Memory Maker Travels

13/11/2023

What do you get the person who has everything? The gift of travel! Suppliers are starting to drop their Black Friday and and Cyber Monday deals. I'll start with cruises🚢 and follow with hotels and tours in the following days. I know you can't park a cruise ship under the tree, so if you book with me, I'll send a wrapped gift certificate perfect for gifting!

⚓️American Queen Voyages: Those thinking about sailing a U.S. river in 2024 can save up to $2,500 per stateroom and get free roundtrip air on select 2024 voyages when booking a sailing on American Queen, American Countess, and American Empress. Bookings must be made and deposited between November 22 and 27, 2023 for select voyages throughout 2024.

⚓️Azamara: Azamara is offering cruisers double stateroom upgrades, $1,500 onboard credit, and 20% off suites on select 2024 sailings. Bookings can be made from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1

⚓️Celebrity Cruises: From Nov. 10 to Dec. 5, cruisers can get 75% off a second guest with Celebrity Cruises, as well as up to $300 in onboard credit for nearly all itineraries through Apr. 30, 2026.

⚓️Holland America Line: From Nov. 17 to Dec. 1, select cruises through 2025 receive prepaid stateroom crew gratuities (first and second guests only) and discounts of up to 30% off cruise-only fares. More than 800 departures from December 2023 through select 2025 cruises apply.

⚓️HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions): Starting Nov. 1, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) is offering a full month of Black Friday savings, including up to 50% on four itineraries in the Galapagos and one (select sailings only) in West Africa. In Antarctica, the savings are up to 30% off.

⚓️Oceania Cruises: From Nov. 14 to Dec. 5, cruise clients can save up to $3,000 on specific sailings on Nautica and Sirena departing between Feb. and March 2024, ranging in length from 10 to 28 days.

⚓️Riviera River Cruises: Throughout November, Riviera River Cruises is offering a $500 per person discount on 2024 or 2025 river cruises from eight to 15 days. And, for each booking advisors make, they'll be entered into a drawing for a complimentary cabin on a 2024 departure and $1,000 per person airfare credit, up to $2,000. Additionally, from Nov. 13 to 30, advisors will receive a $100 gift card for bookings.

⚓️Seabourn: Through Nov. 27, Seabourn is offering a two-category veranda suite upgrade, up to $2,500 per suite shipboard credit, and 50% reduced deposits on nearly 400 2024 itineraries.

⚓️Uniworld: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is again doing its 12 Days of Christmas Event this year. A new offer will be unveiled each business day for 12 days, with the first deal unveiled on Black Friday. The offers will be completely different than 2022, including 50% off popular cruises. At the same time, live as of November 1, guests can book new Cruise & Air combo savings of up to $3,000 on select journeys

⚓️WindStar: As part of Xanterra Travel Collection's Thankful for Travel sale from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1, WindStar cruisers can pick a perk: a $1,000 onboard credit, or a free pre- or post-cruise hotel stay. Premium suite guests have a third option: an upgrade to the All-Inclusive Fare, which includes all alcohol, Wi-Fi and all gratuities.

09/11/2023

Well, we've been back from our Danube river cruise for over two weeks now and I'm finally coming to terms with not having a butler, chef, and 24-hour room service in my life😔. I love all my vacations, but this one was particularly hard to leave. I hope I've inspired you to make some memories of your own. I find this graphic particularly helpful if you're considering a river cruise. It's a great way to see world capials and small towns in several countries, and unpack once. I really can't overstate the quality of the cuisine and level of service we experienced. I hope the same for all of you❤️!

02/11/2023

It's only November 1st and we've already had our first snowfall, and I'm huddled under my electric blanket🥶. Time to plan your Spring Break getaway! I know Vitamin D deficiency gets all the attention this time of year, but I've found Vitamin Sea to be the more pressing need😉.

