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2/3/2022
5 Reasons to Sail the Magical Mekong When it comes to river cruising, most travelers think of Europe. And these trips are wonderful. But if you are looking for an experience that truly touches (and changes) your soul, take a journey down one of Asia’s great rivers – the Mekong.
Grand temples, colorful cultures, fascinating history and more await you on this incredible adventure – on and off the river. Following are my top 5 reasons to explore this magical itinerary.  For anyone who loves wine, Europe is a great destination. Home to 7 of the top 15 world-wide producers, you’ll find wine regions in just about every country producing a variety of high quality wine. Many are under the radar, largely because production is small and consumed locally.
Europe is also a great destination for river cruising – a perfect pairing with wine experiences. Following are 9 wine regions you can visit while on a European river cruise (listed in no particular order). 1/20/2022 The Best Ways To See Alaska Alaska is one of my most asked about destinations when it comes to travel. I'm not surprised - it is such a beautiful place to explore and visit. Wide open spaces, majestic mountains, glorious glaciers, abundant wildlife - what's not to love?
How best to see Alaska? The answer is "it depends" - on you! There are a number of ways to explore this great state, and the best way truly depends on what you want to experience, the time you have and your budget. Options abound to explore Alaska: by sea, by land and by air.  Travel advisors are in higher demand these days for a number of reasons.
One of the top? Current travel requirements and restrictions are complicated, confusing and fluid - changing daily. Advisors tend to be more knowledgeable and up to date with the protocols, able to provide more accurate advice and keep travelers away from unwanted surprises. 12/2/2021 Yacht Style Cruising Just like big ship cruising, small ship cruising isn't a one size fits all category.
You've got river cruises, adventure, expedition, and today I'm sharing information about a fourth category - Yacht style. What are your first thoughts when you hear "yacht style"? For me, I always had this image of beautiful yachts anchored off the Amalfi Coast (like above) . This is a real image. However, yacht style is quite varied, and includes so much more (and destinations). Yacht style cruises are very much like sailing your own super yacht, and can be like your own personal getaway with friends than a traditional cruise. Read on to see why this type of cruising is so special. 11/25/2021
Expedition Cruises A few weeks ago I shared the first of small ship cruise types - adventure style experiences. Another type of cruising is Expedition style - where I like to say a lot of WOW happens. Extraordinary opportunities for curious and adventurous learners. What is an expedition cruise? A small ship experience (generally under 200 guests on purpose built ships) focused on the nature, wildlife, history and culture of the areas they visit. The ships are very comfortable with plenty of amenities to suit all tastes. Onboard entertainment is focused on lectures, lively discussions, photography and science centers (no casinos or show productions). Photo courtesy of Quark Expeditions
11/23/2021
Adventure Style Cruises You want more access, more intimate environments, fewer crowds, a quieter experience, a higher level of service and personalization. Private or small group land tours, river and small ship cruises provide all of these things for you.
River, luxury and expedition cruises are ones I share with you regularly, but these are just three of a number of different small ship styles. This week I'm sharing a few of the Adventure style experiences you can have on the water. Adventure cruises are not your typical cruise experience. No, not crazy and wild, but perfect experiences for those who are seeking something a little different. I know travelers who really enjoy these experiences, especially with their families, then also take time to be spoiled on the luxury ships too. 11/15/2021
9 Reasons To Visit Chile When thinking of South America, Peru, Brazil and Argentina often get the most attention. But don't overlook Chile, a country with a diverse landscape north to south and ample things to see and experience.
It's no secret. I fell in love with this country over 10 years ago when I visited via a cruise from Valparaiso to Rio de Janeiro. Warm and friendly people, great food, wine, interesting history. The absolute best for me was the amazing scenic beauty and wildlife. There is no doubt I'll be returning. My top 9 reasons to visit: 10/14/2021
Sailing the Northern Cyclades Off the south eastern coast of Greece lie some of the most stunning islands of the Aegean Sea – the Cyclades Islands. Meaning “encircling”, the archipelago is named such because they form a rough circle around the island of Delos, the legendary birthplace of Zeus’ children, twins Artemis and her brother Apollo. As stated on the Visit Greece tourism site, Delos is the head priest of the Cyclades, the birthplace of immortals. Delos is not a museum. It is not there to tell a story. It is history itself.
 France - a land rich in history, art, wine, great food and delightful people. These are a few of the reasons that draw us to this wonderful part of Europe. If you are thinking about a river cruise, the lines that sail the region have done an exceptional job weaving these experiences into their itineraries.
Which river to choose? Despite some similarities, each of these five waterways have unique personalities., which, depending on what you'd like to experience, should help you choose one or at least narrow down the choices. Still can't decide? Choose one that best matches your dates and budget AND GO! You'll enjoy the experience no matter which area you choose.  Is Africa on your bucket list? It's high on my list - one of the top 5 places I need to experience before I can't travel any more. Amazing wildlife, incredible culture, wonderful people.
