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Contents
TOUR LEADER'S REPORT
YES, WE CAN!
NEW WEBSITE
ROMANTIC DANUBE
NEW BROCHURE NOW AVAILABLE
40TH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST
FROM OUR TRAVELLER'S
RECESSION BUSTERS
OBERAMMERGAU 2010 UPDATE
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'EXPERIENCE OUR WORLD' BROCHURE HITS THE STREETS!
Our
new "Experience our World" brochure is hitting mailboxes this week, so
be on the lookout for your copy. If you're not on our mailing list and
would like a copy, please let us know. We just love the cover photo
which was voted on by our staff. The gorgeous little Peruvian girls
dressed in their colourful outfits and sporting the most precious
smiles in the world remind us of one of the many reasons why we love to
travel…it's the people and cultures we encounter along the way!
Our
new 56-page brochure features exciting information including all of the
destinations we'll explore in 2009 plus 7 unique European itineraries
which include the famous Passion Play at Oberammergau in 2010; over 30
Oberammergau departures in all; several which are now sold out.
TOUR LEADER'S REPORT
RUSSIAN WATERWAYS CRUISE
On
arrival at the ms Tolstoy, we were greeted by a trio playing and
singing Russian folksongs. Group members were shown to their cabins and
baggage arrived within 30 minutes. Cabins were compact, clean, good
storage space having a separate bathroom with shower, washbasin, small
cupboard, toilet and hooks for towels. Towels and facecloths were
replaced daily. Staff at Front Desk, Dasha and Katya were lovely young
ladies who were well informed, patient and helpful and had excellent
English. The Cruise Director, Marina Illenzeer was superb, hard
working, vigilant, knowledgeable and helpful. She made sure we were
together on one coach for our excursions and when one of our passengers
was ill, she had food sent to her cabin.
Breakfasts were excellent
with lots of choice; lunches were 4 courses; dinners were similar with
more than one glass of wine. Presentation of food was very attractive
and delivered promptly. Wait staff, mostly male, spoke good English,
were very efficient and polite. Their outfits were colourful and
changed frequently.
Daily programs were placed in our cabins while
we were at dinner. They indicated the time and type of program with
comments and descriptions of the day. For example: when taking the
subway in Moscow, note that the escalators move very quickly. Be
prepared to step off quickly. The daily excursions were interesting and
guides very knowledgeable. Group members all enjoyed and appreciated
this opportunity to experience this most interesting country,
particularly the small towns and villages which are rarely seen by
foreigners.
Tour Leader: Peter McCarroll
40TH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST
2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Craig Travel!
Celebrate with us by taking part in our 40th anniversary contest. Visit
our website for all of the details. Then answer our March question "In
what building would we find the world's greatest collection of
antiquities from the time of the Pharaohs?" Enter for your chance to
win valuable REWARD POINTS!
A CAR OR...A VACATION
In
a recent article in the Ottawa Sun, one Ottawa travel professional
summed it up like this: "Canadians may be putting off getting a new car
or moving, but they're keeping their vacations. It's as important as
buying groceries; it's therapy for our souls."
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We're
pleased to announce the long-awaited launch of our new website as of
February 15th. We invite you to browse the site and tell us what you
think. We think you'll find it easier to navigate and to find the
information you are looking for and we will continue to enchance the
site as time goes on. You'll find some new areas such as our "Useful
Links" page with links to helpful travel sites, a special offers page,
information on our Loyalty Program, as well as our new photo contest
and a special 40th Anniversary Contest. We invite your comments and
participation!
YES, WE CAN!
by D. Rombough
Without a doubt, Barack Obama's message throughout his presidential
campaign was an incredibly positive one. His ability to inspire and
motivate and most of all to make people believe that they can make a
difference, they can move forward successfully, they can make it all
work and they can achieve and do whatever they set their minds to
despite what is going on around them, was such a powerful message, not
just for Americans but for all of us. It was a message that went far
beyond politics, far beyond the economy and the running of a country. Read on
CRUISING - BEST TRAVEL VALUE
by D. Craig
Statistics
tell us that the majority of people consider travel to be one of the
great joys of life. And I believe we will all agree that the best time
to travel is when our health is good and we have the time to do it. And
now is the best time to get the most value for your travel dollar.Read on
ROMANTIC DANUBE
The
romantic Danube River, Johann Strauss's inspiration for his famed "Blue
Danube Waltz" in 1867, meanders through time and space, lapping to its
own pulse and rhythm as it has for centuries. It is the second largest
river in Europe and the only one that flows west to east on a 1,771
mile course. It travels through or by 10 countries, passing quaint
landscapes, Old World capitals, medieval towns, fascinating
architecture and the diverse cultural heritage that makes up Western
and Eastern Europe. What a glorious way to experience not only life
along the river today, but also to view a part of history right from
your river boat; like the Roman ruins along many of its banks,
including in the charming city of Budapest, one of the most beautiful
cities in Europe. And it's no wonder that the lands along this central
waterway have been dominated by almost everyone, from the Romans, the
Celts, the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Slvs, the Turks and the
Hapsburg Empire, to, in more modern times, the Nazis and Communists.
River
cruises are extremely popular these days; especially in Europe. Having
to unpack only once, having all of your meals taken care of, having
your home-away-from-home pull up in the centre of each town and even
having shore excursions included in each port are some of the
no-brainer reasons this type of cruise vacation is so popular and such
good value. It's easy to see why Johann Strauss found the romantic
Danube such a musical inspiration.
