Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Update on river cruising -- Our September 2012 Newsletter
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On River Cruising … Past and Present
Foreword:
Detailed information on river cruises contained herein can be found at our website: www.clarksontours.ca and select "Rivers and Land". In this newsletter we review river cruising in general, excluding rivers in the Americas. We draw conclusions at the end of the newsletter employing the market stratification model adopted by the travel industry for ocean cruising -- specifically, "luxury", "premium", and "mass" markets. We trust you will find this information useful and welcome your queries as to availability and / or advice on the many voyages we identify herein.
Canals; an enabler for our inland
waterways
Let’s turn the clock back a few thousand years to
the days of Nero – an Emperor of Rome. Nero engaged
Egyptian engineers to design the Corinth Canal to join
the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Nero was assassinated before
work could be completed. Going back just one thousand
years takes us to China’s Grand Canal that connects
Beijing and Hangzhou – a distance close to 1,800
kilometres. The idea of cutting across land to reduce
travel time has been with us for some time; however it
was not until 1992, when the Rhine and Danube rivers
were interconnected, that river cruising, as a segment
of the cruise industry, took hold.
River cruising; the
concept
Driven by the needs of trade, the connection of
rivers in Europe saw a concept come to full life – that
of a floating hotel on rivers (i.e. river boats);
tourists could visit far distant, historical and major
cities from a vessel literally docked downtown; all from
the comfort of their “hotel room” – their cabin or
stateroom on board their river boat.
Since 2007, river cruising has grown at the rate
of 15% annually (see chart). At this rate, capacity
doubles every five years.
Rivers,
the main inland thoroughfares of the past, afford us an
upfront and close look at major cities; the fact is that
most were built on the banks of rivers or at seaports.
Europe, and river
cruising in general
Passenger capacity on river boats ranges
from a low 92 to over 200 passengers and the size of
staterooms from 140 to over well over 350 square feet.
River cruise lines include excellent tours at virtually
each port of call, where knowledgeable tour guides are
capable of making your head spin – they can provide such
detail.
The
European Waterways in particular served as natural land
boundaries that helped define and develop countries. And
they facilitated trade – the main driver for
interconnecting these rivers through a system of locks.
It does boggle the mind that one can sail from Amsterdam
to the Black Sea (link takes you to a voyages
ending in Budapest) by way of the Rhine, Main and Danube
rivers. This voyage traverses nine countries (see map),
the Continental Divide, and an elevated waterway.
Let’s
have a brief look at some of the rivers and the
itineraries they afford.
The
Rhine
As one
travels the Rhine from Basel,
Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands, we have the
ever-present reminders of a toll-collecting practice,
evidenced today by enormous mountaintop castles (or
ruins thereof), some still functioning as converted
restaurants. The story goes that in some places, logs
were placed in the river, thereby impeding travel and
enabling toll collection.
Seasonal
cruises on the Rhine include “Tulip Time”, and theme
cruises such as wine with attending renowned sommeliers
with starting points in Zurich, Paris, Basel, and
Amsterdam.
The
Danube
A
popular and satisfying voyage is that of Budapest
to Nuremberg then on to Prague – a jewel of a city,
not taking anything away from Budapest – with its many
points of interest and iconic Parliament Buildings – a
photographer’s delight particularly when viewed from
Fisherman’s Bastion at the opposite side of the river.
The
voyage from the Black Sea, starting in Istanbul with
its bazaar and Blue Mosque past the Iron Gates ending in
Vienna is another historic delight and visits places
mentioned in the Bible.
The
Rhone
Start in
Paris, travel by high-speed train (the TGV) to Lyon.
Sail from there to the Beaujolais area up the Soane
River then down the Rhone past medieval towns – the
Provence area. Enjoy a flamenco show in Barcelona. Wine
theme cruises are a real treat. Or travel the Seine and
the Rhone on the Grand
France.
The
Duoro
Love
port wine, or just good
wine? Enjoy a country with rugged and inviting
coastlines? A country with rich history and excellent
foods? Visit Portugal and Spain. Start in Lisbon, end in
Madrid. Join our President’s
cruise in October 2013.
