Iceland and Greenland with Explora Journeys – Sep 2023

Greenland had been on my travel list for a few years, and when the opportunity come up to visit in time for the Northern Lights – I just couldn’t say no… And WOW! The Aurora Borealis was simply stunning.

We decided to join Explora Journeys on her maiden Greenland Voyage in September. The sailing went from Reykjavik, Iceland all the way to New York City.

We were excited to cross all these firsts off our list: first time in Iceland, first time in Greenland, first time seeing the Northern Lights, first time on Explora Journeys, first time on a transatlantic sailing, seeing the Fall Foliage again… This itinerary just checked all the right boxes…

Iceland is a very pretty place to visit. We stayed at Centerhotel Plaza in Reykjavik the night before the cruise. The location is amazing, and you can take the airport bus shuttle (it’s like $20/pp) to the main drop off down the road. There are plenty of restaurants right around the hotel, as well as a really good second hand store that has tons of outdoor gear in case you forget anything at home. We enjoyed the city hop on-hop off bus, and did a whale watching tour.

We embarked the Explora I in Reykjavik, and were instantly wowed! The ship is stunning! She can hold an impressive 922 passengers, but we were at only 50% capacity for this sailing, so we felt as if we had the entire ship to ourselves… We stayed in a Premier Penthouse, which was HUGE! Ample space to spread out and enjoy yourself in for 3 weeks. The bathroom is quite large, which a big walk in rain shower that can easily accommodate two people at the same time. There was lots of storage space, a proper make up table with Dyson hairdryer, multiple flat screen TV’s, and the bedroom has separating doors from the living room for more privacy. The veranda is oversized, and furnished with 2 chairs, a full size table, and a double sized sun lounger. It was the perfect home at sea.

There are 9 dining venues on board (including complimentary room service with a delicious steak dinner), as well as 9 bar/lounge areas. Multiple venues for entertainment, a casino, and a beautiful spa and indoor pool. The gym has indoor and outdoor equipment, as well as a basketball and a pickle ball court. We fell in love with the exterior hot tubs and spend a lot of time in there to warm up after our hikes in port. The spa facilities are free to use, and you can rotate between the steam-room, sauna, salt room, and pool. Pick one day at least to get pampered in the spa. It’s worth it!

The food was to die for! My top food recommendations: Caviar Appetizer, Filet Mignon or Burger at Marble; Miso Soup, sushi and Lamb at Sakura; Any and all of the soufle’s at Fil Rouge; Octopus and beets at the Med Yacht Club; Caprese Sandwich and Madelines at Crema Cafe; order the Steak and Breakfast from room service; Crapes and Ice cream at Gelateria; and try everything at the Emporium Marketplace! Also make sure to treat yourself to dinner at Anthology once during your sailing.

The crew on board was phenomenal. They knew our names, drink preferences, and favorite snack foods within a day! We never had to wait in line or look for a seat, and somehow I always had a full glass with my favorite cocktail in hand… 🙂

There is a whole mini shopping mall on board, that offers high end jewelry like Rolex. An excellent way to spend your ship board credit on some incredible deals.

Iceland’s landscape is made up of rolling hills, covered in moss, with volcanic mountains in the background. We enjoyed good food, saw Icelandic Horses, visited stunning waterfalls, did some hiking and mountain biking, and explored lava fields. It’s a wonderful country to explore, and would be easy to do on a self-drive. They have great signage along the roads, and all major attractions have proper parking loots with a little gift shop and restrooms. There are so many great places to go hiking – we could have hiked for weeks… Our shore excursions took us all up and down the west coast of Iceland.

Greenland was very different. The landscape is so big, it’s almost incomprehensible. There are glaciers and icebergs everywhere, and the shore line is sparse. Every now and then you can spot a tiny village (maybe 100 people or so) along the coast. There are a few small towns along the way, which we visited. The locals were friendly, but very protective of their resources. We arrived towards the end of the season, and locals were in winter prep. They proudly showed us around town and took us on some stunning hikes, but they asked that we wouldn’t buy things in town to leave the limited resources they have to the locals. We anticipated this and brought fruit off the ship with us to gift to the little children. They were very excited about apples, but most didn’t know what an orange or a plum was. Hiking around Greenland felt surreal. The ground is so spongy that it makes you feel is if you’re walking on foam mats. We learned all about the local flora and fauna, some survival tips when in the country, and why houses are painted a certain color. We also learned about local beliefs and traditions, and the meaning of various carvings in rock, antler and wood.

