Deanne Santoro, Tina Beydoun, Ava Beydoun, Rhian Bazzi, Susie Beydoun, and Moe Beydoun in Florence, Italy, in November
Jeanette Rajamaki
Welcome to our last meeting for 2024 and our holiday meeting on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Saguaro Room. We will be introducing a brand-new cruise company coming to the USA. Joseph Barney, our business manager, will introduce you to Explora Journeys.
In 2023 Explora launched their first ship and recently launched Explora II. Their optimistic projection is that they will build and launch four more ships every year to 2028. Explora Journeys, owned by the Aponte family, also owns MSC Shipping. The Aponte family felt their love of travel should be brought to the public in the form of a cruise ship that is smaller, exquisite, and which would create a modern luxury cruise experience like no other.
Now is the time to start planning and booking for late spring and next summer. Think of joining me. I will be hosting Aug. 9 Paris to Normandy Beaches, a river cruise with AMAWaterways, 140 passengers. Call 602-909-2000 for more information. Three solo staterooms are available.
Upcoming Meetings:
Jan. 16: Viking Cruises
Feb. 13: Oceania Cruises
March 13: Rocky Mountaineer and Mayflower Tours
Group travel scheduled for 2025 and 2026. Join us as we travel the world!
March 10, 2025: Oceania Cruises Regatta, 680 passengers, 20-night Sydney to Singapore, cruising Down Under up the side of Australia to Newcastle, Cairns, Darwin, and Bali. Two nights in Singapore. The Bogdanoffs are hosting. Includes gratuities. Cocktail party and more.
Aug. 9, 2025: AMAWaterways, 8-day Paris to Normandy Beaches. Pre nights in Paris. We are hosting unique events with a croissant cooking class. Think about bringing your youths on this sailing, which AMA is encouraging, the 9- to 17-year-olds. Unique events at Normandy Beaches, cocktail party. Jeanette Rajamaki hosting.
Aug. 18, 2025: Oceania Cruises, 10-night Alaska on the larger Riviera. Gratuities included, culinary experience, $250 on-board credit, excellent pricing. Veranda is starting at $4,750 per person. This ship has floor-to-ceiling windows in their ocean view rooms starting at $4,085. Madeline Kemp hosting.
Sept. 17, 2025: AMAWaterways, 8-day/7-night Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle. Optional pre in Amsterdam and optional post in Reims and Paris. Solo rates available. Daily free cocktail hour with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. Bicycles free on board with daily bike tours. Excursions included daily.
Oct. 26,2025: Oceania’s new ship Allura, 15 days Montreal to Miami, overnight in Montreal, Quebec City, Saguenay, Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Halifax; stops in Boston, Newport, Rhode Island; overnight in New York City and Charleston, S.C. Gratuities included. Wine, beer, and champagne with lunch and dinner.
March 17, 2026: Oceania Marina, 21-day voyage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Miami, includes five days on the Amazon River. Gratuities included. The cost of $342 a day is a great price. Specialty dining included, gratuities included, $250 on-board credit per stateroom.
July 13, 2026: Viking Cruises, sail the Douro River, 10 days starting with two nights in Lisbon. Wonderful wine country and picturesque villages. Prices start at $4,599. Coach air for $999. Hosted by Vic Hermann.