Winter Cruise Destinations 2024
Cruising in the Winter is considered to be the OFF or Shoulder season of the year; holidays like New Year’s and Christmas being the exception of course. As a result there are fewer crowds and better pricing not to mention, some unique itineraries become available during this time as well. Here are some of the best destinations to consider during Winter 2024/2025:
Caribbeans: Escape from the brutal winter storms and shaveling routines to bask in the tropical embrace of the Caribbeans. There are three regions to chose from Eastern Caribbeans islands of St. Maarten, Tortola, and Puerto Rico the Bahamas and more. The Western Caribbeans for a Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal cruise or the The Southern Caribbeans and visit the paradise pilgrimage of the A,B,C, islands. Norwegian Cruise line and Royal Caribbean have the best offerings and overall experience during this time.
Europe: Visit the Mediterranean to see the rich heritage of Italy, Spain, Morocco, and Greece, or explore the volcanic scenery of the Canary Islands and Madeira.
South America: Explore the vibrant cultures of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. since there are lower crowds and the ability to stretch your travel dollars this is a perfect opportunity to include a pre and post cruise excursion maximizing your experience in this culturally rich itinerary. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises offers an ultra exclusive and luxury exploration cruise of the Galapagos Islands to see the wildlife.
Honorable Mentions: Consider cruises to New Zealand to see the fjords, mountains, vineyards, and cities.
Spain
Additional things to consider for cruising during the winter time:
Do your homework on what to pack. Even if the the destination you choose seems easy to prep for like the Caribbeans, still be sure you know what to pack because it may not be all sunshine and lollypops; depending on the elevation level for some excursions it can get wet and cold, even in the islands tropical landscape and certainly for South America and The Mediterranean.
Shore Excursions may be different in the Winter.
If you have any additional question please contact me directly or book a free Consultation.
Panama Canal
The Galapagos
Top Fall Travel Ideas 2024
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is great for so many things. Sweater weather, scarves, and coffee. Need we say more? If the cool weather hasn’t already sold you, consider that Seattle has great landmarks, attractions, and more than enough quirks to keep you interested and active.
Pike Place Market and the Museum of Pop Culture are excellent places to start
your vacation. At these locations, you can see everything from fish throwing to a visual history of Hip-Hop. Pike Place Market is known as the “Soul of Seattle.” Starting in 1907, this nine-acre destination in downtown is one of the oldest and longest-running farmer’s markets in the United States. Not far away, you’ll find blobular architecture which is the Museum of Pop Culture. MoPOP is like no other museum on Earth. Hands-on experiences, iconic artifacts, and ever-changing exhibitions all add up to an experience unlike any other.
Adventurous travelers will enjoy Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. A short hike will take you into some of the most magnificent scenery in all of Washington state. To see as much of the fall foliage as possible, a driving tour of the park would be ideal.
If you like quirky and off the beaten path locations, you’re in the right spot. We recommend planning your trip for September or early October as the weather is perfect and the rains haven’t yet started.
Museum of POP Culture
Pike Place Market
Visit a National Park- Nature enthusiast- there are so many breathe-taking guided and non guided tour options for fall I would suggest Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite
National Park in California, or The Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee. Walk or hike though once- in- a- lifetime trails, marvel at rarely seen wildlife; if you really want a break from fast-pace living, basking in such boundless nature of these Parks is just what the doctor ordered.. If you are serious about taking in the endless beauty and splendor of multiple National Parks, you should
consider The U. S. Annual Park Pass, it will save you a ton as you check off your National Park bucket list. During the off season during the fall you can really maximize your savings and the Park
are not as crowded as it is during the Summertime.
Yosemite National Park
Smokey Mountains in the Fall
Brazil- Are you looking for something culturally rich and adventurous this Fall? Fall in Brazil, which is September to November, is considered the shoulder season and is a good time to visit
because of the mild temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower prices: you can maximize an amazing cultural experiences and afford a longer vacation, its an awesome fall travel opportunity to see
iconic sites like Iguaçu Falls, Fernando de Noronha, Pantanal Wetlands and more! There is so much to do like camping, hiking, wildlife, culinary excursions and culture you can only immerse in Brazil.
For more Fall travel Ideas, sign up for the free MTU Newsletter.
Packing List: Ski Lodge
According to Statista.com, A total of 18.46 million U.S. Americans went skiing in 2023, which was an increase of about four percent over the figure reported in the previous year. Out of that number, approximately 5.32 million went cross-country skiing specifically, up from 4.85 million in 2022. Despite, inflation, I do not see this Ski craze slowing down. If you are a first time rookie here is the MTU Packing List 2024:
Ski Gear: Skis, ski poles, snowboard, ski boots, snowboard boots, helmet, goggles, sunglasses, ski jacket, ski pants, ski socks, gloves or mittens. Be sure that your jacket and pants are waterproof.
Layers… Lots f Layers: Your first layer is your base layer which includes some long johns. After that, you need to have a solid variation of vest, fleece sweater, long sleeve t-shirts, jumpers
Non- Ski Gear: Boots, jeans or khakis, nice sweaters, hats and something to wear to the outdoor hot tub.
Accessories: Hat, scarf, neck warmer, balaclava, beanie, ski mask, boot and ski bags
Must- Have Essentials’: Hand and toe warmers, electric boot warmers, Hydration pack, water bottle, backpack or small bag, camera, snacks.
Where to get the Goods
There are so many options out there to select ski gear and equipment from, but there are a few stand outs to help you narrow down your search, based on overall quality and customer satisfaction:
Evo.com
Backcountry.com
REI CO-OP
Also, consider the following Ski Destinations, that happen to be among the best in the United States:
If you have any additional question please contact me directly or book a free Consultation.