Welcome to our February 2012 Newsletter ...

February 2012 Newsletter About new partnerships and choices                 Visit our Website About Us Our Group Packages NOTE: We welcome you, our fellow travelers to our February 2012 newsletter. This newsletter contains announcements about new and refreshed partnerships in travel. Announcing new partnerships and voyages Opinion Our macro world – nationalism, patriotism, societies, and religions The Encarta Dictionary defines “nationalism” as the “desire to achieve political independence” thereby implying a source or stimulus for change. “Patriotism” on the other hand is defined as “proud loyalty and devotion to a nation” implying a nation where political independence exists. Are nationalism and patriotism mutually exclusive? Can one be patriotic and nationalistic at the same time? Would a Kurd, a Sunni and a Sheik fight shoulder to shoulder to defend their homeland? Did the North American Indians who fought alongside the French and others who fought alongside the English integrate into those societies? Not that long ago Christian Rulers sought permission from the Head of the Church to wage war; jihad, however persists. I believe the interplay amongst these four factors produces persistent tension. Its admixture has provided the stimulus for war, for regress, and progress. But what a trail it has left us, as we seek history in our travels, and what a legacy we ourselves create for those who follow. Music, a common language we share internationally, oftentimes reflects the pervading mood of a period. For example, “soul music” can be akin to wailing; baroque can be sombre; classical can be jubilant. Ever listen to the underlying abandonment of war-time dance music? Jazz, jitterbug, ... Our transition from primarily a “Middle Sea” (the Mediterranean) existence to a global society could be said to have been driven partly by curiousity and daredevil explorations of our planet. Today, despite the cessation of NASA’s space explorations by the Obama Administration, we see application of this acquired technology in space-travel start-ups. Just recently I watched in amazement as a reporter showed images of debris in outer space and discussed the need to clean it up. Is this an opportunity for a new wave of Waste Management? Will there be a cost-sharing program that mimics the evolving carbon tax? I believe the explorer in us and our continuous thirst for knowledge creates an innate need to travel; be it new frontiers, or just discovering our roots ... Cruise Holidays of Clarkson adds to its first-tier suppliers Travel Agencies such as ourselves, specializing as we do in cruise travel, undertake a wide scope of operations. Our services span all components of travel, resorts, excursions, expeditions, air travel, accommodation, etc.. As your agent, our foremost role and responsibility is to represent your interests to our suppliers. Your level of satisfaction relies heavily on how well we understand your expectations and how well we match them with the style and quality of services our suppliers deliver. Prior to this year, our “first-tier” or “inner-ring” of suppliers has been GLP Worldwide Travel, Expeditions and Tours (GLP), Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania Cruises. We are pleased and excited this year to add three suppliers to our “inner circle” of partners. They are Crystal Cruises, Avalon Waterways, and Silversea. These relationships extend our capability to seamlessly match your expectations without breaking stride. By virtue of these relationships, our partners add amenities that enhance your travel experience thereby heightening the value proposition. Our first-tier relationships and featured destinations Avalon Waterways Part of the Globus Family of brands, Avalon has a history exceeding 80 years. Its river cruise operations cover Europe, Egypt, and Asia; as well as the Galapagos Islands. Avalon’s 2012 voyages have limited availability and the company has turned its focus to its 2013 voyages with bonus savings offers. Call us for details. Crystal Cruises Crystal’s President Michel Gregg makes this statement about his company: “A steadfast commitment to excellence has earned us unprecedented recognition as the World’s Best for an incredible 18 years – an accomplishment unmatched by any other cruise line, hotel or resort anywhere in the world.” Zaneta and I will be hosting a Copenhagen to Stockholm voyage departing June 15, 2013 (witness the White Nights and if lucky, catch an Aurora Borealis). This voyage has two overnights in St. Petersburg, and an overnight in Copenhagen. We are encouraged