artist), Honkakylä Merchant’s Museum, Museum of Horse-Drawn Vehicles & Agricultural Implements, Parikkala Dairy Museum and the Papinniemi Archaeological Site. (Visit Parikkala)

Resources
Parikkala Sculpture Park - Official Website
THE RÖNKKÖNEN SCULPTURE PARK - Go Finland
The strange Park of Veijo Rönkkönen - Big in Finland
Veijo Rönkkönen Sculpture Garden - Atlas Obscura
The Sculpture Park of Veijo Rönkkönen Is the Weirdest Place in Finland - Oddity Central
Veijo Rönkkönen’s Sculpture Park - Amusing Planet
Recluse Dies, Leaves Behind Hundreds of Secret Sculptures in Finland - The Culture Trip
The Parikkala Sculpture Park Reviews - Trip Advisor (rating 4.5/5)
How to get from Helsinki to Parikkala - Rome2Rio
Cottages and Vacation Rentals nearby - Go Finland
Parikkala Sights and Attractions - Visit Parikkala

Creative Commons image mikeancient on Flickr

The Goroka Show

This week I helped a couple book flights to Goroka to visit their daughter. They had timed their visit to take in the annual Goroka festival. The destination is so far off our radar that I had to get IT to add the Goroka Airport code (GKA) to our CRM in order to do my invoice! Needless to say, I was intrigued. Here's what I learned...

The Goroka Show is a well-known tribal gathering and cultural event in Papua New Guinea. It is a Sing-sing held every year close to the country's Independence Day (16 September) in the town of Goroka, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province.

About 100 tribes arrive to show their music, dance and culture. The festival started in the mid-1950s as an initiative of Australian Kiaps. In recent years it has become a major attraction for both national and international tourists and remains the largest cultural event in Papua New Guinea despite similar shows now being organised in Mount Hagen and other cities around the country.

Creative Commons images Drew Douglas, kabl1992 on Flickr

Resources
Goroka Show website
Goroka Show - 1957 and 1958 (photos)

Island Princess South America circle cruise

Here's a trip of a lifetime!

January 24, 2018: 60 nights on the Island Princess
South America circle cruise - see 14 countries!

January 24, 2018
60-Night South America Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Roundtrip)
Princess Cruises - Island Princess
Itinerary details

Which balcony on the Island Princess has your name on it?

It's not really that hard to figure out why I picked this cruise... can you guess?

How does visiting 14 countries in 60 nights sound?

This cruise actually CIRCLES the South American continent! No long flights (just get yourself to Fort Lauderdale). This itinerary is not offered often!

Just look at all this cruise includes:

Itinerary highlights: Argentina (3 ports / 4 days), Brazil (3 ports / 5 days), Chile (5 ports / 2 scenic cruising / 7 days), Colombia (1 port), Costa Rica (1 port), Ecuador (2 ports), Falkland Islands (1 port), French Guiana (1 port), Grenada (1 port), Martinique (1 port), Netherlands Antilles (2 ports), Panama Canal (scenic cruising), Peru (3 ports, 4 days - with Machu Picchu opportunity), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1 port), Trinidad and Tobago  (1 port), Uruguay (1 port).
View the itinerary details.

Bucketlist opportunities: Cape Horn, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Nascar Lines, Patagonia (penguins!)

Days at sea: 25 (War and Peace?)

PLUS: Book by November 30 to receive these Expedia Extras:

• Free cabin location upgrade
• Free pre-paid gratuities (a value of $800-930 USD per person)
• $375 USD/cabin shipboard credit
• $130 CAD per person refundable deposit
• Aeroplan miles

Interested? Please contact me for a quote on your preferred cabin type.


My recent top itinerary picks - from my cruise blog
From YVR: Volendam, Transpacific, September 27, 2017
To YVR: Nieuw Amsterdam, Panama Canal, April 9, 2017
West Coast Long Roundtrip Voyages
Sailing Westbound from Honolulu
Sailing Eastbound from Honolulu


Cruise Research Resources - from my cruise website
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Vancouver cruise opportunities - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me
Cruise search - search for your dream cruise!