Other European
Rivers
Still
more river cruises are offered on the Elbe
which flows from the Czech Republic through Germany
into the North Sea, the
Dnieper
River which flows through Belarus and the
Ukraine into the Black Sea, and the Po River which
features Venice, Italy.
Russia: the Volga
River
Each
June, at the time of the “White
Nights”, we at Cruise Holidays of Clarkson offer
this voyage between Moscow and St. Petersburg; opulence
is the byword here, when one visits Hermitage and
Catherine the Great’s Palace in St. Petersburg. But
travelers also experience the simpler things of Russian
life, like sharing a meal with a Russian family.
China: the Yangtze
River
In
China, the Yangtze River cruise travels between the
cities of Chongqing and Yichang. Chongqing has a
population of 33 million people and was once the capital
of China. This tour visits Beijing, where the Forbidden
City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China can be
visited, then Nanjing, home of the Terra Cotta warriors,
Shanghai – its Financial Centre, other mainland China
locations and Hong Kong. To avoid crowds, travel late in
the year.
Egypt: the
Nile
Start in
Cairo, where the pyramids and the famed Sphinx are
located near the city; at the Cairo Museum, see the
mummy of the Pharaoh Ramses II, over 3,200 years old
still with recognizable features. The tour continues to
the Valley of the Kings, where multiple tombs were
discovered on the west side of the Nile, then on to
Luxor and Abu Simbel, at the south end of Lake Nasser.
Travel in
the spring or in the fall to avoid extremely high
temperatures.
South Africa: Chobe
River
This
tour includes visits to game reserves, Cape Town, and a
cruise
ending at Victoria Falls. A once-in-a-lifetime
experience.
Vietnam and Cambodia:
The Mekong
The tour
commences in Hanoi, with its French influence, then on
to the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, Ha Long Bay, before
flying to Siem Reap in Cambodia. See UNESCO sites such
as Angkor Wat, before boarding for a cruise along the Mekong
to Ho Chi Minh City. This tour is mind-altering … one
has much opportunity to mingle with the locals; to us
westerners, their lifestyle is extraordinary. See
floating villages and more. Best time to travel:
February / March.
Cruise Lines, market segmentation and coverage
Let's have a look at market segmentation within river cruise products; and let's use ocean-cruising's segmentation model: specifically, "luxury", "premium" and "mass" markets. In ocean cruising, we have a mature product wherein the players differentiate their products by how the products and services are delivered and the level of service. Examples of points of differentiation are the quality of linen, butler service, suites, quality and choice of shore excursions, etc.
Carnival Cruise Lines for example, own eleven brands and operate in all three segments. Seabourn operates in luxury, Holland America Line operates in premium and Carnival (the brand) operates in mass.
Until recently, river cruise line companies all claimed "luxury" level services and indeed the cruise experience was, and still is, reasonably uniform. We do see, however, the emergence of two luxury companies -- Scenic Tours and Tauck (see chart). Each of these companies has tour beginnings, and operates worldwide. They have proven to be game changers.
Carnival Cruise Lines for example, own eleven brands and operate in all three segments. Seabourn operates in luxury, Holland America Line operates in premium and Carnival (the brand) operates in mass.
Until recently, river cruise line companies all claimed "luxury" level services and indeed the cruise experience was, and still is, reasonably uniform. We do see, however, the emergence of two luxury companies -- Scenic Tours and Tauck (see chart). Each of these companies has tour beginnings, and operates worldwide. They have proven to be game changers.
About Cruise Holidays
of Clarkson
We are a full-service
travel agency and provide expert advice and services in
land and cruise vacations.
We have
been a member of the Cruise Holidays President Circle
(awarded to the top 20 stores in North America) for the
last three years running and won Best Group
Promotion Awards in 2008 and 2011. We are dedicated to
deliver travel experiences that match our clients'
individual lifestyles and pride ourselves in managing
lasting relationships earned through the integrity of
our service. We thank you for your business and we stand
ready to review, discuss, and help you maximize value
from your travel investment.
