By David Barclay | August 28, 2024

Iceland is a fascinating country that packs a lot of adventure into a relatively small location.  A trip to Iceland will focus on the natural beauty of this country and the outdoor activities available to visitors.  The geography of Iceland delivers a variety of experiences, from hot springs, extinct lava caves, and geothermal bakeries to glaciers, ice caves and glacier lagoons.  It truly is a land of both fire and ice.

For many travelers from the U.S., Iceland is a direct flight away.  It can be the focus of a vacation, or it can be added as a stop on a longer trip to Europe (stopping in Iceland either on the way to Europe or on the way back).  While flights can be relatively inexpensive, be prepared for high costs once you’ve arrived in Iceland.  Iceland’s rugged topography is not conducive to the production of most goods typically consumed in a modern country, requiring it to import a vast majority of consumable materials, including food products.  This results in a high cost of living for residents and translates into high labor costs as well.  Travelers looking for a luxury experience in Iceland can expect trips to cost $1,000+ per person, per day, but the bucket list worthy experiences will more than justify the investment in a trip to Iceland.

Reykjavik

The capital city of Iceland, Reykjavik is home to Iceland’s main airport and likely both the starting and ending point for visitors.  The most populous area on the island, it offers a lot of experiences for travelers and is worthy of a few days before heading out to explore the more remote regions. 

While luxury accommodations are less common in Iceland (especially as you leave the more populated areas), Reykjavik has many options.  The recently opened Reykjavik EDITION is the first branded 5-star hotel to be built in Iceland. Guests may also want to consider The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, for a more exclusive and tranquil visit to this well-known attraction (offering both its own private manmade lagoon and VIP entrance to the public lagoons).

Visitors to Reykjavik will want to explore this quant and colorful capital city.  While the city is easily explored on your own, a wonderful way to see the city is on a food walking tour.  Guests can learn about the local food scene, ranging from delicious fresh seafood to the famous Icelandic hot dog and fine desserts.  Visitors can also board a yacht and sail to the whale feeding grounds in Faxafloi Bay. Over 20 different species of whales can be found around Iceland, including Minke, Humpback, Orca, Fin, and Blue Whales, along with the White Beaked Dolphin and Harbor Porpoises.

A short drive from Reykjavik brings visitors to the famous Blue Lagoon, where they can soak in its healing thermal waters.  They can also travel to the Thrihnukagigur volcano, an extinct volcano that last erupted over 4,000 years ago.  This is the only place on earth where humans can enter and explore a magma chamber.  Visitors can also explore Raufarholshellir, a magnificent lava tunnel that’s one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. While lava hasn’t flowed in the tube for over 5.200 years, a walk through it is an otherworldly journey and unique experience.  Ponder the inner workings of a volcanic eruption and the power of the geological forces at work under this island of fire. 

The Golden Circle

No visit to Iceland is complete without a visit to the Golden Circle.  Just a few hours from Reykjavik, the 190-mile scenic route combines three of Iceland’s most popular sights. Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the location of Iceland’s Parliament between the years 930 and 1798. The park is also one of the few places in the world where you can clearly see the effects of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pulling apart.  Adventurous souls up for an aquatic adventure can snorkel or scuba dive in the water-filled crevasses between the separating plates.

Next, head towards the erupting hot springs area of Geysir, which has given its name to the phenomenon worldwide.  Along the way, stop at Langjokull glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland.  For an extra rememberable experience, jump on a snowmobile with a guide for a thrilling tour on top of the glacier with fantastic views.  Finally, stop at Gullfoss, or Golden Falls, Iceland’s most famous waterfall.

Visitors to Iceland can also visit a geothermal greenhouse farm, which allows farmers to grow produce year-round. 

Iceland´s Southern and Eastern Coasts

While many of Iceland’s wonders can be seen near Reykjavik, adventurous visitors and those with more time to explore the island may want to set out to visit the southern and eastern coasts.  The South Coast of Iceland has some of the country’s most dramatic scenery, with tall mountains cradling massive glaciers.  A succession of waterfalls cascade from the glaciers as they slowly melt.  Two of the more famous waterfalls are Seljalandsfoss, known for a pathway that lets visitors walk behind the waterfall and Skogafoss, a thundering waterfall of immense power.   Visitors can also trek to the Solheimajokull glacier for a private glacier walk.  They will put crampons on and travel up onto the ice field where a wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges, and deep crevasses awaits discovery.  Adventurous explorers can even try ice climbing and rappelling.  Or visit the Kötlujökull glacier and explore the Katla Ice Cave, one of the few ice caves accessible year-round.

Nearer to the coast, guests are offered incredible views of the North Atlantic coastline with its black sand beaches and dramatic headlands.  Continuing up the southeastern coast, visitors can stop at the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon and take a zodiac boat tour to look for seals, eider ducks, and even witness the glacier calving into the crystal turquoise waters.  The nearby black sand beach, nicknamed the Diamond Beach, has large chunks of ice washed up onto the black sand beach creating a dramatic contrast.

Lake Mývatn Geothermal Area

Few visitors travel to this remove area on the north side of Iceland, but it can be well worth the trek.  The Lake Myvatn area is a starkly beautiful but otherworldly landscape of sputtering mud pots, weird lava formations, steaming fumaroles, and volcanic craters.  Take an off-road buggy tour and explore the pseudo-craters at Skutustadagigar, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, the explosive crater Hverfjall, and the geothermal area at Namaskard.

When to visit Iceland

Most tourists visit Iceland in the summer, between May and September.  These are the warmest months (though Iceland never gets too warm and summer temperatures are between 40-60F) and the days are long (known as the White Nights, visitors won’t see much darkness).  While most activities are available in the summer, only a few ice caves remain open year-round.

Visiting off season can also reward travelers to Iceland.  Offseason rates will be lower, allowing guests to stretch their travel budgets a little further.  And while daylight hours will shrink, those visiting in the fall and winter will have an excellent opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

By David Barclay | July 24, 2024

This summer I’ve had many couples, families, and multi-generational groups cruise the coastline of Alaska. All have returned with wonderful stories of the breathtaking natural beauty and quaint towns that dot this rugged wilderness region.

While it’s probably too late to find a cruise to Alaska this summer, if you’ve been considering a visit to Alaska there’s no better time to think about summer 2025 than now. Alaskan cruises are very popular, and the best ships and suites can fill up early. I recommend booking your cruise at least 9 months in advance, which means if you are considering sailing towards the start of the 2025 cruise season that target deadline is fast approaching.

Why you should consider an Alaska cruise

In my mind, Alaskan cruises are a bridge between classic cruising and expedition cruising. If you are unsure whether you’d like an expedition cruise, sailing to/from Alaska is a great way to test an expedition cruise experience. Many of the aspects of expedition cruising are present in Alaska, including diverse wildlife, natural wonders, wilderness excursions, and small human enclaves with their unique cultural experiences. However, many cruise lines sail Alaska with their classic cruise ships, which are larger and typically have more onboard facilities (e.g. restaurants, spa services, pools, etc.) when compared to a small expedition ship. These added creature comforts can ensure the cruise experience provides a blend of off ship expedition experiences while retaining refined onboard experiences.  

Who would enjoy an Alaskan cruise

Most travelers would enjoy an Alaskan cruise. Children of all ages (and adults) will enjoy the unique animal life, ranging from large numbers of birds unique to the region, to larger animals like bears and moose. Depending on the season, cruisers may also see whales, dolphins and other aquatic life. An Alaska cruise can be a great option for couples, or for large multi-family groups. It can also be good for older travelers with minor mobility challenges, as most ports have docking facilities and if not, the ship will use its large tenders, significantly easier to board than the zodiacs which may be used on other expedition cruises.  

What you see & do on an Alaskan cruise

An Alaskan cruise will combine sailing the picturesque coastline with shore visits. Most itineraries will sail into an Alaskan fjord to see one of the famous glaciers. Ships will usually spend time positioned off the glacier so guests can watch and hopefully see a calving of the glacier (when a large chunk of the glacier breaks away and crashes into the sea). Ships may also rotate slowly 360 degrees to provide a view of the glacier and surrounding mountains to all guests on board. Itineraries will also include stops at several towns along the coast (the most famous being Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway). Travelers more interested in nature than Alaskan towns can look at options from an expedition focused cruise line like Lindblad.

When to go

When to travel depends on the experience you desire from your trip. May through early June is a great time to avoid the summer crowds and see spring return to Alaska. The weather will be cooler, but this is the drier of the two shoulder seasons. Many families will want to travel during the summer school break, June & July provide the warmest weather and longest days. This is also a good time for those wishing to visit Denali as the park doesn’t open until early June. The summer months are also the best time to see bears on shore. In August the weather begins to cool again, bringing the blueberry season and by the end of the month the fall foliage will start appearing. September & October are the fall shoulder season, the summer crowds will have disappeared and so will most of the bugs, though the chance of a rainy day will also increase. But on clear fall nights your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are dramatically improved.

