Blog

Hi Everyone,

You may have heard that the European Union is preparing to open its borders next week to people who live outside the European Union.   While the list will not be released until next week there is a very good chance that the United States will not be on the approved list.  This is due to the fact that our Covid-19 numbers have not been brought under control.  How long that ban lasts is anyone’s guess.  Hopefully, we’ll get Covid-19 under control in the near future so that travel to Europe can begin again.

Tour Operators and Cruise lines have been working hard during this pause to develop policies that will help to promote health awareness and practices for both crews and guests.   Among the many policies that the Travel Corporation  (Trafalgar, Insight, Brendan)  has developed is to place a Wellness Director on each tour bus to insure that all health policies are being followed on the tour bus and at each hotel, restaurant, and site that is visited.

Norwegian Cruise line just released this video that gives us a preview of some of the policies and protocols that they are implementing:

American Airlines announced this week that they will end the practice of blocking the middle seats on July 1.   As more people begin to travel customers will begin to notice that flights are now much fuller on American, United, and Spirit.  American will continue to notify passengers when this flight is getting full and they will allow them to move to more open flights when available.

2020

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.  I have a few seats left on this amazing trip.  Nonstop air to and from Boston.

 October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

 November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  Time to deposit.  Tour is half full.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

New Date !!  June 12,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.  Do not delay.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

New Date!  September 25, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.b   This is an ocean going ship but is much smaller than your typical ocean ship. This cruise will sell out quickly.  If you’ve cruised with Viking in the past you will receive a double past passenger discount in June.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

I am sure you have heard that Disney World is reopening.   For the foreseeable future, things will look a bit different.   Here is a video that helps explain the process:

http://disney.chtah.com/a/hBe7M79AO8OgOB92LbOBlAKxyfG/dtn3

If you have ever been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you have to be amazed at the numbers and variety of animals.   It sounds like Disney is doing a great job taking care of all those animals through these tough times.    Though thousands of Disney employees have been furloughed, Animal Kingdom has mostly kept its animal care team of over 1,000 zookeepers, vets, scientists, and more intact. This diverse team cares for roughly 10,000 animals, says Mark Penning, who oversees animals and environmental issues at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Only 2,000 of these Disney animals—representing 300 species including lions, zebra, and giraffes—call the Animal Kingdom park home. The bulk of the animals actually live throughout Disney World, including the Living Seas at Epcot, Fort Wilderness, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.      Conde’ Naste Travel recently published an article on how these animals are being taken care of and how the workers are trying to keep things as normal as possible for them.  This was a very interesting read.  If you want to read the entire article, click on this link:  https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-walt-disney-world-is-caring-for-its-10000-animals-while-parks-are-closed?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_COVID_062120&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5dbd7f77b43a615fce0aaaf5&cndid=59078596&hasha=07dbdfd3620c32b2ef51538a7c4e2174&hashb=986b0430729eea7c163b19a0acab16737add6436&hashc=bd529d1c3b4b9b433d7f560c97984066e9388e08a914a5323d4b0c1bddf61dc7&esrc=cnt-signup-page&utm_term=CNT_Daily

In air news:  The TSA is reporting an increase in the number of screenings this week.  As economies reopen and border restrictions lift, Delta Air Lines will add almost 1000 flights systemwide in July.  Delta has made a commitment to cap cabin seating at 60% in main cabins and 50% in first class.  They will block middle seats through September. Customers also have the flexibility to change their place without a fee for a year for new flights purchased through June 30.

Quote for the week:  Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution- Khalil Gibran

2020

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.  I have a few seats left on this amazing trip.  Nonstop air to and from Boston.

 October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

 November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  Time to deposit.  Tour is half full.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

New Date !!  June 12,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.  Do not delay.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

New Date!  September 25, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.b   This is an ocean going ship but is much smaller than your typical ocean ship. This cruise will sell out quickly.  If you’ve cruised with Viking in the past you will receive a double past passenger discount in June.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Most cruise ships are parked right now.   Most have a skeleton crew on board to take care of the ship and keep it in good condition while awaiting the time to resume sailing.  Engines, air circulation systems,  plumbing, and other essential services must continually be inspected.   In some cases, training operations may be taking place so that crew members will be ready for return to service as soon as it’s permitted. Cruise lines are installing new sanitation equipment during this time.  This could include new hand washing stations, hand sanitizer dispensers, upgrading the air filtration systems, improving contactless options, installing dividers at service counters, shifting seating to improve social distancing, and other options.

