Daniela Harrison

Expedition, Active and Adventure Travel are the fastest growing segments in the travel market right now. In the past, this type of travel has only been appealing to a specific kind of traveler. You had to be willing to “rough” it in terms of accommodations and food choices, but you were rewarded with experiences that few travelers have had the privilege to enjoy.
The market is rapidly changing now!
With more and more demand for off-the-beaten-path experiences and daring activities, experienced travelers are looking for the next big adventure. Cruise lines have quickly adapted to these requests. New purpose-built ships are debuting in the next three years. The new Celebrity Flora, for example, has been built for the Galapagos.

Silversea Cruises reimagined one of the company’s luxury cruise vessels to now be able to explore the Arctic. A reinforced hull has turned this ship into an icebreaker that allows clients to travel in the lap of luxury and the comfort they are accustomed to, while exploring.
Seabourn has introduced the new Ventures program, which offers more active and daring excursions, and also combines overland adventures throughout longer cruises.

The typical shore excursion is getting revamped to now include more zodiac rides, sea kayaking, submarine dive tours, helicopter tours, active hiking, mountain biking, glacier trekking and so much more. Have you noticed how many new cruise ships are designed with helipads on board? Even the new SeaDream Innovation will have them!
River cruises in Europe have also caught on to the trend. The clientele is more active, is getting younger and asks for more active excursions that push them to the edge of their comfort zone. While the traditional city walking tours are still being offered, alternate excursions include kayaking, mountain biking, cooking classes, rock climbing, port to port hikes, and many lines partner with high active companies like AMAWaterways and Backroads, thus allowing clients to enjoy the ease of a river cruise, combined with the highly active day tours via bike or hike.

While the new toys are a great way to attract travelers that are new to expedition cruising, the more important things to pay attention to are the expedition leaders on board. A knowledgeable guide, who is able to take you to the edge of your seat while making you feel safe, is priceless. These individuals are in high demand. As more ships are being released and more departure dates are being announced, contracting the top guides around the globe will likely become more challenging. It is definitely something to pay attention to.

Un-Cruise, Lindblad and Zegrahm are among the many niche lines that have all embraced the expedition style travel for years. Their itineraries are becoming more and more popular with families, honeymooners and multi-gen groups. Friends and families traveling together love the flexible and active options. They can set daily goals for themselves and celebrate when they all cross the finish line. While comfort and service levels are still important, the expedition traveler is more interested in the variety of activities offered. Learning a new skill, overcoming a personal fear and cheering each other on for the last mile of a challenging hike are bonding families, teaching children to overcome obstacles, and creating lasting friendships among travelers. All this helps the active and expedition traveler to create cherished memories for years to come.

G Adventures is breaking boundaries with the new Tailor Made programs, which allow small groups (like families) to experience a National Geographic Journey at a lower price point, custom built with a private guide, while challenging travelers with authentic experiences and visits to local non-profit projects abroad.
All of the offers out there can already be overwhelming now. And with so many new options entering the market in the next three years, consumers will be flooded with options. As travel advisors, it is our privilege to educate our clients and help them plan ahead.

To learn more about all these suppliers and programs, join us at our 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff. Meet face to face with cruise lines, tour operators and hoteliers between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Our Avenues of the World Travel Advisors will be on site to answer any questions, schedule appointments and assist with live bookings on site. Don’t miss your chance to secure amazing booking specials and enter our door raffle for vacation giveaways and much more! QCBN

By Daniela Harrison

Daniela Harrison is a travel advisor and director of marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

River Cruises have been one of the most popular ways to explore Europe in the last few years. While ocean cruises take you to countries, river cruises take you through the heart of the country, allowing you insight into real life, traditions, local culture and enable you to see, smell and taste all the destination has to offer.

As most cruisers know, it’s the ports of call that bring an itinerary to life. AmaWaterways is a great example to look at. Most of our Arizona cruisers are very familiar with them, and many are on their fifth or sixth sailing with the line. Are you curious to know what keeps travelers coming back cruise after cruise?

First off, the crew! With a crew-to-passenger ratio of 1:3 or less, no wonder guests feel pampered and well taken care of. The intimate setting of a river cruise ship allows guests to feel at home naturally. There is a sense of community on board and you become part of the family during your time on the ship. It’s an excellent way for solo travelers to make new friends and meet like-minded travelers. The crew stays loyal to AmaWaterways; many have been with the line for 10+ years, providing some of the highest service levels on board the ships.

The ease of travel certainly helps. Imagine spending a week on board a floating hotel. Being able to explore multiple countries, cities and villages over the course of a week, without packing and unpacking… A delightful way to discover Europe! And best of all, every cabin comes with a view!

The diversity of the destinations is, of course, an attraction in itself. You can sail the Rhine in the spring, summer, fall and winter and each time the landscape has changed, there are other local festivities in place and excursions change with the season. While you might want to visit the Tulip Gardens in Amsterdam in the spring, you will see the Christmas markets along the Rhine in the winter, or enjoy Octoberfest festivities during fall foliage sailings, or taste your way through Europe’s famous beer gartens in the summer.

A wide array of excursions can be most intriguing. Choose from biking, hiking, kayaking, culinary-themed tours, walking tours, concerts, farm visits, wine tastings, lectures and more… There’s something offered for everyone. And most options are offered at various speeds to accommodate your fast, moderate and slow walkers.

Specialty Cruises like wine and golf-themed voyages, wellness or Christmas market voyages are another amazing way to repeat a destination with a new focus; opening an entirely new viewpoint and appreciation of the destination to its visitors. AmaWaterways just debuted its new Cruise and Golf Program – a fun way to get an insiders access of Europe.

And, of course, there are new ships that bring the latest innovations to the river vessels. A stellar example is AmaWaterways ship, the AmaMagna. She eas purposely built at twice the width of traditional European river ships and offers more personal space, more unique dining venues and more leisure opportunities. Most accommodations are spacious suites measuring 355 to 710 square feet with full balconies. In addition to the main restaurant and The Chef’s Table, AmaMagna introduces two enticing new dining venues: Jimmy’s, a family-style restaurant named for the late co-owner of AmaWaterways, Jimmy Murphy, and the Al Fresco Restaurant, with retractable windows and outdoor seating. Both a sun-deck pool and whirlpool invite guests to refresh and enjoy the views. AmaMagna’s Zen Wellness Studio is an expansive space with a fitness center and two massage rooms, and her innovative Water Sports Platform opens to reveal a Sundowner boat upon which intimate river excursions will take place.

AmaWaterways’ current specials include complimentary roundtrip economy air from most major U.S. airports. That is a huge savings! Should you have miles for your flights, you can take the money savings option off the cruise fare instead. Past guests can enjoy tiered benefits like discounts, welcome amenities and cabin upgrades.

As one of AmaWaterways’ preferred partners, we are excited to offer our guests exclusive shipboard credits on every AmaWaterways sailing throughout the end of 2020.

To learn more about AmaWaterways and the programs they offer on board, join us at our 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo on Oct. 10 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff. Meet with Brandon from AmaWaterways, and many other cruise lines, tour operators and hoteliers face to face between 5 and 8 p.m. Our Avenues of the World travel advisors will be on site to answer any questions, schedule appointments and assist with live bookings on site. Don’t miss your chance to secure amazing booking specials and enter our door raffle for vacation giveaways and much more! QCBN

By Daniela Harrison

Daniela Harrison is a travel advisor and director of marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.