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24.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... diving off Espirito Santo (Vanuatu). "Espiritu Santo, or just Santo to the locals, is a scuba divers paradise - with an easily accessible wreck and reef diving for all levels. Or get your certification whilst on holidays! Don't worry if you aren't a diver though, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy, such as swimming in the pristine Blue Holes, horse-riding and cave tours - or just lazing by the resort pool drinking co...cktails. I'd recommend staying at Beachfront Resort or Coral Quays Resort. They are both a little way out of town, but it's easy to get around by local taxi. Air Vanuatu offers once weekly direct flights to Santo from Brisbane - it's less than 3 hours flight time, so before you know it you will be relaxing in paradise." It looks like you had an amazing trip, Shona. The only thing stopping me is my fear of the deep, dark ocean. What's stopping you? :) Christie

24.01.2022 Looking for somewhere unique to escape to - for complete relaxation, maybe a step back in time & a taste of Polynesian culture - Norfolk Island is the place to go! Forget what you've heard about only being for "newlyweds & nearly deads", Norfolk Island has something for everyone. It's been a while since I've been across to Norfolk Island, but I have some very happy memories of my visits here. I worked for a Norfolk Island specialist agency for 18 months about ten years ago no...w, sending thousands of happy clients to the island. Not a lot has changed since on this Pacific island gem. Air New Zealand is currently operating flights twice a week directly from both Sydney & Brisbane. No quarantine required, as long as you're not travelling form a COVID hotspot! Enjoy these photos of my last visit in 2011 & let me know if you're keen to spend a week getting to know the island yourself :) Christie

23.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... being able to explore beyond my own tiny backyard! By the sounds of things, exploring beyond our international borders is going to be a distant dream. Once our state borders are open though, we'll be able to get onboard interstate flights & explore more of what this beautiful country has to offer. I was lucky to experience two short trips to South Australia, hosted by SA Tourism a several years back. We drove from Adelaide to so many am...azing regions - all within an hour or so. One of my favourite regions of SA is the Fleurieu Peninsula. Home to McLaren Vale, Victor Harbour, spectacular scenery, delicious food & an incredible selection of wineries. This is a MUST DO when planning a trip to Adelaide & beyond. SATV has a selection of videos to get you excited about visiting South Australia for yourself - when we are allowed to travel beyond our own front doors! Enjoy :) Christie

22.01.2022 For those of you who have had your Princess cruise cancelled for this year, I wanted to let you know that I have just had a very good update from a couple of the Princess Cruises' team. Having expanded their Customer Service & Claims teams over the last week or so, they are hoping to expedite refund payments & the creation of FCCs moving forward. Princess Cruises are now expecting all refunds & Future Cruise Credits from the first "Global Pause in Cruise Operations" to be pr...ocessed within the next two weeks. Keep your fingers crossed that this holds to be true. Unfortunately, this does not mean that TravelManagers will have your refund in our account within that time, as refunds cheques are still being posted from Princess HQ in the USA! Our patience is definitely being tested, but will be rewarded soon. As soon as funds are on file, I'll be in contact to discuss getting your money straight back to you! In some good news, Princess has finally decided to move into the 21st century of electronic bank transactions, which should help with refund payments in future. For those affected by the later "pauses", the new systems that have been built during this crisis will mean that there should be less of a delay in processing credits & refunds for your, so we all just have to keep breathing through it all. If you have any questions about your specific cruise reservation, please feel free to call or email to find out more. :) Christie

21.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... reliving the fabulous-ness, fun & flair of the 80s onboard a P&O cruise! What did you get up to last weekend? This fun-loving group of ladies spent their days & nights clad in fluoro onboard the Pacific Dawn with about 1,500 of their new best friends. "Amazing weekend!!! Sooo much fun!"... "We had a great time - such a fantastic cruise!" "There were sooooooooooooo many costumes it was brilliant! Everyone was so invested it was awesome! Think P&O may have been surprised by its success!!! Crew/bands were amazed by crowd participation" And then this message... "Morning - can you please give u a call re booking 80s cruise for June 2021 We need to get on that" Let me know if you're keen to join one of these 3 night 80s cruises from the city of your choice in 2020 or 2021. Get in quick - as they will all sell out! :) Christie Sydney - 3April20 / 29May21 / 8Oct21 Brisbane - 8Aug20 / 12Jun21 / 11Sep21 Melbourne - 2Apr21 /10Dec21 Adelaide - 13Mar21 Auckland - 19Mar21

