The season is officially upon us when the world seems to bloom with new sights and sounds to discover. One region that truly dazzles this time of year is along the Rhine River through the countryside of the Netherlands and Belgium, where millions of dormant tulip bulbs bloom each spring and cloak the landscapes in color. This spectacular performance by Mother Nature is not to be missed, so we encourage you to forgo the traditional spring cleaning in favor of a spring European getaway on an incredible river cruise.

Voyages along the Rhine are where flower-filled views meet meandering canals, and medieval architecture presides over bustling town squares that exude modern life. A “Tulip Time” itinerary typically sails from Amsterdam, beginning  with overnight stays. From there you will explore charming historic riverside towns where stair-stepped gables, imposing castles and cobbled alleyways take you back a century or two Other stops might include urban sophistication like that found in Rotterdam, sitting in stark contrast to the old-world charms of the rest of the region, with its contemporary architecture and high-energy boulevards.



For more springtime sunshine, follow the hillside paths through the endless tulip fields, punctuated by the iconic windmills of Holland. In a similar distinction between haute and historic, a typical Flemish itinerary will showcase the classic Dutch culture in Holland’s oldest city, Dordrecht, as well as Belgium’s high-fashion and art scene with an overnight stay in Antwerp. These sailing are filled with opportunities to taste world-class beers and chocolates, see the inspired brushstrokes of Van Gogh, discover the ingenuity of Dutch engineering and embrace the warm welcome of the destinations and your luxury river ship.
This is no time to spend cleaning out closets and daydreaming about adventures yet to come. Now is the time to find what discoveries will bloom when you sail through Europe on a fantastic river cruise.

Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to help you pick the right cruise-line and itinerary! She is an all inclusive expert & certified river cruise specialist. Her professional planning services bring you added value at no additional cost.  

The French town of Bergerac is equally renowned for its role in the love story of Cyrano de Bergerac as it is for its fine wines (not to mention elegant chateaux and a historic medieval center).

Monbazillac (pronounced moh-bah-zee-YAK) wines are those rare, sweet, lovely dessert wines that few Americans—even wine connoisseurs—have tasted. This white wine is often compared to fellow French late-harvest Sauternes wines and is even made from the same grapes— sémillon, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle. Monbazillac, however, has a higher percentage of muscadelle grapes and, thus, sometimes sweeter aromas. The wine is an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC). Only grapes that are affected by ‘noble rot’ can be classified as Monbazillac; other regional grapes that are used for dry white wines are classified as Bergerac sec.

Lighter than a Sauternes, with a bit less alcohol content, a fine Monbazillac wine can become gold or amber in hue, with less floral notes and a spicier taste. Enjoy exotic honeyed notes like grapefruit, elderflower, quince, mango, passion fruit and citrus with a nutty aftertaste. It is perhaps most famously paired with Foie Gras but also enjoyed with various desserts, main dishes and appetizers. It also serves as a perfectly chilled apéritif. 

On a Bordeaux river cruise, you can visit the legendary Chateau de Monbazillac, a 16th century landmark in Early Renaissance style with some of the most magnificent views of the French countryside, to enjoy a tasting of this exquisite wine and guided tour. It is the perfect place to taste this somewhat secretive wine. Indeed, only roughly 20 percent of the wine is exported from France, with much of it going to Belgium and the Netherlands. Only about 5 percent is exported to the United States.

No Bordeaux river cruise would be complete without visiting the nearby Bergerac region. Forever linked with Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac (and subsequent film and television adaptions like Steve Martin’s Roxanne), the town celebrates its literary connection with two statues of the romantic Cyrano. There is also a wine house, which features a small exhibit on the history of wine growing in the region. One of the highlights is extensive medieval center and charming ‘old town,’ with lovely town squares and boutiques. The perfect marriage of wine and romance. 

​​Contact river cruise specialist, ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to learn more and book your one-of-a-kind voyage today! She's been there!

New York City. Epicenter of many of the world’s top industries, pursuits, interests and delights. At your fingertips lies a grid-ed playground of diverse ways to indulge in international cuisine, world-class performing arts of all kinds, historically profound artistic and archaeological discoveries, and, of course, fashion. The streets of Manhattan are a veritable runway of all that is chic and cutting edge, inspired by the most current trends and inspiring those yet to come. Even department store windows – elsewhere merely static display platforms – set dramatic stages, inviting people to come behind the curtain and get into costume.
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In this epicenter of fashion, style evolves as quickly as the lights change on Broadway, beautifully chronicling prominent events, moods and phases of history. New York City is the place to be for any and all love the art of fashion, or even just love gazing at the diverse canvas laid out in the city streets, but the threads run deep here – deeper than what’s trending from Gucci or McQueen. In many ways, designers help us tell our stories through our clothing, allowing for endless possible expressions and personalities. It’s this nuance and philosophy of fashion that continues to intrigue and influence the world’s styles, and has for centuries.

