C.A.R.P. Travel Webinar

We all miss travel. With vaccinations, and booster shots, peaking, resulting in protection from serious infection requiring hospitalization, and travel insurance companies now offering limited – but good – coverage against Covid (call for details), perhaps NOW is the time to start making plans for travel in the future.

To help with that planning, CARP members and their friends can enjoy some travel inspiration with weekly 50-60 minute presentations on Tuesdays at 6:30 Atlantic Time where different guest travel suppliers will be doing presentations on what their companies offer generally, and one unique aspect/itinerary/location that they offer. (See list further below…)

*Please note that travel restrictions and changes to tour operator policies that may be discussed within the presentations are subject to change as the Covid Crisis is dealt with.

Be sure to sign up early and be at your computer for these interesting and lively learning experience, often about your own bucket-list travel dreams – and tell your family, colleagues and friends! 

About our CARP Travel Webinars:

• As time passes, almost 90% of eligible Nova Scotians have had 2 or more vaccinations.
• And since much travel is booked a year or so in advance, it may be a good idea to start preparation for travel possibilities in mid-2022 and onward.
• Check with Danny at danny@almontravel.ca or 902 431 4932 re your travel plans or if you have any questions about travel…
• If you have any suggestions for other popular bucket-list destinations/itineraries, please let Danny know.

Seperator Line Here

To view all the following presentations on AlmonTravel: CLICK HERE

River Cruises

Most river cruises are similar in that they offer accommodations in cabins from “below water” to elevated levels, have all meals included, usually have wine or beer included with meals, and a quality excursion in each port. You may want to add at least one day in embarkation port and perhaps a day or two at disembarkation port.  Flights are usually separate though some companies offer flights included. Some offer “Theme cruises”: for example, wine or Christmas cruises.

• AMA Waterways River Cruise: (Sandra Gardiner) Wine theme River Cruises in different parts of Europe (we learned to appreciate fine wine) plus a brief look at other itineraries.
• Amadeus River Cruise: (Marcus Leskovar) Christmas Market cruises. Late November and December, a typical Danube River cruise becomes something very special around Christmas time.
• American Queen Steamboat Company: (Barbara Davis) Lower Mississippi River Cruise (New Orleans to Memphis), offering all-inclusive US-based river cruises on an authentic paddle wheeler boat. An experience we fully enjoyed!  (Other boats available on other rivers.)
• Avalon Waterways: (Jennifer Zammit) Coach Tour/River cruise, 7 night Rhine river cruise with 4 night coach tour of the famous  Oberammergau Passion Play.  Cruise line with beds facing balcony windows.
• CroisiEurope Cruises: with Laura Murphy Regional Sales Manager.  We will look at a European itinerary most other river cruise companies do not do: the Loire Valley, have a peek at barge cruising in France: a small-group-alternative to a typical river cruise, and stunning cruise tours in Africa with safaris both on land and by water. We may even have a brief look at what Croisi offers on the Po River and Venice – if time allows.
• Crystal River Cruises: Juliana Schmidt discusses this 5½ * river cruise line in Europe along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.  Learn about the differences that a 5½* river cruise can offer you.
• Pandaw River Cruise: (Sven Zika) Vietnam, Red River, Ha Long Bay and Irawaddy.  River in North Vietnam that is a superb – one of the best we have experienced – cultural experience.
• Riviera River Cruises: (Marilyn Conroy) Solo River cruises, no single supplement. Presentation focuses on the Danube River.
• Scenic River Cruise: (Tracy Daniels) Asia, Mekong River, Cambodia, Vietnam.  Starting in Cambodia with Angkor Wat: a cultural tour of middle to South Vietnam.
• St Lawrence Waterways Cruise Line: Come aboard and relax! See the real Canada, the original Canada, as unspoiled as when the voyageurs moved up and down its waterways, as modern as the great St. Lawrence International Seaway and its spectacular locks and man-made canals. Experience the beauty and the history of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers for 4 to 7 nights on a classic steamboat.
• Uniworld: (Federico Berardinucci) Venice, Po River plus visits to surrounding islands often docking for the night in Venice.  A wonderful way to see and fully experience Venice.
• Viking River Cruises: (Jordana Botting) Egypt, Nile River plus ocean cruising. Viking “does it right” when it comes to touring the Nile, with all its history, temples and culture on this superb cruisetour.