by your positive feedback on the voyages we host and have made this an annual event. GLP Worldwide Travel, Expeditions and Tours (GLP)  GLP is best described as our invisible partner. They are our gateway to AMA Waterways, other operators in Asia, and the Far East, and tours in virtually any country in the world. On November 2nd, 2012, Zaneta and I will host the “Deluxe Orient Experience” -- a voyage that starts in Bangkok, Thailand, travels by rail to Singapore, then flies to Bali for 4 nights and Hong Kong for 2 nights. If you haven't done so already, book now! We promise an exceptional and exotic experience. A video on our website provides a glimpse of this luxurious train. Oceania Cruises Oceania Cruises describes itself as “Entry Level Luxury”:  an apt description of their status. Renowned for its cuisine a la Chef Jacques Pepin, Oceania has added two newly built ships to its fleet. Marina was launched last year and Riviera this year. This addition has more than doubled Oceania’s passenger carrying capacity. Refer to our www.clarksontours.ca for our partnered sailings. Zaneta is currently sailing with fellow travelers on Oceania’s Regatta from Sydney Australia to Auckland, New Zealand. The group returns home March 10th. Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) A solid member of the luxury class, we refer to RSSC as the “It’s included” cruiseline. Just as budget airlines seek to add incremental charges for incidentals such as seat selection, baggage handling, onboard meals, ear-phones, etc., RSSC operates on the flip side of this. And they do so with elegance and style. We have partnered with RSSC on the “Arabian Adventures” voyage from Luxor to Mumbai; this voyage departs November 14th 2012, and features 3-night hotel stays (Regent’s Luxury Hotel Program) pre and post cruise to explore the wonders of Ancient Egypt and the Taj Mahal. Book now! All excursions are included! Regent has wonderful savings opportunities particularly to Europe! Go to our Group Departures page to check them out! Silversea A quote from Silversea’s documentation helps us understand one of Silversea’s main points of differentiation. It states: “These elite and intimate ships are specifically designed for fewer guests, featuring more space and the highest levels of personalised service. Accommodations are amongst the largest at sea; all have ocean views and butler service and most feature private verandas.” Ask us about Silversea’s single supplement offers ranging from 105% to 125% of double occupancy fares (rather than the typical 200%). See our website for partnered voyages such as circumnavigation of the British Isles (May 12, 2012 and May 16, 2013) Barcelona to Las Palmas (Canary Islands October 29, 2012), and ‘round trip Cape Town South Africa (January 25, 2013) to the east coast -- preferred region for wild-life viewing. Call us! Or if you prefer, search Silversea's destinations. Events On March 22nd at 7:00PM at our store we have an information night with Kathryne Cuthbertson of Oceania. See a video of Riviera, and why Riviera and Marina are considered to be amongst the most revolutionary design in 50 years. And learn about Oceania’s extended reach brought about by their dramatic increase in passenger-carrying capacity. Click to Confirm your attendance. On April 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Ontario Racquet Club (ORC) we welcome you to join Melanie Dickie of Avalon Waterways and Beverley Vickers of RSSC. At this presentation, you will learn about the services and travel experience on board Avalon’s and Regent’s vessels. Click to Confirm your attendance. About our “Refer a Friend” program We invite you to take advantage of our referral offer. Refer a friend, have your friend book and you earn CAD 150 bonus savings on your next 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 are part of the Travel Leaders Group franchised operation and benefit from supplier amenities that accrue to us by virtue of scale of operations. This positions us to provide significant value to our clients. Cruise Holidays of Clarkson is a member of Cruise Holidays’ President’s Circle (2009, 2010, and 2011) and recipient of Royal Bank Insurance’s award for quality business. 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 . Our store is located at 1739 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON L5J 1J4.We have ample parking at back. Best regards, Zaneta Rochemont President, Cruise Holidays of Clarkson If you no longer wish to receive emails from us click here t: 905 855 1700 | f: 905 855 1701 e: info@clarksontravel.ca | w: www.clarksontravel.ca

