Vendor Updates… Reading the Tea Leaves

Princess Cruises and Uncruise Adventures

Over the course of a year, suppliers in the travel industry will host presentations for travel agents. These are great events that allow me to focus my attention on a specific vendor. It helps me reflect on which of my clients would be the best fit for these companies’ offerings. It also gives me a little insight into where the presenters are putting their emphasis. I want to gain an insight into their core messages and where the company is going. Reading these tea leaves helps me take a pulse on where the industry is going.

I was able to attend events from Princess Cruises and Uncruise Adventures. Talk about two vendors that offer very different offerings filling wonderful niches in the travel industry. It highlighted a few important points for everyone to remember. One – travel in the style you find comfortable. There are so many good travel options out there that I know I can find one that fits you. Two – There is always something new out there. Our world gets smaller every day and new destinations are becoming available that you might never have considers. Three – My bucket list keeps getting longer and there is no way I am ever going to get to the bottom!

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has always been a favorite of my clients. We moldy oldies remember the famous Love Boat TV series which gave many of us our first glimpse (if completely unrealistic) into the world of cruise travel. Princess became famous for their early cruises out of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and was one of the first cruise lines to focus attention in Alaska. The key message that Princess is sending out today is that they are so much more and go to so many destinations!

Princess has always had strong offerings in Alaska and has made major investments in this business. Their roundtrip Alaska cruises, embarking from Seattle, have grown in popularity every year. Of course, this staple of their business will be back this year. This is a great way to see Southeast Alaska but there are so many other options. If you want to see more, consider the Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary that sails from Vancouver to Whittier, Alaska or vice versa.

This itinerary adds College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier to Glacier Bay National Park to your Inside Passage cruising to double your glacier viewing.

If you’re looking for even more Alaska, consider adding a tour on to your cruise. These tours add an additional 3 to 7 days and allow you to discover the interior of Alaska. The highlight of many of these itineraries is the direct-to-the-wilderness rail service, which takes you directly from Whittier to the Denali area lodges and of course, the ability to view and visit Mt. Denali itself.

All of Princess’ itineraries put a focus on understanding the unique nature of Alaska. I think this video will give you a feel for what they are trying to accomplish!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=0rrhudy8aUA

Princess Cruises has always been a favorite of my clients. We moldy oldies remember the famous Love Boat TV series which gave many of us our first glimpse (if completely unrealistic) into the world of cruise travel. Princess became famous for their early cruises out of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and was one of the first cruise lines to focus attention in Alaska. The key message that Princess is sending out today is that they are so much more and go to so many destinations!

Of course, there is much more to what Princess offers than Alaska. It’s obvious that Princess wants to emphasize this point. Over the years, they have added itineraries all over the world, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Canada & New England, Japan, South America and Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific.

What I found interesting was an emphasis on itineraries to Iceland. There are several itineraries but I found the Iceland & Norway Itinerary very interesting:

I also thought visiting Greenland was an interesting itinerary:

The focus on destinations reminded me that many people have a very fixed idea of where to go on a cruise. It is easy to think cruises are limited to the Caribbean or Alaska. In reality, you can find a cruise on just about any ocean or river!

Uncruise Adventures

There are also a variety of ways to cruise. I was able to visit the SS Legacy from Uncruise Adventures right here in Portland. It was an opportunity to experience a taste of small ship cruising.

The Legacy evokes the design of steamships that used to ply the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

This quaint ship is used in Alaska and also cruises on the Columbia and Snake river. I visited the Legacy on her last stop in Portland before she headed back to Seattle for the winter.

Uncruise Adventures takes a much different approach to cruise vacations. I think they emphasize that with their name. Their itineraries are based on providing customers with a hands-on experience. Their ships are equipped with kayaks and Zodiacs. They use local guides that have first-hand knowledge of their locations.

Uncruise Adventures has itineraries in Alaska, the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos. https://www.uncruise.com/destinations/browse-all .

One key message that Uncruise Adventures wanted to communicate was the availability of early itineraries in Alaska, the Alaska Awakenings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0uFceA81U

These itineraries are available in April and May, before the crowds and big cruise ships begin to arrive in Alaska. Alaska awakens from its winter slumber—and there is a lot more to see (bears, northern lights, budding forests, migrating grey whales and birds, snowcapped mountains, raging waterfalls, and more sunshine). The early bird catches the worm, so they say.

You can get a lot of information from any presentation from a travel vendor but being able to experience their product is even more valuable. You might expect adventures on Uncruise Adventures, but you will also experience good food and friendly service.

When I am working with clients, a big part of my job is understanding the kind of experience they are looking for. There are many types of vacation out there and many vendors that offer wonderful itineraries. My job is to guide you through the options and find the best fit for you. Staying on top of all these options is part of my job!