Island Princess South America circle cruise

Here's a trip of a lifetime!

January 24, 2018: 60 nights on the Island Princess
South America circle cruise - see 14 countries!

January 24, 2018
60-Night South America Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Roundtrip)
Princess Cruises - Island Princess
Itinerary details

Which balcony on the Island Princess has your name on it?

It's not really that hard to figure out why I picked this cruise... can you guess?

How does visiting 14 countries in 60 nights sound?

This cruise actually CIRCLES the South American continent! No long flights (just get yourself to Fort Lauderdale). This itinerary is not offered often!

Just look at all this cruise includes:

Itinerary highlights: Argentina (3 ports / 4 days), Brazil (3 ports / 5 days), Chile (5 ports / 2 scenic cruising / 7 days), Colombia (1 port), Costa Rica (1 port), Ecuador (2 ports), Falkland Islands (1 port), French Guiana (1 port), Grenada (1 port), Martinique (1 port), Netherlands Antilles (2 ports), Panama Canal (scenic cruising), Peru (3 ports, 4 days - with Machu Picchu opportunity), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1 port), Trinidad and Tobago  (1 port), Uruguay (1 port).
View the itinerary details.

Bucketlist opportunities: Cape Horn, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Nascar Lines, Patagonia (penguins!)

Days at sea: 25 (War and Peace?)

PLUS: Book by November 16 to receive these Expedia Extras:

• Free cabin location upgrade
• Free pre-paid gratuities (a value of $800-930 USD per person)
• $375 USD/cabin shipboard credit
• $130 CAD per person refundable deposit
• Aeroplan miles

Interested? Please contact me for a quote on your preferred cabin type.


My recent top itinerary picks - from my cruise blog
From YVR: Volendam, Transpacific, September 27, 2017
To YVR: Nieuw Amsterdam, Panama Canal, April 9, 2017
West Coast Long Roundtrip Voyages
Sailing Westbound from Honolulu
Sailing Eastbound from Honolulu


Cruise Research Resources - from my cruise website
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Vancouver cruise opportunities - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me
Cruise search - search for your dream cruise!

My late picks - November 2016

If you can get away last minute, here are some interesting sailings this month that still have space ~ and good deals!

China to Singapore: 7 countries in 17 nights

November 12, 2016 - 17 nights, Tianjin to Singapore, Diamond Princess

November 12, 2016

17-Nights

Sailing from
Tianjin to Singapore on the Diamond Princess

Similar to a sailing I featured in my October late picks, this Diamond Princess sailing allows you to sample 7 Asian countries in just 17 nights. Does it get any better than this?

Ports on this sailing include: Tianjin, Busan (ex Pusan), Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Phu My, Bangkok, Singapore
View the itinerary details

There are just balconies left, but they are well priced.

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Cruising Central America

November 16, 2016 - 19 nights, Central America, Island Princess

November 16, 2016

19-Nights

Sailing
roundtrip from Los Angeles on the Island Princess

This is a really nice itinerary, and it's one that isn't often offered. The Mexico ports-of-call are off-the-beaten-track, and the others you can generally only call at when cruising South America. You even get a peek at the Panama Canal!

Ports on this sailing include: Los Angeles, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Quetzal, Panama Canal (partial), Puntarenas, San Juan del Sur, Manzanillo, Los Angeles
View the itinerary details

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Dubai to Singapore 

November 20, 2016 - 21 nights, Dubai to Singapore, Norwegian Star

November 20, 2016

21-Nights

Sailing from
Dubai to Singapore on the Norwegian Star

While many repositioning ships sail these waters, many spend a lot of days at sea, making only a few port calls. This sailing on the Norwegian Star is unique in that it makes numerous port calls (there are just 5 sea days!), and overnights in Bombay (modern day Mumbai).

Ports on this sailing include: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Khasab, Fujairah, Muscat, Bombay (Mumbai, overnight), Marmagoa (Goa), Mangalore, Kochi, Colombo, Phuket, Langkawi, Penang (Georgetown), Port Kelang, Singapore
View the itinerary details

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Chasing warmth and sunshine in the Med

November 28, 2016 - 11 nights, roundtrip Venice, Norwegian Spirit

November 28, 2016

11-Nights

Sailing
roundtrip Venice on the Norwegian Spirit

Yes, you can sail the Mediterranean in November and December! I have personally wintered in Greece and found it plenty warm. And, while there aren't as many ships sailing here, that means less crowds.

