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ISRAEL 2019

By Chris Meyer

We are getting excited about our trip to the Holy Land in October 2019. Ever since Chris got a chance to visit Israel in 2013, he has wanted to return and share the awesome experience with friends.

jerusalem

This nine-day tour (Oct. 17-25, 2019) by Globus Faith Journeys is a great value at about $2,000 per person double occupancy (including travel insurance but excluding flights which will likely be around $1,000 per person). This includes two nights in Tel Aviv, two in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee, and four in Jerusalem – plus expert guidance by a tour director and local guides certified by the Israel Ministry of Tourism and Globus Faith Journeys, eight buffet breakfasts, six dinners, transportation throughout the country and travel insurance.

We will visit Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cana, the Mount of the Beatitudes (site of the Sermon on the Mount), Magdala, Tiberias, a Jordan River baptismal site, and the holy city of Jerusalem for the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Upper Room Last Supper site, King David’s Tomb, Stations of the Cross, Church of the Holy Sepulchre (built on the crucifixion site), Western Wall, Dead Sea Scrolls and Vad Yashem Holocaust Museum.

wall

We will experience the most ancient of lands and the miracle of modern Israel with full-throated narration through the Old and New Testaments. It may seem early to be planning a trip for October 2019, but these itineraries are already filling up. We currently have 20 seats with the world’s largest touring company and largest faith-based touring company. We are thrilled to offer our friends the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in good company and at an affordable price. For details and questions, contact Chris @ chrismeyeroc@gmail.com or (800) 745-4015.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

Oct. 16

Depart LAX

Oct. 17

Welcome to Israel! Check into hotel, and check out Tel Aviv.

Oct. 18 Free day in Tel Aviv, Israel

Shake off jet lag and explore the wonder of modern Tel Aviv before stepping back in time. This day is not officially part of the tour, but Chris, who has been to Tel Aviv, will set up an overview walking tour including the colorful souk (market) where we will find a tremendous array of fresh produce and all types of food. This will be our first chance to sample shawarma, a tasty Middle Eastern pita sandwich. In the evening, we will have a group orientation dinner with our tour director.

Dinner

Oct. 19 Tel Aviv–Jaffa–Caesarea–Muhraqa–Megiddo–Tiberias

Leave Tel Aviv and drive to the old port of Jaffa. Sightseeing continues at Caesarea, an ancient port turned stunning archaeological zone. Admire the restored 3,500-seat Roman THEATER, the aqueduct, harbor, and the crumbled moat and towers from the 12th-century CRUSADER FORTRESS. Next, visit MUHRAQA on Mount Carmel, site of Elijah’s contest of faith with the priests of Baal. From here, travel to the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF MEGIDDO, an age-old fortified town and site of the Battle of Armageddon in the End Times, according to the Bible. Overnight in the lakeside city of Tiberias.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 20 Tiberias. Excursion To Kibbutz Ginosar, Capernaum, Mount Of Beatitudes, Tabgha & Caesarea–Philippi

Today, travel to Kibbutz Ginosar to see the ancient boat at the JESUS BOAT MUSEUM, followed by a CRUISE on the Sea of Galilee. Next, visit Capernaum and see its ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE AND THE HOUSE OF ST. PETER. Travel north to the MOUNT OF BEATITUDES, where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount, and continue to Tabgha to visit the CHURCH OF THE MULTIPLICATION, the site where Jesus fed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves. On to Caesarea-Philippi (Banias), home to one of the springs of the Jordan River and a place where Jesus taught his disciples.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 21 Tiberias–Cana–Nazareth–Jericho–Qasr El Yahud–Jerusalem

This morning, stop in CANA, site of Jesus’ first miracle when he turned water into wine at a wedding. Continue to Nazareth and visit the CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, and of the old village. Leave the Galilee area, drive through the Jordan Valley, and visit Jericho, where the shouts and trumpet blasts of Joshua and his army caused the city fortifications to crumble. Then, visit the Qasr el Yahud BAPTISMAL SITE and ascend the Judean Mountains to Jerusalem, with a stop at a viewpoint overlooking the Old Town.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 22 Jerusalem. Excursion To Bethlehem

Start today by assisting the volunteer organization PANTRY PACKERS in assembling food parcels destined for Jerusalem’s needy. Then, set off on a touching walking tour of Jerusalem’s Old Town. From the MOUNT OF OLIVES, take in memorable views over the city. Descend via the PALM SUNDAY WALK and visit the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, where Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest. Visit the CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS, located next to the garden, then enter through St. Stephen’s Gate and arrive at the POOL OF BETHESDA. Follow in Jesus’ footsteps along the Way of the Cross to the CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE. Walk through the JEWISH QUARTER, reconstructed following unification of the city after the Six-Day War in 1967. Stop at Mount Zion to visit KING DAVID’S TOMB and the CENACLE—the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples had the Last Supper. A special point of interest is the Cardo, Jerusalem’s main street 1,500 years ago. View the unearthed colonnaded thoroughfare with its ancient marketplace. Travel to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus and King David. Visit one of Christianity’s holiest places, the CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, situated on the site where Jesus was born.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 23 Jerusalem