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Many cruise lines sail the British Columbia and Alaska coasts in the summer months. From large premium line ships to small expedition lines, there are a number of options to fit the needs of every traveler. Below are a few of my recommended lines, ships, and itineraries. However if you don’t see a cruise itinerary that looks perfect for you, reach out to me and we can discuss other options.

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Silversea (Silver Nova)

7-Day Seward to Vancouver
June 26 – July 3, 2025

Silversea has been a leader in luxury expedition cruising and has sailed these waters for many years. All suites have butler service and guests have the option of selecting the all-inclusive door-to-door fares, including all transfers and economy air in the cruise fare, or making their own pre-embarkation and post-disembarkation arrangements with the port-to-port fares. Both Silversea fare options include excursions in each port, or guests can opt to pay a small extra fee for premium excursions providing unique experiences.

While Silversea has two ships sailing in the region, the Silver Nova, launched in 2023, is the first of two sister ships which are the new flagships of the fleet and boasts many new and unique aspects to her design.

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Seabourn (Seabourn Quest)

14-Day Alaska Glaciers, Fjords & Inside Passage
May 30 – June 13, 2025

Seabourn is known for delivering unique and luxurious experiences to its guests. For many years it has focused the itineraries of the Seabourn Quest on expedition cruising in various regions of the world including Alaska. This means the crew and expedition team on the Quest are highly skilled at providing an outstanding experience for guests sailing Alaska and BC.

With the optional Ventures by Seabourn™, operated and escorted by the Seabourn Expedition Team, guests can participate in kayaking, zodiac and hiking excursions to explore Alaska’s wildlife and scenic highlights up close. Sample excursions include Kayak in Misty Fjords and Tracy Arm, cruise the Inian Islands and Holgate Glacier by Zodiac and hiking to photograph wildlife in their natural habitat at Wrangell.

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Lindblad (National Geographic Sea Lion)

6-night Wild Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands, and Tracy Arm Fjord
June 11-16, 2025

Lindblad is an expert in expedition cruising, because that’s all it does. Its small ships take guests to the most unique locations. Lindblad has a long-standing partnership with National Geographic and all ships have a National Geographic photo instructor on board to assist guests with capturing the best photographic memories of their trips. In Alaska it has also partnered with the Alaska Whale Foundation, with conservation experts boarding to discuss the local whale population.

Lindblad benefits from over 40 years of Alaskan exploration and their ships tend to travel to areas not frequented by other cruise ships. Its expedition leaders and naturalists are among the best in the world. Lindblad is also very family focused, offering the National Geographic Global Explorers program for children with National Geographic certified field educators. It also offers reduced fares for children on many itineraries.

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Regent Seven Seas (Seven Seas Explorer)

7-night Vancouver to Seward
July 23-30, 2025

Regent is a well-known and respected luxury cruise line that also sails to Alaska in the summer. For 2025 summer sailing season, the Seven Seas Explore, the first of 3 sister ships launched by Regent as its flag ships, will sail between Vancouver and Seward.

Regent offers two fare options, the All-Inclusive Cruise Fares which provide an all-inclusive experience on board including complimentary excursions. The Ultimate All-Inclusive fares add fights in the guests’ preferred air class, coach transfers between airport and ship, and a private black car service to take clients to and from their home airport.

By David Barclay | July 10, 2024

Multi-generational trips can be a great vacation option to bring together grandparents, parents and grandchildren, especially if family members are scattered around the country (or world) and don’t see each other frequently.

Planning a Multi-Generational Trip

While planning a multi-generational trip may seem straightforward, these trips generally require more thought and upfront planning.  Multi-gen vacations typically involve a large number of travelers, spanning many ages, interests, and physical abilities.  To ensure everyone enjoys the trip, it should be designed to provide flexibility and multiple optional activities to meet everyone’s needs.

A few considerations for a multi-generational trip:

• Plan well in advance:  While you should start planning at least 6 months in advance, starting 12+ months out is even better.  Generally, vacationers will want to reserve larger accommodations to host the entire family. These accommodations are more limited in number and tend to book up sooner. Also, with more travelers comes more input on where to go and what to do, and gaining alignment among family members on the trip vision can also take time.
  
  
• Consider trip costs & cost sharing:  Who is paying for the trip and what they wish to spend on a trip should be decided up front, before the planning begins.  If the grandparents/senior generation are paying for everyone, they may not want to spend the same $$/traveler that they might spend on their usual trips.  If other family members will pick up part or all of their trip costs, it’s important to know what everyone wants to spend and plan a trip that works for all family members.  If budget isn’t discussed and agreed to in advance, either some family members may opt-out when the final trip itinerary and budget is shared, or go on the trip but remain resentful of the cost.
  
  
• Make sure trip provides something for everyone: A good multi-generational trip provides lots of options for family members to pursue their interests.  While the full family will want to participate in some activities together, it’s important to also provide opportunities for the family to break up into smaller groups, allowing them to explore their shared interests and spend quality time with a subset of the full family.  A good trip will provide options across a variety of interests and activities (e.g. sightseeing, museum/historical site visits, cooking/foodie experiences, outdoor activities, kid activities & adult activities).  In a typical day, the grandchildren might want to swim at the pool/water park or visit a children’s museum, while adult family members might want to visit an art museum, take a cooking class or learn the local dancing tradition.  However, don’t forget about multi-generational experiences, maybe the grandparents will want to schedule a special activity with their grandchildren.
  
  
• Don’t over plan the trip: A good multi-generational trip has a combination of full group activities, sub-family group activities and free time/downtime.  Unplanned time is as important or more important for large multi-gen trips than for couple/family trips.  Planning nonstop activities is likely to wear out the family members (especially the oldest and youngest family members) and limits flexibility for family members to pursue their interest.  With well-spaced blocks of free time, younger family members can catch needed naps or good old playtime, while the adults can explore on their own or recharge with a good book and a cold beverage.

Where To Go For A Multi-Generational Trip

There are many great options for multi-generational trips.  The ideal location should be determined by the size of the travel group, the interests of the group, and what they want to get out of the travel experience (e.g. exploration of a new part of the world, or relaxation and more time to connect with family members).  A well-developed trip vision to which all travelers have aligned will help guide the decision process on where to travel.

Resort Vacations

Resorts can be a great option for multi-gen travel.  Depending on the size of the family, it may be possible to get a large suite or villa so everyone can stay together.  Resorts are also great for larger families, with a plethora of rooms available to accommodate almost any size family.  Resorts are a good option for multi-gen trips when family members have different travel budgets.  Good resort options exist across a multitude of price ranges, and at a particular resort some family members can choose entry-level garden view rooms while others can opt for higher priced ocean view rooms or suites. 

Which resort is the best option depends on the family members and the focus of the trip.  If the family has many kids and teenagers, a resort with large pools and/or a water park can be a great fit.  Families may wish to consider a resort like Baha Mar with its large waterpark, or the Beaches Turks and Caicos, which provides multiple pools and is all-inclusive, so family members don’t need to worry about dividing up the food bills.

Multi-generational families with children may also want to consider resorts with good kids’ clubs.  The Four Seasons provides excellent experiences for younger family members with its Kids For All Seasons program.  Some Four Seasons resorts offer expanded kid focused experiences.  For example, the Four Seasons Jackson Hole offers the Kids Ranch for family members from 3-17 years old.  Ritz-Carlton is also a great option for groups with many children, offering the Ritz-Kids program for family members from 4-12 years old.

Moderate-sized families (8-20 family members) looking to stay together in a shared multi-room accommodation might consider resorts that have many multi-room suites and villas.  Garza Blanca near Cancun can offer up to 4-bedroom suites (including some penthouses with private rooftop decks) that can accommodate up to 10 family members.  Casa de Campo has numerous villas ranging from 3-12 bedrooms to fit a variety of travel budgets, and with over 7,000 acres of resort property, it offers a variety of activities and opportunities for family members to pursue their individual interests.

Families looking for incredible food and elevated service might consider a higher-end luxury resort.  Rosewood resorts (for example the Rosewood Mayakoba near Cancun or Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands) offer great on-property restaurants, many activities, a high staff-to-guest ratio, and butler service.  Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers one of the best all-inclusive experiences in Mexico and is very family friendly.  Jumby Bay, off the coast of Antigua, offers an exclusive private island all-inclusive experience, with many on-island activities and multiple themed dinners each week.

Big City Vacations

For multi-generational families looking for history, culture, and a plethora of diverse experiences, nothing beats a trip to a large city.  Paris, London, Barcelona, and Berlin are just a few great options, with many non-stop flights from the U.S., for those looking to travel to Europe.  Large cities can offer something for everyone, allowing sub-family groups to brand off and explore separate interests.  They also provide flexibility for more traditional touring and exploring combined with opportunities to go off the beaten path for more adventurous family members.  Within a large city, there will be many options for luxury hotels that cater to family and multi-gen family guests, including special programs and gifts for the younger family members.