Ports on this sailing include: Venice, Zadar, Piraeus (Athens), Limassol, Haifa (Jerusalem/Bethlehem, overnight), Katakolon (Olympia), Venice
View the itinerary details

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

==============================================

None of these your cup of tea?

I'm happy to help you plan an adventure wherever you'd like to go.

Please contact me to begin the planning process.



Related resources
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Vancouver cruise opportunities - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me

From YVR: Volendam, Transpacific, September 27, 2017

My Vancouver sailing posts are written for those who call the West Coast home...

Featured itinerary:

September 27, 2017: 30 night Transpacific cruise sailing
from Vancouver to Shanghai on the ms Volendam

One of the most overlooked cruise itineraries is Pacific Ocean crossings. It's not unreasonable, given that there are not a lot of sailings, and many are not port-intensive, but there are some gems.

Here is a great example next fall:

30-Night Transpacific Cruise
From Vancouver, British Columbia to Shanghai, China
Holland America Line - ms Volendam
Itinerary details

The Volendam in Kobe, Japan

One of the reasons I this sailing is the northern route it is taking on its way to Japan, even making 4 port calls in Alaska along the way (there are not many ships that call on Dutch Harbor!). Most other Transpacific sailings just go straight across the Pacific Ocean.

I also picked this sailing for all the Asian ports it includes:

• Japan - 5 ports: Kashiro, Hakodate, Yokohama, Shimizu, Osaka
• South Korea - 2 ports: Cheju City, Incheon (overnight)
• China - 3 ports: Tianjin (overnight), Qingdao, Shanghai (overnight)

As you can see, there are 3 overnight port-calls on this sailing. These longer stays allow you more time to explore the ports, including being able to enjoy dining or a show in the evening.

You need to like sea days though: there are 12 on this itinerary, giving you lots of time to read about the lands you will be visiting.

If you don't have a month, you can always take the shorter 16 night sailing to Yokohama.*

Tip: these sailings are also referred to as Pacific Rim cruises

Looking for a different Transpacific experience?

Here are a few more Transpacific cruises from Vancouver in 2017. Some are unique sailings, while others are variations with different embarkation and/or disembarkation points.

September 8, 2017
16-Night Pacific Rim Cruise
From Vancouver, British Columbia to Tokyo, Japan
Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Millennium
Itinerary details

September 24, 2017
28-Night Transpacific Cruise
From Vancouver, British Columbia to Sydney, Australia
Holland America Line - ms Noordam
Itinerary details

September 27, 2017
16-Night Transpacific Cruise* (shorter version of featured sailing)
From Vancouver, British Columbia to Yokohama, Japan
Holland America Line - ms Volendam
Itinerary details

Transpacifics from other West Coast ports:

September 27, 2017
24-Night Transpacific Cruise
From San Diego, California to Sydney, Australia
Holland America Line - ms Maasdam
Itinerary details

September 28, 2017
24-Night Transpacific Cruise
From San Francisco, California to Sydney, Australia
Holland America Line - ms Noordam
Itinerary details

September 28, 2017
39-Night Transpacific Cruise
From San Francisco, California to Auckland, New Zealand
Holland America Line - ms Noordam
Itinerary details

October 1, 2017
31-Night Transpacific Cruise
From San Diego, California to Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Holland America Line - ms Amsterdam
Itinerary details
 

What about other cruises to or from Vancouver?

Did you know you can cruise between Vancouver and Buenos Aires, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Sydney, Tokyo or Valparaiso?

I invite you to check out the Vancouver Cruise Opportunities page on on my website, where I feature some of my top picks of sailings that embark or disembark in Vancouver.

Vancouver Cruise Opportunities

If you would like help finding a different sailing, please contact me. I am always happy to help!

