What's the Difference between Ocean and River Cruising, Lush Life Travel Ideas
Published: Sun, 01/21/24
Live Your Lush Life
Travel Newsletter
Sunday, January 21,
2024
What's the Difference between Ocean & River Cruising
Hello, !
Welcome to Lush
Life Travel's Sunday newsletter.
This week's newsletter will focus on:
1.What's the Difference between River and Ocean Cruising
2. Women's River Cruise - Wellness on
Water
3. River Cruise Corner - Scenic France
4. Adventure Travel Corner- Jane Goodall
5. Wellness Travel Corner - Get Outside & Skate the Rideau Canal
6. Virtuoso Life - Some Recent Issues & Newsletters
7. Preferred Hotel Programs- Can You VIP Me?
8. Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner
Let me know if you'd like to schedule a complimentary consultation!
1. What's the Difference between Ocean & River Cruising
I often have clients who are familiar with ocean cruising, but are intrigued by river cruising - but they don't really know the differences.
Last week, I was telling you how
expedition cruises differ from ocean and river cruising.
This week, I thought I'd talk to you ocean cruisers who are river cruise-curious. :-)
Maybe you have taken an ocean cruise with your kids
years ago on Royal Caribbean or Disney with the large multi-generational family focus, or maybe you just really enjoy travelling on the big mega ships for your vacation and having as much choice as possible (where the ship is part of the vacation experience), or maybe you really love the experience of ocean cruising but you've moved from big ship to the smaller ocean cruise ship experiences (with less than 1000 people).
If you're intrigued by river cruising, let me share some similarities and some major differences between ocean cruising and river cruising.
There are 10 Similarities Between
River & Ocean Cruising.
For both type of cruising, you:
Relax in a moving hotel room
Unpack once
Visit multiple destinations
Enjoy planned activities
Have safety briefings
Have most food
& fun in your cruise fare
Have a cabin with private baths, storage
Will have access to internet/ wifi
Will have onboard learning/ lectures, and
Have access to fitness facilities
But there are differences
too.
Here are the 3 Biggest Differences Between River & Ocean Cruising
A. River vs.
Ocean
Oceans take you to Venice, rivers take you to Vienna
Ancient world was developed alongside easily navigable rivers
Rivers were main source of commerce
B. Docking/ Location
River cruises dock in heart of the world’s destinations
walk off the ship and be in the middle of where you want to be
often walking or cycling touring of cities
easy access to sites, allowing you to do and see more
Ocean Cruises dock in large, sometimes charmless industrial
ports
anchoring larger ships often have tenders to shore
often hour long bus rides to town
larger crowds have long lines to get on and off ship
C. Ports
With shorter distances between, river cruises tend see more ports
With focus on smaller towns, river cruises can have shorter stops
River cruises tend to overnight in major city connectors, like Vienna
River cruises visit ports ocean cruises do not, such as:
Amsterdam
Lyon
St.
Petersburg
Vienna
Strasbourg
Beijing
Budapest
Avignon
Nile River
Roen
Prague
Mekong River
Paris
Belgrade
Vietnam
Honfleur
Moscow
Amazon River
Magdalena River
Chobe River
Want to take a river cruise, but don't know where to start?
Let me know if you'd like a copy of my "Beginner's Guide to River Cruising". I can s end you a checklist to ensure you know ALL the crucial decisions needed to start planning your DREAM river
cruise holiday!
And - of course - I'm here to matchmake you to the right cruise holiday for you.
#AskSheila sheila@lushlife.ca
Let me know if you'd like to learn more about river cruising, and we can do a consultation to find the best partner, itinerary, and offer for you.
Wonderful news. We're still booking ladies (and some husbands too) on the Wellness on
Water river cruise in October.
And I was able to get an amendment to my group contract, and extend the special pricing that was set to expire this week. Now I have this extension:
Pricing goes up Jan.31.24! Let me know if you'd like to learn more! I have a reduced solo supplement left!
And - check out this Saturday's Ottawa Citizen travel section. You'll see an ad for the cruise! (As well as digital ads in the Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax editions of Post Media publications.)
I also appeared onDaytime Ottawa. Watch the segment here.
Three steps to Embrace “Your Grace”:
STEP 1.) STEP ON UP - savour, sip, self-care
STEP 2.) STEP ONBOARDyour moving boutique hotel room
STEP 3.) STEP
ONSHOREto cities and towns along the Danube River
Let me know if you'd like to secure your spot.
This will be a 7-night Danube River cruise,
that sets sail from Budapest on Oct. 4, 2024, and heads to Nuremberg, before finishing its voyage with 2 nights in Prague on Oct. 13, 2024. See all the details about when and where, and pricing, along with details on the Travel With, and Travel Alone (with options for solo cabins & solo share program): https://tinyulr.com/LushWellCruise
It's more than an ultra-luxury travel experience, it's handcrafted, personalised journeys that will capture your hearts and ignite your senses
Scenic helps create your
Stories for Life in 2024 with our New
Year Savings Eventso you can experience the France river cruise you've been dreaming of.
From the enchanting charm of Bordeaux to the splendid allure of Paris, you can indulge in the unique tastes of France. You can uncover quaint villages nestled along the historic Seine River and sample
culinary delights in the south of France.
Now is the time to plan and book your unforgettable France river cruise.
Bordeaux Affair
8 Days Bordeaux >
Bordeaux
This delightful cruise in France’s Bordeaux wine region is a rewarding mix of experiences. Guests can sample Grand Cru Classé wine, delight in a classical concert at Château d’Agassac, visit Saint-Emilion and Medoc, and get lost in the wonder of medieval villages. With a focus on the region’s incredible wine and culinary offerings, they'll toast to a journey that’s sure to be
unforgettable.
