Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Life is Suite on Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways Panorama Suite

 

DREAMING DOESN’T STOP

 

As we return to traveling, river cruising will be a popular alternative to the crowded ocean cruise ships.  

Your travel inspiration has arrived! In just a few minutes, you’ll be envisioning yourself on your next dream vacation.

As you flip through the pages of these brochures, your dream vacation will start becoming a reality and that’s where I come in.

I’m here to help you plan every detail of your vacation because I’ve been there and done that and can share with you my travel expertise and experience.

Your dream vacation starts here and it starts with me. Let’s start planning today.

 

Avalon Active & Discovery

Avalon Asia

Avalon River

Avalon Special Interests

Diary of Our 

 Active Cruisesclick image for stories & photos

Latest River Cruise

 

13 Day River Cruise from Zürich to Amsterdam

This exciting river cruise vacation has it all! Arrive in Zürich and transfer to your ship, which is docked in Basel. Then, head north on the Rhine and enjoy guided sightseeing in Strasbourg, Cologne, and Koblenz.

See the Roman ruins at Trier, Reichsburg Castle above charming Cochem, and the unique Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim.

Sail past the legendary Lorelei rock and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, visit pretty Bernkastel, and a windmill in Kinderdijk, and enjoy excursions to majestic Heidelberg and to Germany’s legendary Black Forest.

 

Enjoy Luxury River Cruising          VIEW OFFERS

 

Christine Pappin, MCC

Toll Free  (800) 697-9515

(630) 837-7295

  

RESERVE YOUR RIVER CRUISE WITH US TODAY! 

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

VIP Way to Travel

Resorts, Cruises, & Tours

When it comes to leisure travel, these 3 categories come to mind.  We devoted the entire month of October to Cruises, since we were participating in the National Plan a Cruise Month annual event. In this post, we turn to one of our Land Travel Partners, Globus Family of Brands, for a primer on touring.

Do You Like Getting VIP Treatment?


Of course you do!   We suspect you frequent some businesses, more often than others, because of the way they treat you.   You know that you'll have a great experience even before you arrive.  You trust their recommendations and don't need to do any planning before your arrival.    

Let your next VIP adventure begin now ...

 


Globus Family of Brands

(CLICK BANNER FOR FEATURED ESCORTED TOURS)

@ChrisPappinMCC

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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 


Thursday, January 4, 2018

Diary of Southeast Asia Voyage

Looking to Escape Winter Blues?

If you've sailed to the Caribbean several times, you are probably looking for a new destination for your winter escape.  Have you ever considered Southeast Asia?

Journey to Southeast Asia (R/T Singapore)

Having cruised for 30+ years, our cruise selections are driven primarily by destination and secondly by cruise ship. We love exploring new destinations from our bucket list as well as revisiting some of our favorites. Exploring new ships, including older ships we've never sailed on before, is also quite enjoyable. Of course, we love to share with our readers so that they can discover the world that awaits them.

Escape from Winter

As we update this article with our pre-booked shore excursions, it is-3°F here and 80°F in Singapore. January is prime time for snowbirds in the states to escape to warmer climates. For most people, the first choices for winter getaways are Florida and the Caribbean. We suggest broadening your horizon and exploring more of the world. It's quite warm in Southeast Asia and you'll be immersed in sights, sounds, food, and culture of this Asian destination. If you are intrigued, follow us on our journey.

Click Image for Southeast Asia Shutterfly Photo Album Page

Come along with us as we provide a day by day diary of our voyage to Southeast Asia.

15 Day Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam


Port Blog Posts Photo Albums
Mon
Jan 8
Travel
Pre-Cruise - Singapore
Journey to Southeast Asia
Singapore Pre Cruise
Chicago & LA Flights
Hong Kong Airport
HGK to SIN Flight
Changi Airport Singapore
Crowne Plaza
Tue
Jan 9
Singapore 
View general port information 
Check In 12:00pm-3:00pm
Singapore Embarkation
Welcome Dinner
Cabin B227
Welcome Dinner
Wed
Jan 10
At Sea Books at Sea
Chocolate Journeys on Princess Cruises
Chocolate Journeys
Thu
Jan 11
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 
12:00pm – 8:00pm
City Drive & Sabah Museum
Kota Kinabalu
Elevate Your Cruise Dining Experience
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah Museum
Sterling Steakhouse
Fri
Jan 12
At Sea
Kota Kinabalu (Revised)