Villa Rentals

Those families wishing to explore outside of a major city might consider renting a villa.  While Italy and the Tuscan countryside is well known for villa rentals, villas are generally available in most parts of the world.  Greece, Spain, France, and Switzerland are just a few options for countries with great villas and beautiful regions to explore.  Villas are a great option for multi-generational families that want the flexibility to branch out and explore on their own.  If the family rents a few rental vehicles, they will have the option to break up and explore in smaller groups.  Many villas management companies can arrange for a private chef, daily cleaning, and pre-stocked refrigerators.  However, villas also provide the flexibility for families to cook for themselves, with branches of the full family signing up for specific meals.

Luxury Cruise

The luxury cruise lines offer many great options for multi-generation families that want to travel well and enjoy a great vacation together.  Similar to a luxury resort stay, a cruise provides families multiple opportunities to explore, since the resort travels with them.  A few options that work well for multi-generational family trips.

• Ship with a Ship:  Offered by a few premium lines including Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian cruise line, this cruising option provides many of the amenities of larger ships, but with the luxury of smaller boutique ships.  The Retreat on Celebrity and the Haven on Norwegian offer private suites areas with a private pool, sundeck and restaurant.  Guests are also able to access all other areas of the ships, offering more activity options for younger travelers and great dining variety at the multiple specialty restaurants.  These lines can also be a good option for multi-gen families with varying travel budgets among the family members.  Some family members can book the suites area while others can book standard staterooms.  However, one watchout is that while guests of the suites areas are able to visit the rest of the ship, those staying in staterooms in the main part of the ship are not allowed entrance to the suites areas. 
  
  
• Luxury Cruise Ships:  Luxury ships offer a more refined experience that everyone can enjoy.  Some luxury lines, while not focusing on kids/multi-gen families, are still able to provide a great experience across multiple generations of guests.  Explora Journeys offers a kids’ club with activities for guests age 6-17.  Its ships also offer numerous connecting suites, perfect for parents and children looking for a multi-suite option.  Regent Seven Seas offers the Club Mariner Youth Program on select voyages (typically during school breaks) with one or more program counselors to manage the kid focused activities.  Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection brings the Ritz-Kids program to the seas, designed for guests 12 & under.
  
  
• Expedition Cruises: Expedition cruises on a luxury cruise line can be a great option for multi-generational trips, assuming no family members have any meaningful mobility issues.  Guests on expedition cruises tend to be significantly younger than on classic cruises and children are more common.  Lindblad can be a great option for multi-gen family trips, as it is very family focused and has special kid programs/activities, including a few separate excursions designed for young cruisers.  Other luxury lines are also very accommodating of kids since expedition cruise guests tend to skew younger and attract families (read about my family’s expedition cruise in the Galapagos on the Silver Origin).  An Alaskan cruise can also be a great option, as it’s a popular cruising region for families during the summer months and most lines are accustomed to seeing to the needs of all ages of guests.

Chartered Crewed Boat or Yacht

A variation of a multi-generational cruise is to charter a crewed boat or yacht.  Ideal for families with up to 12 family members (typically the limit for a chartered boat), a charter is completely customizable for your family’s unique interests.  For larger multi-generational families, multiple boats/yachts can be chartered and sail together.  There are many locations to sail, including the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, The Bahamas, the Dalmatian Coast (Croatia), Greece (though summer winds may limit where you can sail), and Turkey.

By David Barclay | June 19, 2024

When travelers hear the words “river cruise”, their first thoughts are probably of traditional European river cruises on the Rhine or Danube. While these rivers are very popular, with numerous cruise lines sailing multiple ships, there are many other options for wonderful rivers to cruise. Once cruisers have sailed the Rhine and Danube, they may branch out to other European rivers such as the Douro, the Seine, the Main, or even the Dutch and Belgium Waterways. However, river cruising is not restricted to Europe and adventurous cruisers may want to try a cruise on one of the more exotic rivers of the world. The focus of these exotic river cruises will vary depending on the location. Some will be nature intensive, letting guests get close to the wildlife in and around the river. Others will explore the culture and people who live along the river. In either case, travelers will be rewarded with incredible experiences, all while being pampered by the crew and having their luxury accommodations travel with them.

Below is a curated list of exotic river cruising offered by some of the best luxury river cruise lines.

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AmaWaterways (AmaMagdalena)

7-night Magic of Colombia
Magdalena River
Apr 19-26, 2025

AmaWaterways added the Magdalena River to its list of itineraries in 2024 with the launch of two new sister ships, the AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia. These ships were custom built to sail on the Magdalena River, accommodating 64 and 60 guests respectively. The ships are almost identical, however the AmaMelodia replaces the two junior suites and two category B staterooms with 2 larger Grand Suites.

On this cruise, guests will visit a wide swath of western Columbia, and will enjoy a number of enriching excursions including historic walking tours, live music, birdwatching, and boat tours. Guests looking to extend their vacation can add pre-cruise nights in Medellín and post-cruise nights in Panama City.

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Uniworld (Mekong Jewel)

14-night Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong
Mekong River
Nov 12 – 26, 2024

A great way to see Cambodia and Vietnam is with Uniworld sailing on the Mekong Jewel. All Uniworld ships have unique interior designs that integrate the essence of the region they cruise, and the Mekong Jewel is no exception. The suites and common spaces bring an essence of Southeast Asia on board and integrate the cruise experience with the Mekong river and surrounding area.

The Mekong Jewel sails up and down the Mekong River on a continuous circuit. Guests with flexibility on when they travel can pick between traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi or the reverse. This itinerary includes both time cruising on the Mekong, and pre/post time on land visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, and Hanoi.

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Aqua Expeditions (Aria Amazon)

7-night Aria Amazon Expedition Cruise
Amazon River
Sept 20 – 27, 2024

Aqua Expeditions sails two river boats on the Amazon River, the Aqua Nera and the slightly smaller Aria Amazon. The Aria Amazon hosts a maximum of 32 guests in 16 suites and has an almost 1-1 crew to guest ratio. Aqua Expeditions offers shorter 3-night and 4-night cruises, but to truly experience everything the Amazon has to offer, cruisers should consider the longer 7-night option.

Guests arrive and depart Peru from Iquitos and are transported to/from the port in Nauta. Guests will sail on several of the tributaries of the Amazon River. Each day includes small group excursions with the ship’s naturalists and authentic cuisine from one of Peru’s finest chefs.

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AmaWaterways (Zambezi Queen)

12-night Rivers & Rails of Africa
Chobe River
Oct 25 – Nov 6, 2024

For a unique trip to Southern Africa, consider a trip with AmaWaterways. The intimate 28-passenger Zambezi Queen, launched in 2019, sails the legendary Chobe River.

This itinerary combines a 4-night cruise on the Zambezi Queen with a pre-cruise stop in Cape Town, two nights post cruise at Victoria Falls, and 3 nights on the Rovos Rail luxury train. On both the Zambezi Queen and the train, guests can participate in daytime safari game drives.

By David Barclay | June 5, 2024

Although I’m writing this blog post at the same time I’m sending out my newsletter on winter holiday travel options, these warm weather getaways are perfect for any fall/winter/spring travel.  They can be a great option for spring break trips, and traveling outside of the very popular holiday season (roughly Dec 15-Jan 5 each year) can result in meaningfully lower nightly rates compared to the peak holiday season rates.

All-Inclusive vs. Room Only

I’ll devote another blog post to the pros and cons of each of these accommodation option, and how the evolution and expansion of luxury all-inclusive options have changed the vacation option landscape. 

Both options exist in many of the suggested vacationing locations below.  When trying to decide between these two options, there are a few quick questions you can ask yourself to help decide:

• Are you looking to fly & flop and don’t expect to leave your resort, or do you want to experience several off-property restaurants?
  • If you want to stay on Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, you will likely want to wander over to a few neighboring resorts and try their restaurants, in which case you likely don’t want to invest in an all-inclusive option.

• Are you traveling with kids or extended family members?
  • If you will cringe at a half-finished soda or don’t want the awkwardness of having to split up the dining bills among family members, an all-inclusive can be a good option.  You won’t see dollar bills floating away with every half-consumed food item and you won’t care if your cousin Jimmy dines on lobster and steak each night while the majority of the family has chicken and pasta dishes.

• Do you want to know your full vacation cost upfront and not have to budget for extras
  • In this case an all-inclusive is a must-have.  While most all-inclusives offer some extra activities for an additional fee, generally speaking you can have a great experience with the included services and activities and don’t have to spend more while on your vacation.

Mexico

Mexico is a very popular destination for Americans, as there are many direct flights from the U.S. and the country is very receptive to visitors from its northern neighbor.

Riviera Maya

The Cancun area is a very popular destination and there are many nice luxury resorts south of Cancun along the Riviera Maya.  In addition to beautiful beaches and plenty of water activities, visitors can travel inland to see the ruins at Chichén Itzá.

Mayakoba is a well-known property that brings together four resorts (Rosewood, Banyan Tree, Andaz, and Fairmont).  Each resort delivers its unique brand experience and combined they offer a range of price options to fit the budgets of a broad spectrum of luxury travelers.  Guests can dine at any of the 20 restaurants sprinkled across the four resorts and have the meals charged to their room accounts. 

