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Damian McCabe
Interests & Specialties
Family Travel & Small Ship Cruising
Expert Bio
Damian McCabe's Bio
My Recent Trips
12/06 Brussels and Antwerp
10/06 Italy's Amalfi Coast, staying in Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Sorrent
8/06 Baltic Cruise aboard Crystal Serenity, Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg
6/06 Japan by land
6/06 Turks and Caicos Islands, experienced Amanyara, Grace Bay, Point Grace and the Palms Resorts as well as Parrot Cay private island.
3/06 Russia, visited both Moscow and St. Petersburg. Ask me about seeing Stalin's private bunker.
3/06 London, stayed at the fabulous Lanesborough Hotel and enjoyed "Billie Elliott"
2/06 New York City, Ritz Carlton Battery Park with a view of the Statue of Liberty.
12/05 French Riviera and Milan, Christmas markets near the Park Hyatt Milan.
09/05 Thailand including Bangkok, the Golden Triangle and the beach resorts of Phuket
6/05 Sailed Costa Rica with Cruise West - great family destination!
4/05 South Africa including the exciting game lodges of Mala Mala, Singita and Ulusaba
4/05 Sailed the Caribbean aboard the Celebrity Constellation.
11/04 Galapagos Islands with Lindblad Expeditions
7/04 Sailed Alaska aboard the Coral Princess.
4/04 Sailed the Caribbean aboard Holland America's Zuiderdam.
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Anne Scully
Interests & Specialties
Luxury Cruises; Independent Tours; Private Villas, Yachts & Jets
Expert Bio
Anne Scully
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Anita Becker, CTC
Interests & Specialties
Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Cruise Specialist with emphasis on small ship and luxury cruising, Independent tours for couples, families and groups.
Expert Bio
Anita Becker's Bio
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Birgit Navarre
Interests & Specialties
Europe - Independent Tours, Polynesia, Australia
Expert Bio
Birgit Navarre's Bio
My Recent Trips
April , 2007 - Canyon Ranch in Lenox/ MA
April, 2007 – London/ England
Stayed at or visited the following hotels:
The Dorchester, The Ritz London, The Lanesborough, The Four Seasons London, The Goring, The Stafford Hotel, The Berkeley, Rocco Forte Browns, The Egerton House, The Milestone Hotel
December, 2006 – India
Fabulous trip to India using our on site Virtuoso partner Abercrombie & Kent
Visited/ stayed at:
Delhi – Hotel Imperial/ The Oberoi New Delhi
Udaipur – The Oberoi Udaivilas, Devigarh, Taj Lake Palace
Jaipur – Taj Rambagh Palace, The Oberoi Rajvilas
Ajabgarh/Alwar – Amanbagh
Agra – The Oberoi Amarvilas
October , 2006 The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs/ WV
September, 2006 The Setai in Miami – Southbeach/ FL
May, 2008 New York - Jumeriah Essex House, Dream Hotel
March 2006
Egypt- enjoyed the wonderful Four Seasons Hotels in Cairo, cruised on the Nile, visited Pyramids, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Edfu, Luxor. Incredible history! A very memorable trip.
December 2005
Crystal Cruise - sailed the Caribbean- Belize, Honduras, Mexico and Grand Cayman and unpacked only once! Great food, wonderful entertainment.
October 2005
Germany and Switzerland - Black Forest, Lake Constance, St.Gallen and Zurich.
April 2005
Northern Italy - Visited Milan, Lake Como - Lugano. Hotel inspection of Virtuoso properties. Milan: Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Bulgari Principe di Savoia, Westin Palace.
Lake Como: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace.
Lugano: Villa Principe Leopoldo and used our land operator IC Bellagio.
October 2004
Germany and Czech Republic - Berlin, Dresden and Prague. Great sightseeing, great history.
November 2004
StarClipper Cruise from Barbados sailing to the West Indies - large sail ship, very relaxing and fun.
September 2004
French Polynesia - Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Le Taha'a Private Island. One of my favorite destinations!
May 2004
Copenhagen- Denmark - Hotel D'Angleterre is a beautiful hotel in a great location. Tivoli Gardens is worth a visit.
April 2004
Enjoyed sailing on Holland America's new Westerdam from Venice, stop in Dubrovnik.
Venice is always special. Staying at Hotel Gritti Palace overlooking the canals is what Venice is all about. San Clemente Palace is perfect when looking for a quite location offering a park and swimming pool.
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Katie McCormack
Interests & Specialties
Wine & Food Experiences, Luxury & Small Ship Cruising, Europe, Ireland and Hawaii
Expert Bio
Katie McCormack's Bio
My Recent Trips
November 2007: Hawaii. Enjoyed visiting the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Maui. I was impressed with the great changes for visitors in Waikiki Beach area.
