Travel Style Part 1 - Mainstream Cruising

First of four parts, dedicated to identifying the best style for a travel group.

These ocean going ships carry from 600 to over 6000 passengers. They are frequently called floating resorts – for good reason. Most of the amenities expected at a resort hotel are available - and they move, giving you opportunity to visit more than one destination, but only unpacking once.

Full gyms, spa services, multiple dining venues, nightclubs, entertainment options, pools, water sports, golf, even ice-skating! You name it and there is probably a cruise ship (or many cruise ships) that have it.

Ocean/mainstream cruising is a great option for larger groups, especially if you want to have some private activities on board. Private parties, activities, seminars, workshops can be organized on board. I’ve arranged ballroom dance classes, craft seminars, and receptions for various groups to give a few examples. Fully equipped meeting space is available for more formal conferences and workshops.

They’re also a great option for multi-generational groups with broad age ranges. Many have clubs and activities for toddlers through teens, as well as dedicated staff to entertain them both on and off the ship. And, not for just a couple of hours a day. These clubs run all day and into the night with flexibility for picking up and dropping off children. They also have babysitting services available for the younger set. Parents and grandparents can enjoy adult time while the kids are supervised and entertained.

Within this cruising style, there are multiple destination and cultural choices. There are cruise ships that specialize in Antarctica sailings to South Sea Island cruising to navigating the fjords and glaciers of Alaska.  You can visit the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, the coast of Asia, and around Australia. Cruising has become so popular over the past few decades, that there are few destinations along the ocean shores that one of these ships doesn’t visit. You can literally sail around the world.

Mainstream cruising is an option I would definitely recommend for consideration if your group is large, multi-generational, or your group has a special request that these “floating resorts” can meet.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’m here to help.

What's Your Style?

When planning travel for a group, it’s important to choose the style of travel that best fits your group. Determining your group’s style can help with selecting or narrowing down a destination. Conversely, sometimes the destination determines the travel style – you won’t be photographing lions and giraffes from a cruise ship, or biking the vineyards of Tuscany from an all-inclusive resort. On the other hand, there are no beaches or plunge pools on a river cruise ship.

Here are four main styles of travel that work well for groups to help you plan and start narrowing down your choices. Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the group’s needs.

Mainstream cruising – These ocean going ships carry from 600 to over 6000 passengers. They are frequently called floating resorts – for good reason. Most of the amenities expected at a resort hotel are available - and they move, giving you opportunity to visit more than one destination, but only unpacking once.

This option is good for larger groups, especially if you want to have some private activities on board, since they have a lot of space including meeting rooms. They’re also a great option for multi-generational groups with broad age ranges.

River cruising – Great for small to medium groups with a shared interest. This option has some of the advantages of larger ship cruising such as moving from one location to another without unpacking, but the ships are smaller and can go to villages and cities a large vessel would never make.

The most well-known of these destinations are the rivers of Europe, but the choices have broadened and now river cruising is available on five continents. Some of the rivers they navigate include the Danube, Rhine, Yangtze, Amazon, Volga, even the Nile.

All Inclusive resorts – All-inclusive resorts are popular options for all sized groups. They can accommodate large corporate groups with meeting needs and smaller family groups. There are adult only resorts, as well as resorts that specialize in families and children. If your group is one that likes water activities and beaches, these are good options, as there are numerous all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Custom itineraries – definitely the most flexible and specific to a groups’ needs. Biking through Provence, hiking the Inca trail, listening to the Sounds of Silence at Ayers Rock. Whatever your group wants to experience can be planned. This is a great option for smaller groups (40 or less) who have shared interests or want to go off the beaten path a little.

I'll go into more detail for each of these options in future posts. In the meantime, let me know how I can help.

Where are the Penguins of Madagascar?

They’re cute, they’re friendly, and thanks to Happy Feet, March of the Penguins, and Penguins of Madagascar they’re very popular! Because they have no natural land predators, they are not afraid of humans. In fact, I found they are extremely curious when around humans and not shy at all.

So where do we go to find these amazing creatures? With one exception, penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Here is list of regions to find them.

1) Antarctica. Probably the first location people think of for penguins. The ice shelfs and cliffs of Antarctica are home to the Emperor Penguins. There are many islands that host several species of penguins including South Georgia Island and Elephant Island. The easiest way to get up close and personal to these guys is a cruise on an expedition ship. The ships aren’t allowed to dock or anchor on the continent, but they do have permits to take a few passengers at a time by Zodiac to the islands to see the penguins and other wildlife.

2) Africa. Most of the African penguin colonies are located on islands off the southern coast of Africa, primarily South Africa. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, is one of the more famous islands with penguin colonies. There are also a couple on the South African mainland near Cape Town – Boulders Beach and Stony Point. The Penguin Islands (where else?) of Namibia sports a few colonies.