Today, head for the Southern Wall excavations and visit the DAVIDSON CENTER, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the country. Continue with a stop at the WESTERN WALL, the holiest place in Judaism today. Next, visit the GARDEN TOMB, where you enjoy the scenery of the beautiful garden, a perfect place for personal reflection and worship. Then, visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as a scale model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Later, tour YAD VASHEM, the “World Holocaust Remembrance Center.”

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 24 Jerusalem. Optional Excursion To Qumran, Masada & The Dead Sea

Today is free to relax, revisit some of the Jerusalem sites at your own pace, or join an exciting optional excursion to the Dead Sea, the planet’s lowest point on dry land. Travel through the mountainous Judean Desert to Qumran with an included visit to the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada and ride the cable car up to the magnificent rock fortress. The fortification, perched high on a clifftop plateau above the Dead Sea, was where 960 Jewish rebels made their last stand against Roman forces in 73 AD. Later, head for the shores of the Dead Sea, where you’ll have time to experience the incredible buoyancy in the salt water. Return to Jerusalem in the late afternoon.

Breakfast

Oct. 25 JERUSALEM, ISRAEL–PETRA, JORDAN

Drive to Allenby Bridge, where you will cross into Jordan and arrive at BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. On to MOUNT NEBO, where Moses saw the Promised Land and where he is believed to be buried. Next, travel to ancient Madaba, the “City of Mosaics.” Later, see the spectacular BYZANTINE MOSAICS and the precious 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, and visit ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH.

Dinner

Oct. 26 PETRA–AMMAN

This morning, visit the archaeological site of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World®. Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you walk down the SIQ, the narrow gorge made famous in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and stand in awe in front of the iconic Treasury. This afternoon, travel north to Amman for two overnight stays.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 27 AMMAN. EXCURSION TO JERASH, AJLOUN & ANJARA

Begin your day with a stop in JERASH, which was inhabited as early as 3200 BC. Although the city was impacted by the earthquake of 749 AD, it is the site of the best preserved Greco-Roman ruins in the Middle East. Travel through beautiful pine forests and olive groves before arriving in AJLOUN, where Hadrian stayed during the winter of 129-130 AD. Next on the agenda is the biblical city of ANJARA, where Jesus, his disciples, and the Virgin Mary stopped and rested in a cave as they traveled between Jerusalem and Galilee. Today, the cave is a holy place for pilgrims.

Breakfast

Dinner

Oct. 28 AMMAN

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

Airbnb, HomeAway and Hotels

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In our travel business, we hear opinions about vacation rentals (Airbnb, HomeAway, etc.) vs hotels all the time. Some people think vacation rentals are always a better value. Others would not give up the convenience and reliability of hotels.

Of course, the truth is never black and white. That’s why I find this analysis by Money Magazine so intriguing. By comparing hotels with Airbnb in specific markets, the staff provides a good overview of how the lodging types fare differently in different places.

WHERE AIRBNB WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AND WHERE IT WON’T

Of course, these may not be the places you are going. So how do you compare in your destination? Fortunately, my company’s acquisition of HomeAway and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) and integration of their listings into the search engine enables all of us to make a good comparison wherever we are headed.

In a recent conversation with clients seeking lodging in Amsterdam after their river cruise, I shared how we can compare hotels and vacation rentals on multiple factors including price and location. A vacation rental’s price may be lower than a hotel’s, but if its less central location causes you to spend extra money or precious vacation time on getting the the places you want to see, it may actually be more expensive. Similarly, if coordinating with the owner or finding the location becomes cumbersome, it could erode any advantage.

This is not to say that vacation rentals can’t be great in some circumstances. When we took three generations of our family to the mountains, a cabin was much better and cost-effective than a hotel as we all were able to share a large living space, playing games and watching movies But if a couple is are stopping into a city for a quick day or two, simply checking into a well-located hotel may be the ticket.

Click this link if you want to check it out for yourself. You can compare lodging types side by side or even filter to isolate vacation rentals

These are some of the issues Expedia travel advisors work through with you to help pinpoint the exact right experience for you. In one circumstance it may be a vacation rental. In another, a hotel room.

