The Seven Seas Voyager - Baltic Cruise Part 2

Here's the second episode of Trish's "Northern Lights and White Nights" cruise on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager.  This was such a port-rich itinerary that I could only cover the first half in our previous post.  If you haven't seen it, click here and catch up on the first half of the cruise with ports in England, Wales, Dublin and Liverpool.

Here we continue in Ireland with a visit to Belfast, then on to Glasgow Scotland, Kristiansand and Oslo in Norway, and Skagen and Copenhagen in Denmark.  Now that's a lot to see I know, but therein is the beauty of cruising.  You get to leave the driving to the captain while you enjoy the voyage on the Voyager. 

Conservatory in Belfast

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has the biggest and most productive shipyard in the world and it is also the site of the city's "Titanic Quarter".  Its visitor center opened in 2012 and is a monument to Belfast's maritime heritage, paying tribute to its most famous build:  the RMS Titanic.  Trish said the exhibits tell the entire Titanic story from the laying of its keel to the fateful maiden voyage and the discovery of the wreckage.  Also learned that since 1995, the city has been twinned with Nashville in the United States.

Alexandria, Scotland

Greenock, aka Glasgow, Scotland - was a special stop for Ron as he was able to explore his Scottish ancestry.  Their bus traveled by ferry to Alexandria and Dunoon with excellent views of five lochs along the way.  And then a super relaxing day crossing the North Sea.  Think Canyon Ranch Spa, enrichment lectures and an evening performance by the Regent Signature Orchestra providing the end of a perfect day on the way to...

Kristiansand, Norway where they arrived in the early afternoon.  Kristiansand was founded by King Christian IV in 1641 and grew into a major port due to its expanding ship building industry and its trade fleet.  Trish and Ron's tour for the afternoon was the Vest-Agder County Open Air Museum, which is about 4 miles northeast of the cruise pier.  This is a very unique museum, composed of 40 houses with grass-thatched roofs (to provide warmth), and other buildings that were relocated to the grounds and arranged to represent farmyards and the streets of the city as it appeared in the 17th century.  Nice to see how folks lived in the olden days.  Then it was back on board in time to enjoy the Chocoholic Teatime while waiting for Trivia to begin. 

Nobel Peace Center

Their next port was Oslo, the fastest growing major city in Europe, which has a plethora of museums, cathedrals and palaces.  Trish and Ron opted for the Nobel Peace Center located in a former railway terminal built in 1872.  The Center presents the Nobel Peace Prize laureates and their work, and tells the story of Alfred Nobel.  The presentations combine an impressive use of multimedia, interactive technology and guided tours.  They shared a memorable moment observing the photo of Malala Yousafzai who at the age of 17 became the 47th woman to win the Nobel Prize in December, 2014.  And then they sailed to Skagen.

Skagen is Denmark's main fishing port.  In the Middle Ages it was just a fishing village known for its herring industry and now it welcomed Trish and Ron with open arms, aka rain.  No matter, they had the perfect excuse to enjoy more of the Voyager's onboard offerings.  Although they did feel a tinge of disappointment that they missed a visit to the Skagen Teddy Bear Museum but Trish said the rainy day gave them more time to pack so they could enjoy their last evening on the Voyager before debarking in Copenhagen.  

I'm so sorry to leave you in Copenhagen, where there is so much to see and many marvelous places to stay, but I have to change the ribbon on my typewriter now.  So why not call Trish and let her tell you all about it.  She's so much better at it than I am.

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

The Seven Seas Voyager - Baltic Cruise

Sometimes I think ships are like people.  Each ship I've been on had its own unique personality.  It's always interesting to listen to the ship stories from our consultants upon their return to the office.  As promised in our June 19th post, we are sharing Trish's observations about the Northern Lights and White Nights in the Baltic aboard the Seven Seas Voyager, one of Regent Seven Seas Cruises four outstanding ships. 

Seven Seas Voyager

There was plenty to talk about from her itinerary that had ports in England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Norway and Denmark, all really cool places to visit during our summer months here in Florida.

Never wanting to "miss the boat", Trish and Ron arrived in London a day prior to sailing and stayed at The Corinthia Hotel in the heart of the city.  This grand Victorian building, built in 1885, has been given new life with fine rooms and stylish suites offering state-of-the-art 21st Century luxury, and is close to the River Thames, moments from Trafalgar Square, Westminster and Covent Garden.  Before leaving for Southampton they were treated to a traditional English breakfast, one of the Signature amenities at The Corinthia.  Then it was off to Southampton to board the Voyager. 