Don't Come Knockin' If Ship a Rockin'
Sat
Jan 13
Nha Trang, Vietnam 
Tender Required
7:00am – 4:00pm
Ponagar Cham Tower, Long Son Pagoda & Embroidery

At Sea (Revised)
Fall in Love With Nha Trang
Sun
Jan 14
Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Vietnam 
7:00am – 6:00pm
Cu Chi Tunnels & Countryside
Gateway to Ho Chi Minh
Taste of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh
Cu Chi Tunnels
Saigon Lunch
Mon
Jan 15
At Sea

Tue
Jan 16
Sihanoukville, Cambodia 
Tender Required
7:00am – 4:00pm
Wat Krom, Villages & Market
Sihanoukville a Secret Gem
Wed
Jan 17
Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand 
7:00am – 7:00pm
Nong Nooch Gardens & Cultural Performance

Welcome to Laem Chabang Thailand
Thailand Beauty and Culture
Nong Nooch Pottery
Nong Nooch Theatre
Thailand Culture
Elephant Show
Nong Nooch Gardens
Thu
Jan 18
Ko Samui, Thailand 
Tender Required
8:00am – 5:00pm
Temple of the Big Buddha & Monkey Demonstration
Big Buddha and Monkeys
Fri
Jan 19

At Sea
Book Your Next Cruise Onboard
Sat
Jan 20
Singapore 
7:00am – 4:00pm
Battlefields of Singapore
Port Call to Singapore
Battlefields of Singapore
Sun
Jan 21
Penang, Malaysia 
Tender Required
3:00pm – 11:59pm
Taste of Penang
Best Pizza at Sea
Discover Food of Malaysia
Mon
Jan 22
Langkawi, Malaysia 
8:00am – 5:00pm
Rice Museum, Cable Car, Craft & Cultural Complex
Tue
Jan 23
8:00am – 6:00pm
Kuala Lumpur Highlights
Wed
Jan 24
Singapore 
7:00am
Thu
Jan 25
Singapore 
5:00am
Travel to Chicago



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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

More Destinations Beyond Caribbean

click image to enlarge
Cruising Life Cycle

In our previous post, Been on Caribbean Cruise What Next, we spoke about first-time cruisers who sailed to the Bahamas and Caribbean on short voyages.   We also took a look at several longer cruises of  7 night duration.   This article will discuss more alternatives, including longer voyages.

Seasonal Travel

While there are several options beyond the Caribbean, the time of year that you decide to travel may limit your choices.  For example, the Alaskan cruise season goes from May through late August / early September.   Our next destination, can only be enjoyed in the Summer and early Fall.

Canada / New England

From the picturesque towns and rocky coast of Maine to the breathtaking beauty of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, you will enjoy a picturesque cruise experience without having to travel far from home when you visit Canada / New England.  These cruises can be anywhere from 4 - 5 nights to more than a week.  VIEW ITINERARIES


Mexico

Mexico is not just sunny beaches and great water sports. Mexico's Spanish colonial roots fused with her turbulent Indian ancestry have engendered a rich cultural history.  VIEW OFFERS

For those on the west coast, a short Mexican cruise may be your first time adventure.  Ports like Cabo San Lucas offer beautiful scenery and water sports.   Calling on one or more Mexican ports is often part of longer cruises in the Pacific Ocean or Panama Canal crossings.



Asia / Exotics

Asia is just as much a land of superlatives in current times: the largest continent, the tallest mountains, the longest coastline, and three-fifth's the world's population. The riches of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei still defy description... BEGIN SEARCH

When you think of Exotic destinations, what comes to mind?  For us there's nothing like the Galapagos, A Land Beyond Xpectations.

