https://pamperedcruiser.com/contact/

The Pampered Cruiser, 750 East Main Street, Stamford, CT (2026)

05/29/2026

When can I have the duck and watermelon salad at Red Ginger again? Is the French Onion soup better at Toscana or at Jacques? The fresh-baked almond croissant or the pain au chocolate with my espresso? These are the questions that plague me when I travel with OCEANIA.

We’re running a private sale with OCEANIA this month, so here’s a bit more info about them:

ABOUT OCEANIA
- Oceania currently has 8 ships operating, with a few more coming soon.
- There are 4 SMALL ships carrying around 1200 (Allura, Marina, Riviera, Vista).
- They have 4 SMALLER ships carrying 680 (Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena).
- Oceania clients tend to gravitate towards one series of ships over the other based on their personal preferences.
- There are lots of changes coming to their future fleet! Stay tuned for more details.

HOW OCEANIA DIFFERENTIATES:
- CULINARY: Oceania has long differentiated on an elevated food and wine experience.
- MARKET POSITION: between the premium cruise lines and the luxury lines.
- INCLUSIONS: Specialty Dining, Gratuities, WIFI, and your choice of beverage package or shore excursion credit.
- ADULTS ONLY: Only those over 18 are welcomed aboard.
- OVERNIGHT STAYS and DESTINATION IMMERSION: They stay longer in port.

WHO TRAVELS with OCEANIA
- FOODIES: Those that appreciate lots of choice of high-end dining experiences.
- CASUAL: Luxury touches without the pretense or formal nights.
- PREMIUM CRUISERS that take a mini-suite or higher on Celebrity, - Holland America or Princess, but are looking for a smaller ship experience.
- Those not wanting the amusement park attractions of the mega ships.

WHERE OCEANIA GOES
- 6 CONTINENTS. They are strong in Europe and North America, but they go everywhere.
- WORLD CRUISES: ranging between 127 and 244 days.

THE BOTTOM LINE
- OCEANIA has developed a loyal following amongst travellers who value a strong culinary experience, and are looking for something higher end than is available on the mega-ships.
- PRIVATE SALE: For the month of June, we can get you the BOOK on BOARD price that offers 5% off almost all their itineraries. World Cruises are excluded.

PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of Dream Travel Share UNPACKED, we break down one of the most misunderstood cruise lines in the industry: Oceania Cruises. Also hear about Kim & Bob’s personal experiences while they’ve been on board Oceania ships.
https://youtu.be/6j6K11ZfC98

In Case You Missed It:
WE TRAVEL. Find out why this important to our clients, and where our team is going this year:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/we-dont-just-sell-travel-we-live-it/

TRAVEL INSURANCE: You SHOULD have it, and you’ll get the best advice from an insurance professional. Here are the questions you should ask:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-advice-about-travel-insurance-2/

AMERICA’S COASTLINES: Don’t overlook these destinations close to home:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/us-coastal-cruises-the-best-cruises-youre-not-thinking-about/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
OCEANIA Playlist
We’ve got lots of videos on our YouTube about our experiences with OCEANIA. You’ll find:
Ship tour videos of REGATTA, RIVIERA and VISTA
Itinerary videos of GREECE/TURKEY and NORWAY
Oceania’s culinary program video

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVGQsl6hgtmLc2mb3UcfIPAT

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-cruises-explained-the-unicorn-cruise-line-for-food-lovers/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

05/22/2026

Between sensationalized TV news reports, and State Department advisories designed to minimize government liability, it would be easy to never leave home again. So what do you do?

You shouldn’t ignore these sources, but you shouldn’t treat them as the gospel, either. BOTH are motivated by other interests, and if you identify that bias, it helps you frame the information so that it might be useful. TV news is designed to sell advertising -- not to provide impartial, contextualized information. Government advisories are designed to limit the government’s liability if you DO run into trouble when abroad.

ALSO – if you’re looking to dial your risk to zero, you need to bubble wrap yourself, and never leave your home, and hope it doesn’t catch fire.