28/10/2023

Riverside Luxury Cruises Treasures of the Danube Day 7: My beloved Vienna! We did not have nearly enough time in this amazing city. We spent the morning at Belvedere Castle, once the summer home of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a successful commander in several battles against the Ottoman Empire. It's now an art museum and houses Gustav Klimt's The Kiss. We followed our visit there with treats at a sweet little café nearby. Later in the afternoon, we toured the Habsburgs summer palace, Schönbrunn, where I walked through Maria Theresa's bedroom in my flip-flops! 😄

17/10/2023

Riverside Luxury Cruises Treasures of the Danube Day 3: Today we visited Melk Abbey, followed by a stroll in the Old Town. The abbey is a still functioning, Baroque‐style Benedictine abbey in Lower Austria. Because the monks still live and work there, only the secular side is open for tours. We were able to tour the Imperial Corridors and Chambers, so named because this was the side reserved for nobles when they visited the abbey. I can officially say I've have walked the same corridors as Maria Theresa🥰. See the video in the comments for a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

17/10/2023

Harmony Suite on the Riverside Mozart...

16/10/2023

Riverside Luxury Cruises Treasures of the Danube Day 2: Oh, where to start with today. Since our itinerary has changed due to low water levels on the Danube, we all had to take the same tour of Budapest today. I never thought of myself as a group tour kind of person, and it turns out I was right. The pace was a bit frantic and we only glossed over the things I was interested in (the Habsburgs, Sisi in particular). That being said, our guide was excellent and I learned a lot about things I didn't know I didn't know 😉. I'm not saying this to complain, but to recommend hiring a private guide if you think you might feel the same.

After our tour, we went to a famous restaurant for lunch that included traditional Hungarian goulash, and let me tell you, it is NOT whatever you're making at home. I bought three types of Hungarian paprika that came with a traditional recipe and I think I'll post it later.

After lunch, we hopped on a motorcoach to Vienna, which was not part of the original itinerary. I had tweaked my knee walking on the cobblestones in Budapest and so I was hurting, and our 2.5 hr. commute took 4+ hours due to traffic. At this point, I would've advised you to run, not walk, from a river cruise since variable water levels and itinerary changes are pretty common. But then...

We finally reached the ship and OMG is she amazing! I've never stayed in such luxury before (heated toilet seats!?!). And the food is amazing and the staff is sooo nice. It was dark when we arrived, so I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow. You'll have to contend with these in the meantime. Sorry, I'm no photographer or videographer. I will put the videos in the comments since fb won't allow me to post videos and pictures at the same time. I don't know why. I see other people do it. I will tackle that another day.

15/10/2023

I'm in the land of the Habsburgs! Today began our Treasures of the Danube river cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises. After a looong flight with connections in D.C. and Frankfurt, we decided the best thing we could do for ourselves upon arrival in Budapest was book a private spa room at Széchenyi thermal bath. So relaxing after a grueling journey. I did take a video of the outside pool, but lost it somehow. It's worth googling if you're interested. We were supposed to board our ship this afternoon, but the water level is low on this part of the Danube, so they put us up in these pretty swanky digs at the Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa. I highly recommend it here if ever you're staying in Budapest.

07/10/2023

Denise A. and Heather L. have won the gift cards! But really, you're all winners for following Memory Maker Travels😉.

06/10/2023

Last day to get your name in the hopper. I'll be pulling names this evening!

Giveaway time! I've got (2) $25 gift cards good at literally hundreds of retailers and restaurants. I will be pulling a name from:

💲Everyone who likes and follows Memory Maker Travels. Already following? You're already entered!
💲Everyone who messages me their email address for promotions from suppliers, as well as a monthly email newsletter. You're already entered for this one if you've booked travel with me in the past.

Contest ends 5 p.m. EST 10/6/23.

05/10/2023

Just a reminder, you only have two days to get your name in the hopper to win one of these gift cards!

Giveaway time! I've got (2) $25 gift cards good at literally hundreds of retailers and restaurants. I will be pulling a name from:

💲Everyone who likes and follows Memory Maker Travels. Already following? You're already entered!
💲Everyone who messages me their email address for promotions from suppliers, as well as a monthly email newsletter. You're already entered for this one if you've booked travel with me in the past.

Contest ends 5 p.m. EST 10/6/23.

