PROPOSED GROUP TRAVEL FOR 2013

These are ideas for you to consider for group trips for those are interested in traveling w/ith and getting to know other ALL members. Today we will explore and decide on at least 3 destinations. I will set-up Group Fares and Amenities on those and present to you at the next class for final decisions. Remember that we have to fill 8 cabins for a group cruise. Group tour requirements vary but usual number is 10 people.

Winter and SprinR, 2013

Princess is back in Galveston. They are currently having a great sale that applies to almost all of their cruises and cruisetour destinations. We pick the best deal—sale or group pricing.

River Boat cruises in Europe or the USA. I recommend we use either AMA or Viking for Europe or Asia; American Riverboat for USA.

We have the Collette tour to New York; see 2 Broadway plays and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a great short get-a-way for spring break. Although we have lost our reserved group space, prices are still good, but space is limited. So if a few couples would like to take this tour, we can get them on but time is limited.

On May 24, we have the best price I have ever seen on an Alaskan cruise tour on Celebrity. June 7 offer another almost as good pricing. Cruise first, then tour Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and back to Anchorage for your flight home. For what it is worth. Celebrity does the best Alaska trip, based on my experiences cruising on Princess (2 times); Holland America (3 times), and Celebrity 91 time). I love an Alaskan cruise! Don't miss this one!

Prefer just a cruise? June 21 offers lowest price of the summer.

Summer

I have set up group fares for a Western Mediterranean sailing on June 11 on the beautiful Celebrity Equinox. Just being on the ship itself is almost like vacationing in a five star resort. Many of you have mentioned a cruise to Turkey, especially after meeting our Consul from Turkey at Focus Day. This cruise leaves Barcelona and stops at Rome. Naples, Sandrine, Greece, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Athens and Valetta, Malta, and ends in Barcelona. You save on air because it's round trip fare.

In August, we set sail around the British Isles from Harwich, England, with stops in England, Ireland, and Scotland. This is on the Celebrity Infinity.

A riverboat cruises is great for summer, but space is limited by now. However, there are great deals for the cabins available. There are many boats with 2 to 5-6 cabins left. Would any of you be interested in the Footsteps of the Cossacks from Odessa, Ukraine through Kiev? I would be very interested in this one on Viking if anyone else is. Let me know. One of our members has asked about a cruise that goes into Albania. I am looking for that one. Anyone interested?

Summer is a great time for a Balkan cruise to Russia and Scandanavian countries.

Fall, 2013

A Celebrity Wine Immersive cruise beginning in England, going to wine regions in France, Spain, and Portugal, and returning to England is planned. Brian and Judy Tarranto will be tour leaders on this one. Also, they will return to the U.S. on the Transatlantic, leaving from England the next day. You can keep the same cabin for the return trip if you want to do back-to-back cruises. Or just take the Transatlantic for a wonderfully relaxing and educational trip.

Heritage of America tour with Collette will help us all to review and relearn our history while we view some gorgeous scenery. Great tour guides to help us with this. This is scheduled for September.

If you missed the spring Alaska cruise, take one in September—just cruise, no tour). Celebrity has a unique itinerary and good prices.

Travel to Australia and New Zealand on another Collette tour. (You can't beat Collette for prices that include interesting places to visit and good hotels for lodging). We have this scheduled for late October.

The last one is a tour/cruise on Princess through Canada and New England. Fly to Toronto, visit Niagara Falls, and other Canadian cities up to Quebec City where you board the ship and come back to New York with ports in between. (I loved this trip!)

I have no expectation that all of these trips will be chosen, but I wanted YOU to do the choosing. I have information on others if you find nothing here and I will get information on any trip you ask me to check out.

Peggy Presnell

CALL 281-304-7127

Let me help you with your group or your individual travel plans whether to the well know places or to exotic destinations.