Unique-Journeys Archives - Unique Journeys LLC

EXPERIENCE THE WINES OF BORDEAUX

Feb 22, 2021

Experience the wines of Bordeaux on a Taste of Bordeaux cruise with AMA Waterways. You can start your journey by flying in Bilbao, Spain and ending in Paris or the reverse. Doing the pre and post-cruise extensions is a great way to extend your cruise, but if you are short on time, you can fly into and out of Bordeaux for your 7-night cruise. In either event, you will find that AMA Waterways has planned terrific stops along the way so that you can experience the full range of vineyards, wineries and other significant places of interest.

What an awesome itinerary through the different wine regions of Bordeaux

Cadillac

While touring the vineyards and learning about terroir, you will also learn about the “noble rot”. It may not sound appetizing, but it creates a great Sauterne, which you will be able to taste for yourself.

You may also have the opportunity to experience the great European tradition of the weekly farmers market. Why not pick up some bread and cheese to take back to the ship to share with your new friends. You will also find a French specialty known as Canele. Impossible to eat just one.

Experience local markets on your Taste of Bordeaux Cruise

You will also have the chance to visit a castle that has been in the same family for 700 years. Roquetataillade is a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. As spectacular as the castle is, you will marvel at the chapel with its Moorish influence.

Pauillac

On your cruise to Experience the Wines of Bordeaux, you are now entering the the Medoc Region. Pauillac is the gateway to this region which is home to some of the most beautiful and famous wine estates. This is your chance to experience a wine tasting of Grand Cru wines and to learn about the history associated with Grand Cru. There are several choices for your shore excursions, but they all end up with you tasting some great wines.

Bourg/Blaye

Once in Blaye you can see the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE of the 17th century citadel. You say you want a little more action? How about biking around the town!

You can either bike from Blaye to Bourg or enjoy the comfort of the ship as it sails there. AMA Waterways has arranged for an exclusive wine festival in Bourg. Here you can meet and mingle with the local wine growers while sipping on their local wines and enjoying live music and perhaps some dancing.

Libourne

Just when you thought you have seen the best, you will arrive in Libourne and a visit to Saint-Emilion. Perched on a hill, it has great views, great wine and an underground church. You will visit the monolithic church which was carved out of a single piece of limestone and the venture under the Church to explore the catacombs and caves. Now it’s time for another wine tasting since this region has their own brand of wine based on the distinctive terroir. Some of the production of wineries in the region is so small that they don’t export any of their wines. This is a great opportunity for the wine connoisseurs to take home a great wine that no one else is able to get. You can also bring back stories of your experience of getting up close and personal with the people who have created this great wine. What great bragging rights.

NOW IS NOT TOO SOON to begin taking steps to find your next exciting river cruise. Unique Journeys is a valuable asset to make certain you get the right cruise at the right time and for the right price. Don’t go it alone and risk not having the best experience possible. Contact me and together we will give you the vacation you deserve.

Now that you are perusing river cruises to make the perfect choice, here is a must read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience you will want to contact expert Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assistance you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

Dec 31, 2020

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

Are you planning a cruise vacation filled with great memories?

Are you already thinking about the main essentials that you need to pack? If yes, keep reading as we are sharing the 5 things to pack when going on a cruise and we are revealing more than the basics such as swimsuit,

flip flops and passport!

Binoculars

You might be surprised by our first choice of items to pack when going on a cruise, but a small pair of binoculars is a must-have in the open ocean. You might be thinking that everything it is to see is endless blue waters, but you are wrong. Along the way, you can see various marine creatures and birds. Not only this but as you are sailing through the sea you can see various small islands further in the distance, which would be difficult to notice with a naked eye. Trust us, you will witness a whole new world with just a small pair of binoculars.

Sunscreen and Aloe Vera

We bet that during your cruise you would want to spend most of your time outside on the deck and enjoying the warm sunny days. Be sure to pack the combination of strong tropical sun rays and continuous ocean breeze will certainly feel pleasant and refreshing on your skin until you go back to your cabin and look at the mirror. The sun in the middle of the ocean can be extremely dangerous and you can get sunburnt extremely quickly. That is the reason why tons of sunscreen, as well as various lotions with Aloe Vera, are among the top 5 things to pack when going on a cruise.