Ocean Cruises

• Atlas Voyages: Cathy Kasuma – Regional Sales Director, Eastern Canada. Learn about this new 5* cruise line with a focus on an Antarctica cruise. Luxe-adventure travel – blending luxury into expedition cruising.
• Azamara Cruises: Margarita Peloso and I have a close look at this premium cruise line and in particular a transatlantic repositioning cruise which allows the cruise line to move from Europe to the Americas and vice-versa, twice a year at attractive prices plus several stops on each side of the Atlantic.  You should like lots of days at sea for this sailing.  We also look at a Panama Canal cruise.
• Celebrity Cruises: (Brenda Yeomans) The Galapagos Islands. A fine cruise line – we have been on 2 Celebrity cruises. Galapagos Islands are a bucket list trip.
• Holland America: Alaska cruise/tour (Stephanie Tate-Croning) an in-depth look at a 7-night cruise on the Alaskan coast with views of imperiled-by-global-warming glaciers. Following the cruise talk, Stephanie discusses the post-cruise rail-tour that is available and gives you the opportunity to see some of Alaska by land.
• Hurtigrutin Cruise line:  (Kristin Irz) We introduce you to their exciting destinations of Svalbard and West Africa. Hurtigruten Expeditions has the longest history and strongest legacy in polar waters, drawing on more than 125 years of pioneering experience. Their purpose-built expedition ships offer a friendly, small-ship ambiance and function as a comfortable base camp at sea. Being the world leader in expedition travel and world’s largest expedition cruise company, they believe that comes with great responsibility, and why they have chosen to lead by example, aiming to raise the standards for the entire cruise industry. As a company focused on innovation and technology, sustainability is at the core of their operations and inherent in every detail of Hurtigruten Expeditions.
• NCL Ocean Cruise: (Sabrina Greca) Hawaii Cruise (highlight) and Cape Town/Dubai (South Africa). The best option for a Hawaii cruise because it starts and ends in Hawaii – all 7 days are among the islands.  Wonderful cruise (one of the top 5 in our lives!)
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: (RCCL) Patricia Di Benedetto talks about the cruise line in general (wonderful for both adult-only and, in particular, families) and specifically my favourite Caribbean cruise itinerary – exotic Southern Caribbean cruise. This itinerary is “port heavy” – some place to visit every day!
• Star Clippers: Cyndi Denman – Business Development Executive Star Clippers.  Cruising under sail in the Mediterranean. This experience – on my bucket list – is an extraordinary alternative to big ship cruising.
• Virgin Voyages: Danielle Manegio – a new ocean cruise line by Richard Branson that focuses on adult-only cruising. Virgin throws out the “cruise dining rule book” by having no buffets onboard, no main dining room, no enforced formal wear, no assigned seating, and no assigned dining times.

Coach Tours

• Atlantic Tours & Travel: (Richard Arnold, President) Circle Newfoundland & Labrador – a guided talk about our sister province in Atlantic Canada.  An at-home bucket list item for many including myself visiting the incredible diversity of both natural beauty and down-home friendliness of the Newfoundland people. Coach tour starts in Halifax and has various pickup points to the ferry in North Sydney. Also note the variety of day trips and short duration trips, mostly in Nova Scotia.
• Collette Vacations Coach Tour: (Andrew Hau), health and safety and Shades of Ireland. One of the first companies to sign up with CARP NS and a quality company that can include door-to-door service to take all complications away!
• Europe Express: and Mark Yacker –  a coach tour company. Mark will focus on Portugal (beginning and finishing in the ancient capital city of Lisbon, you will go back to the times of the Romans, through the era of the Moorish kingdom – and into Portugal’s very exciting Age of Discovery) and Spain.
• Exodus Travels and Canadian Geographic: Tony Perdomo and I will be looking at Exodus’ special relationship with Canadian Geographic (like National Geographic) for special tours involving their expertise around the world.  We also discuss the Africa Wildlife Foundation for Wildlife Foundation trips. Exodus has established relationships with local guides in every country that helps support the local economy.
• Indus Travel: (Harish Shroff) Bible Land tour: visit the Holy Land area: no focus on any particular religion (though that CAN be arranged), just a historical look at a land important to several major religions. Indus can arrange pretty well anything you want.
• Insight Vacations: (Brad Ford) Coach tour, Country Roads of Northern Italy to connect with a Venice (Po River) cruise – each can be booked separately OR together as a complete package. We have done this and it is a superb way to see a good part of Italy.
• Intrepid Tours: Kaz Brown Industry Sales Manager – Americas.  A very well-known international coach touring company. Join us as we explore a trip to exotic Morocco with highlights Casablanca, the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. On my bucket list!
• Kensington Tours: Samantha Gould, account executive for Kensington. Although Kensington has so much more to offer (as do ALL of the presenters’ companies) we will focus on a personal Heritage journey with Ancestry – looking into your heritage and background, usually in Europe.
• SITA Tours: Join Mary Barnett and me as we discuss the benefits of this touring company that emphasizes women travel. Tonight’s presentation will focus on Ancient Greece, Myths and Legends and a trip to Ancient Egypt.
• Tauck: (Charmaine MacDonald) Experience Israel, Jordan and other exotic locales.
• Tourcan Vacations: Africa Land Tour (Phillip Solomon) basics of South Africa touring and safari. We have been to this area and Tourcan offers both wonderful group tours but also the ability to tailor-design a tour for as small as two people.
• TourCan and PromPeru: (Phillip Solomon TourCan and Wendy Underwood PromPeru) an in-depth look at Lima, Cusco, The Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca and some post trip extensions like the Amazon River.  Machu Picchu in South America.
• Trafalgar Tours: Coach tour (Ken Nickerson) A well-known international coach tour company that we are quite familiar with. This webinar focuses on In-Canada travel, with emphasis on Western Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
• Anderson Vacations: with Darcie Guarderas, Director of Business Development for Anderson Vacations as we talk about visiting the little-known areas of the Alaska and the Yukon. We will also look at the South Pacific’s Cook Islands and perhaps even one of the most stringently locked-down countries in the world (but very popular) – New Zealand.

