September Newsletter 2023 |
|
Greetings!
Paradise Lost
We watched with horror and sadness while viewing the devastation in Hawaii. Like us, many of you have been to Maui and enjoyed the festive atmosphere along Front Street in Lahaina and maybe took pictures in front of the massive Banyon tree. Now, all of it is gone, along with homes, businesses, and, worst of all, lives. Perhaps one sign of the town’s eventual rebirth is the encouraging news that the famed Banyan tree may survive. Hopefully, the roots will survive, and the tree will resprout. Only time will tell. Contact us if you have an upcoming trip to Maui so we can do whatever we need to get your trip rescheduled. It will take some time before parts of Maui will be ready to welcome visitors #MauiStrong.
NCL continues to launch new ships, the latest being the Viva; it is the second in the Prima Class. For now, it will sail a selection of Greek Isles and Mediterranean cruises through November before homeporting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For those of us who have enjoyed the two-level Speedway on the Breakaway, we will thoroughly enjoy the three-level Speedway on the Viva!
We have discussed previously why we encourage our clients to have trip insurance for every vacation. For most of us, we want to be protected should we have an accident or illness that requires emergency evacuation, the cost of which can be $100,000 or more. We also encourage all of you to obtain that insurance within 14 days of your first deposit, as your policy then provides two important additional benefits. First, pre-existing conditions are covered. Second, you are protected from vendor default. For example, a couple of years ago, it was Thomas Cook Travel, a very large travel company located in England, that closed its doors overnight, leaving clients stranded all over the globe.
Now, it has happened again. Last month, luxury travel provider Vantage Travel, a Boston-based company, similarly declared bankruptcy and canceled trips worth thousands of dollars. Whether it is pre-existing conditions or vendor default, we continue to encourage all of you to not only purchase travel insurance but also purchase it within 14 days of your initial deposit. Give us a call if you have questions about travel insurance.
Every year, Travel & Leisure Magazine asks its readers to vote on their favorite islands in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda. Islands were specifically rated on multiple criteria: natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness, and value. As it turns out, what people valued the most was the beaches, the people, and the water. So, which islands scored the highest? Dominica, Anguilla, St. John (US Virgin Islands), Eleuthera (Bahamas), and St. Lucia were the highest rated. How many of those islands have you visited? Is it time to think about a journey? In just a few short months, many of us will be experiencing the frigid temps of winter. This would be a great time to plan a trip to warmer climates.
With the exuberant rebound in travel, our clients are planning further and further out. For example, see our just announced 11-Day Japan Explorer Spring Flowers departing Tokyo (Yokohama) on March 25, 2025. Please JOIN US! as we enjoy the famous Cherry Blossoms and soak in some of the Japanese culture. In addition to the Princess cruise, we plan on spending several days in Tokyo and perhaps experiencing the bullet train to Kyoto. The cruises to Japan sell out quickly, so get your stateroom deposited now to ensure your space.
So, Where in the World Do You Want to Go?
Betty & Frank Villani
|
Like us on Facebook and LinkedIn! |
|
11 Day Cruise
Asia: Osaka, Okinawa & Shimizu
Norwegian Jewel
Tokyo to Taipei
October 11 - 30, 2023
|
|
11 PORTS OF CALL
- Tokyo,Japan
- Mount Fuji (Shimizu),Japan
- Kyoto (Osaka),Japan
- Hiroshima,Japan
- Miyazaki (Aburatsu),Japan
- Nagasaki,Japan
- Naze (Oshima Island),Japan
- Naha,Okinawa
- Miyakojima (Okinawa),Japan
- Hualien,Taiwan
- Taipei (Keelung),Taiwan
|
|
|
Join Us!
7 Day Mexican Riviera Cruise
Navigator of the Seas
Roundtrip: Los Angeles
November 20 - 27, 2023
|
|
Please Join Us! for this amazing Thanksgiving cruise!