Greenland is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights. It is so dark there! We saw the lights 4 times during our visit there, usually between 11PM-2AM. The captain was wonderful, and after we had staff call the bridge, he turned off all the lights aft on the ship so we could take in the Aurora Borealis in it’s full glory! We could even see it off our cabin’s veranda. It was amazing to stand under the dancing lights and see how they would pulsate, change patterns, and truly dance above us. It’s an indescribable feeling to witness such an event, and we were blessed to experience it multiple times.

We crossed into Nova Scotia where we enjoyed a lot of nice seafood, caught a glimpse of the Fall Foliage Colors, and made friends with the many dogs that seem to be part of all the stores staffing there. By the time we returned to New York, we were full of new impressions and experiences, and had definitely discovered our Ocean State of Mind. We cannot wait to get back on board for another adventure.

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A few things I learned:

There are self-serve washers and dryers on board Explora I, so you can pack light and rotate your wardrobe easily.

It gets wet in Iceland and Greenland. If you have them, bring waterproof pants and a warm waterproof parka.

Binoculars are a must have for wildlife sightings.

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Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Channel Island National Park with Lindblad Expeditions – Apr 2024

When we think of expedition travel, we usually picture far away places, that are hard to reach and completely off the beaten path… however, for many of us in the Southwest, adventure and expedition activities can be found just around the corner. For my birthday trip this year, I decided to look closer to home for a short active-adventure expedition. I was delighted to find a 5 day Channel Island sailing with Lindblad Expeditions, that fit the bill…

Lindblad’s National Geographic Quest holds a max of 100 passengers. She had her maiden voyage in 2017 and is a full on expedition vessel. Cabins run small, but they are comfortably laid out, with good closet and storage space and good size bathrooms.

The panorama lounge has a horseshoe set up with ample seating for all 100 guests, and is home to the main bar on board. The self-serve coffee machine, tea station and water station is also located here. Multiple screens make for easy viewing throughout the briefings and lectures. The bow and the aft-sundeck are great spots for whale watching and star gazing.

There is only one dining room, and one seating. Tables are set up from 4-10 tops for easy communal dining. Breakfast is served buffet style with an egg cooking station. Lunch and dinner are being served a la carte. All meals had a choice of soup or salad, an selection 3 entrees plus 1 additional vegetarian (vegan) option, and dessert.

We enjoyed the open bridge policy and learned how to identify wind speeds by the look of waves alone.

Each day began between 6AM-6:30AM with a morning stretch class, followed by breakfast and our morning excursion. After about 3 hours, we’d return to the ship for lunch, followed by our afternoon excursion, then recap and briefing, followed by happy hour and dinner. The evenings were filled with lectures. There was a good variety of excursions offered. Some were less active, like zodiac outings to look for wildlife and explore the islands shorelines, others were various activity levels of island hikes. For the hikes, there were 4 groups varying in difficulty and distance of the hikes. Some were as long as 7.5miles, while the shortest were comprised of leisurely beach walks. Kayaking was also an option on one of our mornings.

As we navigated between the islands, we spotted whales, sealions, brown pelicans, various types of seagulls, island foxes, shore crabs, pink abalone shells, starfish, Garibaldi fish and similar species. We hiked between 5-8miles a day and thoroughly enjoyed the National Geographic Guides lecture about critter cams. We learned a few new things about our phone’s camera and braced the nighttime cold for some star gazing. We ended our adventure on Catalina Island with some delicious ice cream on the beach.

It was a wonderful week, exploring the remote islands of the National Park. It felt as if we’d traveled half way around the globe, yet we were only an hour flight from home.

This is the perfect adventure for any traveler that wants to stay close to home, rediscover a childhood favorite, or wants to dip their toe into expedition travel for the first time.

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A few things to note on this itinerary:

-There are usually only 2 departures a year (in April)

-There are dry and wet landings, so pack water shoes or solid water sandals

-A few of the dry landings require you to climb ladders, or steep steps

-There is no platform for the zodiacs to attach too. Zodiacs are budding up to a staircase and staff will escort all travelers by hand into/out of each zodiac

-I recommend a waterproof backpack (dry bag) for the zodiac rides—————————————————————————————————————–

Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Patagonia March 2024

There I was, sitting on a million-year-old rock formation in front of Bernal Glacier, watching a small waterfall cascade from the top of the glacier into the ocean, as a wave of complete calm and serenity overcame me. The feeling is hard to describe. A mix of pure bliss, gratitude and the realization that I was in a place that very few people in the world have ever had, and will ever have the opportunity to visit – it brought me to tears. I sat there quietly for almost an hour, taking it all in, and reflecting on the adventure we’ve had experienced so far, and all the amazing experiences that were still to come.