Caribbean Country Tourism Boards

• Barbados: A close look at this English-speaking Caribbean country that is a vacation place in itself but also the starting point for several Southern Caribbean cruise lines. We have experienced it several times: lovely destination!
• Costa Rica: With TAM Travel (Mauricio Castro and Raquel Montoya) Join us as we discover the “Pura Vida” (pure life) of the wonderful natural reserve of Costa Rica (we spent two weeks here). We will look at several of the prime tourist areas in the country and learn about zip lining and nature retreats in this beautiful country:
• Cuba: Join me, Danny Almon and Cuban representative Nieves as we explore the different – and popular – regions of Cuba for off-resort excursions.  Places like Varadero, Havana, Cayo Coco, Caya Santa Maria and Holguin, among others. There will be a brief look at some resorts available.
• Dominican Republic:  Yadira Henriquez, Representative of the Dominican Republic: a look at the most popular vacation areas in the Dominican Republic – Punta Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata, and Samana . Watch as 3 representatives of popular resort chains take us on a tour of some of their properties.
• Jamaica: Louise Paquette – Jamaica Tourist Board. We’ll have a good look at Negril, Montego Bay, Whitehouse, Ocho Rios even Kingston. We also look at popular destinations in all these touristic areas in Jamaica.
• Mexico with Lomas Travel:  (Wilma Zambrano) We will get a close look at things to experience off-resort offered by Lomas Travel: things like several Mayan Ruin sites like Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum, XCaret eco-park, and Cenotes.
• St Lucia: Richard Moss – Senior Sales Manager for St Lucia Tourism Authority will join me to have a closer look at this delightful Caribbean Island. We have visited several times and find it to be one of our favourites.

Miscellaneous Adventures

• Country Walkers and VBT Bicycle Tours: Glenn Letch – join us as we look at what is offered by way of guided and self-guided walking and bicycle tours (including eBikes) for couples up to small groups in many parts of the world.
• Couples Resorts 5*: (Desiree Rolle) Jamaica, adult only Couples resorts.  Four superb 5* resorts in Jamaica, all with totally different ambiances. One of my all-time favourites is Sans Souci…
• Just You Solo Travels: Sarah Weetman Head of Sales UK Solo and small group tours with a focus Walking the Amalfi Coast and a walking tour in Croatia. Every effort is made to ensure that your cost as a solo traveller is without the single supplement often required by tour operators.
• Karisma Resorts 5*: (Sabrina Filatow) adult only and family friendly resorts, many in Riviera Maya Mexico. A true local company owned by Mexican residents that gives back to the community. We have personally experienced many of the resorts and can attest to the high quality of food, service and accommodations.
• Railbookers: Cris David and I will talk about this amazing company that has great relations with most train companies around the world and can help us book not only the train ride but also the hotels at the various stops and excursions on the itinerary.  Itineraries we will explore will be a Scottish rail trip and a cross-Canada rail trip which could include Rocky Mountaineer.  We will also look at a couple of other popular international itineraries, some of them true bucket list itineraries.
• Rocky Mountaineer Canadian Train: Vacation (Tyler Harrison) comments on the RM experience in the Rocky Mountains). This train ride through the Rockies is stellar (we have experienced it!) with train rides only during the day time so that nothing is missed. Guests can add extra days at beginning and end in high quality accommodations together with added excursions. Hint: we added this to an Alaska cruise and superb as the cruise was, the Rocky Mountaineer excelled the experience!
• Universal Studios: Orlando (Lidia Markser), Business Development Manager – a look at Florida’s Universal Orlando Theme Park showing updates to presentation date and what guests can experience at this world class Florida Theme Park.  Best way to experience this Park is to stay on site, preferably in the upper levels of hotel accommodations which will allow you very special perks that justify the extra expense. We have been here several times.

Women’s Tours (see comments below in Solo Travel)

• SITA Tours: Join Mary Barnett and me as we discuss the benefits of this touring company that emphasizes women travel. Tonight’s presentation will focus on Ancient Greece, Myths and Legends and a trip to Ancient Egypt.

Solo Travel

What I have discovered in the almost 50 presentations I have hosted is that many companies are recognizing that solo travel is becoming universally recognized and these companies offer – at least on some of their itineraries – solo accommodations. And because, statistically, there seem to be more solo females travelling, the group of solo travellers on your trip is likely to be predominantly female.

• Just You Solo Travels: Sarah Weetman Head of Sales UK Solo and small group tours with a focus Walking the Amalfi Coast and a walking tour in Croatia.  Not, strictly speaking, a women’s only, but travelling solo often lends itself to solo female travellers.
• Riviera River Cruises: (Marilyn Conroy) Solo River cruises, no single supplement. Presentation focuses on the Danube River.  Riviera, presently booking in $US, offers an experience for those who need – or prefer – to river cruise by themselves.