With so many amenities aboard the Voyager and such a port-rich itinerary, they found it difficult to decide whether or not to stay on the ship or go touring.  The first port was Plymouth where they toured Dartmouth and took a ride on an authentic steam train.  Then on to Waterford, Ireland, for a country drive and the perfect place for Ron to buy a Waterford crystal bell to add to his sister's collection and enjoy a Guinness in a true Irish Pub.

From Ireland to Holyhead, Wales, and a visit to Conwy Castle in Buckfast, which UNESCO considers to be one of "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe, " and is a World Heritage Site.  

Next stop:  Dublin where they toured the city, shopped on Grafton Street, viewed the University of Dublin, the oldest university in Ireland.  It was built in the 16th century and is located in the city center.  Ended the day at the National Museum of Ireland.  Too much to see in Dublin in one day so another visit is on her "wish list".

"Something" (as the Beatles song goes) tells me we're in Liverpool, England.  Off to see the Beatles Museum located on the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Albert Dock.  With an audio guide it was a documented journey through their lives, times, culture and music.  Not to be missed!

Such a wonderfully robust itinerary and many more stories to relate in a future post about the ports - Belfast, Greenock, Kristiansand, Oslo, Skagen, Copenhagen.  This is why we travel.  The sights the experiences and the stories.  Why not give Trish a call?  She'll be pleased to tell you all about it.      

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

Virgin Cruises sailing the Oceans in 2020!

"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that

you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  

Explore.  Dream.  Discover." - Mark Twain

I love that quotation because it is such a great reminder of what we can do when we let our imagination carry us where we really want to go.  What follows is fun and exhilarating excitement.

And that is exactly what Richard Branson has done as he vowed to "shake things up" in the cruise industry with the formation of Virgin Cruises in December 2014.

At a press conference in Miami, the Virgin Group founder said he had signed a binding letter of intent with Italy's Fincantieri ship builders to build three 110,000-ton ships to debut in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  Each ship would carry 2,860 passengers and a crew of 1,150.

The ships will be Virgin's trademark "red" and the first ship will sail on Sundays from the Port of Miami in 2020 doing seven-day cruises.  You can expect "a really fun product delivered in a fun and different way" similar to his approach to airlines, trains and hotels. 

A high percentage of the ships' staterooms will have balconies and the ships will be differentiated from others in the industry by their design, size and onboard programs - targeted to the young at heart.

And here's the fun part:  you can be an integral part of what you would like to find on these new ships as Virgin Cruises is seeking input from future sailors.

Virgin Cruises is letting you have your own ideas included in the design of a ship and planning the activities aboard the ship.  Best part:  you don't have to spend a penny...until you sail in 2020, that is!

So log on to virgincruises.com and let your fantasy run rampant.  And don't forget to share your suggestions with us at Reid Travel, we would love to hear.

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

It's Miami Spa Month!

The Biltmore Coral Gables

That's right, Greater Miami and the Beaches renowned for luxury spas that rank among the "Best Spas in America" and are beloved by spa connoisseurs around the world, will be celebrating their Seventh Annual Spa Month beginning in July and continue until the end of August.  Well that's really two months isn't it?  All the better for us as there should be specials galore and we, in Boca Raton, are only about an hour away.

I'm thinking "Staycation"... less than an hour from here, and you can spend the day or days at the spa or check in for a long week-end and still show up at work on Monday morning with a glow on your face and have your coworkers wondering why you feel so energetic when it's usually (as the song says) "Just Another Manic Monday".

Here's a great opportunity to discover the healing powers of salt, seaweed and hydrotherapy with organic and nature-inspired treatments.  Go ahead, indulge yourself and enjoy the varied available specials.

Acqualina Spa Treatment room

Here's a list of premier spa locations in the Miami area for you, drawn from our Signature Travel Network's highly recommended spas.

• Acqualina Resort & Spa - an oceanfront resort on Sunny Isles Beach
• The Ritz Carlton Bal Harbour - beachfront resort in one of the best shopping areas
• Royal Palm Hotel - an upscale oceanfront hotel in South Beach
• Thompson Hotel - a boutique hotel in the heart of Miami Beach
• Setai Hotel - an oasis of tranquility in the midst of where it's all happening in South Beach
• The Epic Hotel - Miami's only downtown waterfront hotel.  It's super - elegant and serves the best yogurt.  (Just had to share that.)
• The Mandarin Oriental Miami - luxuriate here at one of the best luxury spas anywhere 
• The Biltmore Coral Gables - has a 5-star spa, cuisine and golf
• Carillon Hotel & Spa - an oceanfront hotel offering an amazing spa in the heart of Miami Beach

Wow!  So many great places from which to choose, but helping you choose is what we do.  There's no shortage of spa specialists here at Reid Travel.  Give us a call and start relaxing right away! 

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

We're Traveling - and Would Love to Have you Join Us!