20.01.2022 Be amongst the first in Australia to witness the Aurora Australis from the air in 2021 - without technically leaving your state! Limited flights are being offered from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth! I was lucky to experience Antartica from the air by day for my 21st birthday & my Dad has stepped on the White Continent a couple of years ago - but neither of us was able to see the Southern Lights - as these flights & Antarctic cruises usually operate in summer! Coinciding... with the Autumn equinox, "Southern Lights By Flight" provides you with unprecedented access to the remote Aurora zone at precisely the right moment - when the auroras are at their best and brightest. Chimu Adventures has chartered a Boeing 789 Dreamliner from Qantas to fly over the Southern Ocean towards Antarctica, surrounded by the spectacular dancing lights of the Aurora Australis. Seats are priced between $1,295 & $6,995 each from Sydney & Melbourne, and between $1,395 & $7,695 each for the longer flights from Brisbane & Perth. The price you pay is determined by where you sit on the Dreamliner! I have all the information about departure dates, detailed pricing & more, so please let me know if you would like to find out more. If you're keen to get onboard for this once in a lifetime experience, please let me know as soon as possible, as these flights are sure to book out! :) Christie

18.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday... anywhere that my dreams could take me! If dreams could come true right now, we'd all be jetting off to exotic locations without hesitation. With each of us having to put those travel dreams on hold for now, what's keeping most of us going is knowing we'll eventually make those travel dreams come true! Qantas is putting out regular "Dream Now, Travel Later" articles to inspire our dreams. The list currently includes Japan, Alaska, France, the No...rthern Lights & South America. Keep an eye on this page for some inspiration of your own - and let me know where you're dreaming of today! :) Christie

18.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday... exploring the island of Malta. Interest in visiting Malta is increasing at the moment, with several of my clients visiting in 2019 & more to come in 2020. These photos were taken by of one of my lovely clients Kylie, on a side trip to Malta in October. Kylie stayed right in the heart of Sliema, with amazing city and sea views from her hotel room. ... Along with cruises to Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon & the Blue Grotto, she also took a wander through the historic centre of Valetta & strolled the narrow lanes of Mdina. These photos have definitely inspired me to add Malta to the "must do" list. Let me know if you'd like to find out more about adding Malta to any upcoming plans that you have for 2020 or beyond! :) Christie

18.01.2022 Happy New Year everyone! I am back at work fully this week, ready to help you create some amazing memories in 2020 & beyond! It's hard to think of the year ahead though, with horrific fires around the country concerning us all - I know some of you have been directly affected. It's hard to know how we can help & move forward, but one of the TravelManagers family has come up with a lovely idea. "We want to reach out to those who have lost everything and wrap them in the love o...f people from all over the country and all over the world who want to lend a hand." If you are (or know) a quilter, knitter or can crotchet up a storm, please see the details of the appeal below. :) Christie

17.01.2022 Winton was my favourite outback town, full of character & so much history! Having a couple of nine year old boys in tow (with their mother doing all the driving!), dinosaurs were the major attraction. Waltzing Matilda & the resident galahs also kept us entertained. I would go back to Winton one day & highly recommend a visit to anyone. Ask me more today :) Christie