More Pacific Ocean sailings
Sailing Westbound from Honolulu
Sailing Eastbound from Honolulu

More hand-picked sailings
My late picks - October 2016
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me

Related resources
To YVR: Nieuw Amsterdam, Panama Canal, April 9, 2017
Sailing Westbound from Honolulu
Sailing Eastbound from Honolulu
What story do you want to tell post-cruise?
7 comebacks to "I Hate Cruising"

To YVR: Nieuw Amsterdam, Panama Canal, April 9, 2017

My Vancouver sailing posts are written for those who call the West Coast home...

Featured itinerary:

April 9, 2017: 20 night Panama Canal cruise sailing
from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver on the Nieuw Amsterdam

Many people have the Panama Canal on their bucketlist. What about you?

If you've yet to have the experience, or are ready to enjoy the locks another time, this sailing caught my eye to share with you:

20-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Vancouver, British Columbia
Holland America Line - ms Nieuw Amsterdam
Itinerary details

One of the reasons I like this sailing is that you get the flying out of the way before you sail, so that all you need to do when you disembark is head home.

I also picked this sailing for the ship, the lovely ms Nieuw Amsterdam. One of Holland America's two Signature Class ships (the other is the Eurodam).

The ship's 1053 cabins include a whopping 602 Veranda staterooms, giving you ideal views right from your stateroom. If you are looking for a more upscale experience, there are 116 suites onboard (2 Pinnacle Suites, 62 Neptune Suites, 52 Signature Suites). The ship has 179 oceanview staterooms, and 155 inside staterooms.

Plus, if you haven't noticed it yet, this sailing calls on Victoria on the last night of the cruise. If you book early, I can make a request - through cruiseline and border services - for you to disembark in Victoria. Just part of the service!

Looking for a different Panama Canal experience?

With more than 100 Panama Canal sailings on my website alone, you can be forgiven for any frustration you've experienced in picking out the best Panama Canal sailing for you.

Here are a few more Panama Canal cruises to Vancouver in 2017, along with the number of balconies on each ship:

Ships sailing the Panama Canal to Vancouver in 2017

April 7, 2017
22-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Tampa, Florida to Vancouver, British Columbia
Holland America Line - ms Oosterdam
Itinerary details

April 8, 2017
20-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Vancouver, British Columbia
Holland America Line - ms Eurodam
Itinerary details

April 19, 2017
21-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Vancouver, British Columbia
Princess Cruises - Island Princess
Itinerary details

April 20, 2017
17-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Miami, Florida to Seattle, Washington (close enough!)
Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Itinerary details

April 26, 2017
18-Night Panama Canal Cruise
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Vancouver, British Columbia
Holland America Line - ms Amsterdam
Itinerary details

What about other cruises to or from Vancouver?

Did you know you can cruise between Vancouver and Buenos Aires, Honolulu, Sydney, Tokyo, Valparaiso, or Yokohama?

I invite you to check out the Vancouver Cruise Opportunities page on on my website, where I feature some of my top picks of sailings that embark or disembark in Vancouver.

Vancouver Cruise Opportunities

If you would like help finding a different sailing, please contact me. I am always happy to help!

More hand-picked sailings
My late picks - October 2016
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me

Related resources
Sailing Westbound from Honolulu
Sailing Eastbound from Honolulu
What story do you want to tell post-cruise?
7 comebacks to "I Hate Cruising"

My late picks - October 2016

If you can get away last minute, here are some interesting sailings this month that still have space ~ and good deals!

An opportunity to sail on the brand new Carnival Vista

October 21, 2016 - 13 nights, Barcelona to New York, Carnival Vista

October 21, 2016

13-Nights

Sailing from Barcelona to New York on the brand new Carnival Vista

Carnival's newest ship, the Carnival Vista, sailed her maiden cruise season in the Mediterranean and is on her way back to the Caribbean. You'll have lots of days at sea to explore the new ship, plus some interesting ports.

Ports on this sailing include: Barcelona, Gibraltar, Ponta Delgada, Hamilton (Bermuda, overnight), New York
View the itinerary

If you still want to be part of Carnival Vista's maiden season in the Med, please contact me for a quote.

