River Cruising Archives - Ingenious Travel

Tis the Season to Plan for Visiting European Christmas Markets

Posted in River Cruising, Theme Vacations, Tours, Travel, Unique Getaways, on 16 August 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

The Christmas spirit is still embraced in many cities, towns and villages throughout Europe, where many Christmas Markets can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Their streets are lined with lights, décor, and all sorts of local, unique, seasonal items. Let these cities transport you to a Christmas wonderland!

Three Christmas Markets to Consider

Nuremberg, Germany

You don’t want to miss the enticing aromas of mulled wine, irresistible pretzels, and traditional gingerbread. While there be sure to climb the stairs of the Church of Our Lady and get a wonderful view of the lights, the stalls, and the amazing Christmas themed decorations. (November 29 – December 24)

Rathausplatz Market , Vienna

This is where you want to be for delicious hot punch, Christmas ornaments, candles, and mouth-watering bites. (November 16 – December 26)

Is River Cruising Right For You?

Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, River Cruising, on 4 May 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Over the last couple of years, river cruising has become one of the fastest growing travel trends around. It a vacation option I recommend to many of my well-traveled clients looking for a different type of experience for their next vacation.

If you’ve been curious about river cruising, here are a few things you ought to know…

Where do they go?

While Europe may be the most popular river cruise destination, it is definitely not the only choice. Some of the other places you’ll find river cruises are along the Volga river in Russia, Amazon river in Peru and Brazil, the Nile river in Egypt, the Yangtze River in China, and the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia.

In Europe, some of the most popular itineraries include the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Saone, and Seine. I typically recommend European itinerary for most first-time river cruisers unless there is another location that you have been dreaming of for quite some time.

What Does Luxury Travel Really Mean

Posted in Africa, Australia, Europe, Food, Golf, Luxury, New Zealand, River Cruising, Tours, Travel, Wine, on 23 March 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Here at Ingenious Travel, we’ve always defined our “niche” as luxury travel, but I’ve found that this means different things to different people.

There are some people to whom “luxury” means gilded walls, gold chandeliers, velvet covered furniture… and of course a hefty price tag. That’s not how we define luxury, and it’s not what most of our luxury travelers are looking for when it comes to their vacation.

We tend to focus more on exceptional, authentic experiences, a high level of service and hospitality, and a focus on comfort and convenience. Each client’s experience is customized and personalized to their wants, needs, and expectations. Moreover, we don’t focus solely on price because “more expensive” doesn’t always mean “better.” We look at the value rather than the price when evaluating travel experiences.

While it’s true that most of our clients book exclusive cabins and high-end suites, that isn’t the case for every vacationer. We also have clients who are less selective when it comes to accommodations and choose to focus instead on activities, experiences, and dining options for their vacation.

Collect Experiences – Not Things

Posted in Adventure Travel, All-Inclusive, Baby Boomers, Europe, Family Travel, Golf, Groups, Luxury, River Cruising, Unique Getaways, on 22 February 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

As a travel professional, I value great experiences. The moments spent in awe of a beautiful view, a priceless piece of art or the wonder and pure joy on the face of a child as they experience something new and exciting are worth far more than the price of admission.

We all have a limited amount of time and money, and we are often faced with the dilemma of what is the best way to spend – or to invest – both of those resources.

We can choose from an endless assortment of high-tech gadgets, sparkly things, and material luxuries that will impress our friends and family… for a short time at least. Children (and some adults) have lists of the gaming systems, toys, and fashion labels they want for their next birthday or holiday gift.

But once we’ve bought the latest smart phone or the expensive shoes, how long do they last? How long will they continue to bring joy? And how likely are they to be truly treasured by those around us after we are gone?

Dear Baby Boomer – It’s Time to Travel

Posted in Adventure Travel, All-Inclusive, Caribbean, Family Travel, General Travel Information, River Cruising, Travel Tips, on 5 October 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

There’s no better time than the present to start crossing those dream destinations off your list. Whether you’ve traveled to dozens of places and just need another vacation, or have worked and waited your whole life for this – you deserve to see the world if you want to. Baby boomer travel is more than just an internet buzz phrase. It’s the new way of self care, and these days is more important to people nearing or in retirement age than simply sitting around the house in their golden years.

What’s preventing baby boomer travel?

According to Groups Today, the top three barriers to travel include:

Cost (43%)
Health (34%)
And Security Concerns (28%)

What is a Christmas Market?

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Gift Ideas, Groups, Holiday, River Cruising, Tours, on 21 September 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Starting around July, travel vendors, and city tourism boards begin promotions for upcoming Christmas Markets, in hopes of enticing travelers to come to their cities to visit and shop. But, what exactly is a Christmas Market, where do they happen, and which ones are the best ones to visit? We’ll answer these questions and more below.

A Christmas Market is a street market that involves vendors selling goods and gifts in celebration of Christmas. Some of these are more religiously focused on Christ and the church than others. They are usually set up about a month before Christmas day the week of Thanksgiving, but some are much shorter in length.