17.01.2022 To my fabulous clients who have asked how you can support me during this tough time, here are a few little suggestions :) While you and your family & friends may not be quite ready to book your next holiday just yet, it would be very handy to get a few more testimonials to share online, to let the wider world know just what you think. If you'd like to share your thoughts on your experience with me over the years, there are several ways to do this:... 1 - Rate my business & leave a review here on my FB page 2 - Google my business (TravelManagers - Christie Gowan), so that you can rate me & write a review for those who find me that way 3 - Simply add a comment below 4 - Send me an email 5 - Do all of the above! I'd love to feature some of your testimonials on my website, so I will copy anything you post & put your names in lights there! <3 When we're all allowed to go travelling again to explore the world, your friends & family, and those looking for a personal travel manager who they can trust, can read your testimonials & know that I'm the one! Thanks in advance ;) Christie

17.01.2022 Did you hear the fabulous news over the weekend about the CDC in the USA lifting the "No Sail" order for cruise ships? They have replaced it with a "Framework for Conditional Sailing", which should mean limited sailings should start to be scheduled out of the US soon. I am excited about cruising returning to USA in the not too distant future, as this will hopefully pave the way to the Australian government in allowing our ships back home early in the new year! I know you're all as keen as I am to have our local fleet back as soon as possible, so that we can get our much overdue dose of Vitamin Sea! Christie

17.01.2022 For those of you keeping safe at home & in need of a bit of fun. Here's a challenge for you. Where in the world have you been or what's on your list? Spell out your name using cities, attractions or countries that you've been to... like mine below :) ... Or maybe a use your name to come up with a list of places you'd like to see, when we're all allowed to travel again! Tag your friends & family, if you'd like to see their lists too. I can't wait to see your lists :) Christie C - Christchurch H - Ho Chi Minh City R - Rome I - Istanbul S - St Petersburg T - Tallinn I - Iguassu Falls E - Ensenada J - Johannesburg G - Glasgow O - Omaha W - Washington DC A - Anchorage N - New York

16.01.2022 It's that time again & WOW hasn't this year flown by! I am heading to the Sunshine Coast to spend Christmas with family & friends tomorrow, and am looking forward to ship-spotting as a range of cruise ships head in & out of port. I'll have my laptop & phone with me, but won't always be around to answer your messages immediately. Please know that I will keep an eye on things & will get back to you as soon as I can. I hope that you are all spending the break surrounded by the ones you love... planning holidays together in fabulous places around the world! :) Christie

15.01.2022 Bored of your own four walls? Thinking of seeing some of our amazing country while you have the time? The Ghan is ready to "get back on track" at the end of August, with some fabulous specials on offer for Gold Service for selected departures over the next few months. * Two nights / three days from $1,899 per person * Three nights / four days from $2,649 per person... I was lucky to tag along on the journey from Darwin to Adelaide for my Dad's 60th birthday (more than a decade ago now!), and absolutely loved watching the colours of the landscape change as we travelled. To find out more or to take advantage of this saving of between $810 & $1,150 per person, please give me a call today! Don't forget that I can create a complete package for you, including flights, accommodation in Darwin & Adelaide, and so much more! :) Christie

15.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... cruising to the beautiful islands of Papua New Guinea. PNG cruises are growing in popularity, with more itineraries added every season. Experience the fascinating culture of the local people, whose smiles stretch from ear to ear. Learn more about the WWII battles that were played out on their shores. Or maybe just soak up the sun on one of the impossibly beautiful beaches, surrounded by crystal clear water in as many different shades of... blue as you can imagine. Some of my favourite clients have just returned from their PNG cruise onboard the Sea Princess, and have shared some of their memories with me. Conflict Islands was their highlight - which is something that I hear from everyone who has had the privilege to visit. They hope that some of their favourite photos might inspire you to add Papua New Guinea to your must-cruise list. The sunsets alone have me wanting to get up there ASAP! Cruise with your favourite cruiseline - Princess, P&O, Carnival, Holland America, Cunard - or try a small ship cruise on True North, Coral Adventurer, Ponant or Silversea. There really is something for everyone. Ask me more :) Christie