04/10/2023

Giveaway time! I've got (2) $25 gift cards good at literally hundreds of retailers and restaurants. I will be pulling a name from:

💲Everyone who likes and follows Memory Maker Travels. Already following? You're already entered!
💲Everyone who messages me their email address for promotions from suppliers, as well as a monthly email newsletter. You're already entered for this one if you've booked travel with me in the past.

Contest ends 5 p.m. EST 10/6/23.

25/09/2023

A very wise travel advisor once recommended you visit Europe in fall for smaller crowds, cooler temps, and off-peak pricing. You should listen to her- she knows what she's talking about. Contact Memory Maker Travels for details!

As the summer crowds dissipate, Europe is coming back into its own. Here’s why fall is the best season to visit the continent – along with suggestions on where to go.

15/09/2023

🇯🇲 I spent my afternoon with the Jamaica Tourist Board learning all things Jamaica for you.

✔️Want to know resort area transfer times? I know that.
✔️Want to know which resorts are adults only? Couples only? Intergenerational? I know that.
✔️Want to know which resorts have pickleball? I know that.
✔️Want to know where to find the best foodie experiences? Where to gamble? Where to golf? I know that.

Remember friends, memories before things! I know Bob Marley would approve of this message 😉 .

13/09/2023

Last month I posted about European Christmas Market river cruises. It's mid-September, so those opportunities are drying up, but Riverside Luxury Cruises still has 2023 availability. Contact Memory Maker Travels before they sell out. This is the year to prioritize memories over things!

13/09/2023

☀️This is an AMAZING deal- perfect for a September anniversary or birthday!
🌴Lush mountains, mystical rainforests, charming beach towns and an ancient volcano make Saint Lucia an enchanting island paradise worth exploring. Experience its exotic allure from the comfort of your adults-only all-inclusive resort in Saint Lucia and take it all in without a care in the world.
🧉Food, drinks, water sports, and world-class entertainment are all included, always unlimited.
⛱️Contact Memory Maker Travels to secure your spot today!

06/09/2023

Let Memory Maker Travels know when you're ready to spice things up!

Sandals Grande Antigua has claimed the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort for 2023” at the prestigious World Travel Awards. Surpassing notable competitors in the Caribbean category, this achievement shines a spotlight on Antigua and Barbuda. The General Manager, Matthew Cornall...

04/09/2023

Happy Labor Day! The bad news? Summer is almost over 😔. The good news? It's time to start planning your Spring Break getaway 😁. Remember friends, it's always summer somewhere!

23/08/2023

Booked! We will be embarking on an 8-day Treasures of the Danube river cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises in October. We'll be exploring ports in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. I look forward to bringing you all along. Here's a sneak peak:

18/08/2023

Now is an excellent time of year to visit the Caribbean for smaller crowds and off-peak pricing. The ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao lie just outside the hurricane belt.

These are the best times to go to the Caribbean, according to experts.

16/08/2023

Here's a deal you won't find anywhere else! It's exclusive to my host agency. Book with me by 8/18/23 11:59 p.m. EST to receive:

🥐1 Specialty meal for guests 1 & 2
🍷Wine Trio - sparkling, red, and white (total 3 bottles)
🌰Chocolate Truffles

Applicable for all balcony and above, 7+ nights sailings (excluding Pride of America)

11/08/2023

There's even something for angsty teenagers here!

04/08/2023

Empty nesters? Spend Christmas in Jamaica and be back in time to ring in the new year!

31/07/2023

Good news! Sandals and Beaches have extended their Rhythm & Blues promotion until 8/17. That's up to $500 airfare credit and $150 spa credit. Travel anytime by 8/15/24.

27/07/2023

This is an awesome deal. And if you book by midnight tonight, you also get $500 airfare credit and $150 spa credit.

27/07/2023

Ya mon, Jamaica🇯🇲. Never too early to start thinking about Spring Break.☀️🌴🧉

26/07/2023

Yesterday I posted about choices for holiday travel. Here's a great video on European Christmas Markets. You can reach destinations by rail or river cruise. Turn on your sound for a jaunty jingle🙂.