Carl's 2015 Year-End Letter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my clients, friends and family members!  I thought I'd try something new this year and put my Christmas/Year-end letter on my Blog so it can easily be accessed for anyone who wants to read it!   The photo to the left was taken on my most recent trip.  I just returned from an incredible trip to the Galapagos and to Machu Picchu.  I sell a lot of these two destinations but have so much more knowledge about Ecuador and Peru now that I have been there!  Both are remarkable places!

2015 in Review.  This was a year filled with many "firsts" and some incredible travel experiences. Here are a few of the highlights:

• January began with perhaps my favorite trip of all time!  I traveled aboard the Seabourn Quest from Buenos Aires to Santiago with six days in Antarctica.  Not only was the scenery and wildlife incredible, but the people I met on board were among the greatest additions to my life in 2015! During this trip I traveled the furthest south I've ever been. Feel free to review my photo albums from this trip at Carl's Antarctica Photos. 
• In April I traveled with a group of friends and clients on a Princess California Coastal Cruise.  We could not have had a better time!
• In May a few family members traveled to Denver to celebrate the 60th birthday of my cousin Sally.  It was a great time with the "Allen" side of the family.  Love you cuz!
• In June I led my 10th trip to Alaska with some of my long-time clients and long-time friends...some I've known since high school...others with whom I worked at Republic Bank in the 1970's.  Another great Alaska experience!
• In August I escorted a group to Iceland and Norway.  Prior to departure, I was fortunate to visit my friends David and Wilma in London.   During this trip I traveled the furthest north I've ever been. 
• In September I escorted another group to Africa.  This time we visited Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Cape Town. It was an incredible trip with some of my favorite people.  
• In December I finally visited two sites at the top of my Bucket List...the Galapagos and Machu Picchu.  As part of this trip I stood on the equator with half of my body in the northern hemisphere and half in the southern hemisphere.  Now to start Bucket List, Phase Two!

New Photo Site.  A new edition to my business endeavors is my new photography web site. Many people have graciously complimented my photos from all over the world.   So I finally launched a web site dedicated strictly to the photography side of my life.  If you go to the main page, a slide show of some of my favorite photos will be displayed.  This site is in its infant pages as I will be loading hundreds of other photos.  People can purchase prints, canvas prints and even create photo books from this site. Please visit carldreizlerphotography.com 

My Business.  I am so grateful to my incredible clients as 2015 was the second best year in the history of findacruisedeal.com, my travel agency.  In 2016 my agency will celebrate its 20th birthday!!

Upcoming Trips.  There are a lot of trips planned for the next two years. Here are some of the upcoming trips I hope to escort:

• April 16, 2016--7-night Princess California Coastal Cruise.  This is a cruise where we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of my company.  I'm hoping as many friends and clients as possible will join me!  Click here for further information (NOTE - rates have changed since this flyer was created.  Contact me for current rates.)
• May 2016--I hope to escort a group aboard a luxurious Seabourn cruise from Dubai to Monte Carlo.  This cruise will visit so many places I've always wanted to see. Click here for more information. 
• June 1, 2016--If enough people sign up, I hope to escort another group on the Paul Gauguin to the Society Islands (Tahiti), my favorite place in the world.  Click here for more information.  
• In October of 2016 I hope to lead a group on a cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town. This unique itinerary visits many places not visited by most travelers.  It is aboard the luxurious all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas Navigator.  Click here for more information.  
• In 2017 trips are being planned for Africa (the migration), the Galapagos and Northern Canada to view polar bears.  If you have interest in any of these trips, be sure to send me a note so I can add you to the distribution list. 

Other Highlights.  There are too many personal highlights to mention in this update. Some are listed in the photos shown.  I had SO many great moments with life-long and brand new friends. I can't mention all by name or I'll leave someone out! I spent time with my wonderful family.  I enjoyed RUHS and USC athletic events.  I traveled the world and I viewed many sunsets.  I'm grateful for BB7, my Wednesday Men's Bible Study and so much more! 

Counting My Blessings.  When it comes to family, friends and clients, I am the luckiest man alive!  I'm so grateful for each of the people in my life.  Wishing each of you many blessings during this Christmas and much joy in 2016.

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Princess Cruises invited me to be among just a handful of travel agency owners at their 50th Birthday Celebration. The cast of "The Love Boat" was at the event. Thank you Princess Cruises.

In September I led another trip to Africa. I cannot get enough of this place. A great trip and a great group of friends/clients joined me. Many have been there multiple times with me. Another trip is being planned for Spring 2017!

How could I summarize any year without mentioning USC football. Some day USC will be back to its National Championship status. This was not the year. However, we were undefeated in the PAC-12 South and beat UCLA!! I had the pleasure this year of meeting Mike Rae who was quarterback of the National Championship team in 1972, my freshman year, touted by many (including me) as the best college football team of all time.

One of many dozens of Redondo Beach sunsets I witnessed in 2015.

Last year's Christmas photo with my Godson Jack and his mom, my friend Janis. What a blessing they are to me. Jack turned 14 in 2015.

I was honored that Seabourn Cruises featured a couple of my photos in their new 2016-2017 brochure! This photo is one of those selected.

This may be my favorite wildlife photo of all time. A Gentoo penguin family in Antarctica.

Very grateful for my friends who invite me on their boat "The Reel Estate" for whale watching right here in our own back yard.

With just a few of the friends who traveled on this year's annual California Coastal cruise. Hope you'll join us for our April 2016 trip!

Sadly, there were many losses of family members and friends in 2015. Here three of us reflect on the unexpected loss of close friend Greg Vincent. Hug those you love this Christmas. We never know when it will be our last.

Celebrating my cousin Sally's 60th birthday with family in Denver.

Trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth" with my niece and great-nephew. Later in the year I would meet his new little brother.

My annual trip to watch my friend Skip Schumaker play baseball. He is always so gracious to me. His grandparents got me in to the travel business and his parents are good friends of mine since high school. I had the privilege of officiating at his and Lindsey's wedding many years ago.

With some of my clients and long-time friends during our private shore excursion in Skagway, Alaska as part of our Princess cruise.

One of many scenic photos from my trip to Iceland and Norway aboard one of the final voyages of Holland America's ms Ryndam.

In October I was honored by local education leaders with the Redondo Beach Educational Advocate of the Year Award. I was very surprised and humbled by this great honor.

Hanging out with two baby sea lions in the Galapagos.

At Machu Picchu

Photo from just one of many gatherings this year with some of my incredible family. My beautiful Mom, front row center, will turn 90 in 2016! So grateful for each of them and those not pictured.