14.01.2022 Happy Monday, everyone! It's hard to keep up with the days of the week at the moment, I know :) Apologies for my recent silence, but I lost my beautiful feline companion of 16 years two weeks ago. Isabella was such an integral part of my life, so her loss is taking a while to come to terms with. I'm back at my laptop today though & thought I would try to inspire you all to start planning your next trip! Whether you decide to see more of Australia or maybe New Zealand (once th...e "bubble" is created"), I hope that we can all get away for a much needed break before the end of the year. I'm sure that the next step will include travel to the South Pacific, so maybe start thinking about which island/s you'd like to visit - maybe a resort stay for now - until we welcome cruise ships back to our shores. Who knows when international travel will be on our radar again, I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later for us all! Anyone not signed up to my newsletter, check out our first two "Letters to the World" online - addressed to New Zealand & Italy. These beautifully written letters are sure to get you thinking of getting away again "soon". https://www.travelmanagers.com.au//spec/letterstoourworld/ There's so much more destinational inspiration (& fun!) included in our newsletters at the moment, that I would encourage you to sign up today. https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/ChristieGowan/ If you need more inspiration for local or Kiwi destinations to explore - or overseas for 2021 & beyond, please just ask! I might have some suggestions that you might not have even considered. :) Christie

14.01.2022 For those of you looking forward to some more certainty with making future travel arrangements, Princess Cruises will be releasing their 2022 World Cruise AND their Australia & New Zealand 2021-22 season soon! ON SALE TO ELITE GUESTS on 15th SEPTEMBER! ... Princess is pleased to announce Coral Princess will sail her very first Australia-based World Cruise, sailing out of Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland. This epic voyage includes calls to 43 destinations in 27 countries on six continents across a 107-day circumnavigation of the globe. Experience more in port with 12 late night stays and four overnight stays in Dubai, Venice, New York, and Lima (Callao) Four Maiden World Cruise ports: Sibenik (Croatia), Olden (Norway), Isafjordur (Iceland), Cornwall (Falmouth) (United Kingdom) Access to over 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Archaeological City of Petra (from Aqaba), Gorham's Cave Complex (from Gibraltar), The Statue of Liberty (from New York), Thingvellir National Park (Reykjavik) and more Princess Cruises is also pleased to announce our Australia based cruising for the 2021-22 season with 5 ships sailing 59 unique itineraries to over 80 destinations in 19 countries. Coral Princess, Emerald Princess, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess set sail this season with voyages ranging from 2 to 36 days and sail between a variety of Australian & New Zealand homeports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland as well as journeys afar to the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and North America. These cruises will go on sale to Elite guests on 15th September, with general sale to follow the next day. I have all the information about these cruises ready to email to you, so please let me know if you are keen to find out more! I also want to acknowledge those of you who are still patiently waiting for 2020 refunds to come through. I am chasing these on a very regular basis, so you can rest assured that I won't stop in these efforts until I have every cent back for you all! :) Christie

14.01.2022 I absolutely love the new Qantas Safety Video... something that I might actually watch when preparing for takeoff! What do you think? :) Christie

14.01.2022 Wow! I have no words. Princess Cruises is taking a 60 day "pause". Good on the team for making this incredibly difficult decision. Watch this amazing video from Jan Swartz, who has just announced this unprecedented step to protect passengers, crew & the future of the cruiseline. Those still booked on cruises with me in the next 60 days... let's work together to find an amazing cruise later in ten-year... or in 2021 & 2022! ... It is going to be a very busy few days ahead, so please be patient with me Christie

13.01.2022 It's been just over seven years since the Celebrity Solstice started spending our summer season downunder. I was lucky enough to get onboard for her first night in Australia back in December 2012. Walking around today felt like going back to a favourite (floating) hotel - I still think she's something really special. Her sister ship, Celebrity Eclipse will call Australia home in summer 2020 & will be back in 2021, with the Solstice heading to Asia after only one last season h...ere later this year. They'll both look even more fabulous once they've been "Revolutionised" over the next couple of years. Brisbane cruisers, keep your fingers crossed... we can only hope that one day we have our own Celebrity ship for a few months a year. Especially after our new cruise terminal opens later this year. See if you can spot the construction site across the river in one or two photos taken today! See more