Great itinerary for a writer's retreat at sea 

October 25, 2016 - 20 nights, New York to Rome, Rotterdam

October 25, 2016

20-Nights

Sailing from New York to Rome on the ms Rotterdam

This leisurely cruise offers 11 sea days, so there's plenty of time to write your book ~ and you'll find plenty of inspiration.

Ports on this cruise include: New York, Fort Lauderdale, Horta, Ponta Delgada, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona (overnight), Strait of Bonifacio (scenic cruising), Livorno (for Pisa/Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome)
View the itinerary details

There are some great deals on this sailing. Please contact me for a quote.

7 countries in 17 nights on the Diamond Princess

October 26, 2016 - 17 nights, Singapore to Tianjin, Diamond Princess

October 26, 2016

17-Nights

Sailing from Singapore to Tianjin on the Diamond Princess

Imagine sampling 7 Asian countries in just 17 nights on this lovely sailing on the Diamond Princess.

Ports on this sailing include: Singapore, Bangkok, Phu My, Hong Kong (overnight), Shanghai, Busan, Nagasaki, Tianjin
View the itinerary

If you're intrigued by this Asian itinerary, please contact me for a quote.

5+ bucketlist destinations on this 3-week cruise

October 30, 2016 - 21 nights, Rome to Dubai, Norwegian Star

October 30, 2016

21-Nights

Sailing from Rome to Dubai on the
Norwegian Star

If you have Jerusalem, Olympia, Petra, Pompeii and the Suez Canal on your bucketlist, this sailing is for you.

Ports on this cruise include: Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples (for Pompeii), Messina, Katakolon (for Olympia), Piraeus (Athens), Limassol, Haifa (for Jerusalem, overnight), Port Said, Suez Canal, Al 'Aqabah (for Petra), Safaga, Salalah, Muscat, Dubai (overnight)
View the itinerary details
View the 45-night itinerary returning to Fort Lauderdale

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

==============================================

None of these your cup of tea?

I'm happy to help you plan an adventure wherever you'd like to go.

Please contact me to begin the planning process.



Related resources
Long sailing picks - hand picked by me
Vancouver cruise opportunities - hand picked by me
Unique journeys - sailings with ports you may not otherwise visit
Transatlantic cruises - the best itineraries, picked by me

Cruise through France with Jann Arden

Want to cruise through France with Jann Arden?

Join Canadian musician Jann Arden on this 8 day Paris and Normandy River Cruise with Avalon Waterways.

Guests will enjoy a photo op with Jann, a CD signing, an intimate private concert and more!

April 29 - May 6, 2017 - This very special sailing is only availble for 128 lucky passengers.

Contact me today for more information!

Roberta Westwood
1-800-561-2350
250-885-8825
rowestwood@cruiseshipcenters.com
BC Reg #2550-6

Related resources
Jann Arden Christens Avalon Tranquility II

Great cruise + hotel pairings!

Do you love travel to major cities?

If so, here's some inspiration for your travel bucketlist!

To kick off the new year, one of our suppliers, TravelBound, is having a BIG sale on hotels in select cities for the next 5 weeks. A different group of cities goes on sale each Monday, for 1 week only. Book during the weeks indicated for offers of up to 45% off.

Just for fun, I've paired each week's offer a few cruises that embark from one of the featured cities. If you are looking for inspiration, then you are in luck!
--------------------------------------
January 4-10, 2016: 1-week only FLASH sale for hotels in Kuala Lumpur, New York City and Phuket - a great deal, especially if you have ever dreamed of cruising from the Big Apple - how about one of these?

• August 9, 2016: Baltic cruise roundtrip from New York on the Queen Mary 2 (lots of fjords!)
• August 21, 2016: Copenhagen to New York on the Zuiderdam (Iceland! Greenland!)
• September 8, 2016: New York to Southampton on the Queen Mary 2 (she sails this crossing a couple times most months!)
• March 13, 2017: Phuket to Bali on the Silver Discoverer (so, yes, you can cruise from Phuket!)

