by Brad Smith | May 6, 2020 | Cruises, Europe, River Cruises
European river cruising offers something for all types of adventurers. From wine lovers to history lovers to hiking fans, any personal interest can be met with a customized, themed travel itinerary. Travel in your own personal style while also meeting like-minded cruisers. (more…)
by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, South America, Travel Blog
The next two days were spent at sea on the way to Antarctica. There was a lot of downtime but plenty to do if you wanted to stay busy. I chose the downtime option. At night there was always entertainment. One night we had a wonderful performance of Cabernet music by our guest entertainer, Michael. There’s always dancing when he performs and this night was no exception. (more…)
by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, South America, Travel Blog
These last four days in the South Pole have been amazing. We have seen over a million penguins and large numbers of sea lions, elephant seals, and fur seals. I have also been threatened by a few. We were told to put your hiking sticks in front of you and stand your ground. It has worked so far but it is still scary. I make an effort to stay very close to an expedition staff member. Safety in numbers is my motto. (more…)
by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, Travel Blog
Chapter Three The Falklands and “At Sea”
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Everyone was a little slow this New Years Morning. I wonder why? (more…)
by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, Travel Blog
Chapter 2 The Falklands
After a missed night’s sleep, we met our other 196 fellow travelers on this Antarctica cruise tour in the lobby of the hotel at 3 AM on Sunday morning, December 29. There was not much meeting and greeting at that time. The ride to the airport was only 15 minutes but after that it was a little chaotic finding our bags, getting checked in and boarding. The flight got us to Ushuaia about 11 AM so we got to tour all four blocks of the town until 12:30. Then we boarded the Scenic Eclipse. It is a beautiful new ship equipped with all sorts of expedition gear including 2 helicopters and a submarine. We will go on those later. (more…)
by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, South America, Travel Blog
Chapter 1
I departed the States for our South Pole cruise on December 26 and arrived in Buenos Aires on the morning of the 27, Friday. The trip was smooth and uneventful. Just the way I like it. We did, however, have one little glitch. We had the biggest car in Buenos Aires and couldn’t fit ourselves and our luggage into the car. Kathy, the girl I am traveling with threatened to tie me to the roof. We really needed a bus for our meager wardrobes.
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by Brad Smith | Apr 29, 2020 | Adventure, Cruises, South America, Travel Blog
One of our clients recently returned from a 20-day, 6-star luxury Antarctica cruise! The inaugural sailing aboard the Scenic° Eclipse, the world’s first Discovery Yacht, began in Buenos Aires, Argentina and went on to the great white wonder of Antarctica. We’ll let her tell the story in her own words and with her own photographs in a 5-part travel blog series. Continue reading below and dream along with us as she describes this once-in-a-lifetime experience! (more…)
by Michael Kerbelis | Apr 10, 2019 | Advice, Cruises, Europe
When our client, Phil Motes, told us he wanted to plan a special vacation in honor of his daughter’s college graduation, we knew they would love to go on one of the top river cruises in Europe as the perfect way to celebrate. (more…)
by Michael Kerbelis | Apr 28, 2018 | Anniversaries, Couples, Cruises, Europe, France
Our clients Jeffrey and Kathleen Gingera recently packed their bags and jetted off to France — their dream destination — to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. We caught up with Jeffrey and Kathleen to learn more about their France trip, including an exciting cruise trip and city activities that are absolute must-dos, and what they would choose to pass on if they could do it all again:
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by Michael Kerbelis | Mar 16, 2018 | Cruises, River Cruises
Forget what you think you know about cruising. Crystal Cruises takes your vacation to a whole new luxurious level.
How?
This luxury cruise line boasts some of the best, most award-winning ships in the world. Spacious decks, posh detailing, and classic modern decor with a touch of Old Hollywood glamour await you on board. You can expect personalized service, too, from staff who are invested in your enjoyment. Think of Crystal Cruises as the perfect balance between elegance and adventure.
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by Michael Kerbelis | Mar 12, 2018 | Caribbean, Cruises, Europe, Family, North America
Long lines, crowded photo opps, and “kid-friendly” (aka boooring) food options …. That’s what many people imagine when they think about a theme park vacation. Luckily, Disney makes it easy to upgrade the theme park resort experience with luxury add ons. Plus, Disney has expanded outside of the theme park resort vacation with travel options that make Disney fans and general luxury travelers alike say “wow!” Explore our favorite luxury Disney vacation options below: (more…)
by Michael Kerbelis | Mar 10, 2018 | Cruises, Europe
Our clients Kathy and Steve Rotert took a travel risk, one that paid off big time. They decided to take a romantic European river cruise down the Danube, even though they never river cruised before. The result?
