Clarkson Tours August 2011 Newsletter

Climate change -- global warming or cyclic?

Welcome to our August 2011 newsletter! Looking back at the last eight months, January 1^st was mild; old man winter awakened late. Then he took a long time saying adieu and winter dragged on through spring. This was followed by a prolonged period of rain followed by a prolonged period of sunshine with unseasonably high temperatures. Other parts of the world too, experienced climatic change; at times with disastrous results.

Environmentalists have warned of cataclysmic climate change for some time. Others, amongst them Nostradamus and the Mayans, predicted the world would end next year; Nostradamus talks about a fire ball in the sky and the ocean boiling. Proponents of Milankovic’s cycles cite the earth’s interaction with other planets, its elliptical orbit around the sun, its axial oscillation and tilt as harbingers of change to climate and weather. These cycles take a very long time to complete – 21,000 years being the shortest. Milankovic’s proponents documented their findings in a 1976 scientific research publication entitled “Variations in the Earth's Orbit: Pacemaker of the Ice Ages". This study relied on an analysis of ocean floor sediment in lieu of a historical record of weather.

In January, Zaneta and I attended Dr. Don Walsh’s lectures on board Oceania’s Insignia as she sailed the Antarctic. Dr. Walsh indeed did confirm Nostradamus’ vision but added 400 million years or so to the year 2012 for its occurrence. Whew!

As a species, we human beings have migrated from continent to continent from time immemorial; we find this migratory evidence within our Canadian borders. And as we migrate, we create history, and pass on traits, genetic or otherwise, and values from generation to generation. Travel does expand the mind and appreciation of life's mysteries.

Tours Zaneta and I will be escorting

Zaneta and I look forward to our next voyages with you our fellow travelers. Next month we will be with Marilyn Lighstone of 96.3FM on “Magical Mediterranean Memories”. This voyage features three Canadian opera performers on board. We depart September 27 and return October 9; the “Meet and Greet” will be at our store September 10^th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Next, we will escort our “Splendours of Down Under” from February 14 to March 10, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand. Despite Oceania Cruises “wait listing” reservations, we still get you a guaranteed booking; we have two penthouse suites and one balcony stateroom still on hold. We are pleased to have several past guests join us.

We will escort the “Classical Music Delights on the Danube” with Bill Anderson and wife Sharon McCarney from March 31^st to April 14^th. This cruise tour is a classical music lover’s delight and includes musical events -- opera, concerts and ballet in Ljubljana, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague in addition to onboard classical musical performances. Sign up for our information session on this voyage September 24th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Details are available on clarksontours.ca.

Significant upcoming in-store events

On September 8^th we invite you to Bev Vickers’ presentation on Regent Seven Seas at our store at 7:00 pm. Regent leads the way in quality of cruise line as attested by authoritative sources such as Conde Naste and others. We are pleased to be associated with this cruise line. Sign up online or call to attend.

On September 14^th we invite you to an all-day OPEN HOUSE event, where we will be available to meet with you and answer your questions about travel trends, destinations, and demonstrate the singularity of our mission – to gain and sustain a trusted relationship with our clients. Drop in between 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; or call or email us at info@clarksontravel.ca should you wish to meet with a particular travel consultant.

On September 17^th at 3:00 pm, we have your “China, Yangtze River Cruise and Hong Kong” “Meet and Greet” event. This cruise tour that has two departure dates. Tibet departs October 5^th; their fellow travelers depart October 10^th. Jean Stilwell of 96.3FM and Patti Loach will accompany this cruise tour.

On October 15^th at 3:00 pm, we will hold a presentation on river cruising at our store. Attend Joe’s presentation on “Why river cruising?” and benefit from the collective travel experience of Clarkson Tours’ staff. Please sign up online or call us to attend.

Our CLIENT APPRECIATION EVENT is scheduled for November 26^th from 1:00 to 6:00 pm! Please mark your calendars or even sign up to attend.

Other picks to mid-year 2012

Zaneta and I plan our escorted group packages well in advance to provide elegance in travel and accommodation. These are packaged tours with included activities exclusive to Clarkson Tours. We present our picks below in no particular order.