Sea Sickness Medication

The worst thing that can happen while you are enjoying your cruise holiday is to get seasick. Those who will be taking an international trip and sailing through the open ocean should know that there is a high chance that the ship will meet some strong and rough waves. Most cruises are prepared for situations like this and they would have some medications for the passengers. Even still, it is always a good idea to pack your own and know that you are well prepared. This is certainly one of the must-haves of 5 things to pack when especially if this is your first cruise ever.

Water Shoes

One of the main things that you would want to pack when going on a cruise vacation is to swim in the refreshing waters and enjoying various activities across the tropical beaches you will be visiting. Even some tropical beaches, however, do not have the sandiest beaches, and sometimes walking barefoot is not advisable. In other places, on the other hand, it is necessary to wear water shoes when snorkeling. If you are going on a longer cruise, it might be a challenge to research every pit stop along the way. So better be safe than sorry and pack a pair of water shoes with you!

Waterproof Phone Case

Finally on our list of the 5 things to pack when going on a cruise is a waterproof phone case. Taking a cruise vacation involves a lot of water and sand. At the same time, though, we are sure that you would love to take as many photos as possible and capture all the fun moments, that is the reason why you need to also consider using some protection for your phone. Not only will you be able to still use your touch screen and camera, but a lot of phone cases nowadays are even meant to be used underwater. Always check the manufacturer’s notes when getting a waterproof phone case, though.

Did you consider these 5 essential things to pack when going on a cruise?

Which one of these were you most likely to miss packing to go on your cruise?

NOW IS NOT TOO SOON to begin taking steps to find your next exciting river cruise. Unique Journeys is a valuable asset to make certain you get the right cruise at the right time and for the right price. Don’t go it alone and risk not having the best experience possible. Together we will give you the vacation you deserve.

Now that you are perusing river cruises to make a perfect choice, here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact expert Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

Getting Ready for Travel During Coronavirus

Nov 25, 2020

Unfortunately, 2020 has not been the best year for traveling. Getting ready for traveling during Coronavirus can be challenging. If you are one of those people who have been quarantined at home for a long time and you are now looking forward to hitting the road, there should be a few things that you need to consider when planning your trip. So keep reading as today we are revealing the ultimate list that you will need when getting ready for traveling during Coronavirus.

Research your Destination

The first step when getting ready for traveling during Coronavirus is research. The year 2020 has not been one when we can just wake up in the morning and decide to head to another country. Start with checking the latest statistics of the COVID-19 of the location you are going to. It is vital to have some basic understanding of how the virus is spreading in the country that you will be visiting. The next step is checking the entry requirements. Unfortunately, half a year later many locations still have restrictions for tourists from other countries. It is also a good idea to check beforehand if you will need to spend 14 days in self-quarantine. If so, it might be better to reconsider your destination. Is it really worth traveling so long and having to spend all this time closed in a hotel? (more…)

Ways to Avoid Ruining a Vacation with Children

Oct 29, 2020

Traveling as a child is probably some of your best childhood memories. As awesome as it is traveling with your family, it can also be extremely challenging, however, the earlier you start traveling with children the easier it becomes.

7 ways to avoid ruining a vacation with children

Plan Time Accordingly

When traveling with children you must allow more time for every adventure including getting through security and boarding the plane. Add additional time to your schedule planning each time the child to adult ratio goes up.

If you decide to stop and buy snacks add time for the decision making.

When traveling with children plan for things to go wrong when planning the time to arrive at the airport, time to board a ship, time for check-in at a hotel, and all your excursions. (Strollers and Diaper bags alone take longer to get through security). This alone potentially could make your trip start off on a bad note if you miss your flight.

A Flexible schedule will allow for adjustment and cause less stress for the entire family. (more…)

CRUISING THE BEAUTIFUL WINE REGION OF BORDEAUX

May 28, 2018

Cruising the wine region of Bordeaux will conjure up mental pictures of France and acres and acres of grape vines; remind you of great evenings by the fire with a glass of wine; sharing a glass of wine with dinner and friends or just relaxing after a long day.

