It’s no secret that river cruising is one of the hottest trends in travel. More and more Canadians are intrigued by the small-ship intimacy, the off-the-beaten waves itineraries and generous inclusions to be found on a river cruise.

Most of our clients “graduate” to river cruising after taking a number of small ship cruises. If this sounds like you, here’s a little rundown on the differences you may expect:

Not surprisingly, ship size. A river cruise ship may hold as few as 36 or as many as 200 or so passengers – a huge difference from the big ships which now can host as many as 5,000 passengers. So while there’s not the room for the plethora of restaurants and bars, the exotic activities, shops and spas, the trade off is that your are never far from your stateroom; embarkation and disembarkation can take seconds rather than hours; and you’ll get to know the crew and your fellow passengers much more quickly.

Speaking of restaurants, most river cruise ships offer one or two restaurants. A bistro offering tapas-style dining a couple of times a week; and/or a Skydeck open for al-fresco lunches, weather permitting. Wine and beer is included with dinner (and speaking of drinks, if you wish to purchase alcohol ashore and sample it in your cabin, that’s permitted, unlike on big ships which will hold your purchases until disembarkation).

Evening entertainment may range from a visit by musicians or dancers to give you an insight into local culture. Tastings and informal lectures as well as port talks outlining the next day’s port of call are also part of the entertainment on a river cruise.

It’s worth mentioning that these days, river cruise ships are known for their modern comforts. Many were within the last five years, and they often feature spacious cabins with Wi-Fi, balconies or large sliding glass walls, marble bathrooms, minibars, movies on demand and more.

But for many passengers the real highlight is the opportunity to walk on and off the ship as you wish. You often dock in the heart of a city or medieval town and are welcome to explore when you want. River cruising also gives you the opportunity to visit smaller ports of call that larger ships are simply too big to get to.

Another significant difference with river cruises is that shore excursions are included, an excellent value when you consider the hundreds of dollars they can cost on a big ship cruise.

I can work with you to plan your perfect river cruise to Europe (the most popular destination) but also to China, Southeast Asia (Myanmar – formerly Burma – being a “hot” new destination), Peru, Egypt and more. Bon voyage!

Feel the rush of going off the grid
Plunge into expedition travel with Silversea Cruises. With some of the highest Zodiac™-to-guest and expert-to-guest ratios, plus luxury amenities like specialty restaurants, a spacious observation lounge, and a high-end spa, you’ll explore Antarctica and the Arctic in comfort and style.

Enjoy Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares with a 15% reduced refundable deposit when you book by November 30, 2022, and savings of up to 30% on Port-to-Port select voyages. Plus, an exclusive $300 shipboard credit per person or Virtuoso Voyages benefits including a private welcome reception and onboard host.

Watch - hello adventure 

Easy ski-in/ski-out access isn’t the only reason to visit The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch this winter. The resort boasts mountain-inspired cocktails and cuisine, cozy après-ski bars, signature spa treatments that incorporate local ingredients, and special perks for families, from ski lessons and kids’ clubs to in-room camping.

Will you be at the spa or on the slopes? https://vmp.dmplocal.com/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=6354429&ids=11bff887d5ae622e5298959f81da3e5b21ff549b

I’m headed to Greece with my family next July, and I'm inviting my clients to come along. My husband and I will act as the Azamara Virtuoso Voyages host for the July 8, 2023 sailing onboard the Azamara Quest, roundtrip Piraeus for a Greece Intensive Voyage, for 7 days. I've already booked several clients to come along. 

One of the things we love most about what we do is matching our clients tastes' with the greatest hotels in the world.  And with our preferred status with these industry leading hotel brands it means our clients are instant VIP's with upgrades and special perks that you only get working with an elite partner.  So, not only do we have the best rates, but more importantly you get an exceptional experience over and above what you would booking direct or with a credit card.

Today, I’ll share a little about the Marriott Stars.

The Marriott International STARS Program is a collection of over 250 hotels worldwide.  This is a highly select group of independent travel companies that are invited to take part in the preferred agency program which includes the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition, Bulgari The Luxury Collection and Ritz Carlton Reserve properties. This means your reservations at any STARS property around the globe is handled by a very elite group of travel advisors.

​Marriott STARS program’s high touch personalized service and exclusive benefits:

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two
• Hotel credit valued at $100 USD once per stay
• Complimentary daily Wi-Fi
• VIP Status
• Top priority waitlist in sold out situations
• First priority for your room type, location, bedding, and connecting rooms

​Let me know if you’d like to discuss a specific hotel stay.

For specific articles about why you should book with an advisor, rather than book by yourself, see here:

Why Wouldn't You Do It Yourself

Booking a Cruise Yourself vs With Advisor

Booking Hawaii Yourself vs Through Advisor

Booking Rocky Mountaineer Yourself vs With Advisor

Hotel Programs

Peninsula Fan Club , 

Rocco Forte Knights Program ,

The Belmond Bellini Club Program, 

Hotel Programs - Four Seasons Preferred, 

Dorchester Diamond Club , 

The Mandarin Oriental Fan Club ,

Marriott Stars & Luminous , 

The Couture by Langham , 

Pearl Partner Oetker, 

Rosewood Elite , 

Accor Step & Fairmont , 

Preferred Hotel Program, 

IHG Hotel Program , 

Hyatt Privé Program , 

Small Luxury Hotels ,

Luminous Hotel Program , 

A&K 100 Club , 

Hilton Impresario  ,

Jumeirah’s Passport to Luxury , 

The Kempinski Club 1897

Azamara https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/cruise/14341/Double-Stateroom-Upgrade-Offer-with-Azamara