John Anderson, P. Eng., MBA Travel Consultant

08/29/2022

Traveling down the Sognefjord on a high speed ferry down to Bergen Norway

02/21/2022

UNIWORLD RIVERBOAT SPECTACULAR EUROPE CRUISE

Discover the best of Europe on one grand journey from the North Sea to the Black Sea.

A few years ago, Judy, my wife, and I thoroughly enjoyed a spectacular 25 day River Boat cruise down the Rhine, Main, and the Danube Rivers with Uniworld cruises. The scenery and history were outstanding and traveling onboard a Uniworld riverboat with their first-class service, attention to every detail, gourmet food, and 5-star accommodations was a real joy to experience. Uniworld is certainly one of the very best river cruiselines out there.

For centuries, people have dreamed of linking the great rivers of Europe, making it possible to travel by water across the continent between the Black and North seas. Today that dream is a reality. Prepare for the cruise of a lifetime as you travel the length of Europe through eight nations, exploring wonders of the Old World and the New, the East and the West.

Sail the romantic Rhine, the serene Main and the captivating Danube, witnessing dazzling natural beauty and incomparable architectural feats. Visit no fewer than five capital cities (Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest) and a dozen towns and villages, with time to explore each. Enjoy numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the castle-dotted Upper Middle Rhine Valley and magnificent Cologne Cathedral.

From Amsterdam to Bucharest, you’ll visit the best of Europe with its spectacular architecture and stunning history on this truly remarkable journey.

01/24/2022

Come and join me on an 18-day cruise around Australia in March 2023 on Princess Cruises. Fly into Sydney and spend a few days touring this wonderful city. Then fly to Tazmania for a tour of this unique island for 3-4 days. We then fly to Melbourne for 3-4 day tour of this very scenic city. Next onto Adelaide and Kangaroo Island for a 3-4 day visit and finally fly to Perth for a 5-day visit including Margaret River. We then start our 18-day cruise around Australia ending in Sydney, where we leave for our flight home. There is another option where you start this same cruise in Perth and then 28 days later you end up back in Perth after going all the way around Australia. Princess Cruises is one of the most popular cruise lines out there. For more information, contact me at [email protected].

01/10/2022

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/northern-fjords-cruises/oslo-to-london-SIR220830/?sr=%2Fcruise-finder%23time_frame%3D2022-8%26marketing_region%3Dbalticandscandinavia%7Cnorthernfjords%26ship%3DSIR%26sort%3Dfeatured%3Adesc%26page%3D1%26pageSize%3D10

This summer my wife and I are taking an 18 day Norway/Russia/Denmark/Scotland/England ultra-luxury cruise on one of Oceania's ships - the Sirena. This cruise line offers exceptional value because the Sirena only takes 698 passengers, offers outstanding dinning experience and shore excursions, a high crew to guest ratio, a very welcoming and respectful atmosphere, very appealing accomodations with many of the staterooms having balconies. In addition, due to the size of the ship, it can go into several ports of call that the larger ships cannot enter.
Due to the popularity of this outstanding cruise and itinerary, this cruise sold out months ago, but there is a similar cruise in 2023. If you want to know more, you can contact me at [email protected].

01/10/2022

PerryGolf Vacations

PerryGolf was founded in 1984 to arrange the best Custom Tours possible to Scotland. We have expanded our portfolio since then to include ten additional destinations including Ireland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. These entirely personalized golf and travel vacations remain the mainstay of our business today.

Outstanding golf experiences at worldwide golf courses with PerryGolf. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.

01/10/2022

https://vimeo.com/589350855

PLAY THE GAME. CRUISE THE WORLD.
Experience the finest golf in the world’s most memorable destinations with Azamara® and PerryGolf™

Azamara Cruises offers you the opportunity to take an ultra-luxury cruise and also play some of the finest golf courses in the world.

Azamara Cruises has published their 2022, 2023, and 2024 itineraries for the cruises that combine a very enjoyable cruise and an outstanding golf experience.

I will provide all the arrangements for the cruise and golf including the cruise, golf, flights, hotels, transfers, and any pre and post excursions that you may want to take.