Patagonia is a wild place. Many parts of the country are still unexplored and most of the countryside is uninhabited. The wildlife is abundant, curious, and very unafraid of humans. 50mph winds, and steady 3-minute weather changes from sunshine to hail, to rain and back to sunshine is just one way to describe a typical day in Patagonia. The vistas are endless, and sunrise and sunset are breathtaking, as the light reflects off the glacial mountain tops.

I started my journey in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We only had 24 hours there, so we decided to make the most of that limited time. We hired a private guide and driver to pick up at the airport after our early morning arrival. From there we went straight to the hotel to drop off our bags and check in with the front desk. We knew our room wouldn’t be ready, so instead of sitting around for hours, our guide whisked us away into old town to begin our city exploration. We had requested a mix of street art, history, cultural insights and foodie experiences for our day. Our guide did an amazing job of balancing our requests. We wandered the streets observing street art, sprinkled in a few historic and architectural marvels, stopped at the food hall for a proper local lunch with empanadas, and worked our way through the various neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Having the private car & driver was definitely worth every penny. We navigated effortlessly through the city, and maximized our time with the guide.

After we had a shower and a quick nap, we met our evening driver to take us to Faena Hotel for a private Tango Dance Class, followed by dinner and a tango show. Rojo Tango Show is currently referred to as the best in the city, and the evening was spectacular!

We started with a 1-hour private dance class. Just the two of us and our instructors. Within 60 minutes we went from having never tangoed before, to actually dancing an entire song without looking foolish… The instructors were fantastic! Dinner was served in the same venue, and since we had booked the dance class, we were assigned the VIP table for unobstructed views of the stage and proceedings. The show was vibrant and diverse – absolutely amazing!

The next morning, we met with our Quark Expedition cruise guides before sunrise to make our way to the airport for our charter flight to Ushuaia. The check in process at the airport was fast and easy since Quark chartered the entire plane just for us. The flight takes about 3 hours and was a welcome break for a late morning nap… Upon arrival to Ushuaia, we were greeted by a sea of yellow parkas which we would later learn were our Expedition guides and Naturalists on board. We were whisked away to the pier, and after a short hour of exploring Ushuaia, we were able to embark on Quark’s Ultramarine.

Zodiac ride in Kirke Pass, with Ultramarine in the background

The Ultramarine is a purpose build polar expedition vessel. She holds 199 guests, plus staff, and is state of the art. Cabins are well laid out and spacious, equipped with plenty of storage space, USB plugs, a flat screen TV, heated bathroom floors and much more…

The public areas on board are laid out to be inviting and encourage guests to mingle with their fellow travelers, and interact with the Expedition Team. No matter where you went on the ship, the Expedition team was always around, being very approachable and engaging. The Ultramarine has 2 dining venues, a more casual bistro setting with buffets and live cooking station during breakfast, lunch and dinner; and the formal dining room which offers a buffet setup for breakfast and lunch, and a la carte setup for dinner. The food was fantastic. A good mix of local produce, with American staples, lots of vegetarian and vegan options, and lots of variety in offerings. Wine pairings were excellent and we found a few new wines to rotate into our personal bar at home.

The Panorama Lounge and Theater are well appointed with plenty of seating options for all guests, bar service, and ample outdoor space for wildlife and nature viewing. The spa and gym are bright and inviting, offering unobstructed ocean views from the sauna and relaxation areas, as well as the various workout stations. The hot stone massage on board is wonderful and I highly recommend you get one on your next voyage.

The daily program was busy, and ever changing. The expedition leader would cover their intentions for the following day in our daily pre-dinner briefing, but as mentioned the weather in Patagonia is fickle… Quark’s team did an excellent job of pivoting with natures demands and kept us well informed of changes and opportunities for exploration. We enjoyed 2 excursions per day: usually one zodiac excursion and one hiking excursions. We used zodiacs to explore the far ends of various fjords and get up close to waterfalls, glaciers, and unexplored beaches. Along the way we encountered gray whales, fur seals, sealions, dolphins, penguins, krill, lots of kelp and we were able to observe many species of birds. We did forest hikes, mountain hikes, and beach walks. This allowed us to closely observe the flora and fauna, but we also spotted foxes, condors, crabs, and spend a lot of time birding.

A personal highlight was our Heli-flightseeing. We were fortunate enough to do this activity twice and explore the region from the skies. The flights are only 15minutes long, but being able to see the area from a different vantage point was incredible.

For those of us that needed more activity, Quark offers options for kayaking and paddle boarding. We kayaked through ice shard fields, discovered hidden waterfalls and did a quick hike along a glacier.