In today's world, you can get anything you want with a few clicks on your keyboard. But if your dream is to see Africa, you might want to forego the Internet and book your trip with someone who knows the continent. Here are ten reasons why using a travel agent who is familiar with African travel (or has great connections) will give you a better trip experience.  Tucked in a quiet corner of the Indian Ocean is an idyllic chain of islands known as the Maldives. Known for its abundance of luxurious resorts and stunning natural beauty, the Maldives have earned their spot on most traveler’s bucket lists.
What do you do when you get to the Maldives? Aside from soaking up the sun, here are five must-have experiences while in this tropical paradise.  Is river cruising for you? Here are 13 reasons why river cruising may be the perfect trip for you:
Expand Your Options River cruises take you through the heart of the country, to ports of call that are not accessible by ocean cruises. New cities and towns to explore, so very different than what you will find on an ocean cruise. 7/27/2021
16 Things To Do In Salzburg Located in the middle of Europe, Austria is one of the continent's most compelling countries. With a history full of famous musicians, renowned artists, an abundance of breathtaking scenery and architecture, Austria is an enchanting country to visit.
The city of Mozart, Salzburg, is one of Austria's little gems. While you can imagine yourself exploring the set of the Sound of Music (and maybe even singing a few tunes), Salzburg has many more wonderful experiences, making this a popular excursion from a Danube cruise. Here are some of the top things to do: 7/21/2021
10 Epic Train JourneysSometimes a rail trip is just what is needed to thoroughly enjoy the scenic surrounds. No driving, no constant stopping to get that photo, travel through areas where roads don't or can't go. Sit back in luxury, relax and enjoy the ever changing scenery and wildlife (instead of watching the road). 10 epic train adventures to inspire you:   There is a saying in German: “Wenn schon, den schon.” It basically means “Let’s go whole hog.” Or “All In.”
When it comes to cruise travel, I often encourage you to take advantage of already being in a region by adding on time for deeper discovery, deeper immersion. One easy way to do this – adding time before and after your cruise in the ports where your cruise starts or ends. A second way, adding time to discover more of the immediate region (or even a bit further away). For example, adding the Loire Valley to a Bordeaux or Seine cruise, or taking the Eurostar to London when ending in Amsterdam or Paris. A third way – extending your cruises from the traditional week to two, three and even six weeks. Now that’s what I would call “Going whole hog”!  The Bordeaux wine region in Southwest France is a perfect pairing for river cruising, wine lovers and culture seekers alike. So while you are here, why not continue your wine, culinary and culture experiences with a visit to the Loire Valley and San Sebastian and Bilboa before or after your Bordeaux cruise?
5/23/2021
River Cruising Through the Netherlands Have you ever wondered about the difference between Holland and the Netherlands? The official name of the country is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is made up of 12 provinces. The two provinces of Noord- and Zuid-Holland together make up Holland. However, most people just say Holland when they are referring to the Netherlands.
 An endlessly photogenic destination, Cesky Krumlov is one of South Bohemia’s most famous cities. Known for its narrow cobblestoned streets, castle towers and historic city center, these sites have captured the attention of many visitors for centuries.
5/19/2021
10 Top Experiences in Malta The Maltese Islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino - are located in the Mediterranean Sea between the northern African coast and Sicily. These idyllic islands are abundant with rich culture, history, magnificent landscapes and over 300 days of sunshine.
In other words, plenty of reasons to visit. Following are 10 top experiences not to miss.  Every air traveler today is required to present a valid (not expired) form of identification to get though airport security and board a flight. Common forms of ID include driver’s licenses or state photo identification cards, passports, passport cards, DHS trusted traveler cards (ex. Global Entry) and military ID cards.
 While not necessarily the first river that comes to mind, the Moselle River is a picture-perfect backdrop for any trip and can hold a lot of appeal for a seasoned river cruiser. While some of the destinations along this waterway are pivotal trade hubs, you won’t find any of the industrial hardware that can clutter the ports of other rivers.
With lush terraced vineyards, fairy-tale castles and villages, half-timbered houses and rolling hills crowned with ancient castles, the Moselle Valley is rich with all the right ingredients for a romantic holiday.  Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways River cruising and luxury barging has grown exponentially over the past few years. More and more travelers are discovering and falling in love with this type of travel. Why? With river cruising you have so many options - choices in rivers, choices in itineraries, choices in cruise lines. Something for just about everyone.
If you are new to the experience, having all these options can certainly be daunting. Following these steps will help you narrow down your choices.  River cruising is a wonderful way to experience Europe – for many many reasons. Immersing yourself in the heart of the country, visiting iconic cities, quaint towns and villages, experiencing new foods…. All true on every river cruise in Europe. And visiting UNESCO sites are always weaved into the itineraries.
 Seeing wildlife in their natural habitats can be a life changing, soul stirring experience, not only for animal lovers but all types of curious and adventurous travelers.
Wildlife themed itineraries are best experienced in small group settings – whether they be private or small group land tours or small ship cruises, taking you into areas less visited, less accessible. Small groups lend themselves perfectly to a better learning environment while contributing to the conservation and protection of species. Sustainable tourism - the best way. Following are 7 top itinerary picks – one on every continent. Photo credit above: Lindblad Expeditions |
Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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