Spectacular Travel Experiences Keep Growing

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The amazing array of travel relaxation, exploration and inspiration continues to grow. And our Expedia expert travel consultants are ready to put all the pieces together for you with exceptional Expedia prices and concierge service. Plus, we are now in Wave season, when cruise lines offer their biggest promotions of the year. The key question is: What travel would you like to take this year (or next)? There are many spectacular options:

RIVER CRUISES: We are experts in this hottest segment of travel, with six members of our team taking a river cruise in 2017. We believe this is the most exceptional way to experience certain parts of Europe, such as the Rhine River, where consultant Jane Shobe is hosting a group in September. With your floating boutique hotel delivering you to one charming destination after another, you have more time to immerse yourself into the culture. Plus time to relax aboard with excellent fresh and local cuisine and time to soak in the 360-degree view atop the ship as you float past castles and vineyards. If you have yet to try this, we can’t recommend it enough. If you have, it’s time to look for your next river. Get a sense for this experience from this post.

ALASKA CRUISE TOURS: You know the 49th state is big, but you might not know how awesome it is. Unless you have been there. If you have not, you should know that his destination consistently exceeds expectations as pictures can not do justice to majestic eagles, massive glaciers, impressive whales and other natural wonders surrounding you. The best way to experience this is a cruise tour that combines the archipelago accessible by sea with exploration of the vast land mass highlighted by impressive Denali National Park. We particularly love Celebrity’s cruise tour packages that come with Expedia discount pricing and through Jan. 31 two perks ($300 onboard credit, beverage package, unlimited internet, prepaid gratuities). Suites offer even more bang for the buck with all four amenities, more spacious accommodations, a private restaurant plus other amenities.

French Polynesia

TAHITI & THE SOUTH PACIFIC: This paradise is more accessible than many Southern Californians realize. Non-stop flights from LAX are 8 1/2 hours. A Paul Gauguin cruise allows you to visit several idyllic islands in luxury at a considerably lower cost than land resorts. Talk about overwater bungalows! This one floats from one awesome lagoon to another and includes two all-day private island parties along the way. Plus, Paul Gauguin’s Polynesian crew members ensure that cultural immersion occurs on ship and ashore. Ask us about our exclusive Expedia group pricing. Learn about the experience at this post.

NEW SHIPS: Innovation in the cruise industry marches on unabated. Norwegian Bliss, a ship custom-built for Alaska and displaying hull art by Orange County’s Wyland will launch as the first brand new ship on the West Coast in many years. You can experience Bliss on a 7-day Alaska cruise out of Seattle during the summer, a 7-day Mexico cruise from Los Angeles during October or repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal and between Los Angeles and Seattle. Elsewhere, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are adding innovative ships to their Florida fleets while highly acclaimed Viking Ocean continues its impressive expansion. Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas displaces its 2-year-old sister ship as the largest at sea with 10-story water slides, rock-climbing walls, Broadway shows and a plethora of other exciting features. Celebrity’s Edge ushers in revolutionary ship design that brings focus on the ocean to more public spaces. Viking’s clean, destination-focused ocean ships continue to visit more ports and more regions.

HOMEPORT LA: Cruise lines are adding more opportunities for Californians to cruise without flying. New round-trip Alaska (12 days) and Panama Canal (19 days) cruises from LA have proven popular additions to existing no-fly cruises – 7-day Mexico, 15-day Hawaii, 28-day Hawaii-South Pacific and 11-day around the world. Not flying means you’re on vacation right away and all of your money is going toward your cruise experience. There also are great one-way cruises to and from LA including Panama Canal, South America and Australia. View the full compliment of Homeport LA cruises here. Call us at (949) 201-4246 to find your perfect adventure without going to the airport.

HOSTED GROUPS: You may want to travel with a fun group from our community in a group hosted by one of our travel consultants. In addition to the Rhine River Cruise mentioned earlier, we are hosting groups on a 9-day Baltic Sea cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway in July and a 10-day Alaska Cruise Tour on the Celebrity Millennium in July. When you join one of our hosted groups, you receive unbeatable preferred pricing, the security of your local host from our team and the added enjoyment that comes with traveling in a group.

So give us a call today to start planning your next adventure. (949) 201-4246.

JOIN OUR HOSTED BALTIC CRUISE

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baltic flyer Chris and Susan Meyer are hosting a nine-day Baltic Sea cruise July 13-22, 2018. This epic adventure combines a fascinating itinerary, amazing ship, and super fun and joyful group to share the adventure. In July 2017, 22 of us had a blast in Berlin, Prague and on a Danube River cruise. If you love exploring with adventurous, fun-loving folks, this is the trip for you.