One of the main stops of our journey was Torres del Paine National Park. We spend the day there, taking a bus ride from Puerto Natales where we crossed paths with ostriches called Nandu, sheep, wild horses, deer, Llamas called Guanaco, puma and over 130 different bird species including flamingos. We did a few short hikes through the windy mountains (50-60mph winds are not easy to move around in), had a fire grilled lunch, and had time left to enjoy Puerto Natales’ evening life.

We ended our journey in Punta Arenas, and after ample celebration of our adventurous journey, it was time for the morning charter flight to Santiago. There were many hugs, laughs, exchanging of pictures and phone numbers, tears were shed, and we had a lively flight to Santiago where we parted with all our new friends.

In the spirit of expedition, we had arranged a private guide and driver for Santiago as well. Our flight was not departing until 10PM, so we had most of the day to explore. We followed a similar set up we had in Buenos Aires and made our way through the various neighborhoods of Santiago, stopping for empanadas and ice cream, and perused some of the arts & crafts markets. Our guide made sure our luggage got checked properly with the airline and hugged us goodbye at the TSA checkpoint.

Happy but exhausted, we boarded our flight to return home. It’s been 4 weeks, and I am still processing all the sights we took in. Whenever I think back, the feeling of calm and serenity I experienced at Bernal glacier that day washes over me and takes my breath away for just a second. For that, I will be forever thankful!

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A few things I learned and some insider tips:

-When booking a private guide in a big spread-out city, make sure you have a separate driver: it saves so much time and allows your guide to fully focus on you

-Bring your favorite card game (or other game) with you as an icebreaker to meet fellow travelers. We spend many evenings learning new games that way

-On a polar journey, don’t go cheap on your base layer flannels and your waterproofs. These waters are COLD, and you will be spending every day in your base layer. Waterproof pants are a daily must have for the zodiac rides.

-Bring a good pair of binoculars with you, as well as a waterproof camera, and waterproof backpack (or drybag). Take one of the small hand towels from the ship with you on all excursions. Your hands will get wet and binoculars will fog up and can get rained/snowed on. Handling your camera equipment – it’ll be nice to have a dry towel on hand.

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Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

One day in Buenos Aires

One our way to Patagonia, my friend and I had a full day to Explore Buenos Aires. With such a big city, and only a few hours, it was hard to narrow down what we wanted to do. I am really interested in street art and local food, while my friend is into history and culture. The only thing we knew, was that we wanted to take a Tango class!

I reached out to one of my preferred partners, Argentina Activa, and had the perfect trip proposal within 24hours!

Since we both arrived into Buenos Aires in the morning, we decided to have the guide meet us at the airport. Claudia was on time, with a big smile, and easy to find in the airport. She helped us carry our bags, and we walked curbside to meet our driver. We had a large SUV available for just the two of us. First stop was our hotel to drop off bags with the bellhop and to let them know we had made it to the city. From there, we started exploring the city.

Claudia combined a street art and foodie tour into one, and added components from a historical city tour as well. We alternated between exploring a neighborhood on foot, and driving other parts to avoid crowds. For the food tour portion we stopped at a local food hall to enjoy some of the best empenadas in the city, we got gelato, had a local microbrew, and some veggies to stay healthy…

We finished our tour close to the hotel around 4PM and opted to walk back. Our room was ready for check in and after a quick shower, we checked in with the cruise line desk for our charter flight in the morning.

Our second half of the day, was a private tango class, followed by dinner and a tango show. Argentina Activa had arranged a private driver to take us to Faena Hotel, to meet the Rojo Tango Show dancers. We were the only 2 people in the theater and had 1:1 instructors for our 1 hour long class. In that short amount of time we managed to learn enough to go from never having tangoed before, to being able to dance a full song! It was so much fun!

After the dance class, we stayed in the same venue to enjoy a delicious 3 course dinner, and A LOT of Argentinian wine… Since we were there for the class, we got the VIP table in the venue with prime views. As we were enjoying our desert, the tango show started. A live orchestra entered the room, and was soon followed by the performers. A mix of dancers and vocalists entertained us for about 2 hours. It was spectacular – and having just completed the dance class we had a much deeper appreciation of the performances. The show ended around midnight, our driver was waiting for us outside, and delivered us safely to our hotel.

It was an incredible experience and truly combined all our interests and much more. Argentina Activa was fantastic and having the convenience of the drivers was worth every penny.

To read on about our cruise, please visit: Quark Expedition’s Ultramarine – ship review

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Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Packing list for a Patagonia Expedition Cruise

I am lucky enough to be visiting Patagonia right now on board Quark Expeditions. Our days are filled with kayaking, hiking, zodiac cruising – lots of food, but also spa time and the occasional visit to the gym.

