COLLETTE Where to travel in 2020 with - EUROPE & RIVER CRUISE - TravelPress
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travelcourier.ca
®
February 20, 2020
Where to travel
in 2020 with
COLLETTE
+
EUROPE & RIVER CRUISE
0220PG01.indd 1 2/14/2020 1:07:03 PM
the lede
Francois Baltus Languedoc, CEO,
Martinique Tourism Authority;
Muriel Wiltord, director of
Americas, Martinique Tourism
Authority; Ingrid Labeau, co-
ordinator, Martinique Tourism
Authority; Deborah Coffre,
representative, Tourism Authority
of the Islands of Guadeloupe;
Dimitri Derigent, Martinique
Tourism Authority; Patricia Azor,
director, Tourism Authority of the
Islands of Guadeloupe.
CARIBBEAN VIBE, Welcome to
Guadeloupe
FRENCH FLAIR and Martinique
ashley rochefort infrastructure, and European level health
care. But the Isle of Flowers is really a
would help them sell the destinations.
“There are still a few people who say
cultural destination. they’ve been to the other islands and I
A Caribbean vibe with “It’s not just the beautiful beaches, want to try something different, but flying
French flair, sister islands, palm trees, and nature, we have a lot is the issue because people from Toronto,
of culture to share too,” explained no surprise, want a direct flight,” said
Guadeloupe and Martinique, Francois. “A thriving arts scene, incred- Michelle Green, travel designer, Travel
welcomed travel agents, ible architecture, gastronomy, and the Edge. “They’re both beautiful islands, a
best rum in the world are really the little more laid-back and not as commer-
partners and guests to the elements that make us different.” cialized as other Caribbean destinations,
French Caribbean Sensations Part of the mission in visiting and I think a direct flight would make a
Canada was to push Air Canada big impact on clients travelling there.”
show in Toronto last week for direct flights from Toronto to Guadeloupe has an ambitious goal of
at Hotel X. Martinique and Guadeloupe. The increasing Canadian visitors in 2020.
Canadian market is growing with Air “Right now we have 29,000 passen-
Celebrating two islands in one room, Canada and Air Transat, combined, gers from Montreal to Guadeloupe,”
the tourist boards, along with suppliers adding 11,000 more seats in 2020. said Patricia Azor, director, Tourism
like Club Med, Air Canada, Air Canada Currently, Ontarians must catch early Authority of the Islands of Guadeloupe.
Vacations, and cruising partners were on connecting flight through Montreal. “But we want to see a 20% increase
hand to provide information to agents Francois is hoping that will change in within the next year and industry event
about these destinations that are grow- the next year or two, “we know already like this one will help us reach that goal.”
ing in popularity. that Ontario is the second largest For agents interested in selling
The CEO of the Martinique Tourism market in Canada for Martinique, Martinique and Guadeloupe, ACV
Authority, Francois Baltus Languedoc, so it does make sense that we get a is offering two times the ACV & ME
travelled from Martinique just to meet direct flight because there is a huge rewards points on any new package
the agents in Toronto and tell them what potential in Ontario.” bookings made to Martinique and
makes Martinique so special. He describes Travel agents in attendance echoed Guadeloupe between Feb. 12-28 for
it as a worry-free destination – safe, solid the idea that a direct flight from Toronto travel through April 30. tc
2 travelcourier.ca | february 20, 2020
0220PG02-04.indd 2 2020-02-14 4:01:28 PM
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G PREMIERES NEW AGENT about the target Journeys
SPECIALIST PROGRAM traveller, including top
travel interests and book-
G Adventures has launched a new National ing preferences, to help
Geographic Journeys Agent Specialist agents identify top pros-
Program for Canadian travel agents. pects. The fourth chapter
It is designed to enhance knowledge covers the new National
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Geographic Expeditions and is open for get customer and more.
registration, with special incentives for The four modules can be
agents who complete the course by the completed in one sitting,
end of February. or in separate parts.