THE PROBLEM: IDENTIFYING THE SITUATION:
- TV “News”: The bias is towards sensationalism, and they ONLY report exceptions. They don’t generally offer much context for their headlines.
- STATE DEPARTMENT Advisories: The bias towards protecting themselves from risk of litigation if they fail to disclose any and all hazards abroad. It’s extremely cautious.
- GEOGRAPHY. Know where you’re going, and its proximity to war zones. Amsterdam is a long way from Tehran.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Seek out information from people that are on the ground in your destination. Ideally those people are other travellers with a similar risk tolerance to you.
- If a cruise line is running a trip, they have already made a risk assessment. They are very risk averse, and don’t want to put clients in harm’s way. For example, we’ve recently seen cruise lines divert AWAY from Dubai due to the conflict in Iran.
- Know your cancellation terms. Your decisions may be contingent on your penalties.
- INSURANCE: Fear of travel is not an insurable reason to cancel a trip, so if you’re within the penalty period, there’s not much you can do. If you have a Cancel For Any Reason Clause in your insurance, you’ll get a future travel credit. You won’t lose anything, but you won’t be getting a refund either.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
- You’ll never dial the risk to zero, so figure out your risk tolerance, so you can be comfortable when travelling abroad.
- An important signal is whether the cruise lines and tour operators are still doing trips in the area. They have a strong incentive to keep their clients out of harm’s way.
- Assess the information you’re getting from the media and government. It’s much more nuanced than the headlines indicate.
= Travel advisories and media reports are pieces of a much larger puzzle. You need context, nuance and perspective to make sense of them.

The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of the UNPACKED PODCAST, Kim & Bob tackle one of the biggest questions we get from clients: “IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL?”
https://youtu.be/e9sY9OGTpcQ

In Case You Missed It:
AVOIDING TRAVEL DISASTERS: Stuff happens when you’re on the road. How do you minimize the chances of such things ruining your trip?
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-disasters-and-how-to-avoid-them/

CRYSTAL CRUISES: Crystal has the most loyal cruise clients in the industry. Here’s why:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/crystal-whats-new-whats-cherished/

VISITING the UK & IRELAND: This is a favorite destination amongst our clients, and you can visit by ship, or by Premium Land Package Journey.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/uk-ireland-destination-spotlight/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

CRYSTAL SERENITY SHIP TOUR: Bob takes a walk around Crystal Serenity, and points out why it’s a client favorite.
https://youtu.be/QPyVijoO8Nk

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-safety-exposed-tv-news-vs-reality/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

05/15/2026

For several years, Bob was the only NON-Brit working for British Energy in Philadelphia. He recounts stories of his British colleagues asking him for local travel advice, as they explored North America. They were on two-year assignments and by the end of their tour had seen more of North America than Bob had. So today, we’ll chat about exploring our own back yard.

We’ve talked before about the Caribbean cruises, and Alaskan Cruises, so today is about the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and why they’re overlooked as vacation destinations.

WHY THE PACIFIC AND THE ATLANTIC COASTS SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR
- The logistics are easy. If you have to fly at all, it will be relatively short.
- There’s lots to DO and SEE. It’s different than going abroad, but not boring.
- Check out a new ship or brand. If you’re unsure if a product is right for you, check it out on a shorter cruise closer to home.

THE ATLANTIC COAST
- History: Our history in North America may be shorter than elsewhere, but the area in and around the St. Lawrence Seaway has much of it.
- French not English? You know Canada is part French, but if you want to know why the rest of North America isn’t, go to the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.
- Fall Colors. The Northeast and St. Lawrence Seaway region attracts visitors from all over the world to witness this annual natural spectacle.
- Canada/New England Cruises. Usually Montreal or Quebec City to Boston or NYC.
- Southeast Cruises. There are increasing numbers of itineraries that include the Carolinas, North Florida, and the Inland Waterway.
Bermuda. If you want to truly relax, without much distraction, these cruises are great.

THE PACIFIC COAST
- Scenery: The Pacific Northwest is different than the Northeast, but every bit as scenic.
- Wine Cruises: Besides California, there’s lots of wine to be found in Oregon, Washington, and even British Columbia.
- Hawaii: You have to like sea-days (these cruises are at least 15-days), and go round-trip from either California or Vancouver.
- Mexican Riviera: Retrace the Love Boat’s routing between Southern California and the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

WHO WILL LIKE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC COASTAL CRUISES?
- Those wanting a QUICK GETAWAY, or those that prefer NOT to fly across an ocean.
- Those that appreciate spectacular SCENERY.
- Those wanting to try a ship or cruise line that are new to them.