The couple will never return to their old way of traveling again! Read on to discover why this type of travel captured Steve and Kathy’s hearts:
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by Michael Kerbelis | Feb 23, 2018 | Cruises
Imagine traveling on one of the beautiful luxury small cruise ships: Leaning over the veranda of your cabin, so close to the water you can feel the spray sprinkle your face. Taking a dip in an infinity pool as the sun sets below the horizon.
Photo courtesy of Seadream Yacht Club.
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by Michael Kerbelis | Feb 3, 2018 | Cruises
Cruising on one of the majestic ships ever built just got a whole lot easier. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas — the second largest cruise ship in the world — is docking in Port Canaveral. The mighty ocean cruise ship moved from Port Everglades to Port Canaveral. We know a lot of our clients who live in the Augusta area are big Royal Caribbean fans — but the drive down to Ft. Lauderdale to hop on a cruise can be exhausting. You lose a whole day of your vacation when you travel that far!
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by Michael Kerbelis | Jan 30, 2018 | All Inclusive, Cruises, Groups, Resorts, River Cruises
Nothing builds bonds and brings people closer together quite like travel. That’s why groups love to travel together! Whether you’re planning a big family trip, a tropical getaway for your destination wedding, or a rewarding vacation for your best employees, group travel is guaranteed to leave its mark in the best kind of way. You and your fellow travelers will make lasting memories together in absolutely spellbinding destinations — memories you can reminisce about together for years to come. But how do you choose the perfect vacation type for your group? Some types of vacations are better suited to group travel than others. We’ve picked our four favorite vacation types that make planning a breeze for group travel:
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by Michael Kerbelis | May 16, 2017 | Adventure, Asia, Cruises
From the temples of Angkor Wat to the skyscrapers of Hong Kong (which really look like the touch the sky!), Asia is a land full of wonderment. And it’s ripe for your exploration. If you’ve never been to Asia before, however, taking the trip to this storied continent may make one wary. But there’s no need to be. For the best vacation in Asia, stick to classic itineraries that serve up comfort, while still allowing you to encounter some of the most beautiful sights in Asia. Here are our three expert recommendations:
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by Michael Kerbelis | Dec 30, 2016 | Cruises, Europe, Sandals

Sandals’ over-the-water bungalows, one of our 2017 top picks. Photo courtesy of Sandals.
Do you have a vacation or your top travel destinations all planned out for 2017? If you’re like many travelers, you might not start thinking about your annual family vacation or romantic getaway until the calendar changes to the new year. Well, it’s time to start your vacation planning! We’ve highlighted four of our favorite, trending vacation ideas for 2017 to inspire you.
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by Michael Kerbelis | Sep 16, 2016 | Cruises
Celebrity Cruises never stops innovating. We had a chat with our Celebrity cruises contact, market sales manager Carl Crews, about the exciting things Celebrity cruise lines had in store for the near future. Cruise fans, we think you’ll love what he has to say:
What’s new with Celebrity Cruises?
Carl: There’s exciting stuff happening in the Galapagos! We’ve been in the Galapagos for over 10 years, but we’ve only had one ship there, with 45 rooms for 100 passengers. (more…)
by Michael Kerbelis | Jun 10, 2016 | Cruises
Our clients Gordon and Carole Meek recently returned from their very first river cruise. They embarked on a Viking Cruise through Eastern Europe; their trip started in Bucharest, Romania, and the ship traveled north to Budapest, Hungary, and along the way they sailed through Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia.
We caught up with Gordon to get his first impressions on river cruising and his insights into vacationing in a less-traveled part of Europe. Read on for Gordon’s fascinating thoughts on the difference between ocean and river cruising, Eastern Europe, and the Viking experience:
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by Michael Kerbelis | Apr 15, 2016 | Caribbean, Cruises
Royal Caribbean is a leader in providing exceptional cruise experiences around the globe. We caught up with Mechelle Connor, a Strategic Account Manager for Royal Caribbean International, to learn more about how this beloved brand is still innovating today. Read on for some exciting cruise news:
What’s new in the world of Royal Caribbean?
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