Some weeks seem to develop their own theme. This week felt like a collection of completely different moments, all somehow tied together by planning, patience and hope.
Here in Vero Beach, we had rain. Then we had more rain. It felt as though it had been raining for nearly two weeks.
My swimming pool overflowed and turned a rather alarming shade of green. It is not exactly the glamorous Florida photograph one normally shares, but it is an honest picture of life around my house this week.
The skies were gray, the yard was soggy and I was more than ready to see some sunshine again.
Then Tuesday’s election results gave me a genuine sense of hope.
I know politics can be divisive, and I am not turning this into a political analysis. Still, the results reminded me that participation matters, progress remains possible and many people continue to care deeply about the future. I felt a little lighter on Wednesday morning, and that feeling stayed with me through the rest of the week.
While the rain continued outside, I spent much of my time indoors working on travel plans.
The Cruise Is Only Part of the Journey
Much of my week was spent thinking about what happens before and after a cruise.
I booked my flights for next spring’s Tulip Time journey, worked on plans for Amsterdam and Disneyland Paris, began arranging pre-cruise stays in Anchorage for Alaska and continued developing what may become an incredible Egypt and Jordan adventure.
The cruise may be the centerpiece, but the days surrounding it can make the entire journey more comfortable, interesting and memorable.
Building a Larger Journey Around Tulip Time
My Avalon Tulip Time cruise begins in Amsterdam on April 17, 2027. Over eight days, we will travel through the Netherlands and Belgium, visiting places such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, Middelburg and Keukenhof.
Because I will already be flying across the Atlantic, I have decided to make the most of the opportunity. I am spending two nights in Amsterdam before the cruise and five nights at Disneyland Paris afterward.
Once the cruise ends, I plan to take the train from Amsterdam directly to Disneyland Paris. Those tickets have not opened for sale yet, so that is one piece of the journey I am still watching.
Not every cruise needs a long extension. Sometimes, however, a few extra days allow you to enjoy the embarkation city without rushing. A post-cruise stay can also add a completely different experience to the same vacation.
In this case, a spring river cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium will be followed by five playful days at Disneyland Paris. They are two very different experiences, but together they create one wonderful European journey.
One or Two Extra Nights Can Make a Big Difference
I always recommend arriving at least one night before a cruise or escorted tour, especially when flying to the destination.
Flight delays and cancellations can happen. Arriving on the same day your trip begins leaves very little room for something to go wrong. A delayed connection can quickly turn the first day of an expensive vacation into a stressful race against the clock.
For an international trip, two nights can be even better. That additional time allows you to recover from the flight, adjust to the time difference and begin your journey feeling rested.
I recently arranged pre-cruise hotel stays for travelers joining my Avalon Tulip Time cruise. Now that hotel reservations have opened for my September 2027 Alaska trip, I am also beginning to arrange stays of one to three nights in Anchorage before our southbound Glacier Discovery cruise aboard Nieuw Amsterdam.
Arriving early is not only about protecting the main trip. It also gives you time to experience the embarkation area.
Amsterdam deserves more than a hurried trip from the airport to the ship. Anchorage offers wildlife, museums and scenery that are very different from the Inside Passage. Those extra days become a meaningful part of the vacation rather than simply time spent waiting to board.
Egypt and Jordan Are Coming into Focus
After comparing several possibilities, I am fairly certain I have found what I believe is the best all-around option for an early-2028 journey to Egypt and Jordan.
I am leaning toward an early March departure, shortly after Ramadan is expected to end. That timing should also give us a good chance of enjoying pleasant spring temperatures while exploring Jordan.
The Globus itinerary begins in Cairo with the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. It continues to Luxor and Aswan for a cruise along the Nile before traveling to Jordan for Wadi Rum, Petra and the Dead Sea.
This one journey would include the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, and Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
I also appreciate the reassurance that comes with traveling with Globus. The journey includes an experienced Tour Director, local guides, arranged transportation and an on-trip support network.
No travel company can eliminate every possible concern. For a journey like this, however, having a well-established company managing the logistics and monitoring conditions is important to me.
This is only a small taste of what I am planning. I will have much more to share once the remaining details are ready.
An Invitation to Learn About Avalon Waterways
If river cruising has caught your attention, Mandy, my Avalon and Globus business development manager, and I invite you to join us for a relaxed Avalon Waterways evening via Zoom.
We will meet on Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Mandy will share what makes Avalon different, including its ships, food, atmosphere and itineraries. I will add some of my own observations from four Avalon cruises.
Whether you have already taken a river cruise or are simply curious, this will be an enjoyable way to get to know Avalon.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE FOR NOVEMBER 17
Four Nights of Disney Magic
On Monday, I will return to Disney Dream for a four-night cruise visiting Nassau and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This will be my 54th cruise and my first opportunity to experience Lookout Cay.
This time, I am taking an actual vacation. I do not plan to work, although experience tells me I will still come home with plenty of photographs and observations to share.
The Older They Get, the More They Sparkle
The other new arrivals at my house this week are a small school of diamond tetras.
Meet Susan. And Susan. And all the other Susans.
I named every one after my friend Susan, who owns a jewelry store in Maryland. They seem to be settling into their aquarium beautifully.
Diamond tetras develop more of their shimmer as they mature. The older they get, the more they sparkle.
I love that as a reminder that growing older does not have to mean fading. Sometimes it simply means becoming more fully ourselves and learning how to catch the light.
At the beginning of the week, my pool was overflowing, the water was green and the sky seemed determined to remain gray. By the end of the week, I was thinking about spring tulips, Alaska wildlife, sailing the Nile, Disney magic and a future that felt a little brighter.
Hope can arrive in many forms. Sometimes it comes through an election result. Sometimes it comes from planning a journey we have always dreamed of taking. Sometimes it is found in a tiny fish that becomes more beautiful with age.
After all that rain, I am ready for a little sunshine.
