November Newsletter 2021

Greetings!

As we enter the 2021 holiday season, we wish you and your family and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!

In recent newsletters, we promised to report on the protocols involving travel to Canada. Prior to our fabulous journey on the Rocky Mountaineer, we had to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of our arrival in Canada. We followed the guidance on the ArriveCAN website stipulating the many tests which satisfy that requirement. We chose the Rapid PCR test early on a Monday morning and had the results back about noon on Tuesday. Once we had the results, we were able to upload them to the ArriveCAN site resulting in an easy time boarding our flight to Vancouver.
 
However, the testing was not yet complete. The day prior to boarding the train, we had another test, this one the rapid antigen test provided and paid for by Rocky Mountaineer. Further, while in Canada, we could not enter a restaurant, hotel, or shopping establishment without providing our ID and proof of being fully vaccinated.
 
Yes, you guessed it. We had to take yet another rapid antigen test in Calgary prior to being able to board our flight back to the United States. However, test sites are available in many locations, and we found one in a pharmacy within easy walking distance from our hotel. In sum, nothing was arduous about the protocols, and our group felt quite safe everywhere we went.
 
The Rocky Mountaineer experience was everything we hoped it would be. Gold Leaf Service is absolutely worth the upgrade from Silver Leaf. The Gold Leaf rail cars have two levels with the glass-domed observation level on top and with the dining area below. These rail cars also include an exterior observation platform which is perfect for taking photos without shooting through the glass. The food and service exceeded our expectations, luggage was handled seamlessly, and the continual narrative was presented with great enthusiasm. As you might imagine on a trip through the Canadian Rockies, the scenery was incomparable. Our seats were spacious and even had a heating control button. We sat back and marveled at the scenery as we sipped our champagne and snuggled in our adjustable seats.
 
What memories! Our first tour day in Vancouver included a cable car ride up to Grouse Mountain where we could view bears up close in the Bear Habitat; we then traversed the Capilano Suspension Bridge before enjoying a tour of the city. Lake Louise is as picturesque as it could be, but Emerald Lake in Yoho Park was maybe even more beautiful. The following day included two WOW Factor events: first was the Columbia Icefields including a ride on the Ice Explorer which took us to our hike on the Abathasca Glacier; that was followed by the Skywalk experience, with some of us edging our way further out over the chasm. Pictures do not do justice to these experiences though we have included a few for your perusal.
 
Most of the planet has re-opened, so where in the world do you want to go?