At Reid Travel we Pride ourselves on the first-hand knowledge we have on places to go and things to see.  So our agents are always traveling and gleaning tidbits about wherever they go.  On most of their trips they act as hosts and hostesses for travelers using the Signature Travel Network, making themselves available to their fellow travelers and sharing the considerable information and resources at their disposal.  

In this post, we'd like to share some of our current and future goings-on with you in the hope that you will see something to your liking and make arrangements to come aboard and join us on one of these great trips.

Julia Shore - Arctic

Starting in the present (you might consider going next year), Julia Shore is having a cool summer adventure aboard Silversea's Silver Explorer, experiencing the Arctic with a first-hand look by ship and zodiac.  She'll have plenty to share when she returns (look for it here!).

And Trish Timmerman is cruising from Southampton to Copenhagen on the Seven Seas Voyager.  Look for her observations about the Northern Lights and White Nights in the Baltic when she returns.

And here are the things coming up where you still have time to join us:  

• Frances Wood will be on Tauck's ms Savor's Danube Reflections Westbound river cruise, departing Vienna on October 14th, 2015
• Janet Pringle will broaden her understanding of history on the Gateways to History Cruise aboard Regent's Seven Seas Voyager sailing from Venice to Istanbul on October 23rd, 2015; and in 2016 a Holy Land Cruise is on her calendar aboard the Crystal Symphony departing Rome to Istanbul September 3, 2016
• Helene Golden journeys back to one of her favorite areas, the island-dotted Aegean, on September 28th, 2015 aboard Silversea's Silver Spirit  roundtrip Istanbul.  
• Jim Norman will be exploring Alaska aboard the Seven Seas Mariner departing Vancouver to Seward on June 29th, 2016

Alaska

You know that we enjoy sharing our fascinating explorations, so bookmark this blog and come back often.  The best part of traveling with your travel consultant is not having to worry about the details...

so come and join us onboard one (or more!) of our trips and share in the experience.

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

An invitation from Micato Safaris...

Here's an invitation tailored precisely to your children's winter school holiday - they'll not miss a single day of school and will experience an incomparable family adventure.

From beginning to end a Micato Safari is a family affair; one your family will never forget.  Wouldn't you like to be with your children that first day back at school when they are asked the age-old question:  "What did you do over winter break?" and they have so many stories that they don't know where to begin?

They'll have to choose from their unforgettable visit to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kenya's Maasai Mara, and a private visit to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (with renowned researcher Cynthia Moss explaining how she tracks and cares for these magnificent creatures).

Talk about an educational experience... Micato's highly-credentialed safari directors and driver-guides will accompany you and your family every step of the way.  And the family-oriented founders, Felix and Jane Pinto, will invite you for lunch at their home in Nairobi's lovely Lavington district.  Can't you just imagine the stories they have?  Don't forget to ask them to tell you the story of the Empress of Ideal Farm, just another dimension added for you to have and your children to share with their friends as they learn about the animals they will see while on safari-

The Big Five (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and Black rhinoceros) and

The Little Five (rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, leopard tortoise, ant lion and the shy elephant shrew (which weighs not much more than an elephant's tear).

Not only will your child benefit, but for every safari booked, Micato, through its One for One Program, will send an African child to school.  You will have helped change their life while enriching your own.

People come to see the animals

but leave in love with the people!

So RSVP with Reid Travel to personalize your family's safari and join the Pinto family at home in Africa.  

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com

Entering the U.S.? There's an app for that!

U.S. Customs has just launched a FREE App called "Mobile Passport Control" to help make getting home from our world-wide travels just a bit easier.  Put this App on your smartphone and you'll be able to take advantage of fast lanes reserved for Mobile Passport users.

The app can be used by U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors (on B1 or B2 visas).  Even better, the App lets you add the passport information of all family members traveling with you.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 (4, 5)

1. Download the Mobile Passport Control App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the App and enter your passport information as it appears on your valid, official passport.  You can add the passports for your entire family.  The information will be encrypted and shared only with Customs. 
3. Answer Customs' four brief questions about your trip.  Carefully review ALL of your information.  Answers can be saved up to 24 hours ahead of your arrival.
4. AFTER YOU LAND, connect to wireless or wi-fi and use the App to submit your data to Customs.  When you submit, you are confirming under penalty of law that your information is correct.  Within a few seconds you will receive an electronic receipt with a Quick Response (QR) code which will be valid for FOUR HOURS.
5. Once you have your QR Code, follow the signs for MOBILE PASSPORT CONTROL.  Present your passport, show the QR code, and continue on your way.

MOBILE PASSPORT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR PASSPORT.

BRING YOUR PASSPORT!!

Now Available at:  Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and Seattle airports  

800.248.8404 ~ www.reidtravel.com ~ mail@reidtravel.com