Spectacular South of France
11 Days Lyon > Lyon
The gastronomic heart of France is a feast for the eyes, soul, and appetite. Guests can immerse themselves in the acclaimed Burgundy wine region or view a cooking demonstration at
George Blanc’s 3 Michelin Star restaurant; marvel at Palais des Papes in Avignon with a mesmerizing classical concert and visit Arles to see the sights Vincent Van Gogh so famously painted during his time here.
Highlights of Normandy & the
Seine
8 Days Paris > Paris
On this cruise, your clients will journey along the Seine River from the city of Paris, home to world renowned architectural wonders, art and romance; to the storied shores of Normandy, where the D-Day Landings changed the course of history; and small villages and towns where legendary figures such
as Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart and Claude Monet have left their mark.
Last October, my partners at G Adventures had the honour of sponsoring an incredibly
special event with one of the world’s leading conservationists — Dr. Jane Goodall.
To an audience of over 3000, Dr. Goodall took the stage and delivered a powerful lecture in connection with our planet, humanity, and above all else, hope for the future.
G
Adventures, as a key partner, were thrilled to share a recording of this lecture with me, as a member of their incredible community of travel agents. And I'm sharing it with you.
This is your chance to experience the brilliance of Dr. Goodall and discover a viable path forward in protecting wildlife and empowering local communities. You can tune
into Dr. Goodall’s lecture here.
Hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and Bella Lam, CEO Featuring Dr. Jane Goodal, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and United Nations Messenger of Peace
Q&A moderated by Fatima Syed, The Narwhal
Gold Sponsor: G Adventures
Media Sponsor: The Narwhal
October 12, 2023 at Meridian Hall in Toronto
One more thing — if you are eager to step into the animal kingdom, be sure to check out G
Adventures' Jane Goodall Collection.
From Tanzania to Borneo, the Jane Goodall Collection is G's line of exclusive, wildlife-focused trips endorsed by Dr. Goodall herself.
5. Wellness Travel Corner - Get Outside & Skate the Rideau Canal
I was interviewed by Virtuoso Travel for an upcoming article on winter travel, and was asked
whether #ottawa
would be a fun-filled spot for luxury travellers from across Canada, the US, and elsewhere to visit.
Travel advisors, like me, often have access to a range of exclusive perks and amenities when booking luxury hotels. Here are some special perks I may be able to provide when you book your hotel stay through me:
Room Upgrades:I often have relationships with hotel management (particularly luxury hotels), allowing me to secure room upgrades at the time of booking, ensuring a better view, larger room, or added amenities.
Complimentary Breakfast or Credits: I can negotiate special perks like complimentary breakfast, spa credits, dining credits, or other perks that enhance the overall stay.
Early Check-In and Late Check-Out:Through my connections, I may be able to negotiate early check-in or late check-out times, providing more flexibility with your schedule.
Special Amenities:I may be able to arrange for special amenities in the room upon arrival, such as welcome gifts, champagne, or personalized touches to make the stay more memorable.
Priority Access and VIP Treatment:I can secure priority access to facilities like spas, restaurants, or events within the hotel, ensuring a more exclusive and VIP-like experience.
Customized Experiences:I can arrange unique experiences tailored to your interests, such as private tours, exclusive excursions, or special events within the hotel premises.
Concierge Services:I can often offer personalized concierge services, ensuring your preferences are noted and catered to throughout your stay, from restaurant reservations to special requests.
Flexible Booking and Cancellation Policies:I may be able to negotiate more flexible booking terms or cancellation policies, providing peace of mind in case plans change unexpectedly.
These perks often go beyond what is available through standard booking channels, adding significant value to the overall luxury hotel experience.
I am a Virtuoso luxury advisor, Four Seasons preferred partner, and member of preferred hotel programs like Belmond Bellini,
Rosewood Elite, Accor Luxury Step and Fairmont Famous Agent, Leading Hotels, etc., etc.
I rarely book hotel only reservations for clients (I specialize in river and expedition cruises, customized trips to Australia and Africa), I have ways to leverage my relationships to benefit my clients. Hotel only bookings are subject to my normal professional fees.
https://lushlife.ca/2022-fee-schedule/
See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS
Note: There is a stop gap measure if you are planning a last minute trip, and
you only need a hotel stay. If you do not require my assistance, or VIP'ing, or add ons like transfers, concierge service, etc., you can self-book luxury properties on my Virtuoso website. You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels at your convenience. (If you self-book hotels, I will waive normal booking and management fees. But if you need additional assistance after the booking, VIP'ing, transfers, concierge assistance, etc., and/or the hotel stay is part of a larger holiday, normal professional fees will apply.)
8. Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner
I run my boutique travel agency, Lush Life Travel, as an affiliate of Direct Travel (formerly
called Vision Travel). As Direct is one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners, I get access to some terrific offers for my clients.
Here are some offers from a few of our favourite travel supplier partners. Let me know if you'd like to book one of these holidays
When you work with Sheila at Lush Life Travel, you get access to our in-depth knowledge, honed over 18 years experience in travel (with another 20 years in financial services). Atop our foundation of financial risk management skills; we have layered the bricks to build a wall of travel knowledge and relationships.
We leverage all of our expertise to help you live your lush life through travel.
So, schedule a consultation - and - don't forget to
complete this Pre-consultation Survey The call can't be confirmed without it.