10.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... anywhere but here! With most of us at home practising a bit of self-isolation & social distancing for the good of the whole community, I know we'd all like to be out exploring the world instead. This morning I was inspired by another Personal Travel Manager, who suggested checking out some webcams from around the world. ... While many show empty streets of our favourite cities, I thought I'd share one to make you smile today. Africam are webcams setup at watering holes in various places around Africa. The one I've chosen is in Tembe Elephant Park & there's currently one old elephant taking a drink in the middle of the night. Who knows what animals will be there when you take a peek?! Christie

10.01.2022 So it looks like the Queensland "welcome mat" will be out to most of you from 10th July - sorry to the Victorians! From the ever popular Gold Coast to Tropical North Queensland, there's something for everyone all along our amazing coastline - not to mention the hinterland & outback! I thought I'd share some of the local images that are encouraging Qld'ers to see the state, to inspire you too!... If you need a little winter sunshine or just to get away, ask me about getting you up here to visit us. Don't forget that the Northern Territory & South Australia will also open to "most" - and I can also help to find you something fabulous closer to home! :) Christie

09.01.2022 For those of you who get the weekend papers... you can play "Spot your Travel Manager" live in print! Those who don't can try to find me in the digital version - just click on the link below. Thanks to News Corp, we're getting the chance to thank you! Check out the Weekend Australian today - or tomorrow grab a copy of the Sunday Mail, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald Sun or the Adelaide Advertiser. This photo was taken on a hot & humid day at my first TravelManagers conference... in Hawaii in August 2018... and it's taken me all this time to find myself in the crowd! My hand, my arm, the top of my head & my sunglasses made it into the shot. You can tell those who have been around a while - making sure they got captured in full focus! :) Like most of you, our plans have been postponed for this year, with our 2020 conference being rescheduled to early 2021, and our 2021 conference already moved to 2022! One thing I do know is that this won't last forever. Postponing your holiday means that you still have something to look forward to when this is all over! Stay home & stay safe! Thanks :) Christie

09.01.2022 Never before has this beautiful song had more meaning. I'm more proud of the country we all call home & our national airline - Qantas! This video is just some of the footage online at the moment that is making me want to discover more of this spectacular island nation - what about you? We're all so quick to say we'll see more of Australia when we're older, but why put it off till later? Once borders start to open, it's time to get out & explore! The line "When all of the shi...ps come back to the shore" made me tear up a little. Here's hoping that our governments find a way to welcome our local fleet back sooner rather than later. Turn up the volume & enjoy this fabulous rendition of "I Still Call Australia Home" :) Christie

09.01.2022 I don't know about you, but I've woken up feeling hopeful this morning! :) With restrictions easing, allowing many of us to start travelling within our own state again, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I know that you all know that I can help to get you away on fabulous cruises & interesting international itineraries, but you may not know is that I started my career selling domestic holidays to every corner of the country. To make sure that I knew what I was tal...king about back then, I took myself to off to all sorts of special destinations around the country, including Broome, Uluru, Darwin, Margaret River, Cairns, Port Douglas, the Whitsunday Islands, Adelaide & the diverse surrounding regions, Lord Howe Island & Norfolk Island. I'm happy to say that I have visited every state & territory - except Tasmania! There is so much to explore. To make sure that I am up to date with what there is to see & do around Australia at the moment, I have been joining in some amazing webinars with local suppliers over the last couple of weeks & have completed Tourism Australia's "Aussie Specialist Program" - usually only open to international agents. Why wait to experience this incredible country "when you're too old to travel overseas anymore"? This is the ideal time to get out & explore! There are some incredible experiences in your own state - and across the borders (when they open). I hope that I can help to inspire you with some beautiful images & ideas for some unique experiences in your own backyard over the next few weeks. I thought I'd start by sharing a few of my own happy snaps. Although, I definitely need to go back & scan some more from before digital cameras & phones! If you see something you like over the next few weeks, or have something else in mind, please let me know. I'd love to be able to work with you to get out & see more of this spectacular country as soon as you can! :) Christie

09.01.2022 I don't know about you, but my brain is overloaded with all the news, travel bans & changes happening every day. This unprecedented event is affecting us all - with your travel plans in disarray & my business stalling - and will most probably go a little backwards this year. :( I'm keeping up to date with as many changes to travel warnings & bans as I can, and doing everything I can to advocate for you. These two statements that I have seen recently are true for everyone thi...nking about travelling this year... "Your decision to travel is ultimately a personal choice. The decision is one that you must make, based on your personal circumstances and all the information available to you." "If you decide to cancel, you will be subject to the terms and conditions you agreed to when you made your booking. This may result in cancellation fees and other fees depending on your particular circumstance." I am also doing everything I can to keep a smile on my face & am determined to keep going - because there is no other option. :) On the positive side, I took one major thing from the article below... Chloroquine has potent antiviral activity... and that's a form of quinine. Tonic contains some quinine... so all the G&T's I drink are going to keep me safe! :) Christie theconversation.com/coronavirus-ten-reasons-why-you-ought-n

09.01.2022 With less than 48 hours until the Sapphire Princess "Winter 2020" season will be released, I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you. With a fresh look after a comprehensive drydock, you can HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR on this beautiful ship. Cruise from Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Melbourne. Choose the BEST PRICE for a low price or BEST VALUE with a bonus Beverage package & WiFi for two!... I can put your preferred cabin on hold on Thursday morning with a bonus Onboard Credit applicable to all cruises of 3 nights or longer, and half price deposits applicable for cruise departures later in the year. I'll be ready to secure space on this cruise for you the minute that they go on sale. Ask me more today! :) Christie

08.01.2022 Three of our days were spent driving through the outback, watching the everchanging landscapes & colours as we drove. Being in the passenger seat meant I could attempt to capture some of the incredible countryside - and the occasional animal (wildlife & livestock) too! Outback Queensland is a hidden gem that is well worth exploring! Ask me more if you're keen to experience this region for yourself :) Christie

05.01.2022 With all the doom & gloom in the news about the COVID-19 epidemic, we finally have something positive for cruise lovers. Princess Cruises has taken the decision to bring the Sapphire Princess to Australia early! Sapphire's inaugural season was meant to start in late October, but she will now arrive into Fremantle in May. Tell all your West Australian friends! - - - O N S A L E 2 7 t h F E B R U A R Y - - -... The extended season includes 44 new cruises from five major Australian cities, including 171 port calls. With more than 20 itineraries sailing in or out of Freo, more than a dozen departures from Sydney, multiple cruises from both Adelaide & Melbourne, and two Brisbane itineraries, there is something for everyone! * 2 night relocations from $199 per person * 3 night getaways from $249 per person * Four Coral Coast cruises from $599 per person * One Tassie cruise from Melbourne from $749 per person * One cruise to Fiji from Sydney ($999) or Brisbane ($1,299) * Southern Explorer itineraries $1,039 per person * Northern Explorer itineraries from $1,199 per person * Full Round Australia cruises from $3,249 per person All prices quoted are per person twin share in Interior cabins. Pricing varies depending on specific departure dates, cabin types & cabin locations. Ask me for more information about specific departures & other pricing. :) Christie

05.01.2022 In some exciting news, it looks as if the Pacific Princess will be back in Australia in 2022! Princess Cruises has released an extended cruise calendar from November 2021 for this little ship. The Pacific Princess will be heading from Fort Lauderdale in mid-November 2021 to French Polynesia, where she'll stay for a couple of months, before crossing Sydney in February 2022. Let me know if you'd like more information about either of the ocean crossing cruises or maybe a relaxi...ng Tahiti cruise. I can secure Elite guests a cabin on Wednesday, 10th June, with the general sale starting next Thursday, 11th June. While there are no details of where the Pacific Princess will be sailing after that, I'd be surprised if the smallest of the fleet doesn't hang around for another season. Keep your fingers crossed!! This is the first cruise calendar extension that I have seen in quite a while, so it has me excited that we won't have long for more seasons to be released soon. :) Christie

03.01.2022 After receiving a hot tip from another Personal Travel Manager, I've just invested in some travel packs & surface spray for my own future travels - and for my parents. This HAS NOT been tested on COVID-19, but has shown to be > 99.99% effective against feline coronavirus (the recognised surrogate for COVID-19). The list of bacteria, mould & other viruses that it has been proven against are things we all want to avoid anyway! The surface spray can be packed in your luggage & ...used to wipe down surfaces in cruise ship cabins & hotel rooms; while the surface wipes can be carried in your hand luggage & used to wipe down the surfaces around aeroplane seats - or in restaurants. The hand sanitiser is small enough to make it through airport security too! If you're planning on travelling soon, give this Aussie/Kiwi business a go! :) Christie

03.01.2022 Carnival Australia has a new local ship in Sydney! The Carnival Splendor arrived yesterday, on one of the smokiest days so far this summer. On embarkation, we could barely see the Harbour Bridge of Opera House - let alone the ship! I was lucky to get onboard for the night, as a travel industry celebration of her addition to the local fleet. Most of these photos were all taken during our ship inspection while she was in port. Let me know if you're keen to try out Carnival Australia's biggest Australian based ship today.

03.01.2022 Hello to the world outside my home/office :) Firstly, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support, flowers & so much more. Having your support over this time has helped me keep my spirits up & has made to smile at times that I had no other reason to do so. It's been about 10 days since getting my final six clients home, avoiding the potential of being stuck in South America indefinitely. Watching as each of their flights arrived to pick them up was ...nerve-racking, and watching their delayed flights finally take off was an immense relief. I spent about a week working to get them home and afterwards needed to take a much needed mental health break. That was where you would have found me last week. This week, I am back on deck processing the next round of cancellations & waiting for credits/refunds to start rolling in! :) Everything is taking longer than any of us would hope, but this is unfortunately an unavoidable consequence during this unprecedented event. Thank you all for your patience & kindness over this period. I know we're all worried - and also sad to have our travel plans postponed. Wherever possible, please don't just cancel - postpone! This will help the travel industry to recover as quickly as possible & (more importantly) will give you something to look forward to when this is all over. If you are forced to postpone your plans, please know that I have your best interests at heart & will do all I can to get everything back for you that I can for you. Once the ball is rolling, it's a matter of a further test of our patience, but one I know we can all get through. Like many travellers with future plans still "up in the air", it is really a matter of waiting to see what happens. Until official policies are released by each cruiseline or airline for the dates that you're travelling, standard T&Cs apply. I know that many of you have been worried about me, seeing as the travel industry is so obviously affected. Working for myself means that I may have to start relying on the government to keep my head above water (joining Centrelink queues for the first time in my life) & may be forced to draw on my super earlier than ever anticipated. If that's what I have to do to keep myself & my little business going, then I am not too proud to do so. Here's hoping that the team at UQ (my former university) or one of the other teams around the world can get a vaccine developed & tested sooner rather than later!! Please let me know if you have any questions about your upcoming plans. I'll answer what I can - and get answers for you where I honestly don't just know! :) Christie