For all-inclusive resorts, the relatively new Hilton Tulum is a great option for both couples and families.  Situated next to the Conrad Tulum, guests can use the Conrad’s highly regarded spa.  For one of the best all-inclusive experiences in Mexico, look no further than the Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo is a great option for couples looking to get away for a long weekend or even a full week.  Properties tend to have gorgeous views of the ocean, but many beaches can be rocky (hard to walk on without good water shoes) and are potentially unswimmable.  Combined with the fact that many resorts have a more mature vibe, Cabo may not be the best option for families with younger children and is better for those with older teens/20s.

Both the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal and Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort are wonderful options with large rooms, beautifully groomed properties, large well-trained staffs, and the gorgeous views Cabo is known for.  If you are looking for an all-inclusive option, you can’t go wrong with the Grand Velas Los Cabos.

Punta Mita & Riviera Nayarit

About 10 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, the private peninsula of Puna Mita is home to a number of wonderful resorts.  While guests can travel into Puerto Vallarta, most tend to stay on property, relaxing and enjoying the warm weather.  Both the Four Seasons Punta Mita and St. Regis Punta Mita are well-know properties on this luxury resort reserve. 

Given the popularity of Punta Mita, One&Only recently opened a property on the undeveloped coastline along the Riviera Nayarit, the One&Only Mandarina.  One of my colleagues appropriately described this property as “Costa Rica and Mexico had a baby” since it combines jungle and beach experiences.

Caribbean

Turks & Caicos

A popular destination for travelers from the East Coast and Midwest, it is an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas.  Guests arrive on the main island of Providenciales and most will stay there.  The very popular Grace Bay is home to many wonderful resorts, including Grace Bay Club, The Shore Club, and The Palms.  Many of the best resorts on Grace Bay are within easy walking distance of each other, allowing guests to easily dine off property.  Resorts on the eastern end of Grace Bay also offer easy walking to the small town for shopping.

For those willing to travel a little farther to their destination, Ambergris Cay offers the perfect combination of luxury and seclusion.  A private island to the southeast of Providenciales, it has just 17 bungalows and 9 villas and offers a luxurious all-inclusive experience. 

Jamaica

While Jamaica is well known for its all-inclusive resorts, it offers a variety of experiences to suit the needs of most travelers.  Guests can fly into Kingston or Montego Bay and then head to their beach resort of choice.  Half Moon Resort on Montego Bay is an excellent option, offering rooms in both the original Founders Cove and the newer Eclipse at Half Moon (which offers extra like butler service and a pillow menu).  Also coming this fall, Half Moon is adding 19 villas. 

Those looking for a villa for a larger group might also look at The Tryall Club, which offers a variety of villas on its 2,200 acres.

Puerto Rico

While Puerto Rico is frequently overlooked as a warm weather destination in the Caribbean, this U.S. territory has a lot to offer.  As a U.S. territory, there are no customs/passport control to pass through after arrival, meaning guests can head to their resorts minutes after collecting their luggage.  Puerto Rico offers a variety of beach/water activities and visitors will want to visit Old San Juan, to tour the colorful lanes, get in a little shopping, and tour the Castillo San Felipe del Morro (the Spanish fort built in the 1500’s).  Visitors can also take a kayaking adventure in the bioluminescent bay, plan a trip to the El Yunque Rain Forest, or visit the nearby islands of Culebra and Vieques.

Guests looking for a truly luxurious experience will want to stay at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on the north side of Puerto Rico, about a 30 minutes drive west of Old San Juan.  From one-bedroom suites to 5-bedroom villas, this resort is perfect for both couples and multi-gen family trips.  Another good option is the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, on the northeastern shores of Puerto Rico. 

The Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles can offer a great experience with a strong Caribbean vibe and uncrowded beaches, for those who don’t need a direct flight to their destination (travelers will likely require a layover in Miami or San Juan). 

For those wishing to visit the British Virgin Islands, the Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda is a perfect choice.  Nestled in 500 acres of untamed natural gardens, it provides the private island experience without needing to go to a private island. 

For an intimate experience with great food & beverage and lots to do, the Park Hyatt St Kitts is a great pick.  Or consider the Four Seasons Nevis on the nearby island of Nevis. 

For a pampered all-inclusive experience, Jumby Bay Island, off the coast of Antigua, has a lot to offer visitors.  The 300-acre private island resort offers 1-bedroom suites, 2-5 bedroom villas, and 4-11 bedroom private residences.  Many complimentary activities are included, as well as all food and beverages.  Special activities include themed dinners three nights per week and snorkeling excursions around the island every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Caribbean Cruise

For travelers wishing to explore the Caribbean, Mexico & Central America coastline but also wanting a 5-star resort experience, consider a Caribbean cruise on one of the luxury cruise lines.  These resorts on the sea are mostly all-inclusive, offer wonderful dining venues and plenty of activities both on and off the ship.  During the winter months, lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas & the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection have multiple ships sailing the warm waters of the Caribbean.

By David Barclay | May 22, 2024

Asia is a great destination for an extended vacation, combining the exploration of food, culture, history, religion, architecture, and nature. However, Asia is big (by far the largest continent) and distances between interesting locations vast (the flight time from Tokyo to Singapore is over 7hrs). Since cruises can cover vast distances in a relatively short time, they are ideal for an introductory exploration of Asia. While some cruise itineraries focus on a specific country or micro-region of Asia, others let travelers visit multiple countries, allowing visitors to experience the uniqueness of each country’s culture and history.

Cruises also benefit from many popular cities and tourist destinations being located on or near the ocean. Combined with the fact that many Asian countries are relatively small and narrow, it’s easy to reach most places of interest from a cruise ship.

A cruise can also be a great option for visiting Japan, as a luxury vacation can be fairly expensive (I made a similar recommendation in a prior Cruise News for visiting Iceland, another very expensive country). A luxury vacation to Japan will easily cost over $1000/per person/per day and can quickly climb to $2000+/pp/pd with 5-star hotels. This makes a luxury cruise look like a bargain.

Most cruises around Asia occur from December to May. While the 2024/2025 cruise season may seem a long way away, recent demand for cruising is filling ships quickly and this trend is unlikely to change anytime soon. As I researched available itineraries to select my curated list below, I found many sailings with only a limited number of suites still available and a few that are already waitlisted. If you’ve been contemplating a trip to Asia and think a cruise might be a good way to travel and explore, I’d highly recommend getting your suite booked before heading out for your summer plans.

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Silversea (Silver Nova)

14-night Tokyo to Tokyo
Mar 26 – Apr 9, 2025

A classic example of a Japan intensive cruise, this itinerary starts and ends in Tokyo, circumnavigating this island country. While this cruise is mostly focused on Japan, Silversea has taken the opportunity to include one port in South Korea.

This cruise is on the new Silver Nova, an exciting new luxury cruise ship with a unique asymmetrical design. Silversea’s door-to-door fares include everything from the moment guests leave their homes until they return, including airport transfers in their home city, airfare, and the all-inclusive experience for which Silversea is known. With non-stop flights to Tokyo from many cities in the U.S., getting to and returning from this cruise will also be a breeze.

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Regent Seven Seas (Seven Seas Explorer)

14-night Iconic Asian Capitals (Hong Kong to Tokyo)
Feb 19 – Mar 5, 2025

This journey from Hong Kong to Tokyo allows guests to visit China, Taiwan, South Korea, & Japan. To give travelers more time to explore and immerse themselves in the culture of the ports they visit, this itinerary includes overnight stays in Shanghai and Osaka. 

The Seven Seas Explorer was the first of 3 new sister ships added to the RSSC fleet and she boasts the latest in luxury and guest comfort. And with the included business class air in Regent’s cruise fares, guests will feel pampered from the moment they leave home until they return.

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Seabourn (Seabourn Encore)

28-night Circle The South China Sea (Singapore to Singapore)
Jan 5 — Feb 2, 2025

For those with ample time to travel, a longer journey can reward the extra investment in time and cultural exploration. This 4-week journey circumnavigates the South China Sea, visiting 8 countries. The longer duration of this cruise allows both the large number of port visits and two overnights (Taiwan and the Philippines).

Guests who are not able to devote four full weeks to a vacation can take one of the 2-week legs of this journey, either Singapore to Hong Kong or Hong Kong to Singapore.

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Azamara (Azamara Pursuit)

17-night India & Sri Lanka Voyage (Dubai to Singapore)
Nov 21 – Dec 10, 2024

An option to cover a lot of ground (and ocean) in a relatively short amount of time, this itinerary spans all the way from the Middle East to Singapore, with stops in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia.

This cruise also includes Azamara’s signature event, the AzAmazing Evening, with “An Evening of Sri Lankan Culture and Heritage”.

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By David Barclay | April 24, 2024

South America is a popular destination for North American travelers for good reason. Even though flights can be as long as flights to Europe, travelers experience virtually no jet lag with time zones generally only one or two hours different from home. Despite a longer flight, they can start their vacation refreshed and energized. The Southern Hemisphere also experiences the opposite season as North America, making South America a desirable destination for late fall, winter, and early spring vacations.

