This photo of a Gentoo penguin family was taken by our owner Carl on one of his previous trips to Antarctica.  In December of 2017 he hopes to lead another group on a luxury expedition trip to Antarctica, this time aboard the Silver Cloud from Silversea Cruises.

The itinerary on this sailing will be much different than those he previous led.  He is very excited that this time the cruise will also visit South Georgia Island.  This special place in the world is known for its king penguins and elephant seals.  There are also stops in the Falkland Islands.  

For further information about the itinerary on this 19-night cruise departing December 21, 2017 click on and download the PDF flier below and/or contact our office.  There is absolutely nothing like Antarctica!  

Recently our owner had the pleasure of staying at the Namale Resort and Spa in Fiji.  Despite the name of our agency, findacruisedeal.com, we are also specialists at planning LAND-based vacations.  In fact we are South Pacific experts specializing in the islands of Tahiti, Hawaii and Fiji as well as Australia.

Perhaps the best way for us to tell you about the magnificence of the Namale Resort and Spa is through the photos we took during our stay.  They can be found under the "Photo Album" tab on our website.  To make it easy for you Click Here to open the slide show displaying photos from our stay at Namale.  

The Namale resort is located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Spread among lush tropical plants are various types of separate bungalows (called "bures" in Fiji).  Each bure offers privacy and a unique view of the grounds and/or the ocean.  The dining room overlooks a spectacular bay and the tide pools below.  The spa is among the most beautiful we've seen with a great view of the blowhole from the various relaxation pools and treatment rooms.  

For the active person there are many daily options offered by the activity staff.  These events include snorkeling trips, nature walks, village visits and a variety of other outings.  A huge plus of Namale over other resorts is the fact that they are "all-inclusive".  Activities (with some exceptions such as SCUBA), meals, entertainment and beverages are all part of the price!

Like most resorts in Fiji, Namale is the perfect setting for honeymoon couples or those celebrating a special anniversary.  The staff can arrange such activities as couples massages, a private breakfast overlooking the blowhole or a special private lunch at the base of their on-property waterfall. 

Perhaps our favorite part of our stay at Namale is the people.  It is our opinion that Fiji has the nicest people in the world.  And the welcoming staff at Namale are the best of example of that "Bula" spirit that is such a crucial part of visiting these picturesque islands.   Thank you, vinaka and Bula to my new friends at #namaleresort  Well done!

Earlier this summer I returned from my tenth trip to Alaska.  This time I had about 20 findacruisedeal.com clients with me.  As a result of my frequent trips to Alaska and my 20 years in the cruise business I've gained a great deal of knowledge about this destination. 

I'm hoping this Alaska tip on my blog will help our current and future clients as they plan their own first, second or multiple trip to this great state!  I always tell people that if they can only go on one cruise in their lifetime, Alaska is the place to go.  I never get tired of this destination. 

I remind our readers in this and every tip...  You do NOT save money by booking your Alaska cruise direct with the cruise line.  Please call us to let us help you plan the Alaska cruise that is best for your situation.  We always try to find the best possible deal for our clients...and you will likely receive added benefits you would NOT get booking direct!

What are the itinerary options for an Alaska cruise?  While there are cruise lines that offer unique itineraries, more than 90% of Alaska cruises are either:

 a) Round trip from Seattle
 b) One way between Vancouver and Anchorage (Northbound or Southbound)

And, more than 90% of Alaska cruises are 7 nights in duration.  (Again, there are other options.)  For example, one cruise line offers 10-night cruises from San Francisco. 

So many people choose the round trip Seattle option because of the convenience of a round trip flight within the Continental USA.  But should you choose the itinerary strictly because of the convenience of the flights?  I much prefer the northbound or southbound cruises to the round trip cruises.

Add-on Land Packages:  For those sailing round trip from Seattle or Vancouver we can add on a pre or post-cruise land package to Whistler, Jasper and/or Banff, Canada!  For those doing a one-way cruise between Anchorage and Vancouver, we can add a 3-7 night pre or post-cruise land package with such destinations as Denali National Park, the Yukon, Fairbanks and many other stops in the interior of Alaska.

Cruise Line Options:  There are many different cruise line companies that sail to Alaska...from the most budget of lines to the top-of-the-line luxury lines.  One of the benefits of working with an agency like findacruisedeal.com is that we help you select the correct cruise line for your situation and budget.

For a complete list of Alaska cruise itinerary options contact our office.  We already have a record number of clients booked for 2016!

We hope to escort this cruise that will depart Dubai and cruise through the Suez Canal before we visit the Holy Land and continue on to Monte Carlo.  This is a great cruise for those who have been to most parts of the world but have yet to say they've cruised the Suez Canal.  It is also a great trip for those who have not seen the Holy Land or, perhaps, have always wanted to go to Dubai.

This 20-night voyage, departing May 5, 2016, is aboard the luxurious Seabourn Sojourn...in our opinion, the perfect-size ship with just 450 passengers.  This is an all-suite vessel where wine, spirits and gratuities are all included in the cruise fare! 

For further information, please click on the PDF flyer below.  Current prices and a day-by-day itinerary are shown here.   We hope you'll join us on this incredible voyage!