Contact me at [email protected] for more information

Golf Cruising with PerryGolf and Azamara is a true luxury golf & cruise combination. The reputation we've established since 1984 as one of the most innovative…

12/09/2021

Another opportunity to enjoy a Mediterranean cruise, this time on a Silversea cruise ship, and attend the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race. Silversea ships typically have a maximum of 398 guests and all accommodations are suites. Silversea ships are more like large yachts than cruise ships.
All travel arrangements including the cruise, flights, attendance to the race, transfers, any required hotel and excursions before and after the cruise can be arranged by myself.
Inquires welcomed.

12/09/2021

Opportunity to attend the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix Formula race during an ultra Premium Mediterranean cruise on one of two Azamara Cruises ships.

Azamara Pursuit ship
6 day cruise (Barcelona to Barcelona) May 26 to May 31, 2022. Azamara Pursuit docks at Nice on May 29 at 7:00 am and a short bus ride to Monte Carlo to attend the Monaco Grand Prix race on Sunday. The ship departs at 9:00 pm

Azamara Quest ship
10 day cruise ( Barcelona to Barcelona) May 26 to June 04, 2022. Azamara Quest docks at Nice on May 29 at 7:00 am and a short bus ride to Monte Carlo to attend the Monaco Grand Prix race on Sunday. The ship departs at 9:00 pm.

I can book your Azamara cruise, flights, hotels, transfers, tickets to the Monaco Grand Prix race, and any pre and/or post-cruise excursions you want to take.

Azamara has also published dates for the Mediterranean cruises that allow their guests to attend the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race

10/11/2021

Our 7 day September cruise of the Greek Islands on the ultra-premium 700 passenger Azamara Quest, was very memorable as we visited the islands of Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete, Cyprus, and Santorini. The welcoming atmosphere, outstanding personalized service, fine dining, elegant staterooms, and well-chosen itineraries are all characteristics of the Azamara Cruise line. Pictures of Azamara Quest in the background and tied up at the pier, the iconic windmills on Mykonos, and the pool deck on the ship. Azamara's detailed attention to the safety and health ( covid) of all guests and crew was very noticeable and commendable. I understand all crew and guests had to be fully vaccinated and Azamara conducted a rapid covid test on all crew and guests before boarding the ship and, at no cost to the guests, a PCR covid test upon leaving the ship for the flight home. Kudos to Azamara.

10/05/2021

Just got back from a trip to Greece. Spent 3 days in Athens and then a 7 day cruise of the Greek islands on the Azamara Quest. Pictures of the Acropolis in Athens and one of our shore excursions to the island of Santorini. Great weather and lots of history.

02/15/2021

DISNEY CRUISE LINE CARIBBEAN Cruise

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Day 1 Port Canaveral, Florida Aboard: 3:45 PM
Day 2 Day at Sea
Day 3 Cozumel, Mexico Ashore: 8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Day 4 Grand Cayman Ashore: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Day 5 Falmouth, Jamaica Ashore: 7:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Day 6 Day at Sea
Day 7 Disney Castaway Cay Ashore: 8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Day 8 Port Canaveral, Florida Disembark: 7:30 AM

What's Included in the price of a Disney Cruise:

Live Shows & Deck Parties
Pools, Waterslides & Recreation
Spacious Staterooms
Upscale, Casual, & 24-Hour In-Room Dining
Adult-Exclusive Activities

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE

Ready to return to the sea? Book with peace of mind, knowing there are new options available on select sailings that allow you to change your sail date or receive a full refund.

02/15/2021

WINDSTAR CRUISES

https://www.windstarcruises.com/

Windstar Cruises offers two classes of small ships on which to book your next very scenic and enjoyable vacation.

Windstar has 3 Sailing Yachts - the Wind Surf which can cruise with 342 guests, the Wind Spirit sails with 148 guests as does the Wind Spirit. These 3 Sailing yachts can travel to destinations where the larger cruise ships cannot go and they often sail utilizing up to 80% wind power.

The other 3 ships in the Windstar fleet are classified as all-suite ships - Star Pride, Star Breeze, and Star Legend. All three can sail with 312 pampered guests and like their 3 sister Sailing yachts, they often visit less traveled destinations thus avoiding the large crowds experienced when cruising with larger cruise ships.

