After being stuck at home for most of 2020 and much of 2021, pretty much everyone I’ve been talking to is itching to travel again. And with the Covid19 situation lingering on, many people are saying they want to travel domestically for their next vacation. I have a great suggestion for those of you who want to cross Alaska off your bucket list — join my friend Sarah and me as we host a Virtuoso Voyages® cruise aboard the ultra-luxurious Regent Seven Seas Explorer.
In case you aren’t familiar with Regent Seven Seas, they are the only truly all-inclusive cruise line where literally everything is included in the price you pay. The small, all-suite ships hold a maximum of 750 passengers and have a crew of 552, which is an amazing guest-to-crew ratio. These ships can fit into ports much smaller than the mega cruise ships — in most places it’s an easy walk-off/walk-on right in the city center.
Every Regent cruise includes all of the following:
- • Free roundtrip airfare
- • Free unlimited shore excursions (which are usually quite expensive in Alaska)
- • Unlimited beverages (including fine wines, beer, and premium spirits)
- • Free dining at specialty restaurants
- • Free access to the Serene Spa & Wellness center
- • Free roundtrip airport transfers
- • Free unlimited Wi-Fi
- • Free valet laundry service
- • Free minibar replenished daily
- • Pre-paid gratuities
- • Port fees & taxes
- • A free one-night pre-cruise hotel package (for Concierge Suites and higher)
The cruise we will be hosting is a 7-night, southbound sailing out of Anchorage (Seward). We will sail the Gulf of Alaska to view the Hubbard Glacier, followed by ports of call in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan before cruising the Inside Passage and ending in Vancouver, British Columbia. The dates are May 25th through June 3rd, 2022. This is “shoulder season” in Alaska where the crowds are much fewer than in the summer months and the temperatures are a bit cooler (in the 50s/60s). However, the locals say this is one of the best times to visit since the hours of daylight are long, the chance of rain is low, and wildlife is plentiful.
After sailing with Regent last year in May and again in October, I discovered that the feel of the ships is quite luxurious, yet relaxed and casual. There aren’t any waterslides or climbing walls and therefore there won’t be any noisy children running around. The evening dress code is “country club casual” so there’s no need to wear anything formal, unless you choose to.
The least expensive, available category on our cruise is the Deluxe Verandah Suite (G2). It includes a private balcony, spacious living area, king-size bed, marble bathroom, and roomy walk-in closet. With the current sale through the end of the month, the cost is $5,949 per person, inclusive of everything listed above. There are many categories of larger suites to choose from so ask me for details and pricing. If you prefer to handle your own airfare (with points/miles or by booking separately), you will receive a $600 per person reduction in the price, bringing the total down to $5,349 per person. Plus, by booking with my agency you’ll receive a $700 onboard credit to your stateroom which can be used for private or upgraded tours, shopping in the ship’s boutiques, spa treatments, the Culinary Arts Kitchen, among other things. This bonus is only available through me and my partnership with Regent Seven Seas.
In the “new normal” of travel that we are living in, Regent Seven Seas is implementing many new hygiene protocols to ensure the health and safety of their guests. This includes continuous ship-wide disinfection and daily fogging of all suites & public spaces with natural, nontoxic oxidants; HEPA-13 medical-grade air filters; the addition of a dedicated public health officer; pre-embarkation health screenings; a staggered check-in process; “no touch” food service at all restaurants; reduced seating in entertainment venues; smaller group sizes on shore excursions; the monitoring of staff & crew with temperature checks multiple times daily; etc. [Click here for another post I wrote about measures being taken in all sectors of the travel industry].
Finally, in these uncertain times, with Regent Seven Seas you will enjoy the flexibility and confidence of Regent Reassurance. Once you have paid in full, you can cancel for any reason up to 15 days prior to the departure date and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit. Note that if the cruise is canceled by Regent Seven Seas you would be able to choose cash back or a future cruise credit (most likely with a bonus).
I mentioned earlier that Sarah and I are co-hosting this Virtuoso Voyages® sailing. Here’s a bit of an explanation of what that means: Around the country select travel agencies and advisors are chosen to be part of Virtuoso®, an invite-only, luxury travel consortium. Every year, Virtuoso® chooses a handful of sailings where their guests get a little something extra. On this cruise, in addition to the credits and savings I listed above, there will be an exclusive cocktail party and a galley tour, plus other perks. There are no extra costs, it’s just a benefit of working with a Virtuoso® travel advisor like me. And although it’s called a “group” that doesn’t mean that you will be forced to hang out with the other travelers. You will enjoy your vacation just like any other you’ve taken in the past — you just know that we are there if you need any assistance along the way.
You can continue your adventure in the Great Outdoors by combining this cruise with an overland trip from Vancouver, British Columbia to Banff, Alberta aboard the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer train. The dates for this 5-night package are June 3rd through the 8th. Ask me for pricing details if you would like to add this to your vacation (or if you are only interested in the train trip). After transferring from the cruise terminal, you will spend two nights in Vancouver at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel where you’ll have plenty of time to explore this stunning city. Then, you’ll travel in “Gold Leaf Service” aboard the train to Kamloops, British Columbia. Along the way, you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the BC Interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Breakfast & lunch are included onboard.
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After spending the night in Kamloops, your journey continues the following morning where you’ll travel east over the mighty Canadian Rockies to Lake Louise in the province of Alberta. You will travel across ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes, and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies. Highlights of this leg of the journey include Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, the climb over Rogers Pass, the Kicking Horse Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels, and the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
This evening you will continue on to Banff where you will be transferred to the world-famous “Castle in the Rockies”, The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for two final nights. A National Park Pass is included so you can enjoy all of the natural sights in the surrounding areas before your flight home.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so check out this video to see some of this stunning scenery for yourself:
If these vacations look interesting to you, click on the “Contact” tab at the top of this page or send me an email to michael@struxtravel.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. I look forward to traveling with you!
