Adventures by Disney
A peak at the construction of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Wish; kayaking beneath a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct; or an art workshop inspired by Vincent Van Gogh…. These are some of the experiences that await clients who book one of the 30 Adventures by Disney river cruises on offer in 2021. But let clients know that even more exclusive experiences await them if they choose one of the operator’s pre- or post-cruise itinerary enhancements in Paris, Amsterdam or Budapest. These guided group itineraries are designed to maximize vacation time, highlighting must-see attractions as well as lesser-known hidden gems, with two dedicated Adventure Guides leading the way.
The Paris Escape, for instance, can be added to Seine and Rhone sailings, with dinner in the Eiffel Tower; a private walking culinary tour; and an immersive visit to the Louvre Museum guided by a local expert and a special art detective activity for Junior Adventurers. During the Amsterdam Escape, which can be added as a post-cruise stay following Rhine River sailings to complete the cruise’s four-country journey, guests will go on a canal cruise; take a culinary tour of the trendy Jordaan neighborhood; and visit the Van Gogh Museum followed by an interactive painting workshop. A Danube sailing can be complemented by the Budapest Escape, which includes sampling authentic Hungarian cuisine, riding in a tuk-tuk and catching a performance at the Budapest Opera House. adventuresbydisney.com
Avanti Destinations
Chile, Morocco, Panama, Thailand, and Turkey…those are the countries where Avanti Destinations has launched six new customizable, commissionable pre-/post-cruise extensions. Available year-round, these custom-crafted FIT itineraries offer such unique experiences as a tour of historical sites related to Pinochet’s dictatorship while on the 4-day Santiago History Pre- or Post-Cruise (Chile), or a full-day private tour of the Casablanca Valley wine country with tastings while on the 4-day Santiago Wine Lovers Pre- or Post-Cruise (Chile). During the 6-day Highlights of Northern Morocco tour, there’s the opportunity to visit the oldest museum of Moroccan traditional arts, and during the 4-day Best of Istanbul extension, there are private tours of some of the city’s must-see sights. The 4-day Panama City Stopover, meanwhile, includes everything from a jungle boat tour of Gatun Lake with a naturalist guide to a hiking tour of Soberania National Park.
“Pre- and post-cruise extensions are an ideal way for clients to try independent travel,” says Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti. “Increasingly, we’re seeing pre-/post-cruise bookings that are seven to 10 days long, not just one or two nights.”
book.avantidestinations.com
Goway Travel
Here’s a bucket-list itinerary from Goway Travel you’ll want to recommend: Pair a visit to Antarctica with one of several land-based add-ons, including Chile’s 5-day Explora Lodge Patagonia, located in Torres del Paine, or the 4-6 day Tierra Patagonia Hotel, located on the edge of Torres del Paine. If it’s Argentina your clients want to pair an Antarctica visit with then recommend three days exploring Calafate, home to Perito Moreno Glacier or a 3-day Ushuaia Stopover might be an idyllic experience.
“The obvious add on to any trip to Antarctica is a visit to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Calafate in Argentina,” says Don Forster, general manager, Central and South America, Antarctica and the Arctic, Goway. “Both offer the best not only in accommodation choices and outdoor activities but the best in unique wilderness wrapped up in the rural reactions of the Patagonian gaucho.”
Forster recommends taking roundtrip to/from Antarctica flights rather than opting for an itinerary that sails the Drake Passage, saving vacationers up to four days in sailing time. “This added time is then spent in the heart of Antarctica rubbing shoulder to flipper with the wildlife.” goway.com
Left to right: In Amsterdam with Adventures by Disney; in Morocco with Avanti; and in Antarctica with Goway.