If you’re looking to vacation close to home, but not be focused on umbrella drinks and beaches, then take a look at Coastal Cruises.

The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode, we break down U.S. coastal cruises — one of the most overlooked (and surprisingly great) ways to travel. From Canada & New England to the California Coast, Bermuda, Hawaii, and beyond, we walk through what these itineraries are really like, who they’re best for, and when to go.
https://youtu.be/6QNDqahDzj4

In Case You Missed It:
EXPLORA JOURNEYS was launched three years ago, and has brought a new concept to luxury small ship cruising. Here’s a bit more info:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/explora-journeys-explained-is-this-the-new-standard-in-luxury-cruising/

5-YEAR TRAVEL PLAN: You need to migrate things from your BUCKET List to your NEXT List. Here’s how:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/off-the-bucket-list-and-on-the-next-list/

MISINFORMATION in TRAVEL: Algorithms DON’T travel, but they sure like to influence how and where YOU travel. Here’s some ideas on how to use AI effectively when planning travel:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-planning-in-the-age-of-ai-how-to-separate-facts-from-internet-noise/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

Join Bob for a walk around EXPLORA I, and see why it’s different than other cruise ships.
https://youtu.be/LHjAS0JKCQ0

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/us-coastal-cruises-the-best-cruises-youre-not-thinking-about/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

05/08/2026

You have told us one of the reasons you book your travel with us, is because we’ve been to the destinations, and we’ve experienced the products that you want. So today, I thought I’d offer a window as to where our team members are travelling this year, and how that benefits you.

FIRST: An instructional story from the road: Bob and I were in Rome a while ago, and decided to take the train out to the cruise ship port. Knowing Europeans are generally better at public transit than we are, it seemed like a good idea that quickly became a bad idea. First, Rail Italia was threatening to go on strike (a frequent occurrence in Italy). Then, just 10 minutes before departure at Rome’s Termini Train station, the track had still not been announced.

What I learned from this (for our clients) is that for €120, a car service is probably a better way to get to the port – particularly if you’re carrying a lot of luggage. So learn from our errors!

I have no doubt, there will be more lessons learned this year, as we and our other team members make journeys to these places:

- ROCKY MOUNTAINEER in the Canadian Rockies. The journey between Vancouver and Calgary on this luxury train, is one of the world’s most scenic outings.
- GOLF CRUISE with AMA Waterways on the Danube River on AMA Magna. Magna’s not like any other river boat, and you’ve been asking about this golf itinerary.
- COSTA RICA for a Premium Guided Land Journey. Rainforest walks, wildlife, beaches, coffee plantations, volcanoes… it’s all here, and not too far from home.
- CANYON SPIRIT Luxury Rail Experience through Colorado and Utah is a great way to experience several of our National Parks through some incredible scenery.
- CARIBBEAN CRUISE with Celebrity. This isn’t a common itinerary amongst our clients, but it’s still great to have some first-hand knowledge of this close-to-home option.
- COLOMBIA with AMA Waterways with pre-cruise in Medellin and post-cruise in Panama City. AMA’s the first river cruise company on the Magdelena. Stay tuned for our report!
- NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM with TAUCK: Historic cities, gardens, and lots of canals! It’s also a chance for us to re-experience Tauck – one of clients’ favorites.

Here’s few more trips that aren’t scheduled yet, but are near the top of our list:
- GREENLAND & CANADA’S ARCTIC. It’s a scenery and wildlife safari at sea.
- EASTERN CARIBBEAN with SEA CLOUD on their sailing yacht. We talk about Sea Cloud as a salt-water river cruise. What a great way to experience the Caribbean!

We think in an age where algorithms and TV news only feed you information that aligns with your world view, that it’s important for us to get out there so we can speak firsthand to your travel destination or cruise line. ALGORITHMS DON’T TRAVEL and it’s shockingly rare amongst travel agents and call center employees at the big travel brands to actually travel. Sure… they read the brochures, and attend the webinars, but that’s a lot different than being there.