Call us
at 905 855 1700 or email info@clarksontravel.ca for more
information.
Our address is 1739 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON L5J 1J4 and there is ample free parking at the rear of our store. Drop in!
Our address is 1739 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON L5J 1J4 and there is ample free parking at the rear of our store. Drop in!
Zaneta Rochemont
President,
Cruise Holidays of Clarkson
1739 Lakeshore Road West
Mississauga ON L5J 1J4
T: 905 855 1700 | F: 905 855 1701 e: info@clarksontravel.ca| w: www.clarksontours.ca
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
July 2012 Newsletter -- Trans Atlantic Crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2
| Visit our Website | About Us | Our Calendar of Value-Added Promos |
President Circle, Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond
Jubilee, Cunard’s Atlantic Crossing, and more …
We were part of the Cruise Holidays President’s Circle
cruise, awarded to 20 of the top Cruise Holidays businesses in North America.
The cruise was aboard Cunard Line’s legendary Queen Mary 2, sailing from Southampton, England to New York, June
10-17, 2012. Being our first trans-Atlantic
cruise, we share the experience with you.
Canterbury, Kent – a voyage into the past
We traveled to Canterbury a week before the sailing -- just
in time to participate in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration; the passion and
outcry of love for the Queen was amazing! Hundreds of thousands exercised
squatter’s rights – taking up vantage positions days in advance to catch sight
of the Queen and the Royals. And according to the Guinness Book of Records, witness
the largest ever flotilla up the Thames or anywhere for that matter.
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| Flotilla, Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee |
The Queen
was visibly touched by her son Charles’ address which started with “Your Royal
Highness, Mummy ...”
We celebrated with locals at a 700 year-old pub in
Canterbury, Kent with our friends Mike and Ann. Dressed in regal regalia, the
locals danced, sang, and made merry. Mike and Ann were great hosts; we visited historic
sites of Canterbury and the coast north of Dover, a concert at the new Marlowe
Theatre that sticks out magnificently amidst the older Canterbury landscape.
 |
| View of Trafalgar Square |
In London, Zaneta remarked, “Of all the cities I have
visited, these landmarks are impressive!” We wanted to update ourselves on
London, the city and at the same time experience the services of one of our
preferred ground operators and travel partner. We treated ourselves to a
private morning tour using their services, and inspected 4 and 5-star hotels aligned
with our travelers’ preferences. Stay tuned for our enhanced British Isles
cruise-tours or a trans-Atlantic crossing on Cunard! Traditional cruising with
the largest dance floor on the ocean!
Southampton – a haunted hotel and embarkation
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| Bristol Room, New Place |
In Southampton, we stayed at a rural hotel – Devere Venues New Place. Built in 1906 it
has the appearance of a manor of much older vintage. Its Bristol Room – moved piece by piece from another house and
reassembled at New Place exactly as before. The fireplace carries the coat of
arms of the family and a date circa 1650. The manor was used as a school before
becoming a hotel and mysterious happenings occurred in the boys’ dormitory
above the Bristol Room. The story goes that there were some unexplained
appearances in the dorm – the last being in 1983 by a “Brutus” who had died
accidentally at the manor performing repairs to the roof.
The crossing
The next day, we traveled from rural Hampshire to
Southampton and boarded the Queen Mary 2. Once on sail, we were quick to appreciate
Cunard’s distinction between an “ocean liner” and a “cruise ship”. The crossing
on Queen Mary 2 was as smooth as silk even in choppy waters.
Unlike most
ocean-going voyages, a trans-Atlantic crossing is not defined by a series of
port calls. Passengers feel a sense of timelessness, as each day brings new
opportunities to relax and unwind aboard the ship. Very quickly, one realizes there
is no pressure to rise early in order to leave the ship to sight-see, shop, or
go to the beach. Overheard sentiments of one passenger: “From the moment you step aboard, you are not
stepping back in time, but in a sense you are stepping away from it.”