January 11-17, 2016: 1-week only FLASH sale for hotels in Hong Kong, London, Paris and Seoul - a great pairing for a cruise from one of these grand cities! opportunity for a pre-cruise stay for one of these sailings:

• April 5, 2016: Paris to Nice on the Avalon Creativity (bonjour French river cruise!)
• August 6, 2016: London to Lisbon on the Crystal Symphony (sailing from the historic Tilbury Docks!)
• June 15, 2016: Norwegian Fjords roundtrip from Dover (a hop, skip and a jump from London!)
• December 6, 2016: Hong Kong to Singapore on the Volendam (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia!)

January 18-24, 2016: 1-week only FLASH sale for hotels in Bangkok, Rome and Singapore - this is a great opportunity to save on your hotels if you are tempted to book one of these great itineraries:

• June 26, 2016: Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City on the Avalon Siem Reap (Mekong river cruise!)
• October 12, 2016: Rome to Fort Lauderdale on the Koningsdam (brand new ship!)
• November 12, 2016: Tianjin to Singapore on the Diamond Princess (is China on your bucketlist?)
• November 20, 2016: Dubai to Singapore on the Norwegian Star (budget-friendly Asia option!)

January 25-31, 2016: 1-week only FLASH sale for hotels in Barcelona, Berlin and Istanbul - so many cruises begin or end in Barcelona and Istanbul, so pick the one you love!

• June 29, 2016: Berlin to Budapest on the Viking Alta (overnight in Nuremberg!)
• September 3, 2016: Barcelona to Athens on the Royal Princess (2 weeks in the Med!)
• October 21, 2016: Barcelona to New York on the Disney Vista (brand new ship!)
• October 21, 2016: Istanbul to Rome on the Celebrity Constellation (3 days in Israel!)

February 1-7, 2016: 1-week only FLASH sale for hotels in Dubai, Las Vegas and Orlando - did you know there are great value sailings to/from amazing Dubai? Or Orlando's Port Canaveral:

• April 4, 2016: Dubai to Venice on the Splendour of the Seas (Suez Canal and Israel!)
• May 16, 2016: Orlando to Dover on the Disney Magic
• October 7, 2016: Rome to Dubai on the Azamara Journey (Suez Canal!)
• October 30, 2016: Barcelona to Orlando on the Norwegian Epic (the most solo cabins at sea!)

Please get in touch if you'd me to help you find you a great hotel, or a great cruise, or both - I'm always happy to help!

Cheers,
Roberta

Paul Gauguin 2 Week Sale

Is Paul Gauguin on your bucketlist?

Click the image above to enlarge the poster
- or contact me for details

Don't miss the Paul Gauguin 2 week sale - on until June 13th.

Contact me for more information or to book.

The Northwest Passage: even if it had been on your bucketlist, it wasn't possible... until now

Gate to the Northwest Passage
Commemorative statue for Capt. George Vancouver, Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC
By artist Alan Chung Hung, photo by Eddy Hofbauer, wikicommons
You can cruise from Vancouver to transit the Northwest Passage in April 2016

Even if you had it on your bucketlist, it wasn't possible... until now.

A magnificent 42 night journey from Vancouver to New York, very far off the beaten track.

NEW! Northwest Passage (August/September 2016) – Crystal’s new Northwest Passage cruise 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 cruise ship 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 cruise line. Designed for those with a true wanderlust for the rare and undiscovered, this incredible 32 night 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.
August 16, 2016 - 32 nights
http://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Cruise/en-US/RobertaWestwood/Itinerary?item=660754

PLUS: You can cruise up to Seward from Vancouver for 10 nights to begin your journey:
August 6, 2016 - 10 nights
http://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Cruise/en-US/RobertaWestwood/Itinerary?item=655372

Yes, that's 42 nights.

Be one of the first.

Don't miss out.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is sure to sell out.

Book by October 31, 2014 for early booking savings.

Ask me.

Roberta
Contact me

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Worth reading:
The Crystal Overview (click-through presentation)
Crystal's Northwest Passage: Unprecedented Adventure, Historic Cruise-Expedition
Cargo Ship Is First to Solo the Northwest Passage - October 2, 2014 news story
Across the Northwest Passage: The Larsen Expeditions
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~