The Savvy Traveler

21/02/2024

Sample fresh cheeses at a family-run farm in Holland. Practice the art of wine pairing, guided by a professional sommelier in France. Or learn how to make your own weisswurst sausage in Germany, then enjoy it with a pretzel and Regensburg's famous Händelmaier mustard. Tasty regional delicacies await your discovery when you join us on a river journey through the heart of Europe. Reserve your stateroom today to take advantage of a special offer—FREE airfare and reduced fares—on a May voyage that is sure to delight your palate. Fares as low as $2,599 per person on selected May sailings! Contact us today for more details...

18/02/2024

Our friend, Marjolein Visser, who was in Venice for the Carnival this year has posted some fantastic pictures of the "Masks" who display their costumes during Carnival every year. It brings back lots of memories of our trip there for some years ago.

09/02/2024

Special fares and perks are now available through the end of Feburary on the following itineraries:

Lyon and Provence, Avignon to Lyon from $2,799 per person on Select Mar thru May 2024 Departures

Cities of Light, Prague to Paris from $2,799 per person on Select Mar & Apr 2024 Departures

Paris to the Swiss Alps, Zürich to Paris from $2,799 per person on Select Mar & Apr 2024 Departures

Rhine Getaway, Basel to Amsterdam from $3,199 per person on Select May 2024 Departures

Grand European Tour, Budapest to Amsterdam from $3,999 per person on Select Mar & May 2023 Departures

Contact us today for more details!

26/01/2024

Happy Australian Day to my Australian friends. If you haven't been, it's a great country to visit. And Sydney is one of the most visually beautiful cities in the world. Viking has some great prices on cruises there, PM me for details.

08/01/2024

Join us on one of our 2024 Viking Cruise adventures!

Our motto, "Don't just see Europe...experience it!", is even more meaningful when experiencing it from the comfort of a Viking River or Ocean ship. We -

08/01/2024

Join us on one of our 2024 Viking cruise adventures!

Our motto, "Don't just see Europe...experience it!", is even more meaningful when experiencing it from the comfort of a Viking River or Ocean ship. We -

04/01/2024

You know we love Viking, and what's not to like? Viking is one of the most awarded cruise lines in the world, having won both the Condé Nast Traveler "Reader's Choice Award" and the Travel + Leisure "World's Best Award" every year consecutively since 2016. In 2023, both companies voted Viking to the top of their categories for oceans, rivers and expeditions.

Now there is yet another reason to consider Viking! This special sale, good through Jan 31, works for any Viking cruise in 2024 or 2025 and has something for everyone: Up to $400 discount per cabin for NEW Viking guests or as much as $800 per cabin for recent Viking alumni. Don't miss out - contact us today for more information or to book that special cruise!

30/12/2023

Our most memorable New Year's Eve celebration was in Auckland, New Zealand. We were fleeing a hurricane in Fiji and arrived in our Auckland hotel on the waterfront just 15 minutes before midnight--in time for champagne and fireworks! http://tinyurl.com/bdc4e2r2

23/12/2023

One more Christmas memory, Hyde Park in London, a few years back.

15/12/2023

If you'd like to visit a quaint village with lots of great scenery and things to do, you should consider the little Austrian village of Kitzbühel. It is a lovely place to visit any time of the year, but with 145 miles of slopes, every skier will leave Kitzbühel with a full heart. Whether you choose to ski, hike, or immerse yourself in the lively events, this picturesque Alpine destination will leave you with memorable experiences. Accommodations can be found for as low as €50/person/night, so if you would like to experience the wonder of this magical spot, we'd love to help you plan a visit!

11/12/2023

Remembering Christmas in Vienna. I used to do a lot of business there and it was fun to check out the markets after work. https://tinyurl.com/ye2x3rtw

06/12/2023

Remembering my favorite little town in Germany. It's called Rothenburg od de Tauber and it is on the Romantic road. It is wonderful anytime but particularly at Christmas. They call their Christmas market Reiterlesmarkt". This market dates back to the 15th century and is therefore one of the oldest in Germany. Rothenburg also has one of the best Christmas shops ever located there. It is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world. https://www.viator.com/Rothenburg/d36690-ttd?pid=P00002881&uid=U00268534&mcid=58086¤cy=USD

20/11/2023

NEW! WINTER AND HOLIDAY SAILINGS!

Keep the holidays alive from December 2023 through March 2024 with these fantastic voyages to iconic and favorite ports aboard the award-winning all-suite, 312-guest, Star Legend for as low as $1,399 per person!

These Festive Celebrations can be enjoyed during the winter!
• Christmas in Rome
• New Year’s Eve in Barcelona
• Carnaval in Nice
• Excellent opportunity for first-time Windstar guests
• Overnights in Rome, Barcelona and Nice for more in-depth exploration
• Quieter, more intimate charm with fewer crowds
• Easier access to museums, cultural events, historical landmarks, local
cuisine and genuine engagement with locals

Contact us today for more information!

