Published on 05/20/09

It’s time to take your dream vacation and enjoy the ultimate traveling experience! Get more out of your trip by pairing an escorted tour with a cruise to discover the best of both land and sea travel. Tours and cruises offer their own unique experience, but when paired together, America’s Vacation Center customers can embark on a tremendously well-rounded vacation.

On an escorted tour, you’ll have the opportunity to become immersed in the culture and local flavors of each destination. Professional and reputable Tour Directors share their expert knowledge of the history and traditions of each city and share insight into the backgrounds and cultural experiences along the way. When you’re on an escorted tour, you can travel in comfortable, luxurious motorcoaches, dine in local restaurants, sleep in preferred hotels located in the most desirable locations, and more. There are a variety of tour itineraries to suit every type of traveler, from seniors to young families and adults, to those looking for the finest in luxury, or the intrepid, independent adventurer.

Cruise vacations marry the daily exploration of port-of-call cities with the leisure, service, and entertainment of the at-sea experience. Onboard the ship, when you aren’t relaxing at the spa or lounging pool-side, you have endless activities at your fingertips such as water parks, night clubs, fine dining restaurants, fitness centers, and more, making the ship a destination, too. Almost each day, you are able to disembark the cruise ship in a new city or country to sample the culture, tradition, and histories of each destination port before returning for an evening at sea.

When joining a cruise and tour vacation, travelers enjoy leisure at sea and sail into many diverse ports onboard luxurious ships, but are also able to have more time to deeply explore cities while on an escorted tour and sample the local culture. America’s Vacation Center’s Personal Vacation Planners are standing by to find the perfect escorted tour and cruise combination for you. Here are few examples of escorted tours that can be easily paired with a cruise to create an incomparable vacation:

If you’re embarking on a cruise to Canada or the Northeast United States, here is an example of a great, colorful escorted tour to pair with your sailing:

Autumn Colors – (Maine Coast, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont)

• Fall in love with the rich colors, history, and culture of the United State’s New England on Brendan Tours’ 8-day Autumn Colors itinerary starting at $1,750. Brendan Tours’ knowledgeable Tour Directors offer America’s Vacation Center guests insight as they travel from historic Boston through New Hampshire, enjoy a Lobster Bake in Maine, witness the vibrant fall foliage in Acadia National Park, visit the famous Fort Ticonderoga, and more.

If it is sailing the blue Mediterranean waters and visiting the seaside cities of France, Greece, Italy, and Spain that you desire, escorted tours in Italy are a popular combination with a Mediterranean cruise:

Rome and Tuscan Highlights – (Assisi, Florence, Montecatini, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Tuscan Hills)

• Relax on your Mediterranean vacation with Trafalgar Tours’ 10-day Rome and Tuscan Highlights itinerary. Starting at $2,075, you and your family will spend nights in the Tuscan Hills and Tour Directors will lead you on day trips to the surrounding area including Pisa, Siena, Florence, and more! Travelers will stroll through Milan and Verona on Trafalgar Tours’ ‘Explore Hidden Treasures’ guided walking tours, savor a homemade meal at a family-owned Tuscan farmhouse, and visit the Coliseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and more in Rome.

Rome to Athens – (Athens, Capri, Corfu, Rome, Sorrento)

• Starting at $1,769, Contiki’s 11-day Rome to Athens itinerary is an escorted tour designed specifically for 18 to 35 year olds! Ah, Rome… the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and ancient city streets. Next up is the seaside town of Sorrento on the Amalfi coast – talk about unforgettable scenery. A day trip to the Isle of Capri and a visit to Pompeii are a must before sailing off to Corfu. This Greek island offers watersports, chill beaches, and real gyros! End the trip by visiting Athens to glimpse the Acropolis and Parthenon.

Before or after embarking on a cruise in the Baltic Sea or Northern Europe, consider matching your cruise with an escorted tour to the United Kingdom’s royal lands:

Gems of Britain – (Darlington, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London)

• America’s Vacation Center customers can see the best of the United Kingdom on Insight Vacations’ stylish, intimate 8-day escorted Gems of Britain tour. Starting at just $1,385, travelers will explore the university town of Cambridge, enter Edinburgh Castle and see Scotland’s crown jewels, drive through England’s inspiring countryside to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, and see London’s Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and more!

Soak in the local culture and tradition on an in-depth escorted tour, while also enjoying the opportunity to visit several ports-of-call and the variety of a cruise vacation. Call America’s Vacation Center today to speak with a Personal Vacation Planner about pairing your dream escorted tour and cruise for the ultimate vacation!

For more information, call 1-888-447-8459 and mention Discount Code 9094# to speak with an AVC Personal Vacation Planner today!