We haven’t been everywhere, but whenever possible, we’d prefer to answer your questions from EXPERIENCE, not just from a brochure.

The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim & Bob pull back the curtain on something most travelers never think about — how much firsthand experience actually matters when planning a trip.
https://youtu.be/MNXwnClrtYE

In Case You Missed It:
GREAT LAKES: People come from all over the world to experience our GREAT LAKES and surrounding areas. It might be time for us to check out our own backyard.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/great-lakes/

OCEANIA occupies a unique space in the market between the Premium Cruise Lines and the Luxury Lines. They also have a really strong focus on the culinary experience:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-private-sale-in-june/

TELECOM ABROAD: E-Sims offer better performance, and cost a fraction of paying the roaming charges that most wireless carriers charge, but do you really need one?
https://pamperedcruiser.com/telecom-abroad-e-sims/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
VIKING deploys its Antarctic expedition ships to the GREAT LAKES from May through September. This provides you a comfortable and familiar way to explore the region OR to check out what an expedition ship is all about:
https://youtu.be/uDeGzBDb0mM

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/we-dont-just-sell-travel-we-live-it/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

05/01/2026

If you like the idea of a luxury cruise, but you’re worried about being Gilligan on a ship full of Mr. & Mrs. Howells, then look at EXPLORA JOURNEYS. There are no caviar luncheons served by butlers with white gloves… just understated European Luxury service with fantastic culinary.

WHO is EXPLORA JOURNEYS?
- They have 6 near-identical ships, with two currently operating, with a third vessel joining the fleet in July, two more ships in 2027, and their sixth vessel arriving in 2028.
- You’ve probably heard they are the luxury division of MSC, but don’t worry… Explora Journeys is a completely different onboard experience than MSC.
- European Luxury Lifestyle brand: slower pacing, spacious design. More private yacht.

WHERE DOES EXPLORA JOURNEYS GO?
- Explora Journeys has a strong presence in the MEDITERRANEAN
- 2026: They also have itineraries in NORTHERN EUROPE, the CARIBBEAN, and CANADA & NEW ENGLAND
- 2027: All of the above, AND will add SOUTH AMERICA, ALASKA, JAPAN & EAST ASIA.
- EXOTICS: Explora Journeys also has some itineraries in the Indian Ocean if you want to explore East Africa, Dubai, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea.

HOW DO EXPLORA JOURNEYS DIFFERENTIATE?
- SPACIOUS SUITES – The entry-level stateroom on Explora ships is a 377 square foot suite with a king-sized bed, walk-in closet, heated bathroom floors and a veranda (or “Sun Terrace” as they call them) with a daybed for soaking up the sun.
- CULINARY – there isn’t a main dining room where everyone shows up at an appointed time. Instead, much like a land resort, there are a variety of choices (9 of them!) where you can make a reservation ahead of time OR come as a “walk up”. Frank Garanger, the Head of Culinary, was formerly with Oceania (well known for their amazing food).
- ENTERTAINMENT – Explora does not have a big main theatre that cranks out the Vegas-style production shows. Instead, there are a variety of smaller venues (10 of them!) with different styles and types of entertainment, that are intended for you to drop in at your whim. No more setting your watch to make the show.
- INCLUSIONS – Your fare includes an open bar (including an in-suite mini-bar), all specialty dining, gratuities, taxes/fees, and high-speed internet… it really includes everything other than shore excursions (Explora calls these “Destination Experiences”).
- NO CROWDS: There are 922 guests on a 64,000 ton vessel. This gives you about 5% more space per guest than Seabourn, 24% more space than Oceania, and 34% more space per guest than on Viking Ocean.

WHO TRAVELS with EXPLORA JOURNEYS
- FOODIES: If great food and wine is your thing, EXPLORA
- JOURNEYS is a good choice.
- CASUAL LUXURY: If you prefer to leave the tuxedos and ball gowns at home.
- LAND TRAVELERS: Non-cruisers -- especially those that like waterfront luxury hotels.
- NEWEST SHIPS: If you like the latest hardware, with service and amenities to match.
- FAMILIES: We don’t see a lot of children on Explora, but they do have facilities for them, unlike the other luxury brands.