Different cruise lines are anticipating returns to service as early as this summer. Different ports will have different opening dates and different countries will require different screening options.  Depending on the ship and the measures it has taken during this suspension, it could take 2-3 weeks or longer to return to service once operations are cleared to resume.  Ships must get resupplied for passengers, dock at their  home port, and  bring aboard crew members.

One of the biggest jobs cruise lines had through this pandemic was getting their workers back to their home countries.   It was a very complicated job as many countries would not let them dock, and they had to shift workers to different ships to try to get people going to the same place on the same ship.  In some cases the cruise lines had to help people who could not go home get suitable housing.  This didn’t just include cruise ship employees, but also construction workers or contract workers.  When possible, cruise lines are trying to station their ships at or near anticipated embarkation points so that when they can cruise, they will be able to do so efficiently.  -Cruise Hive

Delta has a great video on the steps they are taking to sanitize their planes.   It is worth a look.

2020

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.  I have a few seats left on this amazing trip.  Nonstop air to and from Boston.

 October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

 November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  Time to deposit.  Tour is half full.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

New Date !!  June 12,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.  Do not delay.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

June 12,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.

New Date!  September 25, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.b   This is an ocean going ship but is much smaller than your typical ocean ship. This cruise will sell out quickly.  If you’ve cruised with Viking in the past you will receive a double past passenger discount in June.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Travel is beginning to open on several fronts which is very good news.   If you are thinking of taking an international flight though, there are still some hurdles to that.  Although many countries are now opening for travel, few of them are ready for international visitors.   That will come, but most are opening gradually, opening to neighboring countries first.  While we wait for international travel please take a look at your passports.    Currently, passports are not being processed except for emergency situations.  When passport offices do open (no date set yet), they will open in phases.  The first phase will allow limited staff to return to process applications already received.  Phase 2 will have most staff returning to work and will begin processing applications beginning with the oldest applications. Phase 3 will have all staff returning to work  and expedited processing will resume.   No dates have been set for any phase as offices will open in cooperation with public health data for that region.

Global Entry enrollment is temporarily suspended through at least July 6.

Tour operators have begun to publish the changes that they will be implementing to help insure customer safety.   Here is a list of what Collette will do.   Other tour operators have very similar plans:

• Cancel for any reason waiver.  This travel protection plan protects you in the event you need to cancel or move your date.
• Pre-tour health screenings.   All travelers will be asked to complete a wellness declaration form before joining their tour.
• Air Travel.  Specific details will vary by airline, but standard operations typically include flight attendants wearing masks, sanitizing all surfaces between flights, and physical distancing.  Visit your airline’s website for specific information.
• Tours will operate with a number of empty seats to allow guests to space out for a more comfortable experience.
• Your tour manager: We have employed new and enhanced protocols for tour managers.  They are local experts and highly trained to handle a variety of unexpected situations-including illnesses and emergencies.
• Use of face masks:  We will be providing one reusable face mask to every guest for the foreseeable future with tour managers, drivers, servers and hospitality staff wearing them as well.
• Motorcoaches: All surfaces will be sanitized often including regular cleaning of high touch areas with disinfecting wipes. hand sanitizer will be available at all times and drivers will wear protective gear.
• On tour: We work closely with our local partners to ensure adequate physical distancing during meals, experiences, and sightseeing.  Guests may be rotated in smaller sub groups if necessary.
• Self screening:  All guests will be asked to monitor their health throughout the tour with protocols in place should someone become ill.
• Hotels: Specific protocols will vary from destination to destination, hotel to hotel.  Overall, rooms and restaurant areas will be deep-cleaned regularly with rooms disinfected thoroughly between guests. Hight traffic areas like elevators and lobbies will be cleaned hourly.