For dedicated patrons of fashion and its stories, this fall, Crystal Symphony is the place to be. During a “Fashion & Style” themed Experiences of Discovery voyage, guests will set sail from New York City, spending two full days in this style mecca. Joining them on their journey, will be four preeminent experts in various facets of the fashion industry as it is now, as it was, and as it looks to the future. The 10-day “Fall’s Grandeur” sailing embarks September 25 and explores the autumn glory that is New England and eastern Canada at that time of year, beginning with the stylish beauty found in New York.
Along the way, explore the fascinating history and behind-the-runway culture of the fashion industry of past and present with engaging presentations from: 

Fashion Historian and Journalist Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell – Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell has worked as a curator, consultant, and educator for museums and universities around the world. She is the author of Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (Yale, 2015), winner of the 2016 Millia Davenport Publication Award, and co-author of Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 (Prestel, 2010). Kimberly writes about fashion, art, and culture for The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Ornament, and Politico. She has presented at the National Gallery of Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museum of London, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and is delighted to add Crystal Symphony to that list.

Fashion Institute of Technology Project Coordinator Ariele Elia – In addition to her role with the newly launched MFA Fashion Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Ariele is a fashion academic in her own right. In her previous position at the Museum at FIT as the assistant curator of Costume and Textiles, she curated or co-curated a number of exhibits and assisted with the exhibitions Expeditions: Fashion from the Extreme and Elegance in an Age of Crisis: Fashion of the 1930s. Her areas of expertise range from cultural appropriation to fashion and technology and has published essays including, The Wardrobe of the Modern Athlete: Activewear in the 1930s and Ocean Exploration: Fashion from the Deep. She holds an M.A. in Fashion and Textile: History, Theory, and Museum Practices from FIT, as well as a B.A. in Art History from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Fashion, Textile and Costume Designer Emil Gampe – Vienna, London, New York, Los Angeles…Emil’s creations are as unique and varied as the many places he’s called home. As a textile engineer in Austria he designed and patented high-end textiles with worldwide success. As a costume designer, he started England’s version of Dancing With The Stars. As a fashion expert, he consulted with several designer brands and won the TV talent show Launch My Line in the US. As a couture designer, he dressed the world’s most prestigious red carpets including the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys.
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Designer Retail Expert Susan Stein – Susan knows what modern fashion enthusiasts like, and she’s an expert and making them look their best. Formerly the Fashion/Public Relations Director for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Connecticut, then Director of the Fifth Avenue Club in Beverly Hills and Director of the Personal Shopping Department for Bloomingdale’s LA, Susan has also coached up-and-coming designers as a professor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

Oktoberfest in Munich. A tradition of welcoming celebration since 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen and the royal couple invited the citizens of Munich to attend festivities in honor of their union. This inclusive gesture from nobility toward the town’s commoners was a grand one for an era when the two factions typically kept to their own circles, and it was not lost on the people of Munich, and beyond city borders. Since that first group toast on the fields in front of the city gates, Oktoberfest has been a beloved tradition throughout Bavaria, bringing locals and tourists together over frosty steins and traditional feasts for the region’s grandest party of the year.
Oktoberfest is a cultural phenomenon that will captivate any visitor – the world’s largest beer and folk festival for more than 200 years. This all-sensory event is cloaked in colorful tents lined with the finest beer purveyors in Germany and surrounding region. Music fills the open-air fairgrounds and lederhosen and dirndls are the dress code du jour (though not at all required).
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For those who have always dreamed of being a part of this time-honored tradition, RIVER CRUISES are the ultimate way to get there. Think of Oktoberfest with a luxurious River Cruise as a bucket list experience within a bucket list experience.  Overnights in places like Regensburg allow for the opportunity to venture to Munich for a day spent reveling in the Oktoberfest festivities. Add a pre or post cruise land adventure, and explore the event’s many breweries and indulge in the flavors of Bavaria in between toasts with your fellow party goers at your specially reserved table.

You can also set out into Munich to explore the city highlights beyond the steins and sudsy brews, as the town brims with other landmarks of Ludwig I’s reign. Explore Munich’s most iconic sites, including Town Hall, Frauenkirche Cathedral and the lovely Viktualienmarkt, which is bustling daily with locals and visitors seeking a taste of Munich.

If you love landscape, you will love Bavaria and the fairy-tale towns along the river.  So, grab your stein, lederhosen and spirit of celebration, and contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to book your German  river cruise with time in Bavaria today! 

Whether you want to walk in the footsteps of legends, walk down the street like a local, or accelerate a walk into a jog, Avalon Waterways (one of my personal favorites) provides a variety of excursions and onboard activities each day - all engaging in their own way.  You select the tours, activities and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise, your way!

Go CLASSIC and a local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations and the "must see" sights.  You will marvel at the legends, lore and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites!

Go DISCOVERY for inspiring and interactive activities designed to speak to your interests.  From cooking classes to painting workshops, immerse yourself in cultures you explore.

Go ACTIVE to embark on energetic excursions that will keep you on the go.  Guided jogging tours, biking, paddling and hiking your way through scenic locales will keep you on the move!

​For more information about charting your own course and to book your river cruise, contact all inclusive vacation expert and river cruise specialist, ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com! She's been there and done it!!

The number of years of history is in the thousands. Signature specialty cuisines amount to hundreds of blended spices and flavors. UNESCO has recognized 40 of its treasured sites. Complementary wine varietals grown are more than a dozen. Indigenous dance styles: many. South America by the numbers is impressively intriguing, with its quintessential rhythmic pace of life and awe-striking natural beauty. And those numbers don’t begin to scratch the surface of the unquantifiable warmth of the people, heat of the tango, or awesomeness of the towering mountains, waterfalls and monuments. Crystal’s South America cruises make the vibrancy of the destinations and the unforgettable experiences you’ll have immeasurably richer.
As you plan for this must-see region, we return to the numbers. Specifically, six things you should know before you explore the mesmerizing South American locales featured on Crystal Symphony sailings.

The transition from the bliss that is a Crystal River voyage – a week or two filled with smiling faces granting your every wish with a warm “my pleasure,” Michelin-inspired cuisine served with perfect wine pairings, a personal butler at your service with just the touch of an iPad in your suite – back to real life, can feel like an alarm clock that sounded too soon. Inverse logic dictates that the anticipation of an upcoming Crystal vacation can make the days leading up to embarkation drag on…and on. Enter: Crystal River Cruises’ pre- and post-cruise land experiences, extended land programs that allow you to prolong the luxury vacation you’ve been waiting for.
Specifically, four immersive programs offered in 2018 that delve deeper into some of the most famously fascinating destinations in Europe invite you to explore ashore, with every detail crafted by Crystal’s own experts. Three nights in Prague, Paris, Berlin and Slovenia – each program packed with experiences designed to authentically showcase the many facets of each destination, with luxury accommodations selected particularly for their historical and architectural significance to each city.
Exclusive dining reservations at acclaimed venues, an enriching roster of adventures that offer special access and insightful perspectives from experts, and the ability to “Design Your Time” make Crystal’s pre- and post-cruise land experiences exactly what you want them to be.

Let the vacation continue…

Prague Discovery
Explore the “City of a Hundred Spires” that sits along the Vltava River. Prague’s history is vast, and its present is vibrant. Bespoke experiences showcase traditions of the Czech Republic that have endured for centuries, as well as the awe-inspiring architecture that presides imposingly over the city’s modern culture. Taste Pilsner in the capital of Czech beer, and venture to UNESCO-listed Kutná Hora, returning to the elegant, 14th-century Augustine Hotel after each day’s adventures. *Offered from Budapest
You’ll Always Have Paris
The City of Light’s joie de vivre will, indeed, remain with you long after your return home, imprinted on your memory as clearly as on your passport. The iconic treasures of Paris are yours to explore, from the gilded rooms and gardens of Versailles to the monumental Eiffel Tower and Nôtre Dame. Stroll the romantic Champs Élysées from the centrally located Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, itself an icon of Parisian charm. *Offered from Amsterdam
Slovenian Treasures
Stretching from the Adriatic Sea to the Slovenian Alps, these three days encompass the quintessential medieval influence of Eastern Europe. Your home base will be the Kempinski Palace in the heart of Portoroz’ city center, with its own private courtyard and expansive wine cellar. Beyond your luxury hotel lie visits to ominous Predjama Castle, the incredibly preserved open-air museum that is Piran, and encounters with the legendary Lipizzaner horses renowned by nobility and beloved by all Slovenians. *Offered from Vienna
The Best of Berlin
Retrace the footsteps of some of history’s most pivotal events and today’s greatest artistic and innovative minds. Pass through Brandenburg Gate, visit prominent World War II sites, and peruse the gritty masterpieces of Berlin’s thriving street art scene, juxtaposed with exclusive tours of the city’s preeminent art museums. Taste the many – many – nuances of traditional German beer, and join the locals in Gendarmenmarkt Square. Berlin’s world-class shopping, dining and bustling historic Mitte District is at your fingertips from your accommodations at the Regent Hotel, one of the most acclaimed luxury hotels in the world. *Offered from Frankfurt

​Crystal’s Extended Land Programs are offered pre- and post-cruise from select cities throughout 2018. Contact Crystal Cruise Expert and Travel Partner, Chris Rakes to Book today, and prolong your Crystal journey.

The British Open is about much more than just the game of golf. Over the past 147 years, the championship tournament has gained esteem throughout the world as the preeminent determination of the sport’s best players – one of the four PGA “Grand Slam” events each year, but it has also built a heritage that chronicles global events, society and fascinating history. The tournament has lauded champions of epic proportions and made champions of underdogs. It has been played on some of Great Britain’s – and the world’s – most ethereally beautiful courses, and attracted increasing numbers of people vying for spots, both in the competition and in the gallery.

The British Open is about tradition, competition, sport, beauty, history and the future. And it should be on your travel list for 2018. Voyages sail round-trip from London, with overnights in Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland, and calls throughout the rolling landscapes of the region. Guests sailing on this appropriately golf-themed voyage will not only be treated to exploration of the British and Emerald Isles and rolling hills of Scotland, but also opportunities to play at the region’s most renowned courses. The proverbial cherry on top (or perhaps the whole sundae) is a selection of VIP programs that place you at the heart of the historical tournament, in style.

Perfect your swing on board between golfing excursions. Two exclusive British Open experiences are offered from Crystal’s maiden call in Dundee, Scotland, which lies 40 miles north of Edinburgh and overlooks the Tay Estuary.  For a truly VIP experience, reserve your premium access to the Champions Club hospitality area at The Open, situated conveniently between the first and final holes of the course. There, mingle with fellow fans in the heart of the informal hospitality and high-end luxury for which The Open is known. Indulge in classic Scottish cuisine and an array of desserts, and sip complimentary beer, wine, tea or coffee served by roaming waiters at your service. Watch the tournament up close, or retreat to the large garden area and view it on the LED TV screens, away from the crowd. Your day also includes souvenirs and official program from the day.

A second option is ideal for guests seeking the full revelry of the event, taking in each stroke and chip shot in the heart of the action with fellow golf enthusiasts. Guided transfers to and from the Open, tournament tickets and official programs are included, along with the rare opportunity to witness a historical championship.

Whatever your relationship with golf – be it a general interest in the peaceful grace of the game, or a zero handicap and a trophy case of your own – British Open programs invite you to become a part of living history, in the region where the sport itself was born. Tee off on this remarkable 14-day golf-themed voyage, or simply appreciate the art of champions. Play at courses in Dublin, Belfast and Amsterdam, and perfect your swing on board with instruction from the onboard PGA pro instructor.

Pre-reserve your experience today! Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com

Contact CHRISRAKES@TOTALEXPERIENCETRAVEL.COM to learn more!

1. The crew! You can most definitely expect the service to be personal and efficient on a intimate sized ship.  As soon as you step onboard you'll feel a warm and fuzzy vibe, and you don't have to be a regular to feel like part of the family.

2.  Mostly, you will be the only ship in port, visiting private islands, docking alongside private resorts or in secluded bays on bigger islands, and even calling at places that don’t normally receive cruise ships at all. Places like the mountainous Saba, a Dutch island,  with its top-of-the-mount villages and gorgeously lush terrain. With all civilization (shops and cafes) located high above sea level, it reminds you of a Caribbean version of Greece’s Santorini.

3. Certainly, part of the appeal of an island yachting cruise is the beaches. However, there is plenty of opportunity to expand beyond that, too. Exploring options include hikes, scuba diving, a ride to the bottom of the sea on a submersible, cultural forays into the culinary arts, and even embracing your inner hell-raiser by flying across the Antiguan jungle on a zip line.

4. Aboard an intimate vessel, there is still variety of dining venues, from beautifully arranged healthful treats (salads, tapas, fruit) to decadent burgers. The highlight each night – is dinner!  You can sample from  a multi-course continental themed menu or try local specialties – or a combo of both. Another plus: courses are small and not-too-heavy.

5. Last and by no means least, what gives the best yacht cruises an edge is their onboard Marina. Kitted  with kayaks, windsurfing, stand up paddle boards and floats for swimming around the ship itself when its anchored at sea, is plain old FUN!