World Cruises



Of all the world's travel experiences, none can compare to a world cruise. You will discover legendary antiquities from the Acropolis in Athens to the Pyramids of Egypt. Trace the footsteps of biblical prophets in Israel from Jerusalem to Nazareth. Transit the historic Suez Canal, sail the Pacific to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong. It is not only where you journey that determines your overall enjoyment, but how. A world cruise offers the ultimate travel adventure! You will see parts of the world you always dreamed about -- and all from the comfort of your luxurious cruise ship... BEGIN SEARCH


Cruising is About Choices

Hopefully we've convinced you that there's a lot more to see via cruise ship than the Caribbean.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking a cruise to The Bahamas or Caribbean, especially in the winter time when it is cold, windy, and snowy in your home town.   We'll continue with more choices in our next post.   Until then, check out the links we've provided to learn more about these destinations.  Happy Cruising !!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Plotting Your Next Travel Adventure


Where in the World ...

When planning your next cruise or land vacation, you will have many choices to select from.   It can be quite confusing to sort through the choices, so we recommend consulting a professional travel agent.

Secondly, we suggest using Twitter and other social media sites to get ideas.  Finally, please share with others as well.

#TRAVELPICS 
the travel photography chat/share on Twitter

Last Monday we joined #TRAVELPICS chat on Twitter for a fun packed hour exchanging ideas and travel photos with like-minded posters. The theme was “maps” and participants shared their own travel pics about the theme and answered pre-arranged questions. Here are our replies.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC

Q1: What region on the world map have you not visited, and what's stopped you from going?

A1 Not visited & New Zealand because don't have the time to do it justice until husband retires


Q2: Share a photo you've taken from a place few people could locate on a map. What brought you there? 

A2: ventured off beaten path Lucca, Italy (Livorno/Florence/Pisa)

 
Q3: If you threw a dart at a world map and had to travel there today, where would you NOT want the dart to land--and why?

A3: India – while I’d like to see it – long flight & food wouldn’t agree with me

Q4: Whether a food map, adventure map, or cultural map, post a fitting photo of yours from a well-known destination. 

  
A4: Then & Now 70 Years Later Never Forget Beaches

Q5: Imagine you win an all-expenses-paid trip for 1 month to photograph anywhere. Where do you go and why?

A5: China – photographic material is endless – culture, history, scenery, beauty

Q6: Do you have a favorite place on the world map? Show us a photo of your favorite destination! 

A6: Galapagos @AntiTourist @CelebrityCruises Xpedition  

Plan for your Visit

To get the most out of a visit to either a new or familiar destination, we encourage you to do some research before you travel.   You may want to check with your professional travel consultant  for ideas about popular attractions as well as those that are off the beaten path.   That was another topic we discussed during the live chat.

The internet is a wealth of information.   Once you know some attractions that are on your bucket list, search for some images that professionals and amateurs have captured.   You may want similar images in your photo journal of your trip.   We suggest that you add a few more unique perspectives as well.

We hope that this has sparked your interest in taking your photography to a new level.  Follow the weekly #travelpics chat on Twitter for more ideas on this and other travel topics.   We'd love to hear your ideas as well, or better yet, join us for the next chat.

Thank you to this week's co-hosts: @AntiTourist, @TheTravelCamel, @Sihpromatum, @VibrantIreland, @travellingmolly, and @StephensPhoto.

Have you seen the maps-themed recap?

Join us for on Monday's at 3 PM ET every week for a fun-filled hour related to travel and photography.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Celebrity Millennium Itinerary Change



Celebrity Millennium®


Installed power: 2 × General Electric gas turbines
50,000 kW (combined)
Propulsion: 2 × 19 MW Rolls-Royce/Alstom Mermaid azimuth thrusters
Speed: 21.8 knots (40.4 km/h; 25.1 mph



Another Propulsion Problem

Once again a cruise ship has been forced to change its itinerary due to an electrical problem impacting the ship's propulsion.     No, it's not a Carnival ship this time.  They don't have the corner on problems after all.

Celebrity Millennium currently on a Singapore-to-Hong Kong cruise, will be making some itinerary changes as it is forced to sail at a reduced speed until the problem is resolved. 

Millennium was originally scheduled to call in Hanoi (Halong Bay) on Tuesday, April 9, and finish the cruise in Hong Kong on April 11. Due to the propulsion problem, the ship will spend both Tuesday and Wednesday at sea in order to arrive in Hong Kong as scheduled. 


The propulsion on Millennium is different than on the Carnival Legend which suffered a similar issue about a month ago, forcing it to limp along back to port.   The Celebrity Millennium-class ships have had propulsion issues over the years but they remain a solid workhorse for the line.