Explora Journeys is elegant without being stuffy, and luxury without being loud, for those looking for a calm, immersive destination experience.

UNPACKED: The PODCAST
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim & Bob take a closer look at Explora Journeys, and break down what makes them different — and who it’s really for. Having both experienced the product firsthand, they walk through what stood out to each of them, and how it fits into the broader world of luxury cruise travel.
https://youtu.be/XWBqAUctJ90

In Case You Missed It:
HOW TRAVEL HAS CHANGED SINCE THE PANDEMIC. You remember the dark times… the world is a lot different now, and it has changed how we travel.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-the-pandemic-changed-travel-forever/

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND. It’s in our own backyard, and there are different ways to see this corner of the world.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/canada-new-england/

TIPS on TIPPING: Tipping expectations and culture vary widely across the world, and it’s important to know how to handle this when you’re abroad.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/tips-on-tipping/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
EXPLORA JOURNEYS
We have a few videos from our experience with this brand. Here’s a link to our EXPLORA JOURNEYS Playlist.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVFSKHYuI7u89DR2aCV7JiY4&si=lLy240PO_Mb57swC

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/explora-journeys-explained-is-this-the-new-standard-in-luxury-cruising/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

04/24/2026

The Earth is a Sphere – although a sizeable number of people believe it is a plane, and all this round-earth talk is a massive conspiracy theory. Why does this matter? If the flat-earth gang works on its on-line presence, it will be presented as something other than a fringe fantasy.

It’s also a great example of misinformation as it relates to travel.

When you combine fantastic fabrications like flat-earth, with algorithms that work hard NOT to challenge your world-view, and a human population with an ever-decreasing attention span, it is the perfect storm for misinformation to thrive.

We regularly field phone calls from people who have spent hours researching a trip on-line, only to be frustrated, and more confused than when they started. Conflicting reviews. Outdated articles, and “worst-ever” assessments from people with no other experience.

RAISING AWARENESS of TRAVEL MISINFORMATION
- ALGORITHMS DON’T TRAVEL: They DO scrape information from popular websites, blogs, and forums, and can repeat what those sources say. They CAN’T offer judgment like someone that has been there, or travelled on the product you’re considering.
- AI IS GOING TO ACCELERATE MISINFORMATION: We love the potential of Artificial Intelligence, and plan to use it for selected processes, but there are cautions for all of us.
- INFORMATION OVERLOAD: The internet has made information more democratic, and ubiquitous. This is an advantage, but the disadvantage is TOO MUCH information.

WHAT YOU CAN DO to MITIGATE TRAVEL MISINFORMATION
- USE REVIEW SITES WITH EXTREME CAUTION: I use Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic, but do so understanding that 90% of the reviews are useless. You need to look for those very few nuanced and thoughtful comments. It’s like panning for gold.
- DO use web-search, AI, and product reviews to help with your trip research, BUT:
- BE AWARE OF THE RISKS. Ask AI where it’s getting its information and the date of it.
- DISREGARD BINARY REVIEWS: “Best-ever” and “Worst-ever” are not thoughtful or helpful. They are also the majority of the reviews offered. Look instead, for patterns.
- SEPARATE FACT FROM OPINION: This is more difficult than it seems at first. The line is fuzzy, and in forums like television news, there is NO line anymore. One person’s “best-ever” is another person’s “worst-ever”, and you need to decide for yourself.
- DON’T consider the information you gather to be the gospel. You’ll need to be critical of the information provided, and make sure it’s relevant to you.
VIRAL ADVICE ISN’T ALWAYS GOOD ADVICE: Just because the majority think a product or destination is fantastic, isn’t a guarantee that you’ll like it.
Your goal should NOT be to follow the loudest voices online, but rather to use those opinions to critically evaluate what the right choice for YOU will be.