ITINERARY

Copenhagen, Denmark

Tallinn, Estonia

St. Petersburg, Russia (two days)

Helsinki, Finland

Stockholm, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

SHIP: NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY

26 restaurants

Second City comedy club

Intimate jazz and blues club

Cirque du Soleil dinner show

Rock-climbing wall

Mini golf

Casino

And much more

STATEROOMS (Special Expedia pricing per person/double occupancy)

Inside: $1,523

Ocean-view: $1,680

Balcony: $2,103

Mini-suite: $2,383

Haven suite: $4,499

INCLUDED

Meals

Beverages -including adult beverages

Gratuities

Taxes and port charges

ADDITIONAL

Flights – Norwegian Air Shuttle has non-stop flights between LAX and Copenhagen for less than $1,000.

Optional shore excursions – We will have special Expedia pricing on group shore excursions

7 HOUR LAYOVER IN COPENHAGEN

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By Michelle Meyer

An hour by hour narrative of my first time leaving the airport during a long layover:

HOUR 1 (12 noon): Arrive in Copenhagen. Get off the plane and through the short immigration line in about 30 minutes. Look for lockers in the airport to store our carry-on luggage. Find metro line (luckily this was close to the lockers), buy ticket, get on, arrive in center of town about 15 minutes later. From plane to this photo is approximately 1 hour. So far so good.

HOUR 2 (1pm): After grabbing cappuccino from a cart, we ask the barista for a recommendation on where to head next. He directs us a couple blocks up and says to check out the hippy village called “Freetown Christiana” – a self-proclaimed autonomous anarchist district of about 1,000 residents who go by their own rules. Find a painted stairway on the way, follow it up to an art gallery, look around and take this photo at the table.

HOUR 3 (2pm): Tour through the brightly colored, graffiti filled, hippy town that is Christiana, which has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. We find a small smoke-filled bar, grab a couple of ‘Christiania beers’ and quickly realize we stand out as the only non-locals there. After that we wander some more and find a courtyard area filled with tables and strike up conversation with some locals over another beer.

Hour 4 (3 pm): Leave Freetown, wander towards the canals. Find a pop up art installation and walk in to find a technicolor kaleidoscope. Have fun taking photos inside. Walk over bridges and navigate through bike riders down the walkways that line the canals.

HOUR 5 (4 pm): Explore the streets of Nyhavn, the 17th century brightly colored waterfront lined with bars, cafes and restaurants. Watch a packed party boat go by with a band playing live music and the rest of the boat dancing and cheering behind them.

HOUR 6 (5 pm): Find a restaurant on the water to grab something to eat. Bread, butter, lobster bisque and carpaccio. Relax for a few minutes since we’ve been running around since we got off the flight. Check the time and realize we may have relaxed too long. Quickly ask for the check and get out of there.

HOUR 7 (6 pm): Realize we have an hour until the flight leaves and should probably have planned this better. Nervously laugh as we jog to the nearest metro stop, which is luckily only a couple blocks away. Jump on the first metro heading back toward the airport. At this point we’re uncontrollably giggling as we keep checking the time and go over our exact steps as to what we are going to do once we get off the metro in order to make this flight. I stress to myself that the next time I do this I will plan better and give myself more of a cushion. Get off, run to lockers, grab bags, run to security. Thank you, Copenhagen airport, for having an efficient security line. Get through the line within 5 minutes and run to the gate. We’re the last in line to board but we made it. Stroll onto the plane, take a deep breath, and off to Spain. Layover was a success!

Written by Michelle Meyer

THE JOYS OF A VIKING RIVER CRUISE

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Hungary’s Waterfront Parliament sparkles

By Chris Meyer

What a finale!

Budapest’s ancient buildings sparkled as the Viking Egil took a victory lap along the Danube River waterfront. We oohed and awed atop the ship and reviewed the spectacular week, taking occasional breaks from conversation to capture that perfect angle on the castle, parliament building or some other illuminated structure basking in the limelight.

The week had sped by, but at the same time the start of our journey seemed sort of distant. We had packed so much in since setting foot on this beautiful river ship seven days earlier outside of Nuremberg, Germany.

The whirlwind of sights and sounds seemed a kaleidoscope as Program Director Anthony Papandrea wound down his week of witty narration. Our group of 22, and every other passenger I talked with, agreed that Viking exceeded even our lofty expectations.

Enjoying the scenery atop the Viking Egil.

EXPLORING IN COMFORT

Once we settled in on embarkation day, the advantage of a floating hotel was immediately evident. We hadn’t unpacked our suitcases in Berlin and Prague because of our short stays there and need to move along to the next hotel. We were able to get organized on the river cruise ship and make ourselves at home. Our French balcony cabin was quite compact, but highly functional with a place for everything. Just don’t drop anything in the shower or you will have to open the door to retrieve it. Open the floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass door and the outside floods the room. Watch the river float by from the bed or peer over the rail to watch a lock raise or lower the vessel.