October 2007: Orlando, FL. Stayed in Disney World and took in all of the parks including Epcot's Food & Wine Festival.
May 2007: California. Spent a week at very special resorts throughout Napa and Sonoma, visited several wineries, followed by a night in San Francisco.
March 2007: Ireland. Traveled the country in a week, from Dublin west to Galway down to the scenic lands of Kerry over to Cork and up to Northern Ireland for a night in Belfast. Time and again, I find myself in love with the varied and friendly experiences this country provides.
Jan 2007: Austria. Visited the lovely town of Salzburg and the lakeside Hotel Schloss Fuschl. Took the wonderfully restored Imperial Train to the grand city of Vienna, where I stayed a few nights taking in all that this sophisticated city has to offer- even Waltz lessons!
Oct. 2006: Jackson WY. Stayed at Snake River Lodge and Spring Creek Ranch also visited the Four Seasons and Amangani. Spent the week exploring the natural beauty and diverse landscape of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Enjoyed the inviting town of Jackson!
May 2006: Triple Creek Ranch, Montana. Enjoyed a fantastic weekend of relaxation, adventure and wine during the St. Supery’s Vintner’s Weekend.
May 2006: Northern California. Experienced a snapshot of a Backroad’s biking adventure through lovely Napa Valley, plus a visit to San Francisco.
Jan. 2006: England. Visited London, and the charming countryside.
Nov. 2005: Florida and Caribbean Cruise. Experienced NCL’s Norwegian Jewel in the Western Caribbean. Stayed at The Atlantic, Fort Lauderdale and The Setai in Miami.
Aug. 2005: Las Vegas, Nevada. Enjoyed the hospitality at the Bellagio, and Green Valley Ranch, visited the Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas and the new Wynn.
Jul 2005: Antigua. Experienced 3 fabulous, luxury resorts: Curtain Bluff, Jumby Bay, and Carlisle Bay.
May 2005: Italian Riviera cruise & Rome. Enjoyed cruising the Italian Riviera on the Crystal Symphony after visiting Rome.
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Michelle Bemis
Interests & Specialties
Equestrian, Belize, Alaska, Diving, Holland America Line Certified Adventure Travel Specialist and a Certified Spa & Mexico Specialist.
Expert Bio
Michelle Bemis' Bio
My Recent Trips
January 2006 - Rome & Sicily Art, food & history are all available
February 2006 - Iceland Spas & the Blue Lagoon make this a unique destination
April 2006 - Canyon Ranch Berkshires Offers all the latest health knowledge
May 2006 - Sailed the Windsurf from Marseilles to Rome Discovered undeveloped ports as well as sophisticated shopping on board a great motor, sailing ship
September 2006 -Toronto and Niagara Falls; culture, shopping and natural beauty
October 2006 - Seattle and surrounding area; incredible outdoor beauty
November 2006 - Yucatan Mexico offers luxurious haciendas, great food and Mayan culture
December 2006 - Canyon Ranch, Tucson-soothing for both mind & body while having a great time
January 2007 - Costa Rica with Backroads-fantastic nature and the opportunity to relax in beautiful hot springs.
February 2007 - Morocco with Butterfield & Robinson-a great way to tour an exotic country that allows an opportunity to see the fascinating medinas as well as the beauty of the Sahara.
June 2007 The Princendam a great small ship of Holland America that offers special ports such as Egypt, Israel, Greece and Turkey
October 2007 Whistler and Vancouver offer magnificent scenery and outdoor activities all year round
March 2008 Orient Express Safaris provide an excellent opportunity to visit South Africa and Botswana. Victoria Falls is also a must. WOW
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Jessica Griscavage
Interests & Specialties
Caribbean, Honeymoon, Romantic Getaways, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Disney, Italy & Iceland
Expert Bio
Jessica Griscavage's Bio
My Recent Trips
January 2008 - Experienced time in Mexico to include The Ritz Carlton Cancun, Maroma & Casa de Sierra Nevada. The Ritz Cancun is a wonderful resort for families as well as couples looking for a quick getaway. Maroma is a very romantic wonderful resort. This is a wonderful resort if you are really looking to escape. Casa de Sierra Nevada is perfect for those looking for a new and exciting adventure in central Mexico. This charming town is full of life. Enjoy a cooking class while you are there.
December 2007 - Experienced 3 nights on the Disney Wonder.