Betty & Frank Villani

(909) 980-6040
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We hope you enjoy these photos from our
Rocky Mountaineer trip!
The Peace Bridge, Calgary, Canada
Emerald Lake, Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Join Us!
11 Nights - Ultimate Caribbean
January 24 - February 4, 2022
Roundtrip Tampa
Sail away on the newly refurbished Celebrity Constellation. Ports include Grand Cayman; Colon, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and Cozumel, Mexico. This cruise incudes an overnight stay in Cartagena, Colombia!
12 Night Ultimate Southern Caribbean Cruise
March 13 -25, 2022
or
April 3 - 15, 2022
Aboard Celebrity Equinox
Round trip - Ft Lauderdale
Visit these beautiful ports:
St Croix,
St Kitts,
Barbados,
St Lucia,
Grenada,
Dominica,
Antigua
Join Us!
April 19, 2022
16 Days
Classic South Africa with Victoria Falls & Botswana Tour
  • All intra-flights: Cape Town-Durban, Johannesburg-Victoria Falls & Kasane-Johannesburg
  • 14 nights accommodations: 4 in Cape Town, 1 each in Hluhuwe and Swatini, 2 each in Hazyview, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Chobe
  • Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
  • Hotel porterage
Special Features
  • Enjoy a tour of Cape Town, view the Castle of Good Hope, the Grande Parade and visit Table Mountain
  • Tour historic Robben Island*, a World Heritage Site and view the former prison cell of Nelson Mandela
  • During the Cape Peninsula Tour, visit the Cape of Good Hope reserve and view the penguin colonies at Boulders Beach
  • Game Viewing Cruise on the St Lucia Estuary, a uniquely diverse ecosystem
  • 26 meals: 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
  • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
  • Game drives in modern 10-seater safari vehicles
  • Services of English-speaking tour guide throughout
  • Entrance Fees per itinerary
  • Game drive through Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
  • A thrilling game drive in an open-vehicle through Kruger National Park
  • In Soweto, the most metropolitan township, visit Nelson Mandela’s former home
  • Visit spectacular Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Enjoy a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River
  • Game drive through Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana
  • Sunset game viewing cruise on the Chobe River
7 Day Bermuda Cruise
Roundtrip from New York
NCL Getaway
April 17 - 24, 2022
Enjoy Bermuda in all its springtime glory on this 7-day round-trip sailing from New York. Discover a vibrant underwater world on a glass-bottom boat tour. Climb to the top of Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, one of the oldest cast-iron lighthouses in the world, for incredible views. Build your first-ever pink sandcastle. And be sure to sip traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches and scones.
Includes 2 overnights in Bermuda!
14 Day Western Mediterranean & Adriatic Medley
Athens to Rome
aboard the Regal Princess
June 4 - 18, 2022
7 Day Mediterranean Cruise
Round trip - Rome
Italy, France & Spain
NCL Epic
June 21 - 29, 2022
7 PORTS OF CALL
  • Rome (Civitavecchia),Italy
  • Naples,Italy
  • Florence/Pisa (Livorno),Italy
  • Cannes,France
  • Palma,Majorca
  • Barcelona,Spain
  • Ajaccio,Corsica
  • Rome (Civitavecchia),Italy
Join Us!
10 Days - 6 Ports
Iceland & Greenland
Round trip Reykjavik
NCL Norwegian Star
July 25 - August 4, 2022
Space is filling up quickly for this amazing itinerary!
  • Reykjavik Iceland
  • Qaqortoq Greenland
  • Nanortalik Greenland
  • Seydisfjordur Iceland
  • Akureyri Iceland
  • Isafjordur Iceland
  • Reykjavik Iceland
12 Day Alaska Cruisetour
August 6 - 17, 2022 
Vancouver to Fairbanks
The cruisetour includes the ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Whittier with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and College Fjord aboard the Sapphire Princess. Also included are the train from Whittier to Talkeekna, 2 nights at the McKinley Lodge, 2 nights at the Denali Lodge, and 1 night in Fairbanks.
7 Day Alaska Cruise
Round trip - Seattle
NCL Encore
August 28 - September 4, 2022
Visit these beautiful ports:
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Juneau, Alaska
  • Skagway, Alaska
  • Ketchikan, Alaska
  • Victoria, British Columbia
  • Seattle, Washington
10 Day Baltic Cruise:
Germany, Russia & Sweden
September 3 - 13, 2022
NEW! NCL Prima
7 PORTS OF CALL
  • Amsterdam,Netherlands
  • Berlin (Warnemünde),Germany
  • Tallinn,Estonia
  • St. Petersburg,Russia
  • Helsinki,Finland
  • Stockholm,Sweden
  • Copenhagen,Denmark

Includes an overnight in St Petersburg
Join Us!
8 Day California Coastal
October 15-22, 2022
Roundtrip Los Angeles
This cruise will be on the newest Princess ship, the Discovery Princess. Ports include San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada.

Check out the video below of this magnificent ship!
Join Us!
14 Nights Cruise
South America /Antarctica
Roundtrip - Buenos Aires
January 14 - 28, 2023
We will sail on the Celebrity Infinity which received a total refurbishment (revolutionized) in 2020. Ports include Ushuaia, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay.
The cruise includes a
circumnavigation of Cape Horn and the following destinations in Antarctica: Schallat Channel, Paradise Bay, Gerlache Strait, and Elephant Island. We will be planning a pre-cruise trip to Iguazu Falls visiting both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls.
7 Night Caribbean Cruise
On the New Celebrity Apex
January 21 - 28, 2023
Round trip - Ft Lauderdale
Visit these ports aboard Celebrity's newest ship and experience The Magic Carpet!

Key West
Cozumel
Belize
Grand Cayman
909-980-6040