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED Podcast
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim & Bob talk about the growing challenge of TRAVEL MISINFORMATION, and how travellers can make sense of the flood of advice coming from the internet.
https://youtu.be/TChYA-6uJNc

In Case You Missed It:
GOLF VACATIONS: If you’re a golf enthusiast, but your travel partner is NOT, then Cruise & Golf packages can be a great solution
https://pamperedcruiser.com/golf-vacations-why-cruises-make-the-perfect-golf-trip/

HOW BOB GOT HOOKED ON TRAVEL: Here’s a little slice of Bob’s backstory, and how he got the travel-bug as a young guy visiting the South Pacific in his GAP YEAR.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-travel-changed-me/

AMA PRIVATE SALE: You’ve got until the end of the month if you want to take advantage of our promotion with AMA WATERWAYS.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/ama-waterways-river-cruising-done-right/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
A key part of YOUR story on ANY river cruise in Europe is going through the LOCKS, and getting under the BRIDGES:
https://youtu.be/AgGNSU-7Qu8?si=BChxon3ZqDf5MkTK

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-planning-in-the-age-of-ai-how-to-separate-facts-from-internet-noise/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

04/17/2026

You remember the Dark Times. Businesses closed, kids not in school, and NO TRAVEL. I’m more than happy to have the pandemic well behind us all – it brought out the absolute best, and the absolute worst of humanity. In both cases, we learned a lot. Today I thought I’d talk about how the travel business has changed since emerging from the Dark Times.

BEING IN THE TRAVEL BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC
- I’m not suggesting our experience was any better or worse than anyone else’s, but there were a few things unique to travel advisors
- We didn’t get paid for 15 months. We only earn money when people actually travel.
- We rebooked some people 4 or 5 times. Nobody knew when travel would resume, and so we rebooked some people several times. Unfortunately, we only get paid once.
- Cancellations: There were LOTS, and when someone cancels, we don’t get paid.
- OUR STAFF: We had no ability to pay people, so it was just Bob and me trying to keep up with cancellations and rebookings. It was our BUSIEST time in this business.
- OUR VENDORS: For the most part, the cruise lines treated us very well. AMA Waterways and the Royal Caribbean Group of companies were most supportive.
- OUR CLIENTS: Overwhelmingly our clients were very kind to us during the shut down. This was humanity at its best. It seems that a crisis brings out people’s true nature, and in a very few cases, we realized we were mismatched with clients, and parted ways.

EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC
- Travel didn’t really trickle back slowly… “Revenge Travel” was a real phenomenon.
- Sitting it out for over a year, heightened people’s appreciation of experiences, and sharpened their awareness that time is short.
- Bucket Lists were now longer, and there was a much stronger desire to move things from the “Bucket List” to the “Next List”.

What has Changed Since the Pandemic?
- Domestic Travel: It was first to recover, so we now book more US & Canada trips.
- Longer Trips: Our clients’ trip duration has doubled since the “BEFORE Times”
- More Frequent Travel: People are travelling more often. In some cases, 3 times a year.
- Revenge Travel: In 2019, 30 million people took cruises. In 2025, it was over 37 million.
- Pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone: Places like Antarctica, the Galapagos, the Canadian Arctic, and Africa became in demand destinations.
- Overtourism is discussed in more measured terms, because we learned during the pandemic that UNDER-Tourism is NOT the solution.
- Planning Matters: Demand is high. Ships and hotels fill quickly, so the best experiences often need to be secured earlier than previously.

To all the longer term clients that stuck with us through the dark times – THANK YOU. We’re so pleased to be part of your travel experiences now. After having survived the travel apocalypse, we’re more convinced than ever that those experiences are worth prioritizing.

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED Podcast
The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone connected to TRAVEL, but it also reminded us how meaningful travel really is. Join Kim & Bob for a chat about HOW TRAVEL HAS CHANGED emerging from the pandemic, and a little window inside what travel advisors did during that time: https://youtu.be/mVJEadbw0vw

In Case You Missed It:
TRAVEL HEALTHY – If you’ve ever lost a few days of precious vacation time due to some minor sickness, here’s some thoughts on how to avoid it again.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-smart-travelers-stay-healthy-on-vacation/

ALASKA is much larger, and much further away than most people realize. If you board your ship in Vancouver, you’re actually closer to Mexico than you are to Anchorage. If you’re going all that way, make sure you do it right: https://pamperedcruiser.com/ultimate-alaska/

