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Travel News for the Week of April 7

By April 7, 2024Blog

Hi Everyone,

American Queen Voyages has been a mainstay for river cruising here in the States.  Unfortunately, they recently declared bankruptcy and put their ships on the market.   Luckily, American Cruise Line purchased all four of American Queen’s ships so you will still see those ships on the rivers.

Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral was severely  damaged in April of 2019.  The restoration will be complete and visitors will be welcomed back beginning December 16 of this year. it will be open from 7:45am-7:45pm daily.  Notre Dame is now accepting bookings for pilgrimage groups and will accept bookings for cultural groups beginning in June.  There is no admission charge to visit the cathedral.

Disney will invest 60 billion dollars in their parks in the next 10 years. As part of that expansion,  they are currently researching a new expansion at Disney World in Florida.  It will be approximately 14 acres and we don’t yet know what the expansion will be called. Stay tuned.

In other news, I was surprised to learn that hundreds of people try to bypass security each year.  Last year, at least 300 people tried to bypass security.  One of the methods used was  that people tried to enter the secure area of the airport at the point where passengers exit.  Very few of those people were successful but what are people thinking??-Travel Pulse

2024-25 Tours and Cruises

May 12-22, 2024. Countryside of the Emerald Isle.  If you have traveled to Ireland and loved it, this is part two.  If you have never been to Ireland, this is an amazing journey that will instill that love for the Emerald Isle.  This is not the same tour that we normally do.  This explorations tour is limited to 24 people going slightly off the beaten path.  We will fly into Dublin and then head south. We will head to the National Stud Farm where you will see amazing thoroughbreds and opulent gardens.  Stand at the rock of Cashel where St. Patrick is said to have preached.  Visit the coastal town of Kinsale to enjoy the shops and galleries before heading to the Old Midletown distillery, home of Jameson Whiskey. Visit the Garnish Islands and move on to Dingle where  you’ll enjoy a drive along the Dingle peninsula.  Take a ferry over to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran islands. where we will spend an amazing night.  See the Cliffs of Moher from a ship before ending our trip in Ennis and flying home from Shannon.  Truly a spectacular trip. Maximum number of passengers is 24.  Collette   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1149854

August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean

September 28-October 7, 2024    Best of Greece    Take advantage of group pricing on this amazing cruise.   Visit the ports of Athens, Santorini, Ephesus, Turkey, Mykonos, Volos, Thesaloniki, and Kavala before disembarking in Athens.-Celebrity Infinity.

January 19-31, 2025   Grand Hawaiian Adventure   Join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai.   This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands.  We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.   Pricing available shortly

May 3-11,  2025  Paris and Normandy River Cruise.   This cruise will begin and end in Paris.   Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches.  Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.   I am taking deposits as this is a very popular cruise and I am concerned the cruise will sell out.

September, 2025. America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites.  We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places.  Collette is not quite ready for Fall of 2025 but we are in the system and I will publish the dates as soon as I have them.

October  2025 Colors of New England.   This is the same situation as American’s National Parks.  I will publish dates and pricing as soon as I have them.

Fuller Travel Service hours:  Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm,  Closed on Sunday.

Have a great week !

Lynn