02/12/2021

QUARK EXPEDITIONS - Cruise ships designed for ANTARCTIC

https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/ca/expeditions

Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
If this is your first visit, our classic Antarctic Explorer voyage gives you the best of the stunning Antarctic Peninsula in 11 days. Conquer the famed Drake Passage in your choice of four stabilized, polar-class vessels; explore majestic natural environments by zodiac and on foot; get up close and personal with penguins, whales and other wildlife; and enjoy talks on history, biology and glaciology by onboard polar experts.

Itinerary summary

Duration 11 or 12 days

Starting Price CA$9,540 CAD

Departing From Ushuaia, Argentina; Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ultramarine expedition vessel
The newest addition to our fleet, the 199-guest Ultramarine will be equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, spacious suites, wellness amenities and numerous outdoor wildlife viewing spaces.

02/11/2021

AZAMARA GOLF and CRUISE on the AZAMARA JOURNEY

17-Night New Zealand & Australia Golf
Azamara Journey® | Departing: February 5, 2022

The link below takes you to the Azamara webpage for more information on this cruise

https://www.azamara.com/en-ca/voyage/jr17k029/17-night-new-zealand-australia-golf

2022 NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA GOLF CRUISE WITH PERRYGOLF™
POST-CRUISE OPTION – Sydney plus Golf at The Lakes & New South Wales

Azamara® is proud again to partner with PerryGolf, one of the game’s most innovative providers of international golf vacations, for this 17-night, 6-round voyage to New Zealand and Australia onboard the Azamara Journey.

We begin in Auckland on the North Island for an overnight sail to the Bay of Islands and our first round at Kauri Cliffs, a regular among the worlds’ top 50 clubs. This region is home to the Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people. Next, we sail overnight again for Tauranga where our golfers, along with any non-golfing spouse who wish to go (at a reduced supplemental cost), will enjoy a 2-round, 1-night overland excursion to play The Kinloch Club near Lake Taupo plus Tom Doak’s astounding Cape Kidnappers in Napier. Our next two days are enjoyed sightseeing in Wellington then Nelson and Picton on the South Island. Golf resumes in at Christchurch, the second oldest club in New Zealand dating to 1873 where Sir Bob Charles is the Club Patron. After our visit to Dunedin, we will sail through spectacular Milford Sound followed by two relaxing days at sea en route to Tasmania. Next, in Melbourne, golfers will play Moonah Links Legends Course, a links style layout built to honor past champions who have contributed to Australia’s rich golf history. Sightseers will want to visit St. Kilda, a seaside suburb home to Luna Para, Fitzroy Street and the city’s famous beach. Eden, Australia on the Sapphire Coast is next before we reach Sydney, our final destination, for a full day and night to explore this iconic city.

Every aspect of the golf program is fully managed by PerryGolf’s staff onboard and ashore. Your clubs will be ready and waiting at each venue. Tee times and pairings are arranged and posted in advance. Carts are always included, subject to availability. A snack lunch is included at the course along with an open bar after the round.

Golf Package Details

2022 NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA GOLF CRUISE
POST-CRUISE OPTION – Sydney plus Golf at The Lakes & New South Wales

Azamara® is proud to partner with PerryGolf™ for an exceptional golf and sightseeing voyage around New Zealand and Australia onboard Azamara Journey℠. This luxury golf voyage begins in Auckland and ends in Sydney after 17 nights, 13 ports including Napier and Melbourne and 6 rounds of golf. Play includes Cape Kidnappers, a Tom Doak masterpiece ranked No. 1 in New Zealand; Kauri Cliffs, perched along cliff tops atop a dramatic coastline with 15 holes overlooking the Pacific Ocean; The Kinloch Club which is an exceptional links style Jack Nicklaus Signature Course; Christchurch Golf Club, the second oldest in New Zealand, which is challenging for the professional and club player alike; Otago Golf Club, one of the oldest clubs in the Southern Hemisphere founded 1871; and Moonah Links Legends Course, another links layout that pays homage to great champions of golf.

Throughout the voyage, PerryGolf’s cruise staff will be onboard and ashore to oversee all aspects of your golf experience, from tee times and daily pairings to the handling of your golf clubs.