To help you better prepare for an adventure like this, please feel free to reference my personal packing list:

7x socks – wool socks

14x undies

2x bras

2x swim suits

2x neck gaiters, to cover face on zodiac

1x kayaking gloves

1x pj

1 x shorts- for gym

2x tank tops 

1x jeans

2x long leggings

3x short leggings under pants – thermal leggings are best

1x snow pants (water resistant)

1x waterproof pants (waterproof is not the same as water resistant! Get at least 15,000mm waterproof for these cold waters)

1x hat- wool beanie is great

2x gloves (soft and waterproof)

2x tshirt

5x long sleeve shirt – at least 1 should be thermal

3x sweater

1x hoodie jacket

1x scarf

1x flip flop/sneakers/hiking boots/slippers 

1x winter parka/rain jacket – we got issued a waterproof parka on board

Cold medicine, motion sickness meds, meds

Toiletries

Plane snacks

Computer

Chargers 

Binoculars

Glasses strap – for zodiac

Glasses and sunglasses

Travel Umbrella

Waterproof backpack – make sure it’s waterproof for these cold weather destinations. It snowed on us multiple times during zodiac rides and everything got very wet…

I hope you’ll find this helpful when packing for your next Patagonia or Expedition Cruise Adventure! 😁

Learn more about Quark Expedition, and the ship I was on for this adventure: Ultramarine

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Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com. ** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Expedition Cruising – why is it so popular…?

Expedition Cruising is one of the fastest growing segments in the market right now. In the past, this type of travel has only been appealing to a specific kind of traveler. You had to be willing to “rough” it, in terms of accommodations and food choices, but you were rewarded with experiences that few travelers had been privileged to.

The market is rapidly changing now! (Important Disclosures)

With more and more demand for off the beaten path experiences and with experienced travelers looking for the next big adventure. Cruise lines have quickly adapted to these requests. New purpose built ships are debuting over the next 3 years. The new Celebrity Flora for example has been purpose built for the Galapagos. Providing the first zodiacs that allow for ramp access, now even allowing walking impaired passengers to partake in the zodiac tours and enjoy all the region has to offer.

Silversea Cruises re-imagined one of their luxury cruise vessels to now be able to explore the arctic. A reinforced hull has turned this ship into an icebreaker that allows their clients to travel in the lap of luxury and the comfort they are accustomed to, while exploring off the beaten path.

Seabourn has introduced their new Ventures program, which offer more active and daring excursion; and even combines overland adventures throughout longer segment cruises.

The typical shore excursion is getting revamped to now include more zodiac rides, sea kayaking, submarine dive tours, helicopter tours, active hiking, mountain biking, glacier trekking, and so much more. Have you noticed how many new cruise ships are designed with helipads on board? Even the new SeaDream Innovation will have them!

River cruises in Europe have caught on to the trend. Clientele is more active and is getting younger and is asking for more active excursions that push them to the edge of their comfort zone. While the traditional city walking tours are still being offered, alternate excursions include kayaking, mountain biking, cooking classes, rock climbing, port to port hikes… and many lines partner with high active companies like AMAWaterways and Backroads. Thus allowing clients to enjoy the ease of a river cruise, combined with the high active day tours via bike or hike.

While the new toys are a great way to attract travelers that are new to expedition cruising, the more important things to pay attention to are the expedition leaders on board. A knowledgeable guide, that is able to take you to the edge of your seat, while making you feel safe is priceless – and they are in high demand. As more ships are being released and more departure dates are being announced, contracting the top guides around the globe will likely become more challenging. It is definitely something to pay attention to.

Un-Cruise, Lindblad, Zegrahm are among the many niche lines that have all embraced the expedition style travel for years. Their itineraries are becoming more and more popular with families, honeymooners and multi-gen groups. Friends and families traveling together love the flexible and active options. They can set themselves daily goals and celebrate when they all cross the finish line. While comfort and service levels are still important, the expedition traveler is more interested in the variety of activities offered. Learning a new skill, overcoming a personal fear and cheering each other on for the last mile of a challenging hike are bonding families closer together, teach children to overcome obstacles, and creates lasting friendships between travelers.  All this helps the expedition traveler to create memories they will cherish for years to come.

All of the offers out there, can already be overwhelming now. And with so many new options entering the market in the next three years, consumers will be flooded with options. As travel advisors, we need to do our part to properly educate our clients and to help them plan ahead.

Daniela is a Travel Consultant with Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. Contact Daniela for questions.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Daniela’s Costa Rica Survival Tips

Costa Rica is a beautiful and diverse country. Its a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers, but also home to some stunning scenery, amazing food and some of the friendliest people around (Important Disclosures).