If you’d like to read the entire article, the link is  https://gocollette.com/en/landing-pages/2020/the-traveling-well-experience

Disney World is moving toward opening as well.   They have allowed agents to share this microsite to make sure everyone has the correct information about from Disney:  http://DisneyTravelTradeInfo.com/wdw

2020

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

 October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

 November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  Time to deposit.  Tour is half full.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.  Do not delay.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.b   This is an ocean going ship but is much smaller than your typical ocean ship. This cruise will sell out quickly.  If you’ve cruised with Viking in the past you will receive a double past passenger discount in June.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

I know that we’ve talked about international driving permits in previous blogs but this week Fodor’s Travel had a very good explanation of what an international driving permit is and why you need one if you are going to drive internationally.

An international driving permit is not a license.  You must already have one from your country or state of origin.  The permit is a small booklet issued by the American Automobile Association that gives visitors the right to drive a car in any of the countries that accept it. It is approximately $20.  You’ll also need your license  and 2 passport sized photos when you apply at an AAA office.  The permit translates your American driver’s license into ten languages which will help immeasurably if you are pulled over.  Before traveling, check the State Department’s Website, http://travel.state.gov, for specific license requirements for your destination.   Even if your destination does not require the license, if you are traveling to a country that does not speak your language you should get one anyway.  If you are pulled over, or if there is an accident,  a police officer may not be able to communicate effectively with you.

My friend and business development rep, Ed McKenna, from Collette Vacations mentioned two great options for your online viewing this week.   Maybe one of them will interest you.

Cooking with the Santa Fe School of Cooking
Join our friends at the Santa Fe School of Cooking and learn how to cook the ultimate Southwestern Steak Dinner. Together we’ll learn how to cook two incredible dishes  Grilled Steak with a Cascabel BBQ Sauce and Green Chile Mac n ‘Cheese. The Santa Fe Cooking School has a wealth of recipes, videos and cooking classes on their website, so be sure to check them out at santafeschoolofcooking.com/Recipes/index.html    

June 2^nd – 4pm EDT

REGISTER HERE: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/collette-connects-you-cooking-with-the-santa-fe-school-of-cooking-2138769268

Scotch Whiskey Tour and Tasting

Broadcasting LIVE from the world’s largest whisky collection, join Collette and Julie Trevisan-Hunter of the Scotch Whisky Experience for a lively conversation on ‘ the water of life ‘, followed by an interactive whisky tasting. Learn the five steps to Scotch whisky appreciation, and join Julie on a virtual tour across Scotland whisky regions, from Islay to Speyside, and everywhere in between.

June 4^th – 4pm EDT

REGISTER HERE: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/collette-connects-you-scotch-whisky-tour-and-tasting—2138769271

We are seeing more and more countries opening their borders for international travel.   As that begins to happen, there are still a lot of questions about health and safety that need to be resolved.   One of the things that is promising is that the World Travel & Tourism Council is launching a stamp   that will allow travelers to identify governments and businesses around the world that have adopted  the organization’s health and hygiene standardized protocols.   While still in process, it will allow travelers to see which countries and businesses have adopted the protocols.   To read the entire story, click on the following link:     http://www.wttc.org 

2020

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

 October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

 November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  Time to deposit!

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.  Do not delay.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.b   This is an ocean going ship but is much smaller than your typical ocean ship.  This cruise will sell out quickly.

Lynn

Hi Everyone

Those of us in travel have wondered what would happen when we started to look forward to 2021.   We have all been somewhat pleasantly surprised at the number of 2021 bookings taking place.  Certainly, there are people who pushed their vacations to 2021 when they were cancelled this year but tour operators and cruise lines are seeing a big increase in reservations for next year.    I just booked some couples on a cruise for next May and many of the room categories are already sold out.   Uniworld, my favorite river cruise company, announced that they are way ahead in 2021 bookings.   If you are thinking of a tour or a cruise next year, get it under deposit.  I would suggest you try to get a refundable deposit and travel insurance so that you are not disappointed.