Departing: 5 February 2022
Duration: 17 Nights
Ship: Azamara Journey℠
Golf: 6 Rounds

GOLF
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course: Matauri Bay, New Zealand
The Kinloch Club: Taupo, New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers Golf Course: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Christchurch Golf Club: Christchurch, New Zealand
Otago Golf Club: Dunedin, New Zealand
Moonah Links Legends Course: Fingal, Australia



PRICING
Golf package, the price per person: $4,395
Our golf packages are in addition to the cost of your selected suite or stateroom

GOLF PACKAGE INCLUDES
Green fees and starting times for the number of rounds as indicated including shared use of electric golf cart where available
All transfers to and from the scheduled golf courses in luxury air-conditioned motor coaches
Practice range and range golf balls where available
Welcome and Farewell onboard cocktail parties with hors d’oeuvres
Box lunch at each golf course with open bar for soft drinks, beer, and wine
“Golfers Social” gatherings on board where scheduling permits
Casual tournament format with awards on one day
Management and handling of golf equipment by PerryGolf™ for the duration of the voyage
All gratuities for golf related staff including drivers and golf bag handling staff
Full-time PerryGolf™ program manager on board and onsite at each golf venue
Golf Courses: The included list may be subject to change in the event of any club accepting any conflicting national or international event, or for any other reason. Should such a situation occur, PerryGolf™ will endeavor to book a course of comparable standard, and all booked guests would be notified of the change and replacement venue at the earliest opportunity.

Transfers: No transfers are included to or from the ship at arrival/departure airports.

Book this package with PerryGolf™ by calling 1-800-344-5257 or by emailing [email protected].

02/09/2021

AMA WATERWAYS RIVERBOAT CRUISE - "MAGNIFICENT EUROPE"

14 NIGHT CRUISE FROM AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST

Below is the link to view what is included in the cruise
https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2021/magnificent-europe/whats-included

Below is the link to provide more information on one of AMA Waterways riverboats - the AMABella.
https://www.amawaterways.com/ships/amabella-river-cruise-ship

Follow the route of emperors, kings, and queens on a magnificent European journey along three rivers and through five fascinating countries. The natural wonders of the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers yield way to countless UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Cologne’s Gothic Cathedral, the Würzburg Residenz Palace, the charming Old Towns of Bamberg and Regensburg, and the Melk Abbey—to name a few. Whimsical delights from Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim to the crooked houses in Miltenberg will enchant. Connoisseurs of fine wines get to taste the difference between German and Austrian Rieslings, and gourmets get to indulge in Western and Eastern European specialties. And for active enthusiasts, you will get to hike and bike through breathtaking scenery in Passau and Vienna. All of this and more awaits on one all-encompassing magnificent journey.

COUNTRIES: AUSTRIA, GERMANY, HUNGARY, NETHERLANDS, SLOVAKIA

RIVERS: RHINE, DANUBE, MAIN

ITINERARY
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – EMBARKATION
DAY 2 AMSTERDAM
DAY 3 COLOGNE, GERMANY
DAY 4 RHINE GORGE – RÜDESHEIM
DAY 5 MILTENBERG – WERTHEIM
DAY 6 WÜRZBURG
DAY 7 BAMBERG
DAY 8 NUREMBERG
DAY 9 NUREMBERG
DAY 10 REGENSBURG
DAY 11 PASSAU
DAY 12 MELK, AUSTRIA
DAY 13 VIENNA
DAY 14 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
DAY 15 DISEMBARKATION – DEPART BUDAPEST

02/08/2021

CELEBRITY CRUISES - GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/cruise-ships/celebrity-flora

Below is a short Youtube video of the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and the Celebrity cruise ship Flora which is one of the 3 Celebrity ships that are stationed in the Galapagos Islands.
https://youtu.be/DKqj_G1iTa8?list=TLGGUJoy9uN8h90wODAyMjAyMQ

There’s no better way to discover the Galapagos Islands than on one of Celebrity Flora℠ itineraries.

A mega-yacht built specifically to navigate the waters of this environmental paradise, Celebrity Flora offers two unforgettable sailings around the Galapagos: Outer Loop and Inner Loop itineraries. On either itinerary, you’ll spot exotic wildlife, walk on volcanic islands and black-sand beaches, and witness some of the most beautiful landscapes you’ve ever seen.

Discover even more of South America with Celebrity Flora itineraries in 2022 and beyond that include stops in Quito, the picturesque capital of Ecuador; Lima, a global culinary hotspot; and the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

Frost Science
We’ve collaborated with Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science to design educational videos that are part of our immersive Galapagos experience. Fun and engaging, the videos can be viewed at your leisure in the bars and lounges and in your suite. Each video ranges from 5-minute shorts to in-depth 30-minute “TED” style lectures on relevant topics that help prepare you for your daily adventures in the islands.