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ized into four, learning modules, can tomers who are most likely to book. ly certified Journeys Specialists will
be accessed from any desktop or mobile In part one, agents will gain a receive a personalized Journeys Specialist
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Travel agents should get their sea legs
ready because they’ll have more chances
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this year. uct. While tours will be focused on the seminars at sea provide agents an oppor-
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With the introduction of the totally Ship tours are offered free of charge Agents interested in taking a tour
renovated Carnival Radiance this sum- and include lunch on board. They are or seminar should contact their Carni-
mer, Carnival will wrap up a decade-long hosted by a Carnival business develop- val business development manager or
US$2 billion fleet-enhancement program ment manager or director who conducts register at:
that has touched every Carnival ship a guided tour of staterooms, public →w ww.GoCCL.com
TRAVEL
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COVER STORY
Collette’s I
f there’s one thing Collette has learned
during its 102-year tenure as a travel
provider, it’s that bigger isn’t necessar-
bucket list
ily better. That’s why a key focus for the
Pawtucket, Rhode Island-headquartered com-
pany is its small group Explorations product,
where trip sizes range from 14-24 travellers,
worthy trips
opening the door to more intimate opportun-
ities in a destination.
Collette president Jaclyn Leibl-Cote says
being able to cater to experiential experiences
gives travel agents the potential to grow
STORY BY ANN RUPPENSTEIN their client base.
“There aren’t a lot of small group tour operators,
barely any that are preferred or in the travel
agent space – a lot of them are direct-to-con-
sumer organizations that sell a lot. That’s a huge
opportunity for travel agents to take market share
from those direct-to-consumer companies and be
able to see and have happy travellers who want to
come back because it’s a great in-depth experi-
ence,” she tells Travel Courier. “You can really
find new customers that they can have as repeat
customers who are going and doing this more
experiential type of travel that they didn’t even
realize existed.”
Whether it’s walking through remote lush green
jungles of Costa Rica or leading a dog sled team
across the snowy landscape in Finland, the
itineraries provide access to unique places and
intimate experiences larger groups may not be
able to access.
6 travelcourier.ca | february 20, 2020
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company that’s going to provide the service and the
experience that they’re looking for.”
In order to better sell the product, she says it’s
important to know what sets Collette apart from the
competition. Among the main differentiators is the
consistency of the product.
“A lot of times you have tour companies that can
come in at a great price and show a very good prod-
uct, but what you don’t realize is they may bookend
their hotels,” she says. “The first hotel and the last
hotel are going to be really ‘wow’ hotels, and they
might go a little lower quality in the middle because
what you’re going to remember is the beginning and
the end. What we provide is definite consistency in
the tour product.”
“The exotic destinations are a likely match for that, but also
people are looking for smaller groups in the guided travel space Another pillar is the value of the product offered.
so expanding in Europe is definitely something that makes sense
for us,” she adds. “On a 10-day itinerary, we average two options that
people can purchase above and beyond that during
As for the role of travel agents, she says they are the key to help free time – other tour companies average anywhere
clients decipher all the available options and to match them with from six to 10 options to be sold and when you look
what best suits their needs and interests. at the options that we’re selling, we include a lot of
that stuff. It really is value for money.”
“The Internet has been a great tool for people to have informa-
tion at their fingertips, but it’s also too much information that Finally, she says they have continued to innovate in
sometimes people don’t even know where the truth lies or it just the ways they create choice, flexibility and personal-
becomes so consuming trying to figure out of all the 30 sites that ization on tour, including e-vouchers for Uber trips
you looked at, what you then should do,” she says. “I think the on select itineraries to offer travellers the freedom to
travel agent community helps to narrow the focus for consumers explore at their leisure.
and travellers, wherever it is they’re looking to go to, whether it’s
Europe, North America, South Pacific, and really understanding “Over 75% of our tour itineraries have what we call
what is it that they’re looking to get out of a trip and then being choice on tour, where people can choose how they
able to work with them and place them with the right travel
continued on page 8
february 20, 2020 | travelcourier.ca 7 9
0220PG06-09.indd 7 2/14/2020 11:51:35 AM
continued from page 7
want to spend their mornings or their afternoon or their day,” she
says. “This is just a hypothetical example, in Paris you could either
do The Louvre or Versailles, it’s your choice. Some people may hate
museums, and they don’t want to go, but you force them to.”