Restful, yet Stimulating
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| Stairwell, QM2 |
Those who feel a 7-day ocean crossing may leave too much
idle time need not fear. Although there is a feel of a slower pace, there are
countless activities to take part in from sun-up until well past sundown. The
days are filled with everything from early riser’s yoga, to insightful guest
lecturers, to Afternoon Tea, to exciting casino action or relaxing visits to
the spa.
Glittering, Glamorous Evenings
The Golden Age of ocean travel comes alive in the evenings on a
trans-Atlantic cruise. Passengers dress in their finest formalwear and enjoy
exquisite dishes such as Lobster Américaine Flambé, Châteaubriand,
and decadent desserts, like Cassis Champagne Mousse. Nothing can
compare to the lavish themed balls, such as the Black and White Ball or the
Royal Ascot Ball, held on the largest dance floor at sea, amidst a sea of glittering
ball gowns, tuxedos, magnificent hats and fascinators.
The Ultimate Experience
Passengers who wake early the final morning of the sailing
are treated to one of the most unique experiences anywhere at sea – sailing
into New York Harbor, under the Verrazano Bridge and past the Statue of
Liberty. It’s the ultimate experience to wake up before sunrise, go out on deck
in a warm sweater with a celebratory glass of champagne or a steaming mug of
coffee or tea in hand. To see land after an extended period at sea is a moment
that brings hope and a sense of new possibilities.
Packing Tips
Packing for a trans-Atlantic cruise does require a
considerable amount of forethought, but information on dress requirements is
readily available well ahead of the cruise departure, giving you time to plan
accordingly. Think of items you may be able to re-purpose, especially shawls,
wraps or light jackets. There is a laundry service onboard and launderettes are
generously spread throughout the ship on most decks. Of course the advantage of
all types of cruising is once you are at the ship you only need to unpack once.
About the Cruise Holidays President’s Circle
The formula for determining President’s Circle members is
based on two factors. The Cruise Holidays businesses that earned the most
revenue in the previous year along with those who had the most revenue growth
compared to the previous year were chosen as President’s Circle winners.
Additionally, while most of the winners were Cruise Holidays storefront
agencies, the top three virtual offices (home-based businesses) were also
selected for the President’s Circle.
Zaneta and I are honoured to have been named to the
President’s Circle for the last three years running, and thank you for your
continued support. We stand ready to help you realize your dream vacation or
check off one more of your “bucket list” items.
Call us at 905 855 1700 or email info@clarksontravel.ca
for more information. Our address is 1739 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON
L5J 1J4 and there is ample free parking at the rear of our store.
Join our team
Over the years, several of you, our fellow travelers, have
demonstrated a passion for travel driven as we are for an ongoing learning of
historical influences of the diverse cultures of the world. We are expanding,
and invite you to join us! We are particularly interested in individuals who
wish to work from the comfort of their homes. Please call us to discuss.
# # #
Cruise Holidays is
part of the oldest cruise-specialty retail franchise in North America, with
stores and home-based franchises in both the United States and Canada. Cruise
Holidays is also a distinguished provider of land tour vacation packages.
Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays is part of Travel Leaders Group. With
approximately 1,300 travel agency locations in the United States and Canada,
Travel Leaders Group serves millions of individual leisure travelers, as well
as select corporate clients and destinations.
An invitation to join
Zaneta and Joe on two upcoming voyages.
Zaneta and I have had the pleasure of
travelling with many of you, and we have selected two voyages that we will
escort together -- by far our preferred way of travel. We describe these
voyages below and invite you to join us:
 |
| Orient Express from Bangkok to Singapore |
1. “The
Deluxe Orient Experience” departing Toronto November 2nd
2012 for Bangkok. This is a land tour, filled with
activity designed to provide an understanding of ancient culture at our places
of visit, and experience then influence of this past on today’s lifestyles. And
music, art, stunning landscapes and architectural wonders all form part of the
total experience. There are a total of
twelve hotel nights – Bangkok, Singapore, Bali and Hong Kong and with three
nights on board the Eastern and Oriental Express.
2.