12/11/2023

THREE NEW AWARDS FROM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Viking was recently named Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples and Best Line in the Mediterranean in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Cruise Lines ranking. Many cruises are now booking for voyages in 2025 and even 2026! If you would like a relaxing and enjoyable cruise on what many now consider the top cruise line in the world, let us know!

16/10/2023

Many of our friends are single and have difficulties finding a "travel buddy" to join them on a cruise. But a few lines offer accommodations for them on occasion. Even Viking has offered discounts on certain staterooms and cruises.

So we wanted you to know that Crystal has just announced they have some limited offerings from as little as $3,000 on certain cruises. If you are interested in this or any single cruiser options, please reach out to us as early as possible, because these deals fill up fast!

10/10/2023

Like to travel with The Savvy Travelers? Next year is a big one for me, so we've booked a trip of our own to an area we have been wanting to see. We're taking the Capitals of Eastern Europe cruise from Bucharest to Vienna on the Viking Kadlin April 14-28, 2024. Like to join us? We'd love to have some friends come along! Let me stress, this will not be a guided group - just all of us taking the same cruise together. Viking provides enough goodies that we don't need to do anything special. And everyone can do their own thing as far as pre or post cruise packages, excursions and staterooms. The good news is there is a sale till the end of October, and there are still (as of this moment) some cabins left at only $5,499 per person! So let us know if you are interested, and we will take care of all your bookings for you. We might even be able to figure out how to add in an extra little shipboard credit for everyone joining us. See you in Bucharest!!!

Explore the Capitals of Eastern Europe Danube River cruise. See 2024 sailings and read the itinerary.

04/10/2023

Great news from Viking today!

---

Today, we have excellent news to share with you. The results of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards have just been announced, and Viking was voted #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions. This is the first time a travel company has been voted #1 across all three of these categories simultaneously, and the third consecutive year we have won for both rivers and oceans.

As you may know, our river, ocean and expedition lines were also rated at the top of their categories in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards. We are incredibly proud to have received these awards—voted on by our guests—as they reflect our hard work, passion and dedication to excellence.

---

Another reason to consider Viking for your next cruise experience. We are now booking last-minute 2023 voyages as well as 2024 and 2025. Please let us know if you would like to learn more!

Explore Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, or even the world on elegant small ships, with only 930 guests. Excursions included in every port. Ocean cruises reinvented with Viking.

29/09/2023

FLASH SALE - MUST BOOK BY END OF DAY TOMORROW!

Behold volcanic vistas from atop the charming city of Taormina in Sicily and marvel at the ancient wonders of Ephesus in Turkey on the 8-day Athens to Rome "Journey to Antiquities" voyage with Dec 20 & 22, 2023 departures.

Other cruises also available under this special but selling out fast include the 18-day Buenos Aires to Santiago "South America & the Chilean Fjords" voyage with Dec 6, 23, 2023 & Feb 29, 2024 Departures, an exciting 15-day journey to Australia & New Zealand from Auckland to Sydney with only ONE Dec 19, 2023 Departure, a 15-day "Hawaiian Islands Sojourn" to/from Los Angeles departing Dec 12, 28, 2023 or Feb 14, 2024 and an 18-day Panama Canal & Coastal Holiday from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on Dec 12, 28, 2023 or Feb 14, 2024.

All the above offer FREE Roundtrip Airfare & Double Past Guest Discounts plus Reduced Fares. Contact us TODAY if you are interested in any of these voyages.

23/09/2023

In August we posted a special on the Viking cruise, "In the Wake of the Vikings." It was a short fuse - the trip left in less than a month, but the fares were outstanding. Two friends took us up on it, so we booked it for them along with a hotel in Bergen. They are now at sea having the time of their life! They gave us permission to share these pictures. Watch this space, as we will continue to post good value cruises and tours. And if we can help you with your travel needs, please do not hesitate to ask!

12/09/2023

We always enjoy our walks thru Foynes and along the River Shannon whenever we visit The Flying Boat Museum

12/09/2023

It was a beautiful day in Askeaton, Ireland today.

10/09/2023

It was a beautiful but hot day in Windsor yesterday. We enjoyed the play Calendar Girls at the Windsor Theatre. One of the stars was Honeysuckle Weeks from Foyles War.

09/09/2023

Enjoyed our last wine tour and tasting yesterday at a boutique winery, Chateau Chelivette. The wines were amazing!

07/09/2023

07/09/2023

Had an excellent tour and wine tasting at Chateau Dauzac

07/09/2023

What an incredible day. We drove through the Medoc to wine tastings and dinner at a chateau!