SO, FOR CLIENTS READY TO JUMP INTO
TRAVEL, HERE’S A LOOK AT WHERE TO
TRAVEL IN 2020 WITH COLLETTE:
Say bonjour to France
“My pick is the Journey Through Southern France tour, part of our
small group Explorations brand. I mean seriously: French wine,
fine dining, truffle hunting and meandering through some of the
greatest wine valleys and appellations in the world. This is a true
sensory adventure! The Guggenheim of wine. I had the supreme
pleasure of taking this tour last fall. My highlight had to be truffle
hunting with celebrated chef Marc Larrue followed by lunch he
made in his centuries-old home in the hills of Saint-Rémy-de-
Provence. Nothing like it. Say no more. Mic-drop.”
— Brett Walker, General Manager Canada, Collette
“We’re seeing a significant trend in guests who are interested in
France. It’s incredibly diverse in terms of the experiences that it
offers from visiting Normandy, to relaxing on the beach, to taking
part in the Bordeaux wine region. The history that it offers, eclectic
options for food and wine, as well as its rise in popularity, make it a
top destination for the upcoming year.”
— Diana Ditto, Director of Product Design, Collette
Walk like an Egyptian
“I will be bit biased, as we did this tour last year, but Treasures of
Egypt is one that continues to spark great interest and desire for
many people, and it’s a must-see and -do. Travelling to Egypt was
high on my list for many years. Our Collette itinerary and pace was
excellent throughout the tour. Spending time at the Pyramids of
Giza, then combining it with a four-night river cruise on the Nile
and then visiting the Valleys of the Kings and Queens in Luxor
made this tour spectacular. In addition, sailing to the oasis of
Kitchener Island aboard a felucca (wooden sailboat) was also a high-
light reel moment. I strongly believe we will continue to see signifi-
cant growth with this destination in 2020, as Egypt is a remarkable
country with a fascinating history and story that accompanies it.”
— George Christakis, Head of Sales Canada, Collette region every 10 years, but that’s definitely a big theme
we’re going to see this year. For me, I actually did the
Feel the passion at play Oberammergau tour back in 1990, so I would defin-
itely go back because it’s a great region for all the other
“The big thing for this year, which has been in the making for years places that it goes to, as well as Oberammergau. It’s just
is the Oberammergau Passion Play, so that happens every 10 years, a great part of the world.”
and we sell a lot of that, so that’s been selling for the last couple
of years. It’s not new in the sense that we participate and sell this — Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President, Collette
8 travelcourier.ca | february 20, 2020
0220PG06-09.indd 8 2/14/2020 11:51:37 AM
Discover Costa Rica
“Costa Rica continues to be a top destination for Canadian travel-
lers who have a rich passion for nature, animals, and the jungle.”
— Diana Ditto, Director of Product Design
“Out of the Canadian market, small group travel is very strong. The
tours that we have like Costa Rica and those destinations, you see
a lot of the Canadian market that is interested in that small guided
travel experience. So, we definitely see that out of there.”
— Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President, Collette
Head Downunder Cross off a new destination
“The recent bushfires in Australia were tragic, and the “We launched Russia for this year, we launched a new Patagonia
impact on the natural landscape, wildlife and people tour product for this year, we have Egypt and Jordan that we
can’t be understated. It was horrible to see what was launched for this year. Patagonia just looks breathtaking, and that
happening, and selfishly, I can’t help but recall the tour is well paced. I just think that being there would be awesome.
amazing time I had travelling Downunder. This was That or Russia. You know St. Petersburg in Moscow, I just think to
my ultimate adventure. We need to encourage people be travelling by train and all of that would be pretty neat.”
to travel to this incredible country. The great news is
we have just come up with a new small group tour to — Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President, Collette
the South Pacific: Australia & New Zealand Uncovered.
This tour is now on my Bucket List. Secondary visits
are on the rise, whereby by travellers want to revisit
places to take a deeper dive to connect and experience
Agents’ Choice:
more of the antiquities, culture and flavour of their
favourite country.”
Let the good times roll
— Ron Lonsdale, Vice President of Canada, Collette
with Collette
As a primary sponsor of the 2020 Agents’ Choice
Awards readership survey, presented by Canadian Travel
Press, Travel Courier and PressToday, Collette is offering
a delightful discovery tour through the sights, sounds,
and tastes of “The Big Easy” on its six-day Spotlight to
New Orleans tour for two.