The beautiful restaurant is just down the hall, with the convivial lounge just a deck above and the 360-degree-view top deck just one more flight of stairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere mean the magnificent scenery is always in full view.

Beautiful Viking ships double parked in Budapest.

The ship is marvelously engineered to function at a high level in space constrained by the size of river locks. Similar precision is demonstrated by a crew that constantly keep the hardware polished and passengers well served. The compact galley consistently produces 5-star meals including perfectly prepared chateaubriand, surf and turf (medium rare filet mignon and lobster), and authentic wiener schnitzel on German Night.

Steak and lobster as tasty as it looks.

The Ukrainian captain guides the vessel expertly though locks so snug there are just an inch or two to spare. When Anthony is not explaining what’s upcoming, sprinkling quips befitting the stand-up comic he is in the off season, he’s troubleshooting, quickly appearing in central Vienna after our local guide made an SOS call about a malfunctioning unit broadcasting her voice to our earpieces. He pulled a spare from his messenger bag of tricks and, viola, all is well.

INSIGHTS ASHORE

Vienna, Austria was typical of our stops along the river. After the guided walking tour, we returned to the ship for lunch and ventured out on our own for more exploration in the afternoon. In the evening, we took in a classical concert because that’s what you do in Vienna. In Nuremberg, Germany our guide reviewed the city’s long history from medieval times through its role in the rise of the Nazis and its destruction by bombing during World War II. And finally the rebuilding. One interesting fact we learned is that the ramp over the moat and to the castle gate makes a left-hand turn so right-handed hostiles’ shields would be rendered ineffective.

Picturesque Passau receives the largest chunks of tourists from river cruises.

In Passau, Wolf expertly explained how the charming baroque architecture – in churches and throughout town – reflects the optimism that accompanied improving lives after the dark gothic period. For me, this was the hidden gem of the itinerary, though every stop had its delightful discoveries. In places once behind the Iron Curtain, we heard and saw again and again how the people have recovered since freedom was regained.

Austria’s Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Although this was a cruise, it was quite different than a large ocean ship – and not only in size. There is no casino or glitzy entertainment. An excellent piano player provided a delightful nightly soundtrack and on German Night, a combo with accordion and guitar offered rousing traditional tunes. But the true entertainment was the river. And the places. Each has its own magic. And especially the people.

The Danube winds 1,785 miles from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea. I contemplate the great mass of water flowing. Constantly. It seems calm compared to the upper Arkansas River we went whitewater rafting on last year in Colorado. But its power is documented by lines on buildings marking epic floods that, over hundreds of years have periodically swamped buildings in towns along its shores .

The Egil’s top deck offers360-degree panoramas of pristine valleys, terraced vineyards, picturesque villages, colorful sunsets and constellations. It is a wonderful place to sit, mingle over drinks or move about and take pictures. That’s entertainment!

The captain in his sophisticated wheelhouse.

It’s no wonder people take one Viking cruise after another. We all were talking about becoming repeat customers. I even purchased discount certificates to give to customers of my travel agency.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

River cruises are a great value and a wonderful, hassle-free way to experience Europe. The value is enhanced by Viking’s air specials for early booking. $500 round-trip air from Los Angeles in this case.
Viking offers a high-quality luxury experience in all aspects. I look forward to sampling the ocean product and plan to redouble efforts to market this product to our customers.
Dinner is delicious and joyful aboard the Egil.
Traveling in a group enhances your travel experience. As with anything, it’s the people that make the difference. That includes your fellow travelers, the crew and local guides. We struck gold on all counts. Program directory Anthony called us a “joyful group” in a note me. So that’s my new nickname for us as we truly enjoyed sharing the adventure with each other. Friendships were deepened and new ones made along the way. We’re already planning post-trip get-togethers including possibly a trip to Pasadena to see Anthony’s comedy act.

Want to learn more about river cruises and how our relationship with Viking and Expedia Extras can deliver the best value and make the entire process seamless? Check out our co-branded Viking web site OCViking, email me at cmeyer@ocglobetrotter.com or give us a call at 949-201-4246. For a comparison of the various river cruise lines we book, check out Avid Cruiser.

I will review highlights of our pre-cruise activities in Berlin and Prague in a separate post.

Sunset on the Danube.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters is growing

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…and seeking excellent people to train to be spectacular travel consultants. This video explains it. Contact cmeyer@ocglobetrotter.com for more details.

Baja wine country excursion is a winner

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By Tom Gordon

There’s nothing like a quick three- or four-day cruise to recharge your batteries.

Many people look down on Carnival’s “booze” cruises to Ensenada. Granted the ships are older and no one will confuse Ensenada with Monte Carlo, but the cruises are convenient (if you live in Southern California) and cheap.