A luxury cruise is a great way to explore the variety of experiences that South America can offer, from rainforests to glaciers, vibrant modern cities to ancient ruins. For example, Chile is a very narrow country with a long shoreline. Traveling by land typically means many short flights combined with driving to see the sights. A cruise up or down the coast of Chile allows travelers to see the highlights of this country, while utilizing an efficient and luxurious mode of transportation.

Some parts of South America are best visited by boat, and some destinations can only be visited by boat. The famous Chilean fjords rival those of Norway and the Amazon River treats visitors to an abundance of unique wildlife, both of which are perfect to visit on a luxury cruise ship.

South America cruise itineraries are common from October to March each year, which means now is the perfect time to consider a cruise for the upcoming 2024/2025 cruise season.

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Below is a curated sample of itineraries available in the upcoming cruise season. The itineraries available are as varied as the countries and geography of South America. Some sailings resemble more traditional classic cruises, with stops at popular cities combined with smaller ports. Others are very much expedition focused, and the luxury cruise lines utilize their purpose-built expedition ships for these journeys.

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Azamara (Azamara Journey)

10-night Peru & Chile Voyage
Jan 23 – Feb 2, 2025

A very typical exploration of the west coast of South America is a cruise from Lima to San Antonio. Offering guests a multitude of experiences, including urban exploration, marine & avian life, stunning shorelines, and the Atacama Desert, this cruise is sure to please many travelers. Those with extra time can plan a few pre-cruise days in Peru (maybe with a journey inland to see Machu Picchu) and/or a few days post cruise in Chile’s capital of Santiago.

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Silversea (Silver Cloud)

12-night Valparaiso to Puerto Williams
Nov 7-19, 2024

For travelers interested in seeing the natural beauty of the Chilean fjords and the southern tip of South America, a cruise like this one on the Silver Cloud will provide life-long memories. Starting in Valparaiso, this cruise sails the coast, winding between the small islands dotting the coastline and sailing up into the fjords. Just like their cousins in the north, these fjords were carved by glaciers and at the end of some of them guests are treated to the sight of these massive sheets of ice (and potentially to a glacier calving, a highlight of any fjord cruise).

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Regent Seven Seas (Seven Seas Mariner)

22-night Rio De Janeiro to Santiago
Jan 25 – Feb 16, 2025

For those with more time, a circumnavigation of the southern tip of South America is a bucket list worthy cruise. Traveling between the capitals of Brazil and Chile, this cruise makes port calls not only in Brazil and Chile, but also in Uruguay, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. It also ventures into several of the Chilean fjords.

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Seabourn (Seabourn Venture)

24-night Wild Guianas, Amazon & Coast Of Brazil
Oct 7 – Nov 4, 2024

If you are a lover of nature and enjoy seeing unique plant and animal life, this could be the cruise for you. Sailing on the Seabourn Venture, one of two purpose-built expeditions ships in the Seabourn fleet, this cruise sails from the Caribbean along the eastern coast of South America and journeys up the Amazon River. Entering the Amazon delta at Macapá, the ship spends 14 days traveling up and down the Amazon. For those with less time to commit to a trip, guests can sail on one of the two segments of this cruise, either from Barbados to Manaus, or from Manaus to Rio, each a shorter 14-night cruise.

By David Barclay | May 8, 2024

Disclaimer:  Barclay & Company Travel is neither a seller nor a provider of insurance.  I suggest you speak with an insurance broker if unsure of your needs & you should carefully review any policy documents to understand the coverage before purchasing insurance.  Below is a summary of what I’ve learned about travel insurance.  This information is provided only as a starting point for assessing whether insurance is right for you.

What is travel insurance and what benefits does it provide?

Travel insurance (sometimes referred to as trip insurance) is an insurance policy designed to provide coverage for both leisure and business travel.  Typically, the policies are purchased to cover a single trip and specify the travel dates, trip value, and travelers that are covered.  In addition to covering the cost of the trip components if the trip must be cancelled for a cover reason, most policies also provide “post-departure” coverage to provide additional coverage benefits while traveling. 

If travelers incur a loss due to a covered reason, they simply submit a claim with the required documents & receipts and the insurance company will process the claim and issue a check to the covered travelers. 

One of the greatest benefits that travel insurance provides is peace of mind for travelers.  During trip planning, it provides peace of mind when travelers are making their trip payments (which for bucket list trips can be substantial).  Making those large payments can be stressful, but travelers with insurance know they are covered if an unfortunate event forces a cancellation of their trip.  If an unfortunate event does occur (e.g. injured family member), trip insurance provides peace of mind to focus on what’s important (seeing to the needs of the injured family member) and not stressing about a large financial impact for cancelling the trip.

Types of travel insurance

This is not an exhaustive list of the options, but some of the more common types of travel insurance available.

Standard Travel Insurance
Every insurance company has a different name for its standard insurance, and there are variations in coverage, but for the most part the insurance covers 100% of the value of the trip if it needs to be cancelled prior to departure.   Covered reasons usually include; injury or death to travelers, travel companions, or family members, a primary residence made uninhabitable, the destination being made uninhabitable, requirement to attend a legal proceeding during the trip (e.g. jury duty), call to active miliary duty, a traveler or companion is laid off or required to move due to work.  Many policies will also cover if a traveler or companion is notified by their employer that they can no longer take vacation due to a business needs, though some policies only include this coverage if the insurance is purchased soon after the initial deposit for the trip (note: entrepreneurs and business owners may not be covered by the standard business needs coverage and may require special insurance riders).

In addition to trip cancellation coverage, these policies also typically provide “post-departure” coverage which applies once travelers have departed on their trip.  Post-departure coverage can include:

• Trip Interruption Coverage – reimbursement for the unused portion of the trip and the incremental costs to return home.
• Trip Delay – reimbursement for incremental costs incurred due to a trip delay.
• Missed Connection – reimbursement for incremental transportation costs due to a missed connection.*
• Loss of Baggage or Personal Effects – reimbursement for lost bags, or if personal items are lost or stolen while on the trip.
• Baggage Delay – reimbursement for the purchase of personal effects if bags are delayed.*
• Emergency Medical Expenses – reimbursement for emergency medical services received while traveling.  Most policies make this coverage primary coverage, which means you can get reimbursed from the travel insurance company and don’t need to involve your U.S. medical insurance provider.  This can be important coverage since many U.S. medical insurance plans do not cover services received outside of the U.S. (Medicare is a good example, it typically won’t cover any medical services received outside of the U.S.).
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains – coverage to transport the covered traveler in the event it is medically necessary.  Coverage usually only applies when the attending physician certifies that the severity of the injuries requires transportation, and that adequate medical treatment is not available locally.  Transportation is usually provided to the nearest medical facility that can provide the appropriate treatment, not to the covered traveler’s home city.  However, even transportation to the closest medical facility can be an expensive proposition costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Most policies provide coverage of $500,000-$600,000 for required medical transportation.  In the event of death, the policy will cover repatriation of the remains of the traveler.

* To provide a real life example of how trip insurance work, take my family’s trip to Spain in 2022.  We were scheduled to fly from Chicago to Barcelona, with a 3hr layover in Miami.  However, Miami was hit with strong storms and our Chicago to Miami flight was delayed 4hrs.  We missed our connecting flight to Barcelona and the first flight our airlines could offer to get to Barcelona involved us arriving 36hrs late and included a layover in the Dominican Republic.  Obviously not wanting to take that option, we discovered there was still a flight out of Miami to Madrid that day.  We took the Madrid flight, and then a high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona.  Of course, our checked luggage did not get transferred to the Madrid flight, and we were not reunited with our bags until 3 days later.  I had purchased insurance for that trip and submitted a claim for the train tickets (~$900 for the 5 of us) and for clothes and other personal items we needed to buy while waiting for our checked luggage (another ~$500).  The insurance had only cost around $250 for the trip, so it was a great investment and made me a firm believer that insurance can be beneficial for travelers. 

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance
Cancel for Any Reason insurance is similar to standard travel insurance, except it also adds coverage for the traveler(s) to cancel for any reason (a non-covered reason).   For a covered reason, these policies cover 100% of the trip cost.  If travelers cancel for a non-covered reason, they typically reimburse 50- 75% of the trip cost.  There are more stringent requirements for CFAR policies, usually they must be purchased within 15-21 days of the first trip deposit and cancellation must be made at least 48hrs prior to the scheduled departure date.  CFAR typically costs about 50-75% more than a standard travel insurance policy.

Adventure Sports
This is an additional rider which can be added to a standard or CFAR policy to cover more extreme activities while traveling that are not covered by a base policy.  Examples include: professional athletic events, motor sports or motor racing, caving, spelunking, free climbing or mountain climbing that requires the use of equipment, free diving or scuba diving at a depth greater than 60 feet or without a dive master, skydiving, BASE jumping, bungee jumping, zip lining, hang gliding, parachuting.

