My late picks - October 2018

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

Fall Colours and Sunshine! 

October 26, 2018

14 -Nights

Sailing from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale on the Royal Princess

See the last of the fall colours on the Canada New England cruise, and end up in sunny Fort Lauderdale!

Ports on this sailing include: Saint John, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbour, Boston and New York.
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Sun, sun and more sun!

October 27, 2018

8-Nights

Sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on the Adventure of the Seas

You'll find plenty to do for all generations on Royal Caribbean - or just laze in the sun!

Ports on this sailing include: Labadee, San Juan, St. Maarten and St. Kitts... nice!
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

The BIG Apple & The BIG Easy!

October 27, 2018

15-Nights

Sailing from New York to New Orleans on the Norwegian Breakaway

From The Big Apple to The Big Easy, this sailing packs in big fun and great sun along the way!

Ports on this sailing include: the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Saint Lucia, Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel - talk about a bucketlist Caribbean cruise!
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

Incredible fare on the Koningsdam - one of the newest ships! 

October 28, 2018

14-Nights

Sailing from Rome to Barcelona on the Koningsdam

Holland America's Koningsdam continues to get rave reviews, so I was excited to see such good fares on this crossing. If you can get away, you'll have a great deal on a top ship!

Ports on this sailing include: Alicante (Costa del Sol), Malaga (Picasso's birthplace), Cadiz (for Seville) and Madeira.
View the itinerary

Interested? Please contact me for a quote.

4 days in the Azores on the Prinsendam! 

October 28, 2018

12-Nights

Sailing from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale on the Prinsendam

The Prinsendam is Holland America's smallest ship, but not for long. She is being retired soon, so this is a great deal on one of the last opportunities to sail on her.

Ports on this sailing include 4 days Azores: Ponta Delgada (2 days), Praia da Vitoria and Horta
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

Transatlantic Picks

Want to visit Europe but can't bear the thought of flying? Why not sail one way on a transatlantic voyage?

You can sail on the
Norwegian Bliss on her
maiden voyage on April 21st!

Transatlantics can be a very affordable way to travel, as so many ships have to reposition each spring and fall that ships often sail with empty cabins. Don't expect a lot of extras onboard, but pricing is usually very favourable. To attract passengers, cruiselines will often sweeten the deal by tacking on extra days or unique ports of call.

Transatlantic Cruise Picks - this is a page on my website that I use to highlight my personal picks of transatlantic sailings.

My picks include a range of sailings, from unique itineraries and long sailings to budget friendly choices for solos and once-in-a-lifetime maiden voyages. 

As I write today's blog post, here's what's on my Transatlantic Cruise Picks page:

March 18, 2018: Koningsdam (213599) - 24 night Caribbean and transatlantic combo!

March 24, 2018: Windstar Star Breeze (215921) - try Windstar from Lisbon to Bridgetown!

April 15, 2018: Norwegian Breakaway (941905) - transatlantic with Cobh (Ireland) and Le Havre (France)



The Norwegian Jade's Sept 29/18 sailing includes an overnight 
stay in Reykjavik, Iceland - how cool does that sound?

April 20, 2018: Serenade of the Seas (982026) - transatlantic with Ponta Delgada, Cobh (Ireland) and Le Havre (France)

April 21, 2018: Norwegian Bliss (188493) - maiden voyage with Ponta Delgada

May 5, 2018: Prinsendam (177400) - sail to Dover with 2 ports in France

May 13, 2018: Disney Magic (191771) - a transatlantic is an affordable way to experience Disney's family luxury

June 30, 2018: Rotterdam (988700) - transatlantic with Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland & Labrador

July 18, 2018: Rotterdam (1030753) - transatlantic with Newfoundland & Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and Norway

August 24, 2018: Zuiderdam (201922) - a rare summer transatlantic!

September 29, 2018: Norwegian Jade (179826) - how does an overnight in Reykjavik sound?


3 of the 8 spare propeller blades carried
aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2, the only true
oceanliner built for winter Atlantic crossings

October 2, 2018: Norwegian Breakaway (941922) - transatlantic with Cobh, Ireland

October 27, 2018: Oosterdam (200564) - visit Lisbon and Gibraltar on this transatlantic

November 4, 2018: Norwegian Epic (179875) - transatlantic with lots of solo cabins

November 5, 2018: Jewel of the Seas (981945) - transatlantic with Valencia, Lisbon and Ponta Delgada

November 5, 2018: Norwegian Star (184365) - great budget-friendly transatlantic

December 5, 2018: Nieuw Statendam (1004064) - maiden voyage with Malaga and Madeira

January 3, 2019: Queen Mary 2 (198893) - sail the Atlantic on the only true ocean liner at sea

April 21, 2019: Azamara Journey (194229) - nice small ship transatlantic, from New York to Lisbon

November 1, 2019: Celebrity Edge (224815) - great opportunity to sail on the revolutionary Edge with transatlantic pricing

Please contact me if you would like more information on these, or other transatlantic opportunities.

