Cruise Specialist

Sunset and wake of ship

There are destinations and reasons to travel via cruise ship, and I am here to tell you where and when.

Places:

• Alaska!
• Galapagos!
• Greece!
• Hawaii!
• Fjords!
• Antarctica!
• Arctic!

These destinations simply are easier to explore by cruise or can only be accessed via the water.

• Alaskan port cities offer a very different look at the region and is wonderful paired with a pre or post cruise land tour. You cannot reach most of the popular Alaskan ports by land and you definitely could not see the majestic glaciers any other way.
• The Galapagos is a cluster of islands, each with its own unique and endemic species of various animals. Expedition cruises allow us to get close enough to observe yet maintain a respectful distance to protect the ecosystem here. An environmentally sound expedition ship built for this region not only minimizes your carbon footprint on these islands but reduces your impact on the animals domestication and environments. This is not a region where we should be overnighting in the island themselves.
• Greece is yet another region with countless islands to explore. Those who want a sampler of some of the premier islands will benefit from touring via cruise ship, where all your travel is done by night so that your days are filled with island exploration.
  Those who wish to dive deep into specific islands may opt for a custom itinerary created by me where you spend 3-5 nights on just a couple of the islands to get the feel for just those places.
  The exact same principle applies to Hawaii; if you want a sampler, let's look into a cruise. If you want to dive deep, let's just look at one or two of the islands for your trip.
• The Norwegian Fjords are much like Alaska and its glaciers -- difficult to reach by land and much more awe-inspiring when viewed from the water. i have now been here three times and it never gets old.
• Antarctica expedition cruises are the only way to get close to this impressive continent. Tours typically leave from South America and you spend your time visiting masses of the local inhabitants of the region, as well as seeing some of their toothy neighbors.
• Arctic expedition cruises are wholly different from Antarctica. The region is a lot less predictable and animal sightings are rare and precious. This is truly an adventurer's dream trip.

An easier way to tour, a better way to see more:

• Visit Christmas Markets!
• See more of the sites of Europe, Asia or the US!
• Unpack once!
• Ideal for guests with mobility concerns!

River cruises, for example, are a great way to explore a region that would otherwise involve a lot of train travel or motorcoach riding. Not only can you access some cities that are more off the beaten path, but do it in a way that is much more comfortable than climbing in and out of train cars or sitting on a bus. Christmas Markets, for example, are best done on a river cruise. These are always the first to sell out, so be sure to book those well in advance. Many river-based cities in Southeast Asia are only accessible by their waterways; see fishing communities and floating markets that date back to an era where electronics and screens were not the only way to conduct daily business.

The cruise takes you to your next city or country overnight while you dine, listen to music, watch shows, play games, socialize and sleep. You make so much better use of your time. Unlike land based tours -- where you are unpacking and repacking as you move from hotel to hotel, city to city, country to country -- on a sailing, you unpack once, and only pack up again when the trip is done. Your home for the duration of the trip moves with you from port to port!

Those with mobility concerns will be much more comfortable on a cruise vacation that will be able to accommodate scooters, wheelchairs or walkers onboard. It would not be so easy to visit these places if you were constantly getting in and out of trains, buses and ferries.

You may not think that cruise vacations are your cup of tea, but they can be the means to get to on the adventure you have been dreaming of. And if you are a cruise devotee, let my experience and connections help you get the most value out of your vacation budget!