But after strolling through the shops of Ensenada, having a margarita or cerveza and seeing the Bufadora (blowhole), what else does Ensenada offer?

On our last cruise we signed up for the Ensenada Wine Country Tour. Who knew?

An hour or so bus ride from the dock are dozens of wineries with acres of vines blanketing rolling hills. OK, Mexican wines aren’t going to challenge those from Napa or France, but they are certainly drinkable — and the price is right.

Carnival’s wine tour is only about $50 and takes four hours. Any age can go, but you have to be 21 to sample the wines.

The first stop was the large, modern L.A. Cetto Winery. After a brief tour, we tasted six different wines. It was a little crowded in the tasting room so get a good spot at the bar first thing. They served crackers and cheese. Afterward, you can buy wine at very reasonable prices. Then as you board the bus they give each passenger a complimentary bottle of their cabernet-melbec blend.

The new stop was Dona Lupe Organic Winery where we had five tastes and delicious pizza in a patio setting with chickens scooting under the tables. Dona Lupe also sells jams and jellies, spices, pastries and hot sauces. When the passengers were back on the bus, the winery owner Dona Lupe hopped on to thank everyone.

Many people bought wines (typical prices in the $6-10 range per bottle). Of course, you have to check those in when you board the ship and get them back when you disembark. There are customs duties on more than 2 bottles, but we packed our bottles in the suitcase and the customs agent really didn’t seem to care much.

The tour guide was full of fun and very informative.

We thought this was a great little tour and reasonably priced. If you like wine — or just want to see the countryside — give it a shot. We booked a tour that left around noon. It’s probably better to get an early tour and they will drop you off in downtown Ensenada for shopping or a drink. It’s an easy stroll back to the ship.

I know the violence in Mexico scares some passengers, but Ensenada seems to have escaped that and we have never felt threatened.

Paradise Lost? We Found It in Bora Bora

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By Chris Meyer

“Aaahh! Woo!” My wife’s exuberance while jet skiing through Bora Bora’s sparkling waters perfectly capsulized our South Pacific sojourn aboard the M.S. Paul Gauguin. Words and pictures (mine anyway) just don’t do it justice. Susan’s happy shout captures the pure delight of a superb experience from beginning to end. First, we immersed ourselves for 11 days in one of earth’s most pristine environments and beguiling cultures. Clear water tinted in vivid shades of blue. Unspoiled tropical islands with picture-perfect calm lagoons surrounded by colorful coral reefs. We floated through paradise – visiting seven islands – on a beautiful ship that made us feel privileged – because we were. The crew was magnificent with the Polynesian contingent providing a warm and authentic dimension. The vessel felt roomy in accommodating 320 passengers. Parked for two days in Bora Bora’s famed lagoon, the Gauguin showed off one spectacular view after another – from sunrise over Bora’s fabled peaks from our balcony to multicolored sunset from our candlelit dinner table on deck.

Our lagoon guide was as colorful as the fish.

Our Bora Bora lagoon guide was as colorful as the fish.

In between we snorkeled, jet skied (watch the video here: jet short) and otherwise explored Bora and the other islands. When aboard, the crew spoiled us with exceptional service and over-the-top delicious food. Fresh-caught ahi tuna was perfectly perfectly grilled. These chefs obviously are well practiced at giving fresh fish just the right amount of heat. They are versatile as well. For a change of pace from the wonderful fish, everything from steak to lamb to stir fry to Italian was as if prepared by one of the very best restaurants in town. The desserts were works of visual and gastronomic art – simply irresistible. Even the included wine was excellent. And the fresh juicer for mornings was just one of many special touches.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE?

Was this the most beautiful place we have visited? The best food we have eaten? The best cruise ship we have ever sailed? These islands are absolutely stunning – in the same league with Alaska, the Italian Riviera and western Ireland – each magical in its own way. If our taste buds had better memories, we might be able to proclaim that we had our best meals ever aboard the Gauguin. Suffice it to say they were among our best meals and definitely the best on a cruise ship. I think we’re spoiled for life. (On our next experience aboard a cruise ship, we found ourselves commenting on how the food fell far short of PG.)

The Gauguin lacks the bells and whistles of today’s megaships (it has one blackjack table, a tiny gym and no Las Vegas shows). That’s okay because it is small enough to get right in the middle of breathtaking lagoons, has a casual elegance and gives passengers a sense of privilege – albeit unpretentious. Who needs waterslides when you can snorkel Bora Bora or climbing walls when you can hike to the top of Moorea’s Magic Mountain for a view that inspired its name? And no crowds! I’d rather walk a deck surrounded by paradise than labor on a treadmill inside a fancy gym. Ah, nature’s bells and whistles!

Overwater bungalows are alluring but stationary.