03.01.2022 Where I Wish I Was Wednesday #WIWIWW... exploring another National Park somewhere in the USA! Yosemite National Park was my first - back in 1991 on a family holiday to the USA. A sprinkling of snow in mid-December helped to add to the magic of this spectacular park. I also got the experience the Grand Canyon for the first time on this trip! Then in 1999 (on a trip around the world with one of my best friends), we ticked off a few more of the 62 National Parks (and many State ...Parks too). We didn't visit enough to justify buying one of the NP passports, but did buy a postcard at each park & got them stamped to prove our visit! My current list of National Parks visited includes: * Acadia (Maine) - spent a full day here off a cruise - beautiful fall colours! * Arches (Utah) - I spent my 23rd birthday hiking here - unfortgettable! * Badlands (South Dakota) - felt like being on the moon! * Gateway Arch (Missouri) - Yes, this is a NP! * Glacier (Montana) - Seeing a bear, hiking, camping & also driving Going-to-the-sun road was amazing! * Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Wow! Just wow! * Grand Canyon (Arizona) - I've been lucky to visit twice. Once by air & once by road. The second time around, we actually walked down (and back up) some of the trail. * Redwood (California) - seeing where some of "Return of the Jedi" was filmed & then jetboating on the Klamath River were my highlights. * Wrangell-St Elias (Alaska) - cruising past & this spectacular region is as close as I'm going to get. * Yellowstone (Wyoming) - the geysers, canyon & other geology are fascinating to explore * Yosemite (California) - I've been back again in summer & this is still my favourite! I'd go back any time - given the opportunity! I missed visiting Denali NP in Alaska - instead getting my appendix removed in Anchorage) - and missed Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii - when a hurricane kept us out to sea! I can't wait to get to these two parks, and many more when we can travel again. While we wait for the world to re-open, GoogleEarth has virtual tours of most these parks & others too! Which would you like to visit when we can travel again? :) Christie

02.01.2022 In between helping to postpone your holidays, waiting for your refunds/credits to be processed & dreaming of my next holiday (whenever that may be), I have taken some time to organise some of my holiday snaps! I've picked out some of my favourite photos taken onboard my own cruise holidays over the years. Click on each photo to find out more! Please share your favourite cruise photos & let us all know what was so fabulous about that cruise/ship! :) Christie

02.01.2022 Although we won't be able to set sail on our favourite ships in the next few months, I'm very excited to see that the cruiselines are starting to look ahead to the 2021-22 season! In exciting news, Royal Caribbean will be bringing BOTH Quantum & Ovation of the Seas to Sydney, as well as having Radiance of the Seas sailing from Brisbane. It's almost 6 years since I first sailed on the Quantum of the Seas, so I am excited that she will be joining the local fleet in late 2021.... These new cruises go on sale tomorrow, so let me know if you'd like to find out more then. :) Christie Check out some of my photos from my Transatlantic sailing back in 2014 - when this fabulous ship was brand new! https://www.facebook.com/pg/travelmanagers.christiegowan/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1757740907856909

01.01.2022 - - - O N S A L E T O D A Y - - - The Queen Elizabeth is extending her stay downunder, with a selection of new sailings now on sale. Cruise from Sydney to Tasmania, New Zealand, Circumnavigate Australia or sail across the Pacific to San Francisco or Vancouver. ... Crazy pricing means these sailings will fill fast! Give me a call to find out more today :) Christie Check out the photos from my ship inspection last April: https://www.facebook.com/pg/travelmanagers.christiegowan/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2082555332042130

01.01.2022 Crooked Compass specialises in unique itineraries to unusual destinations. While we all wait for international travel to be permitted again, Lisa Pagotto has pivoted her business to create some incredible itineraries in our backyard. Discover a corner of Australia or New Zealand (once borders open) with a small group of up to 8 people & experience something truly unique! Whether you're a foodie or a history buff, interested in wildlife or keen to find out more about our indi...genous culture, or if you just want to discover a region of our fabulous country in more depth, Crooked Compass has something to appeal to everyone looking for a unique experience. Crooked Compass is offering travel in our backyard in from later this year & throughout 2021. With limited departures & small group sizes, make sure to ask me more so that you can experience one of these immersive journeys for yourself soon! :) Christie www.crooked-compass.com/oceania/

01.01.2022 Have you subscribed to my newsletter yet? TravelManagers' newsletters are full of exclusive offers & enticing deals - and right now, subscribing will put you in the draw to win a $500 travel voucher! Just follow this link to my website below, fill in your details & then follow the instructions in the email that will follow. https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/ChristieGowan/... You've got to be in it to win it! :) Christie