3 Ports of Call:
Cabo San Lucas
Mazatlán
Puerto Vallarta
|
|
Northern Lights Adventure
December 10 - 15, 2023
Rimrock Resort Hotel
Banff, Alberta, Canada
|
|
See the spectacular Northern Lights while staying at the incredible AAA Four-diamond Rimrock Resort in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Let us arrange air from any destination and fulfill your dreams of experiencing this amazing sight. |
|
8 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Wonder of the Seas
Round-trip Orlando
December 30, 2023 -
January 7, 2024
|
|
VISITING: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
|
|
Join Us!
8 Night Cruise
Eastern Caribbean Antilles
Valiant Lady
Roundtrip - Miami
January 13 - 21, 2024
|
|
Join Us! on our first ever Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami to Puerta Plata, San Juan, St Croix, and the Beach Club at Bimini!
|
|
Antarctica Adventure
10 Days - 5 Ports
Round trip:
Puerto Williams, Chile
Silversea - Silver Wind
February 12 - 22, 2024
|
|
With an erudite team of experts on hand to take you through the fascinating history and wildlife of Antarctica, this is a voyage that is both educational and inspirational. See the astonishing glaciers and icebergs firsthand by kayak and Zodiac and enjoy close encounters of the penguin kind! Visit abandoned whaling stations and imbibe all the experiences possible – nothing will seem the same again. |
|
10 Night Cruise
New Zealand / Australia
Celebrity Edge
Auckland to Sydney
February 15 - 25, 2024
|
|
8 Stunning Ports
New Zealand:
Auckland
Tauranga
Napier
Picton
Christchurch
Dunedin
Dusky Sound - Cruising
Doubtful Sound - Cruising
Milford Sound - Cruising
Australia:
Eden
Sydney
|
|
|
11 Night Australia Cruise
Celebrity Edge
Roundtrip: Sydney
February 25 - March 7, 2024
|
|
Make this a back-to-back cruise with the above cruise from New Zealand, or take one of these cruises!
5 Amazing ports:
Sydney
Airlie Beach
Cairns
Port Douglas
Willis Island - Cruising
Brisbane
|
|
|
Join Us!
Uniworld River Cruise
Burgundy & Provence, France
May 19 - 26, 2024
|
|
Join Us! as we follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Cezanne and Gauguin on an exquisite journey of southern France. Cruise the Rhone and Saone rivers from Lyon to Arles, visiting Avignon, Viviers, Tournon and Macon with an extension to Paris.
|
|
Join Us!
Rocky Mountaineer
Vancouver to Jasper
July 4 - 13, 2024
|
|
Enjoy 3 days onboard the Rocky Mountaineer in Gold Leaf Service, nine nights of hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and unlimited beverages while onboard, lunch at the Columbia Icefields, Ice Explorer and Glacier Skywalk, Banff Gondola, all tours and transfers as specified in the itinerary, luggage handling/porterage at the hotels and train stations, prepaid gratuities for onboard Hosts.
Space is limited, so contact us as soon as possible!
See the video below for Rocky Mountaineer highlights.
|
|
North to Alaska
7 Nights
August 18 - 25, 2024
Roundtrip: Seattle
|
|
Cruise the beautiful Majestic Princess to these 5 stunning ports:
Ketchikan, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising), Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, Canada.
|
|
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures Cruise
8 Days: September 18 - 25, 2024
Athens to Istanbul
|
|
Visit 2 countries and 6 ports: Athens, Heraklion, and Rhodes in Greece and Ephesus, Troy, and Istanbul in Turkey, and discover the wonders of these ancient lands. |
|
Join Us!
Turning Leaves
October 7 - 17, 2024
Boston to Quebec
Emerald Princess
|
|
Experience the beauty of fall and visit these stunning ports:
|
|
Join Us!
11 Day Japan Explorer
Round trip: Tokyo, Japan
March 25 - April 5, 2025
Diamond Princess
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