For more information on cruising the romantic Danube, Click here.
VIEWS FROM OUR TRAVELLER'S
This
tour to Ireland was my first with a tour company. From the first
contact with your agent, I had a positive experience and from that felt
that the trip was well organized. We really saw a lot of Ireland! My
expectation was that this trip would be a grand experience – I wasn't
disappointed! E.B.
*******
Just returned from Israel in December
('08). It was a wonderful trip. As Craig had not arranged a tour, we
went with another group….the difference was noticeable; not up to
Craig's class. Seven of us have signed up to go on your "Heart of
Europe" Oberammergau tour Sep 8, 2010. As you can see, for all of us,
Craig is our choice for travel!" E.C.
*******
So pleased that
my husband and I decided to take this fabulous trip to Newfoundland and
Labrador. Our guide was the best guide that we have ever encountered.
He was so knowledgeable, had a great sense of humour and was so
concerned for everyone's welfare – just a great guy! D.E.
*******
The
tour guides onboard our Ukrainian Waterways cruise were just great;
always available and so helpful. Ukraine is a beautiful country and the
cities so wonderfully spacious. M.T.
OBERAMMERGAU 2010 UPDATE
Several
of our Oberammergau departures are now either sold out or have very
limited space. If you are planning to take one of our 7 customized
tours or river cruises, reserve your space by March 31, 2009 and save $100 per person. Learn more
ACT NOW BEFORE THE RECESSION ENDS!
BEST OF IRELAND
May 8, May 29, Sep 4 16 Days Learn more
SAVE! $100 per person! Must book by March 17, 2009
ICELAND – LAND OF FIRE & ICE
May 26 11 Days Learn more
SAVE! $600 per person! LAST CHANCE TO BOOK! THESE PRICES WILL NOT BE REPEATED!
HIGH ARCTIC
Sep 5 11 Days Learn more
SPECIAL 2 for 1 OFFER on cruise only!
EAST AFRICA – Kenya & Tanzania
Sep 18 18 Days Learn more
SAVE! $500 per person! When you book and pay in full by June 1, 2009
MEDITERRANEAN REFLECTIONS with OCEANIA CRUISES
Oct 9 14 Days Learn more
SAVE! $1,200 per person! Reserve by March 31, 2009. Extremely limited space!
MEDITERRANEAN LEGACIES with OCEANIA CRUISES
Oct 19 16 Days Learn more
Save! $1,200 per person! Book by March 31, 2009! Space is limited!
HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISES
SPECIAL
OFFERS APPLY ON THE FOLLOWING GROUP DEPARTURES. Reserve by February 28
and SAVE AS NEVER BEFORE! Call today for discount information and
conditions!
GEMS OF THE BALTIC ms Eurodam
May 11 – 23 Cruise details
SCANDINAVIAN ODYSSEY ms Eurodam
May 11 – Jun 2 Cruise details
FJORDS & HIGHLANDS ms Eurodam
May 21 – Jun 2 Cruise details
ALASKA YUKON ms Zuiderdam
May 26 – Jun 6 Cruise details
GAELIC LANDS ms Prinsendam
Aug 20 – Sep 6 Cruise details
BLACK SEA & MED EXPLORER ms Prinsendam
Sep 19 - Oct 4 Cruise details
ANCIENT MYSTERIES ms Prinsendam
Oct 3 – 18 Cruise details
VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLDms Noordam
Oct 15 – Nov 1 Cruise details
ALL ABOVE SPECIAL OFFERS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND SALE CONDITIONS.
YES, WE CAN....cont'd
His
message made me think about my life, my family, my world and all of the
things I really want to still achieve and do and the places I still
want to experience; the things that are important to me. And it
occurred to me that although I have been to many places in many
countries around the world, mostly because of the business I am in,
there are still so many destinations I've yet to discover. And we
always think there is still lots of time; I'll go to India when I
retire and I'll sail the coast of Norway when I have more time and I'll
visit Peru in a few years.
But Barack has made me look at
things a little differently. As I see my 50's more behind than in front
of me and my husband sees his 60's more behind him than in front of
him, we are realizing that we should not be putting off the things we
really want to do. For, in fact, 20 years from now, will either of us
be here and if we are, will we be healthy enough to travel or will we
feel up to it all? And at that point, what difference will it have made
that we decided to take the time and spend the money back then to
explore the planet earth? Why am I waiting to do the things I really
want to do in my lifetime and holding off on the places I still want to
visit, the volunteer work I want to do and the myriad of things I have
planned for the future? Time is moving along rather quickly these days
and I don't want to miss a thing! And so Barack, I am beginning to look
at things a little differently now. I hear your voice loud and clear –
YES, WE CAN!Back to top
CRUISING - cont'd
Whether
you are looking for a relaxing holiday away from it all or for a way to
explore new parts of the world, a cruise offers you a fully inclusive
price that covers your transportation, your accommodation and all your
meals as well as a good portion of your entertainment. On some cruises
(river cruises and some ocean cruises) even the majority of your
sightseeing is included. And the added bonus, and a big one, is that
you only have to unpack once!
Today, even more than in the
past, cruise lines are aware that they must continue to offer
exceptional value if they wish to fill their ships. Exceptional offers
are the order of the day, not the exception. And with more and more
cruise lines building more and more ships, there is a lot of space to
fill!
For examples of some of the exceptional cruise offers
currently in the marketplace, have a look at some of the offers in this
newsletter and scoop up the savings while they last! Back to top
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