Celebrity Flora Facts
Inaugural Date June 2019 Occupancy 100 Tonnage 5,739
Length 333 ft Beam 55.7 ft Draught 14.7 ft
Cruising Speed 10-12 kts

02/08/2021

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
https://www.rssc.com/ships?source=homehero

Bringing you the best in all-inclusive luxury begins with bringing you the most luxurious ships. Our award-winning fleet delivers style and class, from bow to stern, throughout every region of the world. We invite you to come aboard and experience your new home away from home.

Experience the ultimate in luxury travel with the freedom of the lavish, personal space only available to guests on The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet®. Sail aboard our perfectly sized ships with incredible staff-to-guest ratios and ample space for every activity for An Unrivaled Experience®.

Luxury cruising with Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the perfect way to experience the world in comfort and safety. Breathtaking landscapes, captivating cultures, and much more await you via thousands of FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions across the globe.

SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR®

490 GUESTS 345 CREW 245 SUITES 8 DECKS

172.5 M LENGTH 24.6 M WIDTH 28.803 TONNAGE

01/14/2021

Spent 2 weeks in Hawaii with one week on Maui and one week on the Big Island. The fresh pineapple, warm weather, and taking in the spectacular scenery on the winding road down to Hana on Maui add to the pleasure of the trip. We visited a Kona coffee plantation on The Big Island as well as a memorable drive down to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see results of past eruptions and watch hot lava flowing into the ocean. The picture is a past lava flow that destroyed parts of the paved highway at the south end of the park and necessitate the building of a replacement highway.

01/14/2021

Our very enjoyable 7-day Celebrity Alaska cruise left from Vancouver, BC, and ended in Seward, Alaska. It really is a wonderful cruise to see all the various wildlife and outstanding scenery. One of my many highlights was to take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway that took miners from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon during the Klondike Goldrush of 1896 to 1899. This is a picture of the scenery on the trip from Carcross back to the ship.

01/12/2021

Enjoyed a 17-day Celebrity Cruise line repositioning Panama cruise that started in Seattle, Washington and finished in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. The cruise stopped in 11 ports with very interesting shore excursions There were numerous lectures about sea life and lectures on the history and present-day operation of the Panama Canal system. We may do this cruise again but go through the new larger locks that were constructed a few years ago. A great fall trip.

01/12/2021

We took another incredible trip with our friends, Jennifer and Garry on Uniworld's 28 day Grand European River cruise and shore excursions starting in Amsterdam. This cruise went from the North Sea to the Black Sea. We cruised down the Rhine River, then onto the Main river, and then onto the Danube river. We completed our journey in Bucharest, Romania. We traveled through and enjoyed shore excursions in 8 countries and visited numerous cities such as Cologne, Nuremberg, Linz, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bucharest. The scenery was outstanding and the opportunity to learn the history and culture of these countries was very interesting. We extended our trip by enjoying a 3 day trip to Istanbul and then to London for 4 days to visit its many significant sites, before heading home.

01/12/2021

We took a 4-week small group tour of New Zealand with a highly recommended tour company and spent 2 weeks on the North Island and 2 weeks on the South Island. New Zealand has a wide diversity of scenery from sandy beaches to high mountains ( Mt. Cook where Sir Edmund Hilary spent time preparing for his Mt. Everest climb) and associated glaciers ( Franz Josef Glacier). Visited many sites including a visit set of Hobbiton( Lord of the Rings movie) and Milford Sound. New Zealand's climate has been described as warmer and more temperate than our Canadian climate. The people are polite, engaging, and hospitable. The picture is a kiwi, a national symbol of New Zealand and this one was at the Northpower Native Bird Recovery Center as it had suffered a leg injury. The kiwi has nostrils at the tip of their bill to smell for food and sensory pads at the tip to catch food such as worms, grubs, and others.

01/12/2021

We took an extension to our Trafalgar bus tour of France, to take a 7 day Trafalgar tour of central Italy. Our main route was Rome to Venice, to Florence and back to Rome. We had several very interesting stops along the way and found Italy a wonderful country to tour. The picture is of Venice, taken during our boat ride tour of the city.