Post-Departure Insurance
This is a variation of standard travel insurance, where you only insure a small portion of your total trip costs.  For one of the insurance companies I recommend to my clients, you only need to insure $250/pp of trip cost.  In the event a traveler needed to cancel your trip for a covered reason, they’d only get reimbursed $250/pp.  But that’s not why someone would get this coverage.  They’d get this coverage to get all of the post-departure coverage, including missed connection coverage, lost baggage, delayed baggage, emergency medical expenses coverage and emergency evacuation & repatriation of remains coverage.  Since the pre-departure cancellation coverage is small, the premiums for these policies are significantly lower than for standard trip insurance.

Medical Evacuation Insurance
This insurance provides medical evacuation back to the traveler’s home city in the event of hospitalization, regardless of medical necessity.  This means even if your travel destination has medical facilities able to provide the needed medical services, you can choose to be transported back to your home city to be cared for by your doctors at your preferred medical network.

These policies can either be purchased on a single trip basis, or as an annual subscription that covers travelers for a full year and any trips they take within the covered period.

Typically, these policies will cover transportation for any hospitalization that occurs more than 150 miles from your primary home.  This means these policies aren’t just for internation travel.  As an example (note: I have an annual policy I renew each year), I have a 2^nd home in Wisconsin that’s 180 miles from my primary home in Chicago.  If I, or any of my immediate family, were hospitalized while there, the policy would cover medical transportation back to Chicago and the Northwestern Hospital medical system.  I have many clients with 2^nd homes who purchase annual policies since they cover any trips to their 2^nd homes in addition to their leisure and business travel.

What to consider when evaluate if travel insurance is right for a trip

There are several things to consider, as not all trips benefit from travel insurance, while others will practically require it.

• Overall Cost of the Trip – expensive trips, such as those on travelers’ bucket lists, definitely need consideration of travel insurance.  Having to cancel an expensive trip creates a large financial impact for the affected travelers.  Travel insurance can help protect against this negative financial impact.
• Trip Cost Relative to Average Vacations – regardless of the absolute trip cost, when taking a trip that’s more costly than your average trip, you should also consider travel insurance.  Think of this as shifting the statistics in your favor.  You may choose to self-insure trips of average cost or below average cost, while insuring those of higher-than-average cost, so you’re hedging against the higher impact trips if you need to cancel.
• Risk of Disruption of Your Vacation – Sometimes you know there’s a low probability of a potential disruption to your trip, and sometimes there might be a heightened risk.  Maybe you have a family member whose health has recently started to decline, or maybe you know your work life could become hectic right around the time of your trip.  In these cases, travel insurance can be beneficial.
• Cost of the Policy as a % of Cost of the Trip – travel insurance can cost anywhere from 3-13% of the total cost of the trip.  There are many factors which impact the cost, including age of travelers, destination, type of trip, etc.  There are a few travel insurance providers which I recommend to my clients that cover kids for free under a traveling adult.  That means when parents travel without their kids, trip insurance as a % of the trip cost might be closer to high single digits, but when they travel as a family it might be low single digits.  When trip insurance only costs 3-4% of the total trip cost, that’s a small price to pay for the piece of mind insurance provides and makes it a great investment in the event of a claim.
• Cancellation Policy for Travel Suppliers – the cancellation policy for the travel suppliers can greatly influence the value of travel insurance.  For a hotel stay with a 1-day prior to arrival cancellation policy and a 1-night penalty, travel insurance probably doesn’t make sense.  But for a customized itinerary that requires a 30-40% deposit at booking and may require full payment 45-60 days prior to travel, travel insurance can make a lot of sense.  The deposit might be due 6-12 months in advance of travel (depending on how far in advance the travelers like to plan) and a lot can happen even in the 45-60 days leading up to travel to disrupt the travel plans. 
• Where You are Traveling – a few things to consider here.  The first is how remote your travel destination is and what medical care is available.  While you may feel comfortable getting medical care in Western European countries, if you are at the tip of South America on a cruise ship about to depart for Antarctica and become injured, you may want to have coverage to get you to Santiago or Buenos Aires and to cover your medical expenses there.  The second is whether it’s required because of your destination.  Many of the cruise lines I recommend to clients wanting to visit the Galapagos Islands require guests to have at a minimum good post-departure insurance with emergency medical and medical evaluation coverage.
• Personal Medical Insurance Coverage – Many U.S. medical insurance policies don’t cover expenses for emergency medical services received outside the U.S.  And if they do, it’s usually at a lower coverage rate than out-of-network coverage in the U.S.  That can leave travelers with large medical bills to pay.  In addition, many health systems in other countries know it’s challenging to get U.S. insurers to pay quickly even if they provide coverage, so these systems will make the traveler pay upfront and wait to get reimbursed when (if) their insurance provider finally pays for some of the medical expenses.  Since the medical coverage provided by travel insurance is primary insurance, and in many cases, the medical systems in other countries know these insurers will pay quickly, showing the intake worker your travel insurance policy many times avoids the need to provide payment in advance of receiving needed medical services. 

What trip components to cover with insurance

When considering travel insurance, you should cover all non-refundable components of the trip.

Tours & Activities
Tours & activities, especially when part of a custom itinerary, usually require a meaningful non-refundable deposit and final payment well in advance of travel, therefore these should be included in the coverage.

Cruises
Cancellation penalties for cruises generally start at 120-150 days from embarkation.  As the embarkation date nears, the penalty increases until reaching 100% between 30-60 days from embarkation.  Because the penalties start many months before the embarkation date, travel insurance can be a good investment for cruises.

Accommodations
Covering accommodations should depend on the cancellation terms.  If booking directly with a property that has a short cancellation penalty window, you probably don’t need to include.  However, you also need to factor in the length of your stay with the property and the total cost, as you may want the trip interruption coverage that comes with a travel insurance policy (e.g. if you need to return home partway through your stay at which point you may be on the hook for the total cost of your stay).

When accommodations are included in a custom itinerary and are subject to the cancellation terms for that itinerary, you will want to include in the coverage.

Airfare
The decision to include or not include depends on your ability to use a flight voucher/credit.  Most airlines will give travelers a credit to use in the future if they need to cancel a flight reservation (and usually without a change fee).  However, most airlines require that credit to be used within a specified time (usually within 1 year of being issued).  If you are flying on your preferred airline and know you could use the credit on a future flight, you don’t need to cover with insurance.  However, if you are booking on an airline which you are unlikely to fly on within the next year (e.g. a regional airline in Europe), you may want to include your flight costs in your trip insurance coverage.

Where to get travel insurance

There are a few options for where to get travel insurance.

Travel Suppliers
These days most big travel suppliers will offer travel insurance, including tour operators (e.g. Abercrombie & Kent), cruise lines, and airlines.  However, the policy terms should be carefully reviewed to understand the insurance coverage offered by these travel suppliers.  Sometimes the policies don’t provide a cash reimbursement for non-refundable payments, instead they provide a future credit to use with the travel supplier.  This is common with some of the policies offered by cruise lines, the policy premiums look very attractive, but only because the cruise line will only provide a future cruise credit (FCC) with the line for any reimbursed cancellation penalties.

3^rd Party Insurance Companies
These are insurance companies that specialize in travel insurance and aren’t associated with any travel suppliers.  Many have streamlined processes for purchasing a policy directly through their websites with only a few trip details required from the travelers.  They also likely have a streamlined process for submitting claims through their website, enabling travelers to track the review process and get quickly notified if any additional documentation is required for their claim.

Licensed Insurance Broker
Some insurance brokers specialize in travel insurance and can recommend policies from multiple companies based on the needs of the travelers.  A good broker can be very helpful when travelers need more than standard travel insurance or have unique needs (e.g. business owners wishing to cover business reasons interfering with their trip).  My back-office partner Brownell has an insurance desk with a license broker, and I typically refer my clients to the insurance desk when they need assistance with complex coverage needs.

When to Purchase

When to purchase depends on what coverage you want.  For standard travel insurance, most providers require travelers to purchase a policy within 14-21 days of the first trip payment, if they want to retain coverage for supplier default, pre-existing medical conditions, and cancellations due to work reasons.  Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance, Adventure Sports coverage, and incremental medical expenses & emergency evacuation above the base amount must also be procured soon after the initial trip payment.

If you aren’t concerned about supplier default, don’t have any pre-existing conditions, aren’t concerned your employer could require you to work during your planned vacation time, and if the initial deposit to the travel supplier is small, you may feel comfortable delaying the procurement of travel insurance.  For example, if you book a cruise with a well known and financial stable cruise line, which only has a $200/pp penalty until 120 days from embarkation (which is likely also when the final payment is due), you may feel comfortable waiting until just before the final payment is due to get insurance. 

How to shop for insurance

Get Recommendations for Insurance Providers
There are many providers of travel insurance, some are better than others.  Some are also better for different types of travelers, as each company has a different method for calculating the policy premiums.  Rates with some companies are determined by the travelers’ ages, which can make insurance significantly more expensive for older travelers with these companies.  Some providers will include one or more children under 18yrs old for free on a policy with a traveling adult.

If you haven’t purchased travel insurance before, it’s useful to ask family & friends who travel if they’ve used travel insurance before and if so, which company they used.  If you are working with a travel advisor, that advisor will be able to recommend one or more insurance providers that they think will be a good match for their clients and their particular insurance needs.