For a chance to win this prize – or others – simply
take part in the Agents’ Choice Awards survey at
travelpress.com/agentschoice.
Closing date for voting in
Agents’ Choice 2020 will
be April 3.
february 20, 2020 | travelcourier.ca 9
0220PG06-09.indd 9 2/14/2020 11:51:37 AM
DESTINATION | BRITAIN/EUROPE
DISCOVER COPENHAGEN,
SCANDINAVIA WITH
TRANSAT
Transat will bring Scandinavia and its
legendary charms closer to Canadian
travellers this summer with two direct
flights per week out of Montreal to
Copenhagen, along with a selection of
guided tours, packages and cruises that accommodations are all taken care of. Do you have clients that are a little
highlight Nordic splendours. The first package, Denmark’s more ambitious? Try the second package,
Surrounded by the North Sea on one Highlights, focuses on Denmark’s cul- Capitals of the North, which lines up an
side and the Baltic on the other, Scan- tural heritage with a stop at the sublime enchanting trio of urban expeditions.
dinavia shines in the summertime. And, ARoS modern art museum in Aarhus, Guests can explore the Oslo fjord by
one of the world’s great design capitals, and a chance to follow in the footsteps kayak, marvel at the underground art gal-
Copenhagen is renowned for its waterways of Hans Christian Andersen in the lery of Stockholm’s subway, and indulge
and green spaces, and as a place where town of Odense, the Little Mermaid in Nordic cuisine at Copenhagen’s hippest
pedestrians and cyclists reign supreme. author’s picturesque birthplace. wine bars… all on the same trip.
Transat packages include air tra-
vel, transfers, accommodations and
breakfasts, along with the Copenhagen DISCOVER A LOCAL WAY OF LIFE WITH DHTOUR
Card, providing access to more than
80 top attractions. London and UK specialist DHTour is Cam in Cambridge. Travellers can also
Also available is the 14-day Viking inviting travellers to venture off the visit a family-owned olive grove and
Route in Denmark & Sweden guided tourist trail on a Blue Roads, small farm, while discovering Portugal, taste
tour, including air travel, transfers, coach, tour – allowing guests to get to delicious wines in La Rioja in Northern
accommodations, coach and ferry the heart of destinations with genuine Spain or discover local cheeses in the
transport, and the services of an local experiences. heart of the French Alps.
experienced guide. A small group tour is a less intru- Overnights are at traditional inns or
Transat is also offering two multi-city sive way to travel with a more leisurely boutique hotels with many admissions
packages lasting nine or 11 days. Each pace and offering more authentic and most meals included. A key ingredient
features three destinations and zero cultural experiences. is the experienced tour leader who tells
hassles for travellers; they’ll be free to DHTours’ “Secrets of Puglia” tour, stories and knows the best places to view
explore the essentials of Scandinavia for instance, allows guests to browse the sunset or sample the local catch. Tours
at their own pace, but with no wor- the stalls at Gallipoli’s famous fish vary from three to 13 nights in England,
ries when it comes to planning, since market, while “Enchanting Eastern Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Tuscany,
their itinerary, transportation and England” features punting on the River Sicily, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and more.
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0220PG10-11.indd 10 2020-02-14 4:28:38 PMBRITAIN/EUROPE
EUROPEAN TOURISM demonstrating the social and
SECTOR DEFIES INCREASED cultural value in the region.
GLOBAL RISKS Montenegro, Turkey
and Lithuania registered
According to the European Travel Com- double-digit increases
mission’s (ETC) latest quarterly “European in tourist arrivals, while
Tourism Trends and Prospects” report, Portugal, Serbia Slovakia
Europe enjoyed a healthy 4% increase in and The Netherlands also
tourist arrivals in 2019 compared to 2018. outperformed the average.
While the rate of expansion was Montenegro’s 21% surge was
slower than previous years across certain shored-up by greater con-
individual destinations, the overall nectivity and infrastructure
regional performance remains in positive investment, while Turkey (+14%) is set to (+10%) performance, while the recent
territory. Increasing numbers of tourist invest heavily and diversify its tourism award of most “Accessible Tourist
arrivals generate income and support promotion activities throughout 2020 Destination 2019” to Portugal (+7%)
employment and investment in Europe, with the aim of increasing the volume reflects the country’s efforts to promote
not only acting as a catalyst for economic and quality of tourists. Increased air accessible tourism.
expansion, but also contributing to and connectivity has helped Lithuania’s Visa relaxation policies and bilateral
business relations between destinations
and source markets also continue to
TRAFALGAR TEAMS UP WITH ‘1,000 PLACES’ AUTHOR be key factors in encouraging travel,
particularly in Serbia (+7%).