Welcome to our January 2012 Newsletter

Select 2012 voyages Where we've been and where we're going Visit our Website About Us Our Group Packages NOTE: We welcome you, our fellow travelers to our January newsletter. This newsletter contains links to detailed information such as day to day itineraries, prices and more. Year 2011 in review – highlights Last year witnessed many firsts; Standard and Poor’s downgrading of the US economy, the four-year old Euro-crisis, and the Arab upheaval that saw several long-standing heads of state removed. Nonetheless, we enjoyed many rewarding voyages in the year and reflect on some below. Our 2011 voyage highlights include a cruise from Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso with a side trip to the Antarctic, another from Venice to Athens (this included the Dalmatian Coast, a visit to antiquity in the Greek Islands, and the Corinth Canal), and a third from Venice to Monte Carlo (this included onboard opera performed by emerging Canadian artists).  Our visits to the Greek Islands were unaffected by the economic crisis in Greece. In Athens, we avoided the afternoon demonstration by conducting our tour of Acropolis and the New Museum in the morning. At Clarkson, we build our group travel menu from voyages we ourselves have experienced and judged to have value. We add new voyages as they become viable, and are pleased to tell you there are three flavours of South African voyages now available; two travel on the Chobe River to Victoria Falls! Call us for details!  Our “Annual Repeat” voyages are: ·        Russian Waterways; we schedule this for a June departure when the “white nights” can be experienced. Your ship is your hotel on this voyage between Moscow and St. Petersburg... ·         Magnificent Europe; travel between Amsterdam and Budapest; experience medieval history; witness Hitler’s Zeppelin Fields where he addressed and motivated thousands. ·         The Black Sea Voyage; travel between Vienna and Istanbul. Vienna conjures opulence, the era of the Hapsburg family (“make love, not war”), of Mozart, Strauss; view Budapest’s chain bridge from the vantage point of Fisherman’s Bastion from the Buda side; and there is Istanbul; the seat of Emperor Constantine and the Ottoman Empire that lasted for over six hundred years. ·         The Enchanting Rhine; travel between Amsterdam and Basel; continue to historic Lucerne at the foot of the Alps and on to Zurich. FLASH: Every ten years, the Floriade Expo is held in Venlo. We have a special departure in September where we include tickets to this event. DENIS FLANAGAN of Landscape Ontario will accompany this voyage, and is prepared to share his extensive horticultural knowledge with you. On our May departure, there are still a few cabins (four at time of writing) left. ·        Magical Croatia; this intimate voyage travels from Dubrovnik to Split in July on a 36-passenger yacht. There is an option for an add-on land tour from Split to Ljubljana! You can call us for details on the above and many more voyages, or download day to day itineraries from our clarksontours.ca website. Travel choices – Total Cost of Travel (TCT) When booking air travel, we all look for deals! We balance price and travel-time and pick the most economical. When booking leisure travel involving voyages, or stays at resorts, our decision criteria must differ. Specifically, as travelers, we determine the “Total Cost of Travel” (TCT), which requires us to match our lifestyle with that of the travel experience preferred. We at Cruise Holidays of Clarkson are prepared to help you plan your dream vacation and to review TCT with you. Oftentimes, depending on your preferences, the quality of your vacation can be significantly enhanced without adding to TCT. Come in and let us review these options with you. Our travel menu Although these newsletters focus on group travel, our core business remains that of individual travel where we help you plan and organize your individual and family events. See us to help you plan travel occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, or just plain old getaways. This service is free and is an opportunity for you to get to know us. A great planner of meals, Zaneta applies her gourmet expertise to creating a group travel smorgasbord. We at Clarkson all get an opportunity to serve up voyages from her menu as we escort you on several. Zaneta herself will travel with the Australia and New Zealand group in February / March. At this time her sous-chefs have the following serving assignments: ·         Joe will accompany the “Musical Delights on the Danube” in April. Opera and ballet performances are scheduled in the elegant State Opera Houses in Budapest and Prague; cabins may still be available. Join Bill Anderson on this voyage. ·         Victoria will accompany the  following voyages: o   “Greek Glory” in May from Istanbul to Venice – a wonderful, rich itinerary! o   “Alaskan Wonders” in July from Anchorage to Vancouver o   The “Black Sea Voyage” in September from Istanbul to Vienna ·         Tal will accompany the  following voyages : o   “Romantic Danube” in May from Prague to Budapest; an outstanding experience! o   “Magnificent Europe” in September from Amsterdam to Budapest ·         September is chock full of surprises; Regent Seven Seas’ two departures, one September 6th circumnavigating the British Isles, and the other September 16th from London (Southampton) to Barcelona. ·         For gourmet chefs and budding chefs, come with us on Oceania’s new ship Riviera on the “Enchanted Grandeur” voyage from Athens to Rome. Cook along with Bon Appétit chefs, enjoy private dining with food and wine pairings and more! ·         Joe and Zaneta will accompany the “Deluxe Orient Experience” in November from Bangkok to Singapore (on train) and Bali to Hong Kong featuring the famed Orient Express and top hotels. ·         Welcome in the New Year on Disney’s Fantasy; departs December 29, 2012, 7 nights, East Caribbean, and to Disney’s private island – Castaway Cay. The assignments above are subject to group-sizes stipulated in our brochures. There are several side dishes to Zaneta’s menu in just about every month of the year; call, us, drop in, our visit our website. A feature destination – Galapagos Prior to Columbus’ discovery in the late 15th century that the world is “round” and not flat, ocean and sea travel was more or less restricted to the “Middle Sea”, and trade routes to India. The centuries following saw a deluge of able navigators, Cook, Magellan, Drake and others, who played significant roles in “opening up” the globe. We still use their passages (e.g., the Drake Passage, the Magellan Straits...) today. When visiting the South American region, one is struck by the relatively recent historical events as compared to those of North Africa, Europe, and China. References are mostly to the 19th century at which time indigenous peoples inhabited the land and followed survival strategies not unlike those of the Eskimos of the North. And there remain mysteries that predate history and continue to challenge the world’s best minds; for example, figures etched into the land by the Incas, discernible only from the air; and what appears to be “landing strips”. Galapagos, part of Ecuador, has a strong association with Charles Darwin. It is said that Darwin developed his theory of evolution here, observing as he did wild life seemingly preserved in time. It is amazing that some species of the giant turtle survived extinction (from the onslaught of whalers and other explorers who sought their fat). Today, Galapagos is a national ecological park. Its pristine and peculiar beauty has attracted curious-minded travelers for some time. Typical travel to the area includes tours of Ecuadorian sites (see inset map from Avalon Cruises) and can be supplemented with a visit to the Amazon for the nature seeker. There is significant benefit that one can derive from touching, and experiencing that cannot be fully imagined by reading books or narratives. Many times I have heard “Now that I have visited [that place] this [article, book] makes much more sense to me”. In-store events You can register your attendance at any event that interests you by clicking on the event you wish to attend on our “Calendar of Events” page on our website.  We invite you to the following events: Date Time Description of Event Location Jan 28 15:00 Meet & Greet; Aus and NZ (Departs Feb 14) Store Mar 3 15:00 Meet & Greet: Classical delights on the Danube with Bill Anderson; (Departs Mar 31) Store Mar 22 19:00 Information session on our Culinary Cruise *Julia’s Ristorante Mar 31 15:00 Reunion: Aus and NZ (Returns Mar 10) Store *NOTE: Julia’s Ristorante address: 312 Lakeshore Rd E Oakville, Ontario L6J 1J2; Tel: 905 844 7401 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 CAD 150 bonus on your 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 consider it important to understand our clients’ travel dreams, preferences, and needs, to keep abreast of travel trends, opportunities, and geopolitics, and to deliver travel services aligned with expectations. We are part of the Travel Leaders Group franchised operation and benefit from the scale of that operation when dealing with suppliers. 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. 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. Best regards, Zaneta Rochemont President, Cruise Holidays of Clarkson t: 905 855 1700 | f: 905 855 1701 e: info@clarksontravel.ca | w: www.clarksontravel.ca

Welcome to Cruise Holidays of Clarkson’s November Newsletter

As we write this article for our November Newsletter Issue, Joe and I just returned from Europe, our third trip this year—South America and Antarctica in January, a cruise on the Adriatic Sea in May and one on the Mediterranean Sea just this October. It’s always an honour and privilege to travel with you, our Cruise Holidays of Clarkson traveler, and to admire the rich history, spanning countries and centuries with a diverse mosaic of cultural treasures.

Zaneta’s Interview with Bill Anderson of Classical 96.3 FM

Just recently I was invited to a radio interview by Bill Anderson of Classical 96.3 FM, our host on many of our group travels in Europe. I was asked to talk about the logistics of organizing our all - inclusive, culturally enriched cruise tours. You can imagine the challenge this presented: to describe a 12 to 18 month process in five minutes. Where does one begin? There is a whole barrage of people involved in these undertakings. Our secret? We partner up with conscientious, reliable and honest partners who are aware and share our own standards and principles; then, we seek out opportunities to culturally enrich your travels primarily through music and history; and now for next year, culinary and gardening themes as well. Bill and his wife Sharon will accompany us on our Classical Music Delights on the Danube river cruise tour in April of next year—the first step in planning this tour was to find a river cruise that this particular classical music band was commissioned to perform on (which happened to be the beautiful Blue Danube), and the rest, as they say, is history….

Current Promotions

Click here: Bill describes "Delights"

Many of you are listeners of the Classical 96.3 FM radio station, and have heard our promotions on the radio. Currently, we are taking bookings for the Classical Music Delights on the Danube tour, which departs Toronto on March 31^st and returns on April 14^th. Yes, we recognize it would have been better if this trip started a couple of weeks later, but had we done so, we would not have been able to offer a classical music programme with such richness. Plus, weather conditions are really not very easily predictable anymore, so we follow the “be prepared, not scared” motto, and it works. This promotion ends mid November-if you are thinking of joining us, please contact us soon—bookings are almost at capacity.

Click here for Orient Express brochure

Click here to review our Aus / NZ brochure

We also have two staterooms available for our Australia and New Zealand cruise tour on Oceania in February 2012. The ship is completely sold out—we have the last two cabins in our group. In addition to the Australia and New Zealand voyage and the Danube tour in April next year, Joe and I will be hosting the Deluxe Orient Express tour in November 2012—if you are looking for a true exotic experience, this is it, look no more; Thailand, Singapore, Bali are among the most exotic destinations in the world; we stay at 5 star deluxe properties, we hired the best local guides, and we spend three most memorable nights on the infamous Deluxe Orient Express train—ah, what a nostalgic and memorable experience this will be! Joe and I are truly looking forward to this trip-hope you can join us. We have room for a few more discerning travelers like you.

Cruise Destination Review

This October, we returned from our Magical Mediterranean Memories cruise tour. Our group of forty was accompanied by Marilyn Lightstone of Classical 96.3 FM. Marilyn shared moments of “her life in the arts” experiences as we cruised from Venice to Monte Carlo on the luxurious Regent Seven Seas Voyager, all along being entertained by four Canadian opera singers—what a musical feast this was! Although we visited three other countries on this cruise (Croatia, Greece, and Monaco), Italy was the highlight on this voyage. Italy lies in the heart of the Mediterranean-the north of the country is rooted in Europe, and the south stretches like a bridge to the coast of Africa. Many an ancient mariner has landed on Italy’s rugged coast, and the eventual rise of Rome turned the Mediterranean into a Roman Lake which they called Mare Nostrum. 

When Rome fell, the northern cities of Genoa, Pisa and Venice emerged as great sea powers and rival city states. Then came the Italian Renaissance, born in Florence in the early 1400’s and beauty became a byword of Italy. Glorious churches, grand palaces, and landscaped gardens were built. Marble fountains and statues soon adorned the squares, and a sense of style became an Italian birthright. The country’s creative force, fueled throughout the centuries by political turmoil and military conflicts, has been described by the art historian Bernard Berenson as “the intensification of life”. We travel to Italy to see the ruins and famous works of art, and soon find all of our senses awakened. This sense of living each moment in a state of beauty, is the ultimate “la dolce vita”.

Equal to the quality of this wonderful cruise tour, was the hospitality of Marilyn Lightstone and Moses Znaimer; Marilyn very generously invited the group to her home for our reunion and what an enjoyable Saturday afternoon strolling through the luscious grounds and enjoying the ambience of a wondeful home with gracious people. We thank you, Marilyn and Moses.

Our Culinary cruise tour with Julia Hanna

Joe and I love Italy and we are going back next September. This time, we will be travelling with a culinary host; Julia Hanna, Oakville restaurateur and chef. She is the proud owner of Julia’s Ristorante and Ritorno, both restaurants in Oakville. She is also the founder of Kids Culinary Community (KCC), a non-profit organization. KCC programs educate children about the benefits of healthy eating by providing experimental learning programs such as cooking sessions. These cooking sessions are designed to educate and entertain, while achieving Julia’s life-goal of leaner and healthier future generations. The children also learn taste doesn’t need to be sacrificed for nutrition. As a token of our appreciation, Cruise Holidays of Clarkson has offered to donate funds to the KCC foundation for each cruise booking on the Oceania’s Riviera October 14^th, 2012 10 night-sailing from Athens to Rome. Join us on this spectacular voyage as we sail along the spectacular Amalfi Coast and savour Italian inspired delicacies. Call our office for details on this amazing Mediterranean cruise experience.

Group on tour

Our China and Tibet group has just returned from their extensive tour. They were accompanied by Jean Stilwell of Classical 96.3 fm and her collaborator Patti Loach. We’ve enjoyed travelling with Jean and Patti on numerous other voyages—their company is an absolute delight. Stay tuned for the details on their trip in our December issue—and some spectacular photographs; Patti is a passionate photographer.

European Barge Cruising

Constantly searching for new and exciting ways of exploring our beautiful, wide world, we would like to welcome you to the world of European Barge cruising—a unique holiday experience that has been around for decades, but only recently captured the interest of you, our discerning traveller. Discover the fascinating world of hotel barging by the vineyards of Burgundy, on the shaded Canal du Midi in Southern France, the Venetian Lagoon, or the Shannon in rustic Ireland—there are so many delightful waterways to be discovered. Perfectly suitable for small family reunions or friends’ get together adventures, European Barging will be the next “it” in cruising without a doubt. We have just the ideas for your barging experience—call us and find out more details.

Click here for our spring 2012 programme

Joe and I want to thank all of you who have traveled with us; many of you have come with us on our group tours, and equally as many have booked your individual vacations with us. Whether you like the security of traveling with a group, or you prefer to travel individually—we are here to plan and arrange the perfect vacation for you.  For a schedule of our 2012 group departures, please visit our website www.clarksontours.ca. For all other cruise departures, visit www.clarksontravel.ca. You can also always call us at 905.855.1700 or visit us in person at 1739 Lakeshore Road West in Clarkson Village, Mississauga. In addition to the China Group Reunion on November 19^th, we have two more tour presentations scheduled this month: The Deluxe Orient Tour on November 23^rd and Oceania Cruises on November 30^th—call us to register your attendance. We look forward to making your travel dreams come true! We leave you with a couple of photos from aboard the luxurious Regent Seven Seas all suites Voyager “Opera Night Under the Stars” we were treated to as we sailed out of Sorrento—what a night!