Teen Uniworld
We are excited to note that river cruise line, U by Uniworld, is launching a new teen program. The niche line, which was originally developed to target millennials, normally excludes passengers under age 18. But next year it will showcase six GenZ on U sailings for families with teens 13 and over. Teen amenities and activities on the ship will include a designated teen lounge, karaoke contests, foosball tournaments, camping on the rooftop, trivia nights, and projector-movie nights on the outside deck. Plus choose from a variety of family-friendly excursions to explore and learn about each port you visit. Book now for the best cabin availability for week-long sailings on the Rhine and Danube rivers on select dates in July and August 2021. Rates include your meals, wine and beer at meals, excursions, special activities and more.
Free Air for River Cruise
Emerald Waterways is offering free airfare or a $2,000 discount per double cabin for European 2020 and 2021 river cruises of 8 or more days. Owned by the same company as the luxury line Scenic, Emerald is a more cost efficient option and excellent value for families with children ages 12 and older. Your rate includes all meals, drinks (wine, beer and soda) at lunch and dinner, excursions, bike rentals and tips. Just book by August 31 for the free air promo. There are also reduced deposits ($250/person) and you can change to another sailing prior to final payment without penalty. Choose from sailings on the Danube, Rhone, Rhine, Main, Moselle and Douro rivers for a leisurely way to explore Europe!
Sail Croatia
Eager to get back to Europe? Croatia is now open for American tourists with a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours. One of the best ways to explore this Central European and Mediterranean country is by boat. We can arrange either a private boat charter just for your family or family group or a small ship sailing available in all levels of quality. And surprisingly affordable! Experience more than 3,600 miles of Adriatic coastline, over 1,200 islands of which 48 are inhabited and the famous Dalmatian Coast. We loved our sailing trip in Croatia visiting Dubrovnik, Split and Rovinj…it is quite beautiful, serene and filled with interesting history and culture. Let us create a custom and magical trip.
Nomad on Lake Powell
Looking to explore Lake Powell? This year a brand-new fleet of Nomad Houseboats have been added by Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. These 50-foot-long, 18-foot-wide boats provide you with better maneuverability and handling; so you can easily access all parts of the lake. The Nomads are an addition to the marina’s already extensive fleet, offering an impressive selection of houseboats to choose from, ranging from the 46-foot Expedition, one of the fleet’s economy options, all the way to the 75-foot Odyssey, a top-of-the-line luxury houseboat. The Nomad, available to rent for 4 to 7 days, has two bedrooms and sleeps up to 10 people. Onboard amenities include a fully functional kitchen, a 48-inch LED television with Blu-ray, spiral tube slide and plenty of living space. For added recreation, you can also rent powerboats for water skiing and wakeboarding, pontoon boats, kayaks and paddle boards. There are also plenty of great hiking trails with incredible desert scenery. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can also find dining options on shore and the resort pool is open. For novice boaters, a houseboat course is available for an added cost prior to taking your boat out.
Explore Ontario’s Canals
Looking for a unique way to explore Canada? The Rideau Canal is one of Ontario’s best kept secrets to navigate by houseboat. Le Boat’s luxury houseboat rentals are built for the novice boater in mind. No previous boating experience or boating license required! The company provides recommended itineraries for a 3 to 5-night short break or a 7 to 10+ night vacation. The canal is a beautiful waterway of private islands, sandy beaches, protected wetlands, peppered with small artisan villages along the way. The 125 miles of continuous waterway stretches from Kingston to Ottawa and is a vast network of lakes, rivers and canals, all connected by a historical lock system. Your boat rental includes a fully equipped kitchen, private en-suite bathrooms with showers in every cabin and a top deck with sunshade and BBQ; a perfect setting to relax or stargaze. Also enjoy fishing, kayaking, biking, swimming, hiking and more along the way. Currently rentals from July-October 2020 are 10% off when booked by the end of June. Boats are thoroughly cleaned at the end of each use and reservations can be canceled up to 48 hours prior to departure for great flexibility. Currently borders are closed through July 21 for driving into Canada, but airports are open.