Trafalgar has introduced an exclusive and experiences we will share.” →https://etc-corporate.org/reports/
one departure trip with Global Brand Schultz is from Italian heritage and european-tourism-2019-trends-
Ambassador and Author of the #1 New lived in Florence for three years, making prospects-q4-2019
York Times bestsellers 1,000 Places To her an expert on the land of “La Dolce
See Before You Die, Patricia Schultz. Vita.” Also, with the launch of her new
Taking place July 1-12, the 12-day deluxe edition of the bestselling travel discover the Trafalgar difference.”
Italy and Sicily with Patricia Schultz book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, The trip starts in Venice on July
custom-guided vacation will have Italy’s splendour is showcased. 1 and ends in Palermo on July 12.
clients exploring Italy and Sicily like “We have been very fortunate to Highlights include a “Connect with
never before. With limited spots up for have Patricia as our Global Brand Locals” experience where guests will
grabs, agents are encouraged to secure Ambassador with her over 30 years of visit Maria Marano’s wine farm and
their clients’ spots quickly. experience as a veteran travel journal- enjoy a guided walking tour of the
“Italy and Sicily have always had ist and expert, and we are so thrilled estate and later enjoy homemade
a special place in my heart, and this to be offering our guests this once in appetizers accompanied by local wine
itinerary was specifically curated to a lifetime adventure with her,” says at a “Be My Guest” dinner. The trip
connect with not only the destina- Wolf Paunic, president of Trafalgar and will conclude with a special “Farewell
tions, but the people and cultures Costsaver Canada. “From our unforget- Dinner” with the Duke and Duchess of
along the way,” says Schultz. “I feel very table ‘Be My Guest’ experience hosted at Palma in their elegant home in Palazzo
honoured for the opportunity to be a vineyard on the slopes of Mount Etna Lanza Tomasi, an exclusive experience
hosting such an immersive Trafalgar to the ‘Local Specialist’ excursions, available only on this departure.
trip and look forward to the memories from Capri to Palermo, clients will →w ww.Trafalgar.com/en-ca
2319 Fairview Street, Suite 609, Burlington, ON, L7R 2E3
Save
e 5%,, 10%
% orr 15% Terms & Conditions: Tours are subject to availability. *Book by March 31 st, 2020. Valid on new bookings only.
Please contact DHTour for the most up to date schedules, pricing, availability or to request brochure.
on select tours & dates*
Small Group Touring Europe, UK, and Asia
february 20, 2020 | travelcourier.ca 11
0220PG10-11.indd 11 2020-02-14 4:28:18 PMAIR
Sarah Riches, director of
commercial for Flair Airlines,
commented, “Our mission is to
make air travel accessible, afford-
able and desirable for all. Eastern
and Atlantic Canada have long
been plagued by high airfares and
FLAIR AIRLINES undesirable service. Simply put, they
EXPANDS EAST have been paying too much for too
little, and we believe it’s time for change.” fares between Toronto and Saint
Flair Airlines reports its 2020 sum- In addition to their new Atlantic John from $79, including all taxes
mer schedule will expand service routes, Flair has also relaunched service and fees (limited seats available for
into Eastern and Atlantic Canada between Calgary and Kelowna. a limited time).
starting in May. To celebrate their new summer The first new route commences
New destinations include Ottawa, schedule and destinations, Flair is offer- service on April 16 between Calgary
Saint John, NB, Charlottetown, PEI, ing introductory one-way fares between and Kelowna, followed by Toronto
as well as a return to Halifax. Toronto and Ottawa starting at $59 and to Halifax on May 14, Ottawa on
June 16, Charlottetown on June 26,
and Saint John on June 25.
AIRLINEPROS REPS AirlinePros Canada to oversee BSP Bookings are now available for
TAG GUATEMALA co-ordination in Canada. the newly announced routes for
Karl Müller, Canada director of booking until Oct. 24.
AirlinePros Canada Inc. reports that AirlinePros, commented, “Central →w ww.flyflair.com
TAG Guatemala is now an active America not only is a growing region
member of BSP Canada. for FIT and tourism-related travel, but
“TAG Airlines” has opted for mass ongoing bilateral business activities, and SWOOP ADDS PHOENIX
e-plating, so that all fully IATA- the fact that Canada hosts a large immi- BOUND ROUTE FROM YWG
registered travel organizations in grant diaspora from Central America
Canada may start issuing tickets on will be of special interest to those that Swoop, Canada’s low-fare carrier and
5U e-stock. 5U can be booked in all require ongoing regional connections subsidiary of WestJet Airlines Ltd.,
major GDS systems such as Amadeus, once arriving in that region. TAG is now offering service to Phoenix-
Sabre and Apollo. Guatemala operates a growing route Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) from
At this time, 5U is progressively network that is appealing, along with Winnipeg Richardson International
introducing credit card acceptance offering accessible published airfares.” Airport (YWG).
(VI/MC) forms of payment via GDS 5U maintains a diversified route It is Swoop’s first service to Ari-
systems in Canada. This is in addi- network that connects Guatemala zona via Winnipeg.
tion to standard “cash” transactions. with various destinations in Honduras, The new non-stop route operates
Agents may claim 3% commission El Salvador, Mexico and Belize. twice weekly bringing Canadians to
POS on 5U-operated flights with Agents that may require further the Phoenix/Mesa area. Flights will
5U-published fares. assistance can contact: tagairlines@air operate through April 23.
TAG Airlines has appointed linepros.ca or kmuller@airlinepros.com. →w ww.FlySwoop.com
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12 travelcourier.ca | february 20, 2020
0220PG12.indd 12 2020-02-14 4:29:05 PMDESTINATION | RIVER CRUISE
UNIWORLD COMBINES
CRUISE, LAND AND
TRAIN FOR 2021
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
JANN ARDEN TO HOST Collection is introducing two new
AVALON RIVER CRUISE itineraries incorporating cruise, land
and train travel for 2021.
Agents with clients who are fans of Jann In partnership with Golden Eagle
Arden have a huge treat in store – next Luxury Trains, the two packages Uniworld’s new Cruise & Rail 2021 itiner-
year the Canadian entertainer will will travel through Italy, Switzer-land, aries later this month.
be hosting a special sailing of Avalon Austria and Slovenia. This offers clients The new itineraries include the
Waterways’ Active & Discovery on the the opportunity to explore a variety of 14-day Cruise & Rail: Milan, Venice &
Rhine cruise departing May 25, 2021. destinations across several countries the Swiss Alps that starts with a land
As well as mingling with passengers, in one journey, portion in Milan, a round-trip cruise
Arden will perform a private concert combining major from Venice and ends with a train trip
on board and participate in a photo op and CD signing. cities with little- to Zurich; and a 12-day Cruise & Rail:
Arden acted as godmother of the Avalon ship Tranquility II known destina- Venice & the Swiss Alps starting with a
in 2015 and has hosted cruises in 2017 and 2019. tions. Agents will train trip from the Zurich to Venice and
“The Avalon river cruise experience is beyond special,” she be able to start then a round-trip cruise.
says. “I was able to take my mom a few years before she passed booking clients on →w ww.uniworld.com
away and it’s a memory I will always hold so very dear. Avalon’s
attention to detail on every level truly makes the experience ‘the
trip of a lifetime.’ Of course the fact that I get to bring a few mem-
bers of my band and do a concert is simply the cherry on top.”
The eight-day trip starts with an overnight stay onboard
the Avalon Expression in Amsterdam before sailing on to
Nijmegen, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz/Rudesheim and
Mainz, before disembarking in Frankfurt, Germany.
The cruise will be onboard the 166-passenger Avalon
Expression, which was launched in 2013. The majority of
accommodation is in the company’s signature Panorama
suites: 200-square-foot staterooms featuring marble bath-
rooms, wall-to-wall windows which open over two metres
ANCHOR YOURSELF
AVALON
wide, and window-facing beds – perfect for taking in the views
of medieval towns and vineyards.
The cruise is priced from $4,649 (excluding airfare), but
travellers can save up to $600 per person if they book by
to
April 6 of this year.
“We are so thrilled that Jann has chosen to sail with us Stop dreaming. Start saving.
again,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of Avalon’s
parent company, the Globus family of brands, in Canada.
Book by March 9, 2020!
“Our guests always tell us how much they love the fun and
informal atmosphere on board.”
→w ww.avalonwaterways.ca FREE AIR
from select Canadian cities
+ SAVE
per couple
$600
on select 2020 Avalon Europe river cruises*
CRYSTAL RIVER CRUISES
RELEASES 2022 ITINERARIES www.Agentlingo.ca | Reservations: 800.268.1639
Inside Sales: 888.268.1928 | canadiangroups@globusfamily.ca
Crystal River Cruises is set to take guests on journeys of
*For full terms & conditions, please visit Agentlingo.ca.
cultural and historical discovery in 2022, exploring storybook 3280 Bloor St. W, Centre Tower, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M8X 2X3, TICO#1893755/50015835
villages, cosmopolitan international continued on page 14
february 20, 2020 | travelcourier.ca 13
0220PG13-14.indd 13 2020-02-14 4:32:22 PMRIVER CRUISE
continued from page 13
hubs, and towns hosting rare events and with careful thought given to
decked in seasonal delights. the best ways to experience the
Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, famous tulips in Holland; capital-
Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel – izing on cooler July weather along
all-suite, all-balcony sister ships – Dutch and Belgian waterways,
will offer itineraries from seven to 10 when the crowds are calmer; the
nights. Crystal River’s 2022 itineraries beautiful spectacle of seeing the
are available for booking and published decennial Floriade International
on crystalcruises.com. Horticultural Expo just outside
Throughout the roster of 2022 voyages, of Amsterdam; and the rich Jewish and Southeast Europe” itinerary, featur-
Crystal’s focus remains on the overall culinary cultures in select destinations. ing maiden ports Vidin, Bulgaria
guest experience during their voyage, New in 2022 are a “Treasures of and Giurgiu, Romania, and a “Joyous
Danube” holiday voyage
round-trip from Vienna,
highlighting the Christmas
markets of the region. Every
itinerary features at least
two overnight stays – some
as many as four – allowing
guests to explore destina-
tions in varying and ways and
venture beyond the ports for
greater discoveries.
With more seven-night
itineraries than ever – includ-
ing roundtrip options from
convenient air travel hubs
Vienna and Amsterdam –
many Crystal River Cruises’
2022 sailings are also com-
binable for longer vacations.
Two May itineraries aboard
Crystal Ravel, “Treasures
of Southeast Europe” and
”Delightful Danube” can
be combined for a 14-night
voyage between Vilshofen
and Giurgiu, while Crystal
Bach’s July and August
Elevating All-Inclusive “Dutch & Belgian Waterways”
and either “Legendary Rhine”
LUXURY RIVER CRUISING (westbound) or “Romantic
Rhine” (eastbound) cruises
can create five-country,
to an entirely new level. 14-night voyages between
Amsterdam and Basel.
One-of-a-kind, award-winning ships | The most all-inclusive amenities Crystal’s pre- and post-
Outstanding service | Delicious farm-to-table cuisine cruise Extended Land
Programs expand Crystal
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK, CALL 800-733-7820 vacations ashore with options
OR VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.UNIWORLD.COM. in Prague and Zurich show-
casing the most fascinating
points of culture and history.
→w ww.crystalcruises.com
14 travelcourier.ca | february 20, 2020
0220PG13-14.indd 14 2020-02-14 4:34:00 PMTRAVEL BEST
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february 20, 2020 | travelcourier.ca 15
0220PG15.indd 15 2/14/2020 12:46:15 PMAGENTS’ TAKE ON 'THE BIG EASY'
2020
CHOICE WITH COLLETTE
READERSHIP SURVEY
Vote for your favourite destinations, suppliers, brands, and
services in 40+ categories for your chance to discover the
delightful sights, sounds, and tastes of ‘The Big Easy’ on
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■ One-week boutique river cruise by Uniworld
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to any WestJet destination
0220PG16.indd 18
AC2020_TC_sponsors_fullpage.indd 1 2/14/2020 3:18:41
2020-01-24 12:47:10
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