River cruise picks

AMA Waterways promotions for bookings by August 31 and September 30

Did you know AMA Waterways has promotions on selected cruises? Their offers expire August 31^st in some cases and September 30^th in others. AMA Waterways reserves the right to withdraw these offerings at its discretion. Examples are:

·        USD 500 discount per stateroom on specific departures on the Riches of the Mekong for past passengers – expires August 31^st

·        “Companion Flies Free” offer on specific voyages and departures – expires August 31^st
In Celebration of Wine
Christmasand New Year Cruises
Variousthemes; vineyards, Christmas and more
Richesof the Mekong

·        CAD 150 discount per person for all other cruises  -- expires September 30^th

Our river cruise picks

These are our picks for richness of experience and value:

AMA Waterways’ Riches of the Mekong cruise tour has been a sell-out since its introduction in 2009. Our group departs March 4, 2013. In addition to AMA Waterways’ discounts if applicable, Clarkson Tours will add an additional CAD 150 discount for bookings of a Junior Suite on the November 1^st, 2011 sailing and a Category C cabin on the November 15^th, 2011 sailing; these offers are subject to cabin availability.

AMA Waterways’ Christmas Markets cruise tour departs December 3^rd; AMA’s “Companion Flies Free” offer applies to this and other departures.

AMA Waterways’ Romantic Danube cruise tour departs May 13, 2012; AMA’s “Companion Flies Free” offer applies to the November 6^th 2011 departure.

AMA Waterways’ Enchanting Rhine cruise tour departs May 26, 2012; AMA’s “Companion Flies Free” offer applies to the November 7^th 2011 departure. Rudi Schreiner, President of AMA Waterways will host this voyage with a sommelier. Just great for wine enthusiasts.

AMA Waterways’ Russian Waterways cruise tour departs June 11, 2012 starts in St. Petersburg ends in Moscow.; we have retained this “white nights” departure date for four years running!

Our Ocean cruise picks

Our “Splendours of Down Under” Australia and New Zealand cruise tour departing February 14, 2012. Call to snap up our available cabins while we still have them.

Splendours of South America departs Feb. 7, 2012; start in Valparaiso, Chile ... sail south around the horn to fascinating Rio de Janeiro. Our offer includes prepaid gratuities.

Coral Seas and Australian Adventure departs Auckland Mar 08, 2012; from Auckland NZ to Sydney, Australia. Our offer includes prepaid gratuities and a complimentary bottle of wine per stateroom.

Greek Glory departs Istanbul May 06, 2012; from Istanbul, Turkey to Venice Italy. Our offer includes prepaid gratuities and a USD 250 shipboard credit per stateroom.

About our “Refer a friend” program

We invite you to take advantage of our referral offer. Refer a friend, have your friend book and earn a CAD 150 bonus on your own booking.

Why Cruise Holidays of Clarkson

Cruise Holidays of Clarkson is an independently owned travel agency specializing in group and individual leisure travel services. Our business relies heavily on word of mouth and the promise of a lifetime travel experience.

We undertake to maintain an understanding our clients’ travel dreams, preferences, and needs, to keep abreast of travel trends, opportunities, and geopolitics, and to deliver travel services aligned with our clients’ expectations.

We are part of the Travel Leaders Group franchised operation and benefit from the scale of its operation. This positions us to provide significant value to our clients.

Cruise Holidays of Clarkson is a member of Cruise Holidays’ President’s Circle (2009 and 2010) and recipient of Royal Bank Insurance’s award for quality business.

Our passion for culture and classical music has forged a relationship with the New Classical 96.3FM radio station where radio personalities, Bill Anderson, Jean Stilwell, and Marilyn Lightstone accompany selected voyages.

For more information on group travel, see www.clarksontours,ca; for individual travel see www.clarksontravel.ca ; or call 905 855 1700 or email info@clarksontravel.ca . Or better yet, drop in at our store located at 1739 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON L5J 1J4; we have ample parking at back.