Well, taking a river cruise to the Wine Region of Bordeaux will surpass anything you can imagine.

View of the vineyards at Chateau de la Riviere Estate and Winery

I am the first to admit that before this wine-themed cruise I knew very little about grapes, terroir and the making of wine, but I learned a great deal on this cruise even though I was having a wonderful time doing it. All of our guides were so engaging and enthusiastic, you couldn’t help but soak up some of their great knowledge. For instance, when we visited a vineyard specializing in Sauterne grapes, we learned about the “noble rot” which sounds awful, but is the fungus which produces the great sauternes from that region. I will say that several in our group walked out of there with bottles of wine to enjoy later.

Without being conscious of it, I learned that wines from Bordeaux are a mix of different types of grapes and that each year the mix is different depending on the weather and how it affects the different grape varieties. I found out that all the grapes are hand-picked and that to be an organic wine, they can’t even water the grapes. Mother Nature rules in the vineyards of Bordeaux.

Who Doesn’t Love a Farmers Market?

Cadillac Market

Almost all cities and towns in France have market days and we were lucky enough to be in Cadillac on theirs. We were able to stroll around and buy bread, fruit and cheeses direct from the people who grow and produce them. The people are so friendly and willing to answer any questions you have and the variety of goods is wonderful. I bought some great cheese and fruit to snack on later. A great way to remember Cadillac. There is nothing like spending time at a local market to get a flavor of the area

Did you know they use eggs in wine?

There is a tradition in Bordeaux of using egg whites in the wine casks to help remove sediment during the wine-making process. As you can imagine, this leaves you with lots of egg yolks. The French have solved this problem by creating caneles, which are small pastries made only with egg yolks. I applaud their ingenuity. The cruise director brought several boxes back to the ship and put them out for everyone to try. I had several caneles. Okay, I probably had more than a few.

Not all highlights of a cruise have to be about activity

Here’s a question – how many of us have free time in our everyday lives to just sit back and totally relax. Onboard a river cruise, when you are cruising between ports, you have that opportunity. You can sit in the lounge and just watch the countryside go by, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine from the bar. Maybe you are a card player; there are tables in the lounge set up for whatever card game you would like to indulge in. If you love to read, bring your own book or enjoy one from the library.

There is time for relaxation and reflection on a Bordeaux wine cruise

Early Morning fog as we sail toward another great day on our AMA Waterways wine cruise

Sitting on the sun deck is also an option if the weather cooperates. You could also enjoy that glass of wine in the hot tub or pool. I love early mornings, especially if there is a fog hanging over the river, isolating you from the rest of the world. I shot this picture while standing at the bow of the ship watching a crew member communicating with the Captain by walkie talkie as they steered us safely through this and several other bridges. Our captain was very young, but as you can see, very experienced. What an exhilarating experience to see the bridge emerge out of the fog and to sail gently through. So quiet and ethereal-it was one of the highlights of the cruise.

There are lots of possibilities, but they all have one overriding theme – this is your time to sit back, relax and let someone else steer the boat.

Now is the time to make your dreams a reality. Contact me at www.unique-journeys.com to set up an appointment to book your unforgettable river cruise

Unique-Journeys

EXPERIENCE THE WINES OF BORDEAUX

Cadillac

Pauillac

Bourg/Blaye

Libourne

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

Are you planning a cruise vacation filled with great memories?

Binoculars

Sunscreen and Aloe Vera

Sea Sickness Medication

Water Shoes

Waterproof Phone Case

Getting Ready for Travel During Coronavirus

Research your Destination

Ways to Avoid Ruining a Vacation with Children

7 ways to avoid ruining a vacation with children

Plan Time Accordingly

If you decide to stop and buy snacks add time for the decision making.

CRUISING THE BEAUTIFUL WINE REGION OF BORDEAUX

Well, taking a river cruise to the Wine Region of Bordeaux will surpass anything you can imagine.

Who Doesn’t Love a Farmers Market?

Did you know they use eggs in wine?

Not all highlights of a cruise have to be about activity