Star Clipper Offers
Star Clippers is currently booking through 2023 with a variety of promotions and great pricing. Through March 2022, your family can sail the beautiful Caribbean and get two free hotel nights with breakfast to use before or after your sailings from Barbados or St. Maarten along with a one-way airport transfer. Or take a $250 shipboard credit. Holiday sailings are included, but it’s not available on the lowest cabin categories. Choose itineraries that explore the beautiful Windward, Grenadine, Leeward, or Treasure Islands. For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has been sailing modern tall ships to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indonesia, and the Far East. The company operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying 170 guests, while the 227-guest Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, convivial tropical bars on deck, and piano lounges.
Lift and Shift with RCCL
Cruise lines have found creative ways to keep your current cruise plans plus entice your family to book future cruise without worry in these challenging times. One unique option comes from Royal Caribbean’s Cruise with Confidence program. It’s called Lift & Shift. Through August 1, if you wish to move your existing booking (must be an active booking) to next year, the cruise line will guarantee your original price and promotion when you select a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of your original cruise date same-time-next-year. Royal Caribbean is also allowing cancellations up to 48-hours prior to your sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit for sailings through April 2022 as well as a Best Price Guarantee. Up to two days prior to sailing (it used to be just up until final payment), they will ensure you have the best rate. You will receive the difference as an on board credit if your rate is lowered after final payment. And as usual, you can always cancel a cruise up until final payment with a full refund (except for non-refundable deposits which will be converted to a Future Cruise Credit).
Yacht Charters
Sailing charters are a unique, relaxing and intimate family vacation to explore destinations around the world. The Caribbean is ideal for this type of vacation. One of Lauren and Mindy’s favorite family trips was on a crewed sailboat charter through the British Virgin Islands. Each day we would set sail to a different island to experience, enjoy a variety of watersports, witness gorgeous sunsets and indulge in amazing food catered to our own set of tastes. Let us find your family a similar charter experience with The Moorings with a crewed yacht charter aboard your own private sail or power catamaran. Current promotions save you up to 20%. Your all-inclusive package comes complete with a professional captain and gourmet chef, all meals, drinks, watersports, internet and more. You can sleep up to 10 people or consider traveling with a flotilla of boats with extended family or friends! Their charters depart from The Bahamas, St. Martin, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Martinique or St. Lucia providing a wide array of itinerary options. The Moorings also arranges boat charters in Europe, Asia and Polynesia.
Galapagos Cruising
Small ship cruising is a perfect way for families to explore the world in a more intimate and relaxed setting. An ideal destination for this style of travel is the Galapagos which only allows ships with 110 passengers or less to sail around these treasured islands. We have booked our families on custom, private charters on up to luxury cruise ships on sailings that last 3-11 nights. The nature-based cruise itineraries take advantage of night hours to travel long distances between islands allowing your family to arrive refreshed and ready to explore. Since 95% of the land area is protected and very regulated in regards to tourism; certified naturalist guides will show you around and educate your family about why these islands are so unique and special. Different sites are known for their specific scenery, vegetation, and wildlife. However, many species, such as sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and a variety of coastal birds are commonly seen at most locations. Galapagos, which are actually part of Ecuador, is a terrific place to visit anytime of the year. Because of its location on the equator, the air and water temperatures remain relatively stable all year long. During peak seasons (mid-June through early September, and mid-December through mid-January), it is particularly important to make your travel arrangements well in advance. Check outhttp://www.galapagos.gob.ec/en/ for the official website of the Galapagos.
Alaska Cruise Adventures
Alaska is one of our most popular destinations for families, particularly in summer. Highlights of this largest U.S. state include its indigenous culture, wildlife and diverse landscapes. Most of our families explore via ship as an easy and relaxing way to view the Inside Passage and experience its interesting ports such as Juneau, Sitka, Skagway and Icy Straight. Ships comes in all sizes including chartering your own boat, small ship nature cruises that can access smaller inlets and larger cruise ships with all their recreational bells and whistles. A common benefit is that they all can have naturalists on board to help make the most of your Alaska experience. Each port also offers a wide variety of nature and cultural experiences with a plethora of outdoor adventures, wildlife viewing and Alaska Native interactions. While many cruises sail round-trip from cities such as Seattle, Vancouver and Juneau; others go in one direction allowing your family to add on some time in other parts of Alaska such as Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks where you can easily train from place to place in domed cars to witness the beautiful landscapes. We can assist in creating custom itineraries depending on your interests and budget. For more details and inspiration, check outhttps://www.travelalaska.com/GetInspired/Blog/March-2020.aspx.