REGENT SEVEN SEAS is the MOST inclusive of the small ship luxury cruise lines. Here’s a bit more information about this vendor: https://pamperedcruiser.com/regent-seven-seas/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
NORWAY’S FJORDS – Kim and her husband travelled from Oslo to London last summer, and here’s her debrief of that trip, if you’re considering something similar:
https://youtu.be/JJ_Ga4jlmB0

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-the-pandemic-changed-travel-forever/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

04/10/2026

About once a month, you get a destination feature from us, but this month, we’ll talk about a SERIES of destinations that revolve around GOLF. Travel and Golf have always gone hand in hand, but GOLF CRUISES and HOSTED GOLF JOURNEYS are quickly becoming one of the smartest ways to experience bucket list courses around the world.

WHY Cruise & Golf?
- Unpack once and experience golf on different courses, and maybe different countries.
- Efficiency: The ship moves at night, so you’re not losing vacation days in transit.
- Inclusions: you’re not constantly pulling out your wallet to pay for things.
- Kindred Spirits: You’ll be cruising with other golfers on board.
- Non-Golfers are taken care of by the regular cruise programming.
- All the details are taken care of. You need not worry about transfers and logistics.
- Guaranteed tee times. Some courses can be extremely difficult to access independently.

WHERE Can You GOLF and Cruise?
- Danube River (Bavaria, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary) with AMA Waterways.
- Japan with Azamara Cruises.
- Seine River (Paris to Normandy) with AMA Waterways
- Scotland & Ireland with Azamara, or on a Land Package.
- Spain & Portugal with Azamara
- Norway with Azamara
- Thailand with Azamara, OR on a Land Package
- Caribbean Islands with Azamara or on a Land Package.
Australia & New Zealand with Azamara or on a Land Package

WHO Goes on these trips?
- Couples: even when only ONE of them is a GOLF enthusiast.
- Girlfriends or Buddy getaways
- Cruisers who have been to destinations before, but want to do something active ashore.
- Golf Enthusiasts already have trips like this on their radar!

WHY NOT Do-It-Yourself?
- Unforeseen Costs: The transfers and logistics of golfing will add up.
- Trouble securing a tee time. Some courses can be really difficult to get on.
- Logistics: Club handling, ground transportation, and language barriers make having someone with local knowledge incredibly valuable. You’re on vacation!

Golf vacations are about more than just the scorecard. It’s about stories, magnificent golf course landscapes, and shared experiences with like-minded people. Your best golf rounds aren’t necessarily the ones with the lowest scores, but rather those rounds you’ll still be talking about long after the trip is over.

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED Podcast
Check out our UNPACKED PODCAST where Kim & Bob chat about the world of GOLF CRUISES and PREMIUM LAND GOLF VACATIONS, and why more travelers are discovering that structured GOLF TRIPS can be the smartest way to experience BUCKET LIST COURSES:
https://youtu.be/kk2xFfQlEVw

In Case You Missed It:
AMA WATERWAYS has a ton of Golf Cruises on the Danube River (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary), and in France. We’re also having a private sale with them this month. Here’s more info: https://pamperedcruiser.com/ama-waterways-river-cruising-done-right/

TRAVEL HACKS: Here’s a little window into our world when we travel: how we pay for things, the APPs we rely on, how we keep in touch with home, and dealing with the metric system:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-hacks-you-can-use/

The PAMPERED CRUISER TEAM: We do it a bit differently than other travel agencies. Each one of us will touch your reservation at some point. Here’s a look behind the curtain at the people BEHIND the emails and phone calls:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-team-the-first-people-you-meet-on-vacation/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:
BEYOND THE GREEN JOURNEYS: If you’re a GOLFER, you’ll want to subscribe to this new channel that will highlight GOLF VACATIONS, as well as CRUISE & GOLF Experiences:
https://youtu.be/1EDHqLhK-M0?si=hqJbbhK-3GH7M1jy

[CLICK for the full article]
https://pamperedcruiser.com/golf-vacations-why-cruises-make-the-perfect-golf-trip/
P.S. Give us a call at 800-876-0168 to book your next trip.

The Pampered Cruiser

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

05/15/2026

05/08/2026

05/01/2026

04/24/2026

04/17/2026

04/10/2026

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