When planning to visit Costa Rica, keep a few things in mind:

1. Time of year – Costa Rice is a diverse place and different region experience different weather. The prime time to visit Costa Rica is between November and March. You will still have some rain in the mountains, but you can count of sunny beach days! Prime time for visits are the Christmas and New Years Holidays. Weather is at it’s peak and you can partake in local celebrations. Do be prepared to pay peak rates over the holidays and remember to book EARLY! We recommend to book your Holiday travel 12 month prior for best availability and pricing.
2. Location – As I mentioned, the country is very diverse. We generally recommend to hop a few different regions during your visit to really get a good glimpse of all Costa Rica has to offer. While the Caribbean Side is beautiful, and is home to many different nature preserves, the beaches here are non-swim beaches. In September and October you can see the turtles hatch here though. The rainforest is always a bit wet, which really adds to it’s charm. Be prepared for humidity and mosquitoes, but this is where any adventure lover will flock to. Play your heart out from whitewater rafting, to zip lining, spelunking, hanging bridges, Tarzan swings, to hot springs and tubing. Arenal is where you want to be. The Pacuare region is a whitewater rafters paradise. many lodges are accessible only by raft or long hikes through the dense forest. Discover sloth, monkeys, bird and butterflies on your nature walks. The Pacific Side is home to Costa Rica’s most stunning beaches. Surfing, snorkeling, diving are all pretty amazing here.
3. Travel Time – Costa Rica has added many more non-stop flights from various region of the US. Most flights can get there within a few hours. A good amount of time to spend in Costa Rica are anywhere from 1-3 weeks; depending how much ground you want to cover. Many popular tourist regions are spread apart and transfers can take between 2-6 hours. Make sure to allow enough time to get you from Point A to Point B.

For itinerary ideas please visit my previous blog: Rain forest Adventure for the ages

A couple of helpful tips I learned on my last trip:

• Bring water shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and plenty of bug spray. Bring a rain jacket – you are in the rain forest!
• Bring a refillable water bottle to use at the beach or on excursions
• Bring a small backpack for camera, towels, sunscreen and water bottle (include a dry bag/zip lock bag for your camera)
• US dollars are accepted everywhere, but bring small bills: $1, $5, $10 or $20 only!
• Costa Rican’s are super friendly and excited to show you their country. If a guide or driver goes the extra mile, please tip them accordingly.
• Zip lining: wear long lightweight pants and t-shirt. Smile big! Pictures will be available for sale
• White water rafting: wear a bathing suit with cover up. Bring a change of clothes and a towel from the hotel (towels will NOT be provided on site). Pictures will be available for sale
• Don’t forget to have fun! #PuraVida!

Daniela is a Travel Consultant with Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. Contact Daniela for questions.

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

The leisure life on the high seas…

I just returned from the most luxurious ship ever built: Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

(Click here for Important Disclosures about the trip)
The ship is a brand new built which boasts 55,000 tons of pure luxury. Each piece of furniture, each carpet, lampshade, curtain and chandelier has been specifically designed for this ship. The flowers in each lounge have been chosen for its aesthetic presence and smell to fit the ambience. All art work on board has been handpicked and their display areas have been individually chosen. I actually saw crew members switch two pieces of art, as they had accidentally been hung in the wrong place.

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With 750 guests spread over 10 decks, this is the largest ship in the fleet. Walking around on board you would never know there are this many people on board. The public areas were never crowded, and I didn’t have to stand in line once for a tender, disembarkation or dinner seating.  There are 542 crew members on board, who’s only mission is to tend your every need. After day one, all crew members knew my name and made sure I felt at home every second of my day. Since regent Seven Seas is an all-inclusive product you never have to worry about your personal comfort or needs.

With Regent Seven Seas Cruises all shore excursions are included. Our groups were never more than 20 people to 1 guide, and the guides were phenomenal! In Sardinia, Italy for example we didn’t just learn that the island spans 270KM X 146KM in size and is divided into four provinces that accumulate a total of 27 sub-regions all with different languages; we also learned that it’s the 3^rd largest producer of cork (yes, the thing that keeps your wine bottled up) in the world and that it’s one of the top exporters of Granite. We learned about the Billionaire’s Nightclub, did an extensive wine tasting, visited the harbor and set foot into Nuraghe La Prisigiona, an archeological site built 14 centuries B.C. And we still had free time to shop our hearts out at some of the most amazing boutiques in the Mediterranean. I can highly recommend the Ice Cream Shop in Porto Cervo – their gelato is some of the best I’ve ever tasted!

