Online passport renewal is back, but only for a limited time and and limited number of applicants. If you need to renew your passport, the State Department has opened the online portal for renewals but will only accept a limited number of daily applicants. The program is scheduled to run for several months. It will open every day at midday and accept a limited number of applications. Make sure you are not planning to travel for 8 weeks when you apply as it still takes several weeks to receive a new passport. you can go totravel.state.gov/…e-passport/renew-online for more info.
If you have the National Parks on your wish list, you may be interested in the fact that Apple Maps is actually mapping the National Parks that will make spending time in the National Parks easier. Apple is also adding place cards that tell you trail length, difficulty, and elevation variations. The App should be released this fall.-Travel and Leisure
I am frequently asked if passports are needed for a cruise. Technically, if the cruise is a closed loop cruise (coming and going from the same US port), you do not need a passport. However, if there is a problem with either the ship itself and it has to divert to a foreign port to disembark, or if you should become ill outside of the US and need to be flown home, you will need that passport. Even on cruises where passports are not required, you will still need proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government -issued photo ID.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
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
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and 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.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
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. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 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. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants.