My new bookings

[RooFlyer]

For April/May next year, both Ponant with 7.5% discount and no Single Supplement:

Canary Islands, after my appetite was whetted by a planned, but not executed land week there (island hopping by air)

Cruise The Canaries, lands of contrast from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands - April 2026 | Ponant

In the Canaries archipelago, the volcanic islands rise from the Atlantic Ocean like mirages. In these lands of a thousand contrasts, lunar landscapes with crimson and ashen reflections, valleys covered in lush vegetation, craggy coves and sand dunes blend

au.ponant.com

Then, not back-to-back (unfortunately - would have gained a further discount) but a convenient 2.5 days later (IB fly between my arrival/departure ports 4 x daily), Sicily

Cruise Epicurean Delights: The Food & Wine of Sicily from Valletta to Valletta - April 2026 | Ponant

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages inclu

au.ponant.com

History-packed and maybe this will make a foodie out of me yet. Bonus 2 active volcanos, Etna and Stromboli! And Malta never a waste.

This replaces a planned Intrepid minibus-multiple hotels trip, only about $1K cheaper with their single supp.

 

[Pushka]

For April/May next year, both Ponant with 7.5% discount and no Single Supplement:

Canary Islands, after my appetite was whetted by a planned, but not executed land week there (island hopping by air)

Cruise The Canaries, lands of contrast from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands - April 2026 | Ponant

In the Canaries archipelago, the volcanic islands rise from the Atlantic Ocean like mirages. In these lands of a thousand contrasts, lunar landscapes with crimson and ashen reflections, valleys covered in lush vegetation, craggy coves and sand dunes blend

au.ponant.com

View attachment 432597

Then, not back-to-back (unfortunately - would have gained a further discount) but a convenient 2.5 days later (IB fly between my arrival/departure ports 4 x daily), Sicily

Cruise Epicurean Delights: The Food & Wine of Sicily from Valletta to Valletta - April 2026 | Ponant

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages inclu

au.ponant.com

View attachment 432598
History-packed and maybe this will make a foodie out of me yet. Bonus 2 active volcanos, Etna and Stromboli! And Malta never a waste.

This replaces a planned Intrepid minibus-multiple hotels trip, only about $1K cheaper with their single supp.

View attachment 432599

Cruising through the straits of Messina or similar paths, with Stromboli doings its thing at nighttime is fabulous. Etna was quiet when we were there.

You have taken the cruise bait and run with it.

 

[RooFlyer]

River cruises are the next barrier to be broken. Your experience with Viking in Europe make me a bit reticent, but currently I’m looking for comfy cruises down the Amazon.

 

[OZDUCK]

River cruises are the next barrier to be broken. Your experience with Viking in Europe make me a bit reticent, but currently I’m looking for comfy cruises down the Amazon.

Just watch out for the local wildlife dropping to say hello!

 

[Scarlett]

that’s not the Amazon. I remember that photo from last years Olympics: a triathlete emerging from the Seine.

That Canaries cruise looks good @RooFlyer. We had a hire car whist on Gran Canaria and had an enjoyable drive up into a national park where Roque Nublo was located. Lots of interesting canyons and small villages. I’d recommend it if there is a land tour available for you.

 

[VPS]

I wish Viking would do some no single supplement cruises. The Sicily one looks fantastic.

I’m catching the ferry from Malta to Sicily on Monday, but I don’t think it’s going to be that luxurious

 

[RooFlyer]

Booked. I got approx $1,000 off the second one because they classified the cruises as being 'back to back' (apparently there is a 2 day tolerance for that and different vessels doesn't matter ) , in addition to 7.5% status discount on each cruise

Also 200 euro for each cruise from Virtuoso, in addition to the 100 euro on each from Ponant (status).

Saw Michael Portillo's show on Sicily last night - looks an amazing place to visit.

 

[VPS]

Booked. I got approx $1,000 off the second one because they classified the cruises as being 'back to back' (apparently there is a 2 day tolerance for that and different vessels doesn't matter ) , in addition to 7.5% status discount on each cruise

Also 200 euro for each cruise from Virtuoso, in addition to the 100 euro on each from Ponant (status).

Saw Michael Portillo's show on Sicily last night - looks an amazing place to visit.

I am in Sicily for 8 nights and won’t scratch the surface

 

[RooFlyer]

I am in Sicily for 8 nights and won’t scratch the surface

Yes - are you going to do a TR later? I'm looking to go back to Sicily after the end of the cruise via the ferry, which you took.

 

[VPS]

Yes - are you going to do a TR later? I'm looking to go back to Sicily after the end of the cruise via the ferry, which you took.

I will try. I start work at end beginning of April and I have said I won’t be working full time so hoping to spend some time sorting photos and highlights

I have four nights in Ortigia which I would strongly recommend as a destination and four nights in Taormina then catching the overnight train to Milan

 

[TheRealTMA]

I will try. I start work at end beginning of April and I have said I won’t be working full time so hoping to spend some time sorting photos and highlights

I have four nights in Ortigia which I would strongly recommend as a destination and four nights in Taormina then catching the overnight train to Milan

Looking fwd to it!

 

[VPS]

Yes - are you going to do a TR later? I'm looking to go back to Sicily after the end of the cruise via the ferry, which you took.

The ferry was due to leave at 6:30 and they said you had to be there at 5:30 am and I got there a bit after five and walk straight on but it’s a fairly quiet time of the year. The ferry actually left at about 6:10 so you obviously do need to be there on time.

When I got to Pozzollo there were a heap of taxi drivers waiting and an Uber was €20 and the taxi driver offered me €10 but I was chatting to another girl at the railway station and there was only about four of us there. She had been charged four euros so I was a bit annoyed

Stupidly the taxi driver gave me his card so sending him a message

Pozzollo railway station is unmanned and slightly derelict