The Paul Gauguin was the perfect venue for the ultimate exploration of Polynesia (that can be done in less than two weeks, that is). Sure, those overwater bungalows are alluring. But they also are stationary. When your floating 5-star hotel transports you from one gorgeous place to the next, you see more and explore more in a relaxing way, mostly eating, sleeping and being entertained en route.

Remote One Foot Island is beautifully unspoiled.

Susan enjoying the fruits of Gauguin’s private motu party

Paul Gauguin’s private beach party day on a motu off the island of Taha’a was a fantastic way of experience the South Pacific beach life. (A motu is a small island, typically a part of a barrier reef that has broken above sea level). Giant pina colladas in coconut shells, warm Polynesian hospitality and music, a beautiful beach, warm water, sensational view, and typically great food (this time grilled on the motu). Not the greatest snorkeling here, but by this time we had already hit the jackpot. So it was great to simply enjoy a great Polynesian beach party. The lagoon excursion to Aitutaki’s One Foot Island, a motu in the orbit of one of the two Cook Islands we visited, had gotten us off to a good start as far as underwater activity is concerned. But Bora Bora – with fish, sharks and stingrays – was what we will measure all future snorkeling by.

Author James Michener did not exaggerate when using superlatives to describe this magnificent lagoon. On our Wave Runner circumnavigation we viewed its signature peaks from every angle while splashing through the most spectacular shades of blue water imaginable. For two days, we experienced this magical place from eye-opening sunrise to jaw-dropping sunset, culminating in a candlelight dinner on the Gauguin’s deck with creation’s magnificence in every direction. If Eden’s garden had a lagoon, this is how I would picture it.

THE VALUE OF PAUL GAUGUIN

You might blanch at the price of a Paul Gauguin cruise. This definitely is not a bargain basement kind of thing. But it is a relative bargain. Consider what’s included:

Round-trip airfare from LAX. And it’s 8 1/2 hours non-stop, not a short hop but closer to California than Europe and closer than many people think.
All food – and not just cruise food. From expertly prepared fresh fish to masterful desserts, it’s top-of-the-line cuisine at every meal.
All drinks – from pina coladas in coconut shells to cappuccino and bottled water, there are no surcharges.
Prepaid gratuities – although the service is so over the top that you may feel guilty and want to slip someone some extra cash. Don’t fret, though. The cruise director tells me that Paul Gauguin attracts a veteran crew that stays for long tenures because of great pay and working conditions.

Figure all that in and the Gauguin, while not a cheap cruise, offers a lot of bang for the buck. When you do the math, PG is significantly less expensive than the 5-star resorts.

Although the ship has just a few variations of the same itinerary, the experience leads to repeat customers – the ultimate measure of success. One travel industry colleague told me she and her husband loved it so much it’s on their re-bucket list. Michael Shapiro, the cruise director, told me Gauguin gets a lot of repeats.

I met several onboard including a man from Nova Scotia, Canada, who was on his sixth Gauguin cruise. Why? Everything, especially the crew. He told a story that epitomizes absolute excellence for him. On the first dinner of his first visit, the maitre de, a perpetually smiling man who still holds the position, stopped by after the meal to ask how the table found it. He detected that my friend was less enthusiastic than the others. Upon further inquiry he learned that Mr. Nova Scotia liked his food spicier than it had been prepared. The maitre de then took it upon himself to make sure that subsequent meals had just the right amount of heat. Then, a couple of years later when the Nova Scotia couple returned for their second Paul Gauguin cruise, the maitre de pulled out a paper sack containing a bottle of home-made hot sauce from his wife back in Brazil. The bottle was to take back to Nova Scotia. The chef had some more to be applied to this man’s meals while aboard. Wow!

THE ISLANDS: BEAUTIFUL AND REMOTE

Despite their renown, the southern stretches of Polynesia are on the quaint side. The Intercontinental Tahiti is a beautiful hotel, a kind of vintage Hawaii, which I prefer to the high rises of Waikiki and Ka’anapali. But it is interesting how islands as beautiful as their counterparts to the north are so off the beaten path, uh, current. Hawaii attracts more visitors in a month than French Polynesia attracts in a year. I’m not complaining. My favorite Hawaiian island is Kauai because of its relative quaintness. Likewise, south Polynesia’s relative underdevelopment only feeds the mystique and allure. Like those Paul Gauguin repeaters, I once thought of this as a once-in-a-lifetime kinda trip. Now, although privileged to have been there, I’m plotting to return.

Cook Island Rarotonga is far from just about everywhere.

Want to learn how you can acquire your own ticket to paradise? Call (800) 745-4015 or email cmeyer@cruiseshipcenters.com and ask about our Expedia discounts on Paul Gauguin cruises.