The next time you fly, you will undoubtedly see changes in the way you interact with TSA.  A lot of the changes are designed to allow TSA officers to do their jobs with less touchpoint.   Changes include:

• You will now be able to bring up to 12 ounces of liquid hand sanitizer though TSA.
• TSA will no longer handle a boarding pass.   You will scan it yourself and hold it up so the officer can see it without touching it.
• You will be required to keep an appropriate amount of distance between others passing thr0ugh checkpoints.
• TSA officers will be wearing masks, and while not an absolute requirement for passengers, you will be encouraged to do so as well.  You may be asked to lower the  mask for security confirmation.
• Any carry on food will now need to be placed in a clear plastic bag and then placed into the bin separately. (TSA Precheck members will be able to keep food in their bag.)

The release says that the TSA has already started to implement the changes and will continue to roll them out at airports nationwide by mid-June.

Did you know?   Even before the pandemic occurred, the airlines had to abide by the 24 Hour Cancellation Policy.    The Department of Transportation says airlines must let travelers hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a purchased reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty and with a full refund.  All airlines operating to, from, and within the U.S. must comply with this rule.  The clock starts ticking on the 24 hours as soon as you purchase the ticket.

We are returning to Ireland next May.   I have included this video of one of the entertainment venues we’ll attend.  This is a bit lengthy so watch what you’d like.   It is a recording of a live broadcast so it will take a few minutes to load.   Very fun!

https://collette.zoom.us/rec/share/v-5_Np6tzjhOa4mR6B3_SI8xWYXlaaa80SMc-6IIzR2e1QsfIQ6TY0UdDwnInr3I

Lastly, this may not be the Memorial Day weekend we were hoping for, but please take a moment to remember all those who served and sacrificed for all of us.

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Disney is the latest company to begin to reopen.  This week they will partially open Disney Springs, the shopping/restaurant area of Walt Disney World.   Although the parks are still closed and there is no formal reopening date, Disney is now taking reservations for July.   Disney Springs will be capacity controlled with limited entry points. Everyone must wear a mask and submit to temperature checks.   I do hope it goes well for them.

As countries begin to open, some countries in Europe are taking an interesting approach.  The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have opened their borders to one another, creating a “travel bubble”.    Under the new rules, anyone who has not travelled outside the Baltic states in the past two weeks, is not infected, and has not been in contact with somebody who tested positive may travel freely through these three nations beginning Thursday.  Granted, these are small countries, but it is another positive step.-BBC

Last week I mentioned a few “firsts”.  Here are a few more:

• The London Underground , commonly known as “The Tube,” first opened in 1863. Wooden carriages were illuminated by gaslight and pulled by steam locomotives which made travel smelly and hazardous.
• Berlin’s Hotel Adlon was reputed to be the first grand hotel in the city but it was also the first to char-grill steaks indoors.
• All-inclusive resorts date back to the first Club Mediteranee  (known as Club Med) which opened in the seaside town of Palinuro, Italy in 1950.
• In 1912 in Munich, Germany,  Martin Sixt took his fleet of three cars and rented them out to consumers on an ad-hoc basis, and the car rental was born.  Sixt continues to rent cars throughout Europe and across the globe.
• The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was Savannah, an American ship named after the city where her owners lived and where she began her voyage to Liverpool in the summer of 1819.

2020

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

We are starting to see the first glimmer of hope in the travel world.   France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Germany, and Spain are all beginning to open their countries.   They are not ready for visitors but they are beginning to ease restrictions and are beginning to move forward.  The Caribbean has announced that they are now in the containment phase.   Carnival will take some short cruises yet this summer and Southwest may begin some international flights shortly.  All of this is promising and a start.

Have you ever wondered about where certain things originated?    Here is a little travel trivia from Travel Pulse:

• The first airport hotel was opened in 1929 at  what is now known as Oakland International Airport.   Airport hotels in those days also doubled as catering kitchens .
• The first hotel to provide soap and shampoo was the Inn on the Park in 1970 (today’s Four Seasons London.)
• Hotel room service was first noted at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria in the 1920s
• The Jet Age began on May 2, 1952 when passengers boarded the de Havilland Comet belonging to BOAC (the predecessor of today’s British Airways) at London’s Heathrow Airport for Johannesburg-with 5 stops along the way.
• In 1974, a manager at Hilton’s Hong Kong property introduced minibars into the guest rooms and the amenity took off as minibar sales boosted room revenue by a significant chunk.