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My stateroom, a Concierge Balcony Suite provided an entire 454Sq .Ft. to stretch out in. I had a walk in closet, a bedroom area, separate sitting area, a desk, a minibar hutch, a large balcony furnished with 2 chairs and 1 table as well as 1 incredibly comfortable lounge chair. My bathroom was beautifully laid out with double vanities, ample storage space, a bathtub and the most amazing rain shower ever! My favorite feature in the stateroom you ask? All drawers are easy-close draws. Simply tap them and they close themselves. It’s truly the little things in life that make a difference.

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Feeling peckish? Try any of the amazing 6 restaurants on board. Each features their own kitchen and cuisine, with the décor to match. Your options range from the buffet to Asian-Fusion, French Cuisine, Italian Cooking, a top notch Steakhouse or the main restaurant. All dietary needs and food allergies can be accommodated.

Sette Mari

Compass Rose

Pacific Rim

La Veranda

The Grill

Prime 7

Chatreuse

Feel more like lounging by the pool or getting spoiled silly in the spa? Not a problem at all. The salt water pool is accompanied by two hot tubs and the spa features a separate infinity pool for a more relaxed atmosphere. The pool bar is fully stocked and they make a mean strawberry daiquiri…

For those that can’t sit still for too long, there is a tennis court, an 18 hole putting course, a jogging track and a top of the line gym with stunning ocean views for your workout.

Don’t forget to stop by the casino, as the cruise manager would say: The casino is ready to pay out tonight – maybe…   😉

Your evening entertainment is taken care of as well. The Constellation Theater offers a different show every night. I absolutely loved the “Best of the 60’s” performance. Nobody was able to stay in their seats! All 3 lounges offer live music in the evenings, and after 10PM the DJ is ready for you. Make sure to pack your dancing shows! The dance floor will be packed, and the DJ will keep playing until the last dancing queen is ready to leave.

Trying to recoup from last night’s party, the library has a plethora of books available for your enjoyment, and the business center is there to help with your computer needs. Did I mention each cabin gets complimentary Wi-Fi? Of course there is nothing better to aid your relaxation than a visit to the Canyon Ranch Spa. Choose from a wide array of treatment options (at extra cost), get a manicure or simply relax in the sauna for a while. The choice is yours.

I can tell by now you are wondering what else is there to do on board. Clearly this can’t be it? And you are right! Any aspiring chefs amongst us? Arts Kitchen offers cooking classes (extra charge applies), themed by the port of the day. Some days you will have hands on classes on board only, other days you will get a shopping list and get to go ashore with the chef to pick ingredients at the market and then learn how to prepare them. What’s my favorite kitchen tip? Coat your salad bowl with dressing first before adding your salad, then stir to get a more even mix on your greens…

The draw back? I’ve been home for 3 days now and someone has yet to ask me what I would like to drink and if they can fetch me a snack… In all seriousness though, once you get on board this amazing ship, life as you know it will never be the same. Get ready to be spoiled beyond believe in some of the most unique destinations around the world. It would be my pleasure to make your arrangements and help get you there.

Daniela Harrison is a Travel Consultant for Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff AZ.
For questions, or to make reservations, she can be reached at:
 Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com or 928.556.0853

** Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation). **

Colombia

Last week my husband and I visited Colombia. (Click for Important Disclosures about author)

Our journey brought us to Cartagena. It’s located right on the ocean, the breeze feels great when you can enjoy it. As soon as you walk a few blocks into the heart of downtown, buildings become more crowded, traffic picks up and it gets a lot hotter.
We saw much street art, enjoyed the architecture the sounds an smells, and had a night out on the town.

There are many stray animals in Cartagena, and as obvious tourists we were approached by many people to buy their goods, or have them play music for us. We made a point of being polite but firm saying no.

The only person I bought jewelry from was a lady that was obviously a good person. She has little pre-packed bags of dog food in her purse and stopped many times to take care of the strays. I asked her why she was feeding the dogs.
She smiled and whistled, and a small dog ran up to us. She picked her up and presented her dog. She said, that a few years back, she was heading home after a long day of sales. Someone followed her and was trying to steal her money. This little stray dog came to her rescue, so she took it home and made it her pet. She said she is so thankful to her little dog, tat she wants to take care of all the stray dogs she can. She admitted she didn’t have much money, but that it was important to do the right thing. Needless to say we bought some of her goods and gave her money for dog food. I’m so glad we got to meet her!

After a long night of dancing in Cartagena, we decided to leave the city behind and explore one of the national parks. Tayrona National Park is about a 5 hour drive away. Instead of renting our own car, we found a shuttle service that took us from Cartagena to Santa Marta and there we met a cab driver to take us the rest of the way. We stayed at beautiful Villa Maria.

The first day we went tubing. A great little adventure.
It started by waiving down a local bus at the main road. Our instructions said to get off at the speed bump and meet William to get our tubes. Let me clarify this now by saying, we didn’t know if this was supposed to be the first speed bump or a specific speed bump later on. We had never met William and had no idea what he looked like.

When we finally found him, we walked down to the river and enjoyed an easy trip all the way to the ocean! It was stunning! We saw a type of flamingo, monkeys, donkeys, birds and iguanas.

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The next day we went into Tayrona National Park.
Now that we had mastered the local bus this seemed a lot easier.

We started with a 1 hour horseback ride to a hidden beach in the jungle. WOW!

We swam a lot, followed an iguana into a sea cave, enjoyed an amazing lunch and finally climbed back onto the horse and rode back. That was my favorite day in Colombia!

We enjoyed a leisure car ride back to Cartagena for our flight home.

I can highly recommend a trip to Colombia. But make sure to pack mosquito spray!  🙂

For more questions, please feel free to reach out: danielapharrison@gmail.com

**Please note that all photos are authors own, except where credited. As travel industry professional, I make a big investment in first hand experiences. I spend a lot of time to keep up with accreditation and stay up to date on current developments in the travel industry. This means attending conferences, seminars, site inspections fam trip and group trips. I have been able to have some of the experiences shown and described at a reduced cost or combed by the hotel, tour operator, cruise line or supplier. The feedback supplied is based on my personal experience, and based on my personal preferences, likes and dislikes. This first hand experience allows me to better serve you and match the experiences you are looking for. It also allows me to create travel tips for you, based on experiences I have and things I wish I knew before. Travel Supplier partners referenced in blog posts are part of Signature Travel Networks Preferred Portfolio or can be booked via a preferred supplier partner (at least at time of post creation).**

 

More travel apps 2016

 

Last month I brought you cool and new apps to consider for travel in 2016.

As we all know, technology changes at light speed and each week is filled we new and amazing apps to make our everyday lives easier.

I am delighted to bring you a few more apps to add to your must-have list:

 

ItsEasy Passport Renewal & Photo App – 2016 is the year of the highest number of passport renewals in 10 years. To help with this process, the app was designed to allow for easy renewal from home. The app is free, but the service has a nominal fee attached to it. Take your passport pictures at home via the app; download the correct government forms and more. Its government approved and will even send renewal reminders down the road.

 

Now that your passport is taken care of, let’s deal with the next big travel issue: Jetlag! There are many different apps to help you defeat jet lag, like Jet Lag Rooster, JetLag Genie, Jetlag Acupoints to name a few. I recently tried Entrain and really liked it. The app lets you add your travel schedule and designs a light/dark schedule for you to follow prior to traveling to ease you into the new time zone. Now who’s ready for their next adventure abroad?

 

Travel Safe is an app every traveler should have on their phones. The app has pertinent emergency contact information (like police, fire, and medical) preloaded for all countries around the world. So while traveling you don’t have to worry about what number to call abroad if 911 doesn’t answer… For a minimal fee it will also allow access to local embassy information and contacts.

 

Wi-Fi is a must have while traveling now. We need to be able to check work emails, load our google maps app, review restaurant reviews and of course stay connected with our friends via social media. But getting that Wi-Fi connection, while traveling, can be very expensive. Wiffinity comes to the rescue! The app was designed to pinpoint local Wi-Fi hot spots near you and keep you connected on the go.

 

Traveling alone, or splitting up for a day of explorations while traveling? Your teenagers are leaving for their first vacation alone? No problem. Companion is an app designed to track your movements and lets you share it with loved ones. There’s a build in emergency feature which connects to the local police if need be. A great tool to use for anyone traveling alone, or feeling uneasy exploring a new city by themselves

 

GasBuddy is a must have add for those summer road trips ahead. The app doesn’t only track gas stations near you, it also lists current pricing to help you find the best place to refuel along the way. The app is designed for the US only and is pretty accurate and up to date.

 

Headed to the beach? Sunscreen is here to help you reach that nice beach tan without turning into a lobster. The app will track UV intensity in your destination and will remind you when it’s time to slather on that next coat of sunscreen. It also recommends the type of sunscreen you should use for best coverage.

 

One more app that’s great to have is the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection app. It lets you buy policies, check on claim status, and get claims payments in seconds through BHTP Burst. It’s available on the App Store and via Google Play.

 

Have fun exploring all these amazing app features and see how they can make your life easier!

Wishing you happy travels, wherever life takes you this year!

 

Daniela has been a Travel Consultant since June 2010. She works for Avenues of the World Travel, Flagstaff AZ 86004. For more information please contact Daniela at 800.230.3322 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com. For travel inspiration please visit: www.avenuesoftheworld.com