View of the quay near the busy Barcelona Cruise Port,
a popular embarkation port for westbound transatlantics

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

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

Solo Travel News - June 25, 2016

With so many solo travellers looking for affordable ways to travel, without the dreaded single supplement, I am always watching for specials. Periodically, when I have time, I summarize a few into an email to send to those who may be interested. Here is a sample:

One of amusing cruise ship related BrExit memes
Image by "Brighty", found on Bruce on Politics

Welcome to summer!

This continues to be a GREAT time to travel as a solo.

Thinking of Europe? With this yesterday's news of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, we can expect prices to drop on hotels in London, as well as throughout continental Europe. Combined with the already soft cruise market in Europe, the time to travel to Europe is now!! Fabulous deals abound. Contact me if you want me to take a look for anything.

2016 CRUISES

For those of you looking for a bargain, here are a few cruise deals that I see right now (CAD):

July 2, 2016: Royal Princess - 7-Night Mediterranean Europe Cruise - Rome to Athens - inside $1298 solo +tax

July 16, 2016: Norwegian Escape: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise - roundtrip Miami - studio $1519 solo +tax

July 17, 2016: Eurodam - 12-Night Mediterranean Europe Cruise - roundtrip Venice - oceanview $1460 solo +tax (obstructed view)

July 23, 2016: Empress of the Seas - 5-Night Caribbean Cruise - roundtrip Miami - oceanview $974 solo +tax

July 23, 2016: Queen Victoria - 7-Night Eastern Mediterranean Europe Cruise - Athens to Venice - oceanview $1257 solo +tax (obstructed view)

July 24, 2016: Queen Mary 2 - 8-Night Transatlantic Cruise- New York to Southampton - balcony $1917 solo +tax **UNBELIEVABLE PRICE**

September 2, 2016: Celebrity Millennium - 16-Night Pacific Rim Cruise - Vancouver to Tokyo - inside $1978 solo +tax

October 1, 2016: Carnival Vista - 10-Night Mediterranean Europe Cruise - Barcelona to Athens - October 1, 2016 - inside $1548 solo +tax

November 14, 2016: Celebrity Constellation - 14-Night Middle East Cruise - Istanbul to Abu Dhabi - inside $1478 solo +tax

2017 CRUISES

Planning a little further out, here are some great solo values for 2017:

April 29, 2017: Rhapsody of the Seas - 14-Night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise - Tampa to Barcelona - inside $1523 solo +tax

October 15, 2017: Norwegian Getaway - 14-Night Transatlantic Cruise from Copenhagen to Miami - studio $1645 solo +tax

November 5, 2017: Rhapsody of the Seas - 14-Night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise - Barcelona to Tampa - inside $1523 solo +tax 

... AND MORE!

There continue to be waived single supplements on many river cruises in Europe. Let me know if you have this on your bucketlist.

Looking for something else? While reduced or waived single supplements are hard to find, they do exist, and I can help you find them. A few ships also offer solo staterooms, with no single supplement. I can also assist with tours and land vacations for solos.

Wondering where to book your cruise? Aside of booking through me because you've benefited from my newsletter, I promise to get you any extras that are available, get you a lower price if one becomes available prior to when your final payment is due, and assist you with as much or as little of the rest of your trip as you wish. If you see a deal you like elsewhere, I can usually match it - I invite you to ask me for a quote. I'm a solo traveller myself, so I understand!

Remember that prices and availability are subject to change. If you see something you like, please get in touch as soon as possible. I am happy to put a cabin on hold while we check airfares (which are quite good right now).

I hope this information is of value. If you have some travel ideas, please get in touch, and I'll see what I can find - and I can keep an eye open for something that fits your budget and destination bucketlist.

Cheers,
Roberta

Want to "SUBSCRIBE" to my periodic solo email updates? Just contact me. 

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Transatlantic Voyages

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 sails regular transatlantic voyages
image wikicommons

Transatlantics are a unique category of repositioning cruises, and are a popular way or North Americans to travel to or from Europe. 

I have hand-chosen these transatlantic sailings as a sampling of options, across the spectrum, from budget-friendly deals to all-inclusive luxury escapes.