For more complicated insurance assistance, working with a broker (even if a small fee is required) can save a lot of time and ensure travelers get the right coverage.

Compare Insurance Offering
Although travel insurance policies from different providers can have a lot of similarities in coverage, there will be differences in the amount of coverage for the post-departure coverage, what activities are covered without the need of added policy riders, and what events are deemed “covered reasons” for a cancellation claim.  If looking at multiple options, it’s important to compare the components of coverage and also to fully read the policy coverage to understand what is and is not covered.

By David Barclay | April 10, 2024

I’m back from my family’s spring break trip sailing on a chartered catamaran in the Virgin Islands and it was a blast.  Today’s blog post will recap our trip, to give you an idea of what it’s like to charter a crewed catamaran for a week.  As a reminder, when you charter a crewed boat or yacht, the itinerary is completely customized for the guests.  I have highlighted what we did, but if you chartered your own catamaran you wouldn’t have to follow the same itinerary or stop at the same places as we did.

Flight to St. Thomas (STT) and the flexibility a charter provides for managing travel complications

We chartered our boat (named Huntress) from Saturday to Saturday for a full 7-days to take advantage of direct flights on American Airlines from ORD to STT. It is possible to charter boats in the Virgin Islands for different trip durations.  While a week is the standard and charter rates are quoted on a weekly basis, it is possible to charter for fewer days (usually a minimum of 4 days, but this is determined by the boat owner).  It’s of course also possible to charter for longer than a week for those with more time to travel.

When I’m helping clients with a cruise booking (on one of my partner luxury cruise lines) I always advise my clients to fly into the embarkation port at least 1 day early, to buffer against any flight delays.  If you don’t get to the port in time for a cruise, the ship will leave without you and then you are trying to play catch-up at the next port, which is not a fun way to start a vacation.  But since we had chartered our catamaran and knew it would wait for us if our flight was delayed by bad weather, we decided to accept the risk of arriving on the same day our charter began (with a direct flight from Chicago we thought there was little risk of a significant delay and we didn’t have to worry about missing a connection).  So we weren’t surprised when we were informed our flight would be delayed, and even though we took off 2.5hrs late, we were comfortable we had made the right decision.  However, about 40 minutes into our flight, the plane altered course a full 180 degrees.  Soon after making this course change, the pilot announced they had discovered a fuel leak, and we were returning to ORD. When we landed, we were informed our flight would not depart again until the next morning, a full 24hrs after the scheduled departure time.  While we were very disappointed with the start to our trip, we had kept our captain informed of our flight challenges.  Two of our guests had flown down the day before and were already on St Thomas, so they boarded Huntress and the crew took them out to a local cove to anchor for the night.  The next day we finally arrived on St Thomas and took a quick pre-arranged (by our crew) cab ride to the harbor.  The crew had already brought Huntress back to the harbor and were waiting for us at the dock.  While we were bummed at arriving a day late, the crew sprang into action to make up for lost time, quickly getting us on board, supplying us with much needed beverages to take the edge off our travel challenges, giving us a short safety briefing, and then sailing out so we could enjoy our vacation.  Although we had lost a day of our vacation, it was by no means ruined, thanks both to the flexibility of a private charter and the incredible service provided by the crew of Huntress.

Huntress:  A Quick Overview

Huntress is a Lagoon 620.  Lagoon is a well-know manufacturer of catamarans and the 620 model is 62′ long.  The smallest catamarans that are available for charter in the Virgin Islands are around 45’ in length and they can range up to 80’+.  As the catamarans get larger, they typically don’t add more guests, most catamarans regardless of size are designed to accommodate either 8 or 10 guests (in 4 or 5 cabins).  Some 50-52’ catamarans might accommodate 10 guests, but even through Huntress is larger than that, she was built to accommodate a max of 8 guests.  What you get as the catamarans get bigger is more space on board, which means larger cabins, bigger baths/showers, larger covered aft areas for lounging & dining, larger flybridges (the 2^nd level above the covered aft section), more space to store water toys, and more room for additional crew members.  That was one of the key reasons we picked Huntress over several smaller catamaran that were available for charter, we liked the larger cabins (with a larger primary cabin for my wife and me that had a larger shower and dual vanities) and that she had a crew of three (Captain, Chef and Stewardess).  On first impression, I was surprised by the beam (width) of Huntress, she was much wider than I expected and both the bow area by the trampolines and the aft covered area were very spacious and could easily accommodate our entire group (and even one night, watching Moana as our entertainment, both our group and the crew fit comfortably in the aft section with good views of the TV).

As I mentioned, Huntress has a crew of three.  Captain Keagan was responsible for sailing the ship.  Chef Olivia plied us with 3 meals and many snacks each day, and Stewardess Haley brought us drinks, tidied up our cabins and generally saw to any needs we had.  But the crew was also flexible and pitched in to support each other, ensuring we were always well cared for.

Our Itinerary

While there is no prescribed route to sail in the Virgin Islands, for first time visitors the crew will generally try to sail a route that hits the highlights of this island chain.  There are two typical starting points for a charter in the Virgin Islands, and where you meet your boat will likely depend on where it’s harbored (though arrangements can also be made in the charter contract to pick up guests at a different location if needed).  Charters may start in St Thomas, in our case we met Huntress at the Yacht Haven Grande marina, but Red Hook Harbor on the east side of the island is another common starting point.  Other charters may depart from the Road Town harbor in the British Virgin Islands.

Charters departing from St. Thomas will likely also visit St. John but have fewer days to sail the BVI, while charters starting from Road Town will have more time to sail the BVI but are unlikely to visit the USVI.  Here are a few sample charter itineraries, courtesy of my partner Ocean Getaways.
USVI / BVI Yacht Charter Itinerary
British Virgin Islands Yacht Charter Itinerary

The USVI / BVI Itinerary describes a route that begins along the southern part of the Virgin Islands and then loops back to return along the northern part.  Because of the weather and the direction the winds were blowing during our charter, Captain Keagan had pre-informed us that we’d take a different route. We started by sailing the north side of St. John towards the BVI.  As we entered the BVI, we made a quick stop so Captain Keagan could take our passports and paperwork into the immigration office (we stayed on board and enjoyed the first of many wonderful breakfasts) and then we headed up to Jost Van Dyke to start a clockwise navigation of the BVI.

Our desire for this trip was to spend a lot of time sailing, swimming in the water, and playing with the water toys.  While Captain Keagan offered to take us to the Soggy Dollar bar on our first day in the BVI, and to stop at some of the other well-known bars and restaurants, we opted to skip these and spend most of our time on (and swimming around) Huntress.

About half-way through our cruise, the crew inquired if we would like to harbor overnight in the marina of a nearby resort on Scrub Island, which would allow us to use the resort’s pool and spa.  While we had planned to spend most of the time on the ocean, this was an enjoyable break to take in some time on land and let our kids swim in a resort pool.

Meals

Chef Olivia was incredible, and her creations were both beautifully presented and delicious.  Charter rates for Caribbean charters are mostly all-inclusive, which means all of our meals, snacks, and beverages were included in the charter rates.  If you think that means the crew/chef will skimp on the portions or quality of the ingredients, you would be wrong.  In fact, we felt our crew had gone overboard providing us with incredible food.  We had steak, lobster, crab, charcuterie boards on multiple afternoons, plenty of fresh, raw or partially cured fish (poke bowls, ceviche, lox, etc.), and the best bacon twists ever.  Olivia and the crew also had a gigantic snack basket for us with chips, cookies, popcorn, granola bars and other snacks, and to the delight of our children, the basket “magically” replenished itself anytime it looked more than half empty.

One of the advantages of a private charter is the food can be tailored to the guests’ preferences.  We had completed a charter preferences questionnaire about 2 months in advance of our charter, so the crew was aware of our food likes/dislikes and food allergies.  One of our adult guests is allergic to fish and our children also have several food allergies.  Olivia was able to craft a menu for the week that included meals our kids would enjoy, while still providing more adventurous fare for the adults.  When she made the adults her famous poke bowls for lunch, she substituted watermelon she had marinated herself for the raw tuna in the poke bowl for our friend who is allergic to fish, and we all agreed it was a delicious substitution that satisfied his allergy needs while still letting the other adults enjoy a traditional poke bowl with raw tuna.

The crew also knew our beverage preferences and had stocked Huntress with the sodas and alcoholic beverages we had preferenced on our questionnaire.  Haley was an expert in crafting delicious cocktails for us, and when our daughters learned they could ask for virgin strawberry daiquiris, the daiquiris become a daily afternoon treat for the kids.  The crew was also good at restocking as our week progressed.  When they discovered we enjoyed a particular type of wine on board, or we were getting low on a particular soda, Captain Keagan would make a quick trip ashore to purchase additional provisions.

Activities

You may wonder what there is to do for a full week sailing the Virgin Islands.  I can tell you we were never bored, and it was a most enjoyable vacation.  The experience is like a resort or beach vacation, with periods of activities combined with time to relax (lounging in the sun or reading a book).  And although everyone is on the same boat together, everyone doesn’t have to do the same thing.  Some guests can relax while others are more active, swimming or snorkeling in the water. 