Crystal
Cruises’ “Canary
Island Classic” departing Toronto April 7th 2013. Alexa 
Petrenko of the New
Classical 96.3FM radio station will join us on this voyage, and will be
available to meet, socialize with you, and share her experience with 96.3 and
her vast exposure to the world of classical music. Alexa hosts “Oasis” that
airs weekdays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and “Sunday Night at the Opera”. This
voyage visits the powers of the Old World, Portugal and Spain, the steamy
kingdom of Morocco, and the revered Canary Islands. There is much to see,
learn, experience and do on board and on shore. We invite you to come with us.
Note we are in the process of adding concerts etc. however don't wait to book!
Petrenko of the New
Classical 96.3FM radio station will join us on this voyage, and will be
available to meet, socialize with you, and share her experience with 96.3 and
her vast exposure to the world of classical music. Alexa hosts “Oasis” that
airs weekdays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and “Sunday Night at the Opera”. This
voyage visits the powers of the Old World, Portugal and Spain, the steamy
kingdom of Morocco, and the revered Canary Islands. There is much to see,
learn, experience and do on board and on shore. We invite you to come with us.
Note we are in the process of adding concerts etc. however don't wait to book!
Crystal Cruises’ has been voted # 1 by
Conde Nast for 17 years running.
For alternate dates and voyages, please view our Calendar of Value-Added Promotions. We have something extra in each!
For alternate dates and voyages, please view our Calendar of Value-Added Promotions. We have something extra in each!
We thank you for your business and we stand
ready to review and discuss how you can achieve your travel plans or dreams and
advantage of existing value offers. Please call us at 905 855 1700 or e-mail info@clarksontravel.ca for more information. Our address is 1739
Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga ON L5J 1J4 and there is ample free parking at
the rear of our store.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Luxury cruising has become more affordable ...
|
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Cruise Holidays of Clarkson visits a new destination, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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On arrival in Ljubljana April
1st our guide Maja and our driver Elvir
greeted us at the airport and transferred us to our
5-star hotel – Hotel Lev (the Lion). In no time, Maja
had us all charmed with her enthusiasm, her personality,
knowledge and excellent communication skills. 
indeed scenic. We drove by skiers,
through exceedingly long tunnels, the infamous “Eagles
Nest” – Hitler’s hideout and stopped for a break at one
of the most scenic road stops I have ever seen. The
Amadeus Royal lay in wait for us at Passau; we boarded,
freshened up, relaxed, and gathered for the Captain’s
welcome cocktail and for the first of many briefings
from Gabriel our cruise Director.
and dedication that sets them
apart. Lueftner’s shore excursions were insightful and
provided me with information I had missed on previous
visits to the same locations.
In Bratislava, the capital of
Slovakia, George our guide towered over us all at 6ft
8ins. He took us up to the highest point in Bratislava,
overlooking the castle and where 6,800 soldiers are
buried. The castle had been destroyed several times and
is still being restored – one of many testimonies to the
pride of history we humans share. Our evening concert
performed at Clarisse Church (great acoustics!) capped
the day. 
the ruins of an enormous Slavic
castle high above the point where the Danube makes an
180 degree turn towards Budapest, and Esztergom, the
birthplace of the first Hungarian King, St. Stephen, the
location of his coronation January 1st, 1000,
and the start of the Hungarian State. 
virtually empty streets, visited
Schoenbrunn Palace, and attended a rousing performance
at the Kursalon – where the waltz master Strauss used to
play. We sailed from Venice just before midnight for
Weisenkirchen, a hillside town with terraced vineyards.
There, at the early hour of 10:00 AM we were treated to
some excellent whites. We then drove to Durnstein, known
for its Gothic blue-spired church and as the place where
Richard the Lion Heart had been jailed. Melk Abbey was
next; best described as the Monks’ creation of heaven on
earth. Our ship had sailed to Melk and we boarded her
bound for Passau, where Pavel, our guide and Peter, our
driver waited to transport us to 
Prague where we would spend three
nights. 
We explored Prague on our final
day, and we were blessed once more with perfect weather.
At the Farewell Dinner at the President Hotel, Bill
Anderson reviewed the tour, led singing to lyrics he had
written; something that Bill has done in the past. Keith
Nicholas did a Belafonte rendition.
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