Getting the most for your cruise dollar

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The Orange County Register asked me for ways to save money on cruises. Here’s what I wrote.

Your cabin: The obvious way to save serious money is by booking an inside cabin, which typically costs hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars less than one with a balcony.

I have friends who don’t drink alcohol and always book inside cabins. They brag that they are visiting the same ports, eating the same food and sharing the ship’s public areas with those who paid much more. Absolutely true, and yet cruise lines see the highest demand for balcony cabins – so much so that the architects and engineers are working overtime to cram more moderately priced balconies onto new ships. To most people a private opening to the sea is integral to the cruise experience, so they will save in other ways.

Timing: One of the biggest myths about cruising is that you always get a better deal if you wait until the last minute. But it depends on whether the cruise lines are filling ships easily or are desperate to fill a bunch of empty cabins. And that’s hard to predict – for the cruise line and for you.

While you can score some killer deals on “distressed inventory” at the last minute, there is no guarantee it will be there. Last-minute tactics make sense only when 1) you don’t care whether you go or not and 2) you can drive to the port. If you have to fly, last-minute airfare costs can easily offset whatever cruise saving is available.

We find that booking early is usually most cost-effective. Cruise lines have early-booking bonuses. The cheapest cabins in each category – balcony, inside, ocean-view, suite – sell first. If something better comes along, you can often adjust your booking to include it. Or cancel and rebook, as deposits are usually fully refundable until final payment.

Traveling at times of lower demand can also save money. European river cruises are cheaper in March and November, when the weather is iffy. Every region has its high and low season.

Travel retailers have a certain number of date-specific groups each year based on their volume. When you book into one of these groups, you will get lower pricing and/or more amenities (such as onboard credit) than if you booked directly from the cruise line. For example, one customer who was booked into a group recently paid $150 per person less and received $25 per person more onboard credit for a Greek isles cruise. Travel agents will usually ask you how flexible your dates are to try to get you this advantage.

The Flowrider gives you a surf-like experience while on the ship.

Ships: Older ships tend to be cheaper than the newer ones. So if you can do without the latest bells and whistles, you can often do the same itinerary for less. This is especially true in the Caribbean, where a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships can be considerably less expensive than on the huge and hugely popular Oasis of the Seas.

Find a travel partner: Cruise pricing can be brutal on solo travelers, who are (often) charged the price of a cabin for two. There are some exceptions, but singles with travel partners are better off because they have broader choice.

Communications: Ship-to-shore communication has long been balky and expensive. This is changing as Carnival and Royal Caribbean are investing millions in improving their Internet service and pledging to make the price reasonable. Still, it’s not a bad idea to conserve Internet time you pay for by the minute and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi hotspots that are usually steps from the cruise dock in a Starbucks or bar.

Phone service is another issue, as international roaming charges can put a serious dent in the college fund. Always check with your service provider to learn if it makes sense to buy a short-term plan or wing it. And make sure your phone is not roaming all the time when out of the U.S. (You can use airplane mode.) We usually buy a ship Internet package and communicate with family and work colleagues by email and Facebook. We forgo mobile phone plans as we would only make voice phone calls in emergencies.

Portofino

Shore experiences: Some travelers insist they can always spot a savvy, honest and affable cab driver who will provide a better tour than any organized shore excursion, while others believe their time in port is too short to take chances. Avoiding organized shore excursions is definitely a way to save money. However, a devoted Catholic would surely want to book in advance for her time in Rome, a skip-the-line tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with possible papal audience. On the other hand, picturesque Portofino lends itself to simply rambling about freely.

A good rule of thumb is to plan ahead and allot funds for the ports that matter most to you and economize on those of lower priority.

Drink: If you don’t have a beverage package included through a special offer, you can take up the cruise lines’ offer to bring a bottle of wine aboard. If you open the bottle in your cabin, you avoid corkage fees. Otherwise, you’re paying retail for a glass of wine. Sodas also come with an extra charge (except on upscale Disney and other high-end cruise lines). If you or your kids drink lots of soda, soda packages can be a good value. I prefer to mix the iced tea and lemonade, which are typically included, and drink Arnold Palmers. Probably healthier, too. Many mainstream cruise lines also charge for bottled water, even though the tap water has gone through an onboard desalination and purification system.

Loyalty programs: These are quite robust, and lines offer powerful incentives to entice you to book your next cruise while enjoying your current one. Some programs are even reciprocal within a cruise company’s family of brands (i.e., Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara). Over time, these have very valuable benefits. But it takes multiple cruises and thousands in spending for them to get beyond an invitation to the captain’s cocktail party and $50 onboard credit.

Globetrotter Chris

FACILITATING JOYFUL TRAVEL SINCE 2012

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Getting the most for your cruise dollar