Every one of our days involved some time in the water.  If we were sailing past a good snorkeling location, the crew would anchor, we’d get our gear on and head into the water.  Sometimes it was as simple as just exploring around the boat, other times one of the crew would take us on an escorted snorkel, so we wouldn’t miss the best parts of that underwater spot.  While we sailed, there were opportunities to troll for large game fish, and this was the activity my son was most excited to try on our charter.  

Part of our party getting ready to launch the floating island & my son hard at work trying to catch “the big one”

Snorkeling in the beautiful waters

The water toys on board a chartered boat are very important and can make or break a charter experience, so it’s important to know in advance what the boats have when considering which to charter.  Huntress had all of the more common water toys, but also had two battery powered sea scooters, and the crew was happy to let our kids use them.  Once our kids found out about the sea scooters, our crew was swapping and recharging the multiple battery packs on a daily basis.

Huntress also included standup paddleboards and she carried scuba tanks and equipment.  The crew will take any certified scuba divers on up to 3 dives during a weeklong charter (since I was the only certified diver, I opted to skip doing any dives so I didn’t steal a crew member away from being able to take care of the rest of our group). 

One of the other important aspects of picking a boat is getting the right fit between the crew and guests, and for us, we definitely picked the right crew.  In addition to a stellar chef and having a 3^rd crew member to ensure prompt and pampered service, we had wanted a crew that was good with kids.  The crew of Huntress hit it out of the park in this department.  Olivia & Haley happily played cards and other onboard games with our kids (Uno became a favorite for the charter).  Captain Keagan oversaw the water sports and was very good and patient with our children.  He took them tubing behind the tender multiple times, and even tried to teach our kids to wakeboard.  He was always optimistic and encouraging even though for most attempts they didn’t get up out of the water and the few times they did, they only stayed balanced for a few seconds.  But rather than be discouraged, they were invigorated and kept wanting to try again, and we know that only happened because Captain Keagan is so good and patient with children.

Another wonderful part of our charter, for us as parents, is it also provided us with the opportunity for one-on-one time with our children.  This may sound like a paradox, that we enjoyed good one-on-one time while in a somewhat confined area, but it’s true.  I could sit with my son while he fished, at the same time my wife might be at the bow of the ship chatting with one of our daughters, and our other daughter might just be lounging by herself, enjoying the wonderful weather.  There were also many times when our kids were swimming and would convince one of us to jump in.  That parent would get quality time with all three of our kids (of course that only lasted for so long before the other parent would hear all of the laughing, giggling, and splashing and jump in to join the fun).

The Custom Touches of a Private Charter

Any charter crew will tell you their goal is to create an unforgettable experience and life-long memories.  On the pre-arrival call I had with the crew about a week before our charter, I asked if they could arrange a special surprise and activity for our kids.  That request was to design a treasure hunt, where our kids would find an initial clue on board Huntress and it would lead to an adventure/hike on land, culminating in finding a “treasure” at the end.  I can’t recall where I had heard of the treasure hunt idea, but I knew crews of other yachts had planned similar surprises for their guests.

Again the crew of Huntress knocked it out of the park and exceeded every expectation I had for this activity.  They had picked Norman Island for the treasure hunt and given our clockwise route, that meant the treasure hunt was be on our 2^nd to last day, just before we crossed back into the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Captain Keagan and Haley departed Huntress early in the morning, on the pretense that we needed more supplies.  They hid the clues along a path leading to the top of the island and then returned.  As our kids were getting their swimsuits and sunscreen on, the crew put an empty bottle with a message inside by the ladder used to enter/exit the water.  When our kids went to go swim, they found the bottle and opened it to read the message.  Of course, they were a little skeptical when all of the adults (including the crew) feigned ignorance at how the bottle got there, but they were quick to read the clue and start on the treasure hunt.  Haley even pulled out pirate hats for us to wear on our adventure.

Reading of a clue and hiking up to the top of the island

The clues took us to the top of the island where we enjoyed incredible views.  Our kids expected to find the treasure at the top of the island, but as they found and read the last clue, they learned that the treasure was “back where the tenders are docked”. 

Views from the top of Norman Island

They raced back down the hill (with the adults following at a more moderate pace) and after a little searching, discovered that the crew had hidden the treasure under the dock.  The crew had somehow located a very cute Melissa & Doug treasure chest, and upon opening our kids found the best treasure ever, a huge pile of chocolate coins, ring pops, and candy necklaces. 

We returned to Huntress, having thoroughly enjoyed our adventure and our kids proceeded to devour their newfound spoils.

Wrapping up our charter

The afternoon of our last full day on Huntress, we crossed the invisible boundary between the BVI and USVI and anchored once again off St. John.  This time everyone (including the crew) had to go ashore to go through U.S. immigration, but the process was quick, and we were soon back on board for our last dinner aboard Huntress. 

The next morning, we sailed back into the Yacht Haven Grande marina.  It had only been 6 days since we first departed from this marina, but it felt a lot longer, our days and nights packed with a ton of fun.  We finished our packing and Chef Olivia took a few of us to the local grocery store so we could procure lunch and snacks for our flight home.  Then it was time to say goodbye with lots of hugs and a few tears from our children.  It felt like we were leaving behind good friends, and it was hard to believe our time on Huntress was really over. 

The charter after ours was another family that had previously sailed on Huntress and were returning for another week of fun.  After our experience, I can see why chartering can become an annual tradition, an opportunity to bring family and friends together, while reuniting with the crew who also became friends.

The verdict

Our experience on Huntress was exactly what we needed for our spring break, a combination of activities and relaxation, quality time with family & friends, warm weather, and lots of being pampered by the crew.   In the taxi to the airport, our kids asked if we were going to charter Huntress again next spring break and when my wife and I said that was a possibility, they quickly started petitioning for that outcome and haven’t stopped since we’ve returned home.  I must admit, I periodically daydream about being back on Huntress, and if we don’t charter her again for Spring Break 2025, I’m confident it won’t be too long before we are back onboard, creating even more wonderful memories.

By David Barclay | March 27, 2024

Visiting Norway and seeing its famous fjords is a trip on many travelers’ lists. Emerald green waters, beautiful cliffs that rise majestically to tower above the water, glaciers, and snowcapped mountain peaks are just a few of the natural wonders visitors to the fjords can see. But Norway, like the rest of Scandinavia, is very expensive to visit. Luxury experiences in Norway can start at $1,200-1,500/per person/per day and easily climb to $2,000+/pp/pd with a private driver/guide to take you around the fjord region near Bergen.

But there is another option to see the fjords without sacrificing service or staying in 3-star properties to save on expenses, and that’s a luxury cruise to visit the fjords. The luxury cruise lines offer a variety of different itinerary options, with embarkation and disembarkation in a variety of cities on the North and Baltic Seas. Some itineraries focus mainly on the southwestern fjord region, while others travel farther north up the coast of Norway to stop at Tromso, Longer itineraries may include multiple port stops at major cities on the Baltic Sea, either before or after visiting the fjords.

If Norway has been on your travel list and you don’t want to sacrifice the experience while still managing to work within a moderate luxury travel budget, I’d highly recommend considering a luxury cruise.

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Silversea (Silver Dawn)

10-night Copenhagen to Copenhagen
Jul 23 – Aug 2, 2024

This sailing on Silversea is a very common itinerary for visiting Norway and the fjords. The Silver Dawn will embark and disembark in Copenhagen, providing travelers the opportunity to spend a few nights pre- or post-cruise in Denmark’s capital.

The Silver Dawn will travel about half-way up the coast of Norway, visiting some of the most famous fjords and seaside villages.

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Seabourn (Sojourn)

14-night North Cape & Norwegian Fjords
Jul 12 – 26, 2025

For adventure seekers who want to explore the entre coastline of Norway and travel to the far northern tip of Scandinavia, a sailing like this one on Seabourn may fit the bill. Given the travel distances, a cruise like this is likely to last 14-16 days, but guests will be rewarded with incredible sights and experiences as they explore the rugged wilderness to the far north.

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Regent Seven Seas (Seven Seas Navigator)

17-night Amsterdam to Copenhagen
Jun 15 – Jul 2, 2024

For travelers who only want a small taste of the Norwegian fjord experience, but also want to explore other parts of Scandinavia and Northern Europe, a multi-week exploration of the North and Baltic Seas will provide a tantalizing number of different experiences.

This cruise on Regent Seven Seas embarks in Amsterdam and spends 4 days cruising the fjords, before continuing east to visit multiple ports in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland.

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Ponant (Le Champlain)

7-night Norwegian fjords
Jul 6 – 13, 2024

For those with only a limited travel window, a shorter 7-night cruise will allow travelers to explore Norway and the fjords with only a little over a week away from home.

This 7-night itinerary on Ponant is a very common week-long itinerary, with ships traveling from Oslo to Bergen or the reverse. For this particular sailing, guests with extra time can spend a few days in Oslo post the cruise. This itinerary sails on the Le Champlain, one of Ponant’s new Explorer-Class ships.