Please contact me if you would like more information on these, or other transatlantic opportunities.

Transatlantic Eastbound Sailings - January to June, 2014

Just for those of you interested in sailing to Europe on a repositioning cruise in the first half of 2014, I have compiled a list. If you would like a quote on any of these sailings, please get in touch.


The bow of the Queen Mary 2, a regular on the transatlantic route

January 3, 2014 – Queen Mary 2 – New York to Southampton – 7 nights

March 10, 2014 – Seven Seas Mariner – Rio de Janeiro to Barcelona – 18 nights

March 11, 2014 – MSC Orchestra – Rio de Janeiro to Genoa, Italy – 16 nights

March 14, 2014 – Prisendam – Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona – 27 nights

March 16, 2014 – Costa Fascinosa – Santos, Brazil to Venice – 22 nights

March 19, 2014 – MSC Preziosa – Santos, Brazil to Venice – 17 nights

March 21, 2014 – Noordam – Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona – 14 nights

March 21, 2014 – Costa, Favolosa – Buenos Aires to Savona, Italy – 20 nights

March 22, 2014 – Seabourn Quest – Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona – 14 nights

March 22, 2014 – MSC Musica – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Genoa, Italy – 14 nights

March 23, 3024 – Seabourn Pride – St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to Barcelona – 20 nights

March 29, 2014 – Wind Star – Barbados to Lisbon – 14 nights

March 29, 2014 – MSC Magnifica – Santos, Brazil to Hamburg – 18 nights

March 29, 2014 – Tere Moana – Philipsburg (St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles to Lisbon – 14 nights

March 30, 2014 – Eurodam – Fort Lauderdale to Rome – 14 nights

April 5, 2014 – Seabourn Spirit – Barbados to Barcelona – 13 nights

April 5, 2014 – Wind Surf – Philipsburg (St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles to Lisbon – 14 nights

April 6, 2014 – Nieuw Amsterdam – Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona – 14 nights

April 6, 2014 – Ryndam – Fort Lauderdale to Dover – 27 nights

April 7, 2014 – Riveria – Miami to Barcelona – 14 nights

April 14, 2014 – Celebrity Equinox – Fort Lauderdale to Malaga – 13 nights

April 16, 2014 – Legend of the Seas – Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen – 16 nights

April 18, 2014 – Emerald Princess – Fort Lauderdale to Southampton – 15 nights

April 19, 2014 – Celebrity Eclipse – Fort Lauderdale to Southampton – 13 nights

April 20, 2014 – Adventure to the Seas – Miami to Southampton – 14 nights

April 21, 2014 – MSC Poesia – Buenos Aires to Warnemunde, Germany – 20 nights

April 24, 2014 – Celebrity Constellation – Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam – 15 nights

April 25, 2014 – Splendour of the Seas – Santos, Brazil to Barcelona – 14 nights

April 26, 2014 – Celebrity Reflection – Miami to Rome – 16 nights

April 26, 2014 – Serenade of the Seas – New Orleans to Barcelona – 16 nights

April 27, 2014 – Ruby Princess – Fort Lauderdale to Southampton – 14 nights

April 27, 2014 – Royal Princess – Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen – 15 nights

April 27, 2014 – Norwegian Epic – Miami to Barcelona – 11 nights

April 29, 2014 – Celebrity Infinity – Miami to Harwich, UK – 13 nights

April 30, 2014 – Brilliance of the Seas – Tampa to Harwich, UK – 14 nights

May 1, 2014 – Liberty of the Seas – Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona – 13 nights

May 4, 2014 – Independence of the Seas – Fort Lauderdale to Southampton – 13 nights

May 5, 2014 – Norwegian Star – Miami to Copenhagen – 14 nights

May 16, 2014 – Queen Mary 2 – New York to Southampton – 7 nights

May 22, 2014 – Oceania, Marina – New York to Dover – 16 nights

June 13, 2014 – Queen Mary 2 – New York to Southampton – 7 nights

Celebrity Reduced Single Supplements

Yes, that's real grass on the Celebrity Silhouette!

Celebrity Cruise Lines has just announced reduced single supplements on a few upcoming sailings. If you are looking for value on an outstanding solo cruise experience, check these out.

Single supplements are reduced to 150% on these sailings

• November 24, 2013: Transatlantic Repositioning - Rome to Fort Lauderdale on the Celebrity Constellation - 15 nights
• December 1, 2013: Transatlantic Repositioning - Rome to Fort Lauderdale on the Celebrity Silhouette - 14 nights

Interested? Contact me for details and to hold your space!