Engineers onboard the vessel are working on the problem and hopefully it won't have a domino effect  on other cruises.  We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information surfaces.   As has become standard in the industry, Celebrity will compensate the passengers for missing their planned port.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Celebrity 2014 Europe Deployment Changes





Europe & Mediterranean is completely refreshed with the added variety and new itineraries.
• 7 night round-trip Venice during peak summer late July & August on Celebrity Silhouette®.
• 7 night open jaw Mediterranean, combinable to 14, 21, 28 nights on Equinox during June & July.
• Increased open jaw long Mediterranean sailings between Venice & Barcelona on Celebrity EquinoxSM
• More cruises tied to events such as British Open and 70th anniversary of D-day.
• Return to the Holy Land, two sailings.
• New alternative itineraries in Scandinavia & Russia, as well as, Black Sea.
• Increased overnight in ports of call.
Celebrity Solstice® continues in Australia & New Zealand, but will include more variety in itineraries.
New San Francisco departures to Alaska on Celebrity Century®.
New options in Asia and Australia.
• Celebrity Millennium® extended Asia season going directly from Alaska to North Asia in the Fall.
Celebrity Century® deployed as incremental ship in Asia & Australia.
• Unique direct transpacific sailing from San Francisco to Sydney, stopping in Hawaii, Tahiti, and Fiji.
• Fall through mid January based in Sydney with voyages 7-12 nights calling upon South Pacific, Fiji, and Tasmania.
• Late Jan through March offering 14 night sailings round-trip from Singapore to new destinations in Myanmar, Philippines, and Malaysia.
• Finishes season in Northeast Asia with cruise to Japan & China.

Related:

Sunday, October 7, 2012

What Cruise Ports are on Your Bucket List

Ship sailing the globe

SO MANY PLACES - SO LITTLE TIME!
Leave the Driving to the Ship's Captain

The world's waterways are your highways and the next stop on your journey is up to you.

When Christopher Columbus sailed the oceans blue in 1492, he wasn't sure where he would end up.  Thanks to brave sailors like Columbus, we now have charts and maps that clearly show fabulous destinations that await you.

Just for fun, close your eyes and think about a destination on your bucket list.  Now open your eyes and tell me what you picked.
 Let's Review Some Cruise Choices

Lose yourself in the pure perfection that is Alaska. There is only one destination that can fill your soul with tremendous warmth while simultaneously surrounding you with earth’s most arctic element.
The Bahamas are known for their white sand beaches, duty free shopping at the Straw Market, horse and carriage rides, and some of the most exciting casinos and nightlife in the tropics.
Bahamas
Bermuda is all about pink sand and iridescent waters, pastel-hued buildings, mornings of snorkeling and afternoons of sipping rum swizzles.It has always been considered a romantic destination for couples.
Canada and New England is rich in history, breath taking natural beauty and maritime culture.It is a very popular destination during fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Canada / New England
Lose yourself in the tropical splendor of the islands on a Caribbean cruise. Few places in the world exemplify the pure bliss of being on vacation quite like the Caribbean.
Experience what cruising is really about as you encounter the vast, enchanting lands of Europe. Explore the fjords of Norway,  the waterways of Venice, or the ruins of the Mediterranean.
From palm-fringed beaches to tropical sunsets, Polynesian luaus and glowing volcanoes... there's something for everyone in Hawaii.
Venture South-of-the-Border to Mexico,  a land full of vibrant colors, ancient ruins, authentic foods.  It is a culturally rich country.
Asia is just as much a land of superlatives in current times: the largest continent, the tallest mountains, the longest coastline, and three-fifth's the world's population.
A world cruise offers the ultimate travel adventure! You will see parts of the world you always dreamed about -- and all from the comfort of your luxurious cruise ship.


Azamara Club Cruises to Visit 240 destinations in 66 countries in 2014[Tweet this]
Explore Your List of Destinations



Select From Amongst the Fascinating Destinations and Click on the Image above or click here to get started.

Next, Read More about your Selected Destination and scroll through the list of suggested sailings.

Finally, Select a Ship & Sailing date from the list provided or refine your search, by using the Cruise Finder application.



Modify Your Search as Needed


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