The best and most popular Christmas Markets also entail live shows and entertainment making it more than just a shopping event. For example, you could watch a Christmas play, try some new desserts, or spend the evening ice skating on a temporary ice rink.

Oberammergau Passion Play | Ingenious Travel

The Oberammergau Passion Play

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Groups, River Cruising, Theme Vacations, Tours, on 10 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

If you are like most travelers, you are often looking for something unique to do when you’re visiting new places. Should Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany, or the surrounding areas, be on your list of destinations, the Oberammergau Passion Play is one experience you may want to add to your itinerary. You may be wondering what is the Oberammergau Passion Play, and what is so special about it? Keep reading to learn more.

The Origins of The Oberammergau Passion Play

Believe it or not, the origins of the Oberammergau Passion Play date all the way back to 1634, during the time of the bubonic plague. As the story goes, while this plague was ravaging Europe, the citizens of Oberammergau attempted to seal themselves off from the rest of the world in hopes the plague wouldn’t reach them. Unfortunately, a person carrying disease slipped through the cracks and dozens of people perished within less than a month.

As a result of these deaths, the town council came together and vowed to God that they would act out a play depicting the life and suffering of Christ for the rest of their lives if God would spare them. What the townspeople considered to be a miracle came to pass – no one else died of the plague. Therefore, the villagers stuck to their vow, and created and performed the Oberammergau Passion Play. They continue to do so today.

Cruising the River Seine with Adventures by Disney

Posted in Family Travel, River Cruising, on 3 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

River cruises have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. One big reason is because they are more intimate than large cruise lines can offer. Another is that the ships are smaller so they can visit ports the bigger ships can’t quite dock at.

If you have been considering trying a river cruise, perhaps the fact that Adventures by Disney is offering exciting cruise vacations will inspire you to cast aside your landlubbing ways and hit the waters for a new kind of journey. One of the cruise itineraries Adventures by Disney offers is via the River Seine. Read onto learn more about this 10-day/9-night experience that will help you discover the true essence of many things that France has to offer.

Cruising the Rhine River with Adventures by Disney

Posted in Cruises, Europe, Family Travel, River Cruising, Travel, on 27 April 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

We’ve been getting pretty excited learning all about the upcoming cruises by Adventures by Disney. They have certainly taken the idea of luxury of river cruising and given it the kind of upgrade any Disney star including Mickey himself would approve of. Today, we’re exploring the Rhine River itinerary Adventures by Disney is offering. We think you’ll find yourself wanting to hop aboard this exciting cruise vacation after you read more about it.

Overview:

You’ll travel to six destinations in four countries on this 8-day/7-night Adventures by Disney Rhine River cruise vacation. Your trip will begin in Basel, Switzerland and end in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with plenty of exciting experiences along the way.

Cruise departure: You’ll fly into Basel Airport where you’ll be transported to Basel, Switzerland – the city the cruise will depart from. Be sure to ask Ingenious Travel about early arrival activities and accommodations, attractions and dining reservations should you decide you would like to explore Switzerland before your cruise.
On-board cruise experience: You’ll enjoy 8 days and 7 nights aboard either the AmaKristina or the AmaMora river cruise boat (depending on when your cruise travel dates take place). Both boats feature spacious staterooms, a heated pool, a massage and hair salon, a gift shop and a specialty coffee station.
Cruise arrival: On day 8 your cruise boat will arrive in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and you can either depart same day from Amsterdam Airport Schipol, or stick around another day or two to explore The Netherlands. Again, be sure to ask Ingenious Travel about late departure activities and accommodations, attractions and dining reservations should you decide you would like to explore The Netherlands before your flight home.

Christmas Cruising on the Danube River

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, River Cruising, Unique Getaways, on 9 March 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

There’s nothing quite as special as traveling at Christmas. Well, that is until now. Adventures by Disney has two very special upcoming cruises on the Danube River that offer you and your family a holiday experience you won’t soon forget. One cruise is scheduled to set sail in December 2018, and the other in December 2019. These exclusive sailings will sell out. In fact, the 2018 cruise already has limited availability and wait lists for some of the cabins. Here’s what you can expect if you decide to take the plunge and cruise the Danube for Christmas:

Overview:

You’ll travel to seven destinations in three countries on an 8-day/7-night Adventures by Disney vacation on the Danube River. If you choose the 2018 cruise, you’ll depart on December 23 and return December 30. The 2019 sailing dates are December 22 through December 29.

Cruise departure: You’ll fly into Munich Airport where you’ll be transported to Vilshofen, Germany – the city the cruise will depart from. Be sure to ask Ingenious Travel about early arrival activities and accommodations, attractions and dining reservations should you decide you would like to explore Germany before your cruise.
On-board cruise experience: You’ll enjoy 8 days and 7 nights aboard the stunning AmaLea river cruise boat. This boat was inspired by luxury yachts and provides spacious staterooms, elegant decor, a heated pool, a massage and hair salon, a gift shop and a specialty coffee station.