I’ll include a few more “firsts” in next week’s blog.

Last week I told you that we were going to attempt our first Zoom presentation in cooperation with my Business Development  Manager  from Collette, Ed McKenna.  Ed will go through the itinerary for our upcoming Shades of Ireland tour.  He’ll be able to answer questions and address any concerns.   Obviously, we’d love you to join us on this trip and  we also know that many of you have already done Ireland.   The meeting may just be a chance to reminisce about your  trip if you have already been to Ireland.  If you are thinking about Ireland this will be a good opportunity to see the itinerary.   No pressure involved.    It will be fun to see many of you on Zoom!   It is scheduled for May 15 at 9:30am.   Here is all you will need to do with your computer.  Click on one of the numbers below.

Computer:

+16465588656,,97603216570#    

or

http://+13017158592,,97603216570#

You can also join by phone:

+16465588656,,97603216570# or +13017158592,,97603216570#

Meeting ID is 976 0321 6570

2020

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 7- November 15, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Conde’ Nast Traveler had a very interesting article this week about the passport.   Although the passport has been around since the late 1700’s,  originally they were available only to a few select citizens and were more of a status symbol.  They were more like a letter of reference than a means of identification. It was in the wake of first World War that passports became the document we know today.  The application fee was $1.    There were 20,690,491 passports issued in the U.S. in 2019.   Innovations have occurred over the years.  Many nations have begun to use biometrics that can be linked to the passport. For more information, check out Conde’ Naste Travel, May 2. Good read.

Tired of the same old things on TV?  Here are a few travel movies you may want to try: Out of Africa. Mama Mia, Two for the Road, The Godfather, Under the Tuscan Sun, Eat, Pray, Love.

We are very excited to tell you that we are going to attempt our first Zoom presentation.   My friend and Business Development Manager, Ed McKenna, will go through the itinerary for our upcoming Shades of Ireland tour.  He’ll be able to answer questions and address any concerns.   Obviously, we’d love you to join us on this trip but we know that many of you have already done Ireland.   The meeting may just be a chance to reminisce about your  trip.  If you are thinking about Ireland this will be a good opportunity to see the itinerary.   No pressure involved.    It will be fun to see many of you on Zoom!   It is schedule for May 15 at 9:30am.   Here is all you will need to do with your computer.  Click on one of the numbers below.

Computer:

 +16465588656,,97603216570#    

or

http://+13017158592,,97603216570#

You can also join by phone:

+16465588656,,97603216570# or +13017158592,,97603216570# 

Meeting ID is 976 0321 6570

Hi Everyone,

The growing list of of hotels that impose mandatory fees continues to grow.  Despite the Federal Trade Commission’s warnings that hotels may be violating the law, hotels continue to pile on fees.  The FTC has not taken any further action.   Those fees can range from $10 per night to more than $50 per night.   There may be help on the horizon as some of the states are suing hotel chains themselves.  It is important to read the fine print, and sometimes the fee is not even disclosed there.

If you need a new passport, you will need to wait.    Passport processing has been suspended except for life or death emergency situations where you must travel in the next 72 hours.  and then you must make application in person at a passport center.   You can still submit an application but you should expect significant delays.   The State Department is encouraging people to wait to apply until normal operations are resumed.

Some of you may be receiving an email each Thursday called Armchair Explorer.   That comes from my consortium and is an attempt to help lighten the travel news for you.    I noticed that my phone number is correct at the top of the piece but incorrect in the logo.   I am trying to get that fixed but if you need something, please use the number at the top.  You will receive these on Thursdays for the next few weeks.

While we await the end of this pandemic, my prayer is that all of you remain healthy and safe.   There will be a time when we’re able to get together and travel to wonderful destinations again.   In the meantime, we can reminisce about the amazing places we’ve been and the people we’ve met.  We can dream about the places yet to visit or revisit.   Most importantly, take care of yourselves and your families.

2020

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.

Coming Soon!   June,  2021 National Parks of America  

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

September 10, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn