Featuring Bali and other exotic Australasian destinations

Temples, Religions and Paradise – featuring Bali as a destination

As I write this, I am a week away from departing Toronto for Bangkok, Singapore, on Cruise Holidays of Clarkson’s “Orient Experience that travels by rail to Singapore, then on to Bali and Hong Kong. Two guests would have started their tour in Beijing two days earlier.

This voyage visits the teeming city of Bangkok with its famed temples Wat Arun and Wat Pho, travelers experience the Malaysian countryside as we travel to Singapore, and the “Island of the Gods” – Bali -- so named for its twenty thousand temples. We return home after three nights at the world’s shopping Mecca – Hong Kong.

Not having visited Bali before, I did a little research. I was preoccupied by the temples in Bangkok and astounded by the number of temples in Bali. I wondered about the culture and system of beliefs on this island of just under 4 million inhabitants. I learned the Balinese predominantly follow the Hindu religion; as compared to Buddhism in Singapore’s (5 million) and Bangkok’s (8 million). My research did not establish a clear predominance for Hong Kong (7 million) amongst Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and other religions practiced there.

Now for the jam on the bread – the word “Paradise” in the title; this is what Bali is also called!

Bali as a destination

Undoubtedly, Bali’s main source of income is tourism. Yet, Bali’s main port (Benoa) is new and was just opened to ocean-going cruise lines last year; I delved into the reason for this late entry, and discovered that Bali just recently, within the last fifty years, was able to establish the political wherewithal and stability to attract capital and to build its economy. A summary look at relatively recent events shows this: 

• 1949: Independence from Dutch rule.

• Mid 1960’s: General Suharto’s purge of rival Communist political parties / members. 500,000 Indonesians died, 80,000 of them Balinese.
• Post purge: creation of a democratic, western aligned, government. 
• “Paradise” reinstated; transition from an agriculturally-based economy to tourism.

The beauty of this island is nested in its people, its geography, and its culture. The society follows a caste structure, and is patriarchal. Family is big; generations occupy the same ancestral compound or village; women are typically the only members to move from one compound to another and that would be at her marriage -- to join her husband at his compound.

One of the fascinating features of Bali’s past is that of its complex irrigation system for rice paddy fields built circa 914. The island also treats tourists to rituals and culture with performances of the Barong dance (see mask) – a struggle between good and evil. Don’t be surprised to see monkeys as family pets.

A coral reef surrounds the island, bringing with it a wide variety of sea life --  952 documented species of fish. The island’s landscape is spectacular with high majestic volcanic peaks rising to 3,000 metres.

Bali Voyages to consider

For your consideration, we have identified four voyages involving three cruise lines that offer fulfilling itineraries and good value for money. Each has some variation of itinerary and we suggest you call us for details. We start below with the ship with least capacity and progress from there.

Voyages to Antiquity: “Bali to Bangkok and Beyond”

Voyages to Antiquity’s Aegean Odyssey has a capacity of 350 passengers. This 21-day voyage departs Bali January 21, 2013. It ends in Bangkok February 10^th and includes hotel nights in Bali, Siem Reap, Cambodia (the home of Angkor Wat) and Bangkok. To view details of this voyage CLICK HERE.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises “South Pacific Secrets”

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ all-suite Voyager has a capacity of 700-passengers. This 21-day voyage departs Bali December 19^th and ends in Auckland, NZ January 10^th. A most memorable way to celebrate both Christmas and New Year’s with your loved ones and family!
We invite you to call us for details, or visit www.clarksonregent.ca and select the December 19^th departure date for Voyager.

All-inclusiveness is just a part of the reason to travel with Regent. This voyage carries a generous shipboard credit of $700 per suite and significant savings if booked before November 1^st.

Crystal Cruises “Reefs and Rain Forests” and “Spice Islands and Beyond”

Crystal Cruises’ Symphony has a capacity of 940-passengers. We recommend two voyages, both with a duration of 12 days.

        “Reefs and Rain Forests” departs Sydney Australia February 11^th and arrives in Bali February 23^rd. Crystal Cruises has reduced the fare by $700 PP on this voyage if booked before October 31^st; call us to check whether this offer has been extended. We add to the attractiveness of this offer by including a $250 shipboard credit PP.“Spice Islands andBeyond” boards in Bali February 23^rd and sails February 24^th. This voyage ends in Singapore March 7^th. Crystal Cruises has reduced the fare by $1,200 PP on this voyage if booked before October 31^st; call us to check whether this offer has been extended. We add to the attractiveness of this offer by including a $250 shipboard credit PP.

 

Both these voyages provide the opportunity to extend one’s stay in Bali either pre or post cruise. Call us for details or visit www.clarksoncrystal.ca and select the above 2013 departure dates for Symphony.

Crystal Cruises has been voted #1 by Conde Nast Traveler for an unprecedented 18 years running. No hotel, resort, or other cruise line has such a record.

You may have heard Alexa Petrenko’s on-air invitation to join her on Crystal Cruises’ “Canary Islands Classical” that sails from Lisbon to Barcelona. You may view details at www.clarksoncruises.ca.

Group Tours at Clarkson

Group tours at Clarkson offer a promise of travel with like-minded travelers, the start of new friendships, learning from guides, and continuing enjoyment that lingers in one’s mind. Each year we select groups to escort and our 2013 selection is as follows:
April 7^th: Zaneta and Joe will escort “Canary Islands Classical” cruise tour from Lisbon to Barcelona
June 11^th: Tal McKelvey will escort the “Russian Waterways” cruise tour from St. Petersburg to Moscow
September 15^th: Victoria De Wildt will escort the “Magnificent Europe” cruise tour from Amsterdam to Budapest.

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 Travel Leaders Group 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, i.e. amongst the top 20 stores in North America, for the years 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and is a two-time 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.

Getting ready to travel -- Frequently Asked Questions

Update on river cruising -- Our September 2012 Newsletter

September 2012 Travel Report "River Cruising: witnessing history inland" by Joe Rochemont Cruise Holidays of Clarkson Experts at land and cruise travel Visit our website About Us Value-Added Promo Calendar

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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.

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!

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

July 2012 Newsletter -- Trans Atlantic Crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

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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. 

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

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

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.

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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 2^nd 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 7^th 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!

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!

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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.

Luxury cruising has become more affordable ...

June 2012 Travel Report "The time to book travel is now"... A review by Joe Rochemont Owner, Cruise Holidays of Clarkson Visit our Website About Us Our Travel Picks                 Cruise Holidays of Clarkson: “The Time to Book Travel is Now!” As Zaneta and I look back at our respective work careers, Zaneta in education and Joe in management consulting, we have come to realize the rich experience the travel industry provides. It was in Dubrovnik last year on a Galijun ship – a replica on a 16th century galleon – when our guide for the evening expressed the benefits of working in the industry best. She said, “You get to stay at top hotels, eat at the best restaurants, visit amazing places, learn about the cultures and history of the world, meet interesting people who enrich your life ... but don't expect to retire on your earnings”. We had this conversation sailing back to port after an enchanting concert onboard by the Dubrovnik Chamber Orchestra. The galleon had dropped anchor next to a straight-up rock face – a spellbinding stage for the performance. In this newsletter we would like to update you on our recent events, and ask you with some urgency to consider recent value propositions from suppliers of travel. These value propositions are significant, are about to expire, meaning lost savings on 2013 travel. There are many, virtually covering the globe. Recent Events We had a group departure in May; the Enchanting Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, Lucerne and Zurich with a visit to Floriade. Our Russian Waterways group departs later this month as they travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow. And we had a magnificent turnout for the Classical Music Delights on the Danube reunion so graciously hosted by Joan and Herb Williams at their magnificent home. The reunion lasted over six hours and several traveled considerable distances to attend. Wonderful people and an enjoyable time together! Trends in travel – time limited value opportunities Each year, around October, we hold a presentation at our store where we compare various cruise lines (“suppliers”) one to the other. Last year, we announced that the aggregate passenger capacity of the river cruise lines had virtually doubled in five years. This dramatic growth is also evident with the ocean cruise lines as new ships are built and older ones refurbished. Suppliers in this industry invest hugely with the bet that their onboard amenities will attract their target markets. The variables they manipulate to attract and sustain passengers are: destination / voyages, onboard experience, price, and what we term the “total cost of travel”. The suppliers’ common objective at the end of the day is to maximize vessel utilization. In the following, we will attempt to illustrate how this heightened competition translates into value for you, the traveler. We will present this as “Issue”, followed by a paired “Traveler Opportunity”. Issue 1: Destination / Voyages A cruise line’s freedom to act is limited by the number of ships in its fleet.  Essentially, how many simultaneous geographical presences can the cruiseline accommodate? Climate is also an important consideration in this differentiating factor; specifically, winter in the northern hemisphere, summer in the southern. There are “best times” to travel; “white nights” in June in Russia, avoiding the monsoon months in Cambodia (“Riches of the Mekong” voyage), “cooler” months in North Africa, etc. Traveler Opportunity 1: Destination / Voyages  “Repositioning” cruises have existed from the beginning of time as the ship’s operations move from one geographical region to the other. Many take advantage of the lower fares associated with repositioning voyages. Cruise lines have become more adept at planning “back to back” voyages. Here, the first and second legs of the voyage stop at different ports of call and provides a continuing learning experience to the traveler. Purchasing both segments together saves. Back to backs can have a duration ranging from two weeks to several months. The same concept applies to “Grand Voyages” or “World Cruises” where consecutive segments of the Grand Voyage can be purchased together at savings. Issue 2: Onboard experience Onboard experience is directly related to target market segment and is the key determinant of the size and design of the ship, the onboard activities and amenities, number and experience of crew members, ship capacity in terms of number of passengers, onboard entertainment, lectures, dining experience, cabin outfitting and more. In European river cruising, competition amongst cruise lines has resulted in even more luxurious ships, the introduction of balconies, and the “stretching” of ships to the maximum length allowed on these rivers. The “stretching” was necessary to counteract the loss of cabin space the balconies required. All (river) cruiselines now include wine with dinner, the already excellent gourmet cuisine experience has been dramatically enhanced, and theme cruises (such as wine, culinary, etc.) abound with well known and established sommeliers and chefs. Passenger capacity per ship remains fairly constant on European rivers due to size limitations. Target markets are more clearly delineated in the ocean cruise line arena. There are a handful operating in the “luxury” market, others in the “premium” market and yet others in the “mass” market (these are terms the industry uses to define market segments). Excluding “Expedition” ships, designed typically to icebreaker specifications and carrying generally around 150 passengers, the passenger capacity of ships operating in these markets vary significantly from segment to segment. Luxury cruise lines range in passenger capacity from 200 to 700; premium from 700 to almost 3,000, and mass up to 5,000 (all numbers being approximate). More and more, we see intense competition in all markets; however, in the luxury segment we see the main points of differentiation as gourmet dining, going the extra mile to satisfy passengers, exquisite shore excursions conceived with limitless imagination, etc. (Amenities in this class have already been established as uniformly superb.) Traveler Opportunity 2: Onboard Experience Matching a cruise line, a ship, and itinerary compatible with your lifestyle, and very importantly, with the intent of the voyage (i.e. a family outing, a sorority, a bridge club, meetings at sea, a romantic anniversary, or satisfying a destination item (or “bucket-list”)) is critical to the success of the travel experience, and should not be taken lightly. This is where we come in; use our services, consult us, the topic is complex and ever changing; our consulting services remain free and oftentimes the scale of the Cruise Holidays franchise (within the Travel Leaders consortium) provides amenities that are not available to the general public. You win, we win! Issue 3: Price and “Total Cost of Travel” Europe has been by far the favoured destination of us Canadians, but we have been experiencing some soft demand in this region. Naturally, most of us have roots there and wish to trace our past, or learn and appreciate Europe’s rich history. This soft demand and (now) excess passenger capacity in this region has led cruiselines to extend their competition well beyond “onboard experience”. They now compete on early booking discounts, and this is working for many, as 2013 voyages fill up. Travel Opportunity 3: Price and “Total Cost of Travel” As a matter of course, we continuously survey the market in order to position ourselves to serve you better. We use this information to create our “Travel Picks” (a full list is on our website, www.clarksontours.ca). Our “Travel Picks” represent significant value offers on voyages for which you have stated interest. Here they are in general: 1.       BOOK NOW (by June 30th 2012) to save significantly on 2013 voyages. Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Avalon Waterways all have significant early booking discounts for 2013 voyages that cover the world and vary in amount depending on destination.  We invite you to access our website at www.clarksontours.cato view our selection, many of which we have added value such as added concerts, opera, and tours to places that will interest you. We include a sampling of these value-added voyages at the end of this newsletter. 2.       Book by June 8th for AMA Waterways’ “Riches of the Mekong” – several 2012 departures. See our “Current Promotions” page on our website. 3.       Book by July 31st 2012 for AMA Waterways’ discounts on specific 2013 voyages. See our River Cruises and Land page. 4.       In our own customized tours, our prices are all-inclusive and include gratuities, taxes and international air disregarding an upward trend in air fares. We refer to these as “Value-added voyages”. Ask us about these or view them on www.clarksontours.ca. 5.       BREAKING NEWS! We have limited space on the ONE and ONLY sailing to South America AND Antarctica in December of 2013 on Crystal Cruises! AND we offer $600 per person shipboard credit. But you HAVE to book by June 30 to take advantage of the space AND save $1,000 per person. Watch the video -- this will fill quickly! CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF XMAS / NEW YEAR CRUISE -- SOUTH AMERICA AND ANTARCTIC An invitation to join Zaneta and Joe on two upcoming voyages. As you can see, booking travel before June 30th promises to provide significant value. 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: 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 9th 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! Bookings before June 30th 2012 carry a savings of $1,000 per person. It does not hurt to know that Crystal Cruises’ has been voted # 1 by Conde Nast for 17 years running. 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 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. 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