 3) Australia/New Zealand. Phillip Island, near Melbourne is host to the world famous penguin parade. Every evening at dusk the penguins return to their burrows after a day of fishing and hunting. New Zealand lays claim to being the “Penguin Capital of the World” and there are many colonies of blue and little penguins on the east coast of South Island.

4) Tip of South America. Tierra del Fuego is home to many species and colonies of penguins. Ushuaia, Argentina is a launching point for day trips to the rookeries and if you’re on the Chilean side, Puerto Arenas is your starting point. In addition, the Falkland Islands are home to several colonies. All of these destinations are stops on a Cape Horn cruise. I’ve had several penguin encounters on “Round the Horn” cruises.

5) Galapagos. Many travelers are surprised to learn that there are “tropical” penguins. The Galapagos Islands are the destination of choice for travelers looking to experience an abundance of wildlife in a relatively untouched ecosystem. But, did you know the Islands are the only natural habitat of penguins north of the Equator? One more reason to visit!

So, no. They are not in Madagascar! 

What's So Special About River Cruising?

Photo, Courtesy of Uniworld

River cruising isn’t new, but its popularity has increased exponentially over the past few years. And many people want to know why. What makes river cruising so special?

Here are five reasons I love them.

1) Close to the action. Riverboats dock right in town. No tendering or long road trips to get to the main city. Step off the ship and you’re off and exploring immediately. You’ll be able to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, participate in authentic experiences, and have more free time to check out local cafes, markets, and sites. Many ships even provide bicycles for passengers to use while in port.

2) Cultural immersion both onboard and off. On-board entertainment includes local performers, artists, lecturers, culinary lessons, and wine and beer tastings of local fare. There are special interest cruises with added focus for art, history, food, and holidays of various regions throughout the world. For example, you can enjoy a wine connoisseur journey through Provence or horticultural experience during springtime in the Netherlands.

3) No crowds. Most riverboats hold 150-160 guests, so passengers don’t overwhelm the destination. Have you ever had that sense or even certainty that the population of a port doubled or tripled when the mega-cruise ship docked? Not with a riverboat cruise! No lines getting on/off the ship. One seating for meals; no waiting to dine.

4) Best of traditional cruising, plus added benefits. There are many advantages to traditional cruising: unpacking only once while visiting several ports, sampling destinations for future in-depth exploration, the exemplary service round the clock.  River cruising has added advantages:  the shoreline is visible while cruising so you can enjoy the spectacular scenery as you cruise. Rivers are generally calmer than open ocean waters, so less movement means reduced chance for motion sickness if you are susceptible. No lifeboat drill because there are no lifeboats. OK – there is a safety drill. But it is comfortable, indoors, and you don’t have to don life jackets.

5) No end-of-cruise sticker shock! You know, that tab you’ve been running all week that gets delivered under your door the night before disembarking? River cruises include many more amenities than traditional ocean cruises. Usually included in the basic fare are transfers, shore excursions, internet access, entertainment, concierge, and alcohol. The only additions to the basic fare are personal items such as spa service, gift shop purchases, or added adventures.

And, they are great for group sizes of 10 – 150.

What's In Your Wallet?

Going to the bank or AAA to pick up traveler’s checks, for me, is a lost pleasure. I loved announcing “I’m going on vacation” to perfect strangers without actually saying anything! The purchase said it all. Plus it was always a conversation starter – When/where are you going? Who are you going with? How long?

OK – I know what you’re thinking: Do traveler’s checks even exist anymore? Well, actually yes they do. But, we now have much more convenient ways to get cash and make purchases on the road.

Debit cards are an excellent way to get cash.  ATM machines are open 24/7, they issue money in local currency, and the exchange rates are close to wholesale, much better than hotel, airport, and even local bank rates. Call your bank before you leave to notify them of your travels and ensure your PIN number will work outside the country. Also, get the phone number to call from outside the US if your card is lost or stolen.  Find out your daily limits and don’t wait until you are out of cash to go to an ATM.  They run out of money and break down in other countries, also!

For larger purchases, hotel charges, etc. consider a credit card. This cuts down on the amount of cash you’ll need and there are some purchase protections offered with some cards. If you plan to use a credit card, notify the card issuer before you travel so they will be aware that you will be making charges from another country. You can also use a credit card to get cash, but beware of surcharges.  I suggest VISA or MasterCard, as they are the most accepted. AMEX sometimes has challenges – especially with small local merchants. And Discover is not internationally accepted.

My personal MO is to take a debit card for cash and a major credit card for everything else. I hit an ATM at the airport upon arrival to for local currency. If there isn’t an ATM at the airport, I buy a minimal amount of currency at the exchange booth and find an ATM or bank later to supplement, as needed.

What’s in YOUR wallet when you travel?