November 2007 - Sailed on Holland America's Oosterdam. While on my cruise I visited the fabulous Las Ventanas and One & Only Palmilla. I stayed at the US Grant as a wonderful pre cruise option.
October 2007 - Visited Disney World's Caribbean Beach Resort as well as a ship tour of the Disney Wonder.
August 2007 - Cove Atlantis. Experienced the Cove Atlantis as well as the Royal Towers.
May 2007 - Visited Curtain Bluff and Carlisle Bay on the beautiful island of Antigua.
March 2007 - Visited Disney's Wilderness Lodge and all four theme parks.
April 2007 - Spent a wonderful weekend at Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando.
November 2006 – Sailed on Regent Seven Seas Voyager. Sailed from Rome to the Madeira visiting Monte Carlo, and stops in France & Spain. Enjoyed a full day tour in Barcelona.
July 2006 – Traveled to Portugal and Spain. Enjoyed the countryside of Portugal including Lisbon and the Algarve Region. Experienced the wonderful Lapa Palace. Also traveled to Seville.
May 2006 – Triple Creek Ranch, Montana. Experienced three fabulous nights during St. Supery’s Vintner’s Weekend. I experienced hiking, horseback riding and an adventure on an ATV.
May 2006 - London and a Cross Atlantic Sailing on the Queen Mary. Visited many hotels in London including The Ritz, The Goring, The Milestone, Lanesborough Hotel, The Stafford and The Baglioni. Experienced the sheer joy of sailing Cross Atlantic on the magnificent Queen Mary 2.
March 2006 – Walt Disney World, Florida. Enjoyed an extended weekend in Walt Disney World and experienced the new attractions at the Animal Kingdom and Epcot.
November 2006 – Turks & Caicos. Enjoyed a fantastic week at Beaches Turks & Caicos. I also had the opportunity to see the fabulous Grace Bay Club and Point Grace.
October 2005 – St. John, Antigua and Virgin Gorda – Relaxed and enjoyed three fabulous properties - Cannel Bay, Jumby Bay and Little Dix Bay.
September 2005 – Los Angles, CA. Enjoyed three nights at the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Ray. Also visited the Regent Beverly Wilsher and Shutters on the Beach.
August 2005 – Las Vegas. Experienced two nights at Green Valley Resort and Spa and several nights at the Bellagio. I also had the opportunity to see the new Wynn.
May 2005 - St. Michaels, Maryland. Enjoyed a fabulous weekend at the Inn at Perry Cabin.
August 2004 – Iceland. Experienced a complete tour of the amazing island of Iceland.
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Nadine Jackson
Interests & Specialties
Mexico, Costa Rica and Latin America
Expert Bio
Nadine's Bio
My Recent Trips
French Polynesia: including the remote Marquesas Islands, for two weeks aboard the Regent Seven Seas Paul Gauguin. Not only is the scenery breath-taking, but the people are beautiful and their culture is fascinating. No wonder there was mutiny on the Bounty (and other ships we also learned!). The snorkeling and scuba are unrivaled anywhere. We were fascinated with the geology of volcanoes and atolls, and the Paul Gauguin had a very good professor aboard to explain all of this as we went along. Most amazing experience? One night at sea the Captain turned out all the lights on the top deck and we looked at the sky. With our naked eye, we saw billions of stars and the clouds of the Milky Way. It was humbling to say the least. The Paul Gauguin is luxurious without being pretentious, and of course features Regent’s 6-star service and food.
Baltic Sea cruise on Regent Seven Seas Voyager: The highlight is St. Petersburg, where the Voyager is docked for three full days. Regent offers many wonderful shore excursions so that you can tailor your visit to your own interests (palaces, in-depth Hermitage, daily life in the city, classical music and dance, etc.). We also loved Stockholm for its beauty, ease of getting around, food, and people. Especially don’t miss the Viking Museum – the only one of its kind in the world.
Rwanda, Kigali: for an international AIDS meeting. Very beautiful country with equally beautiful people. This is a starting point for visits to the misty hills to see the gorillas. The Kigali Serena Hotel is beautiful and is the best place to stay. A visit to the Genocide Museum is a must although very depressing.
Kenya, Masai Mara: Stayed for three incredible nights at CC Africa’s Bateleur Camp. We visited at the very end of the rainy season so it was lush and green and all of the animals were out grazing. We sat in the middle of herds of elephants, watched as a “honeymoon” lion pair got to know each other, enjoyed the antics of baboons as they scared the hippos back into the river. I highly recommend this time of year as most tourists wait until August for the migration and are part of huge amount of jeeps and other tourists. Many times, we were the only jeep on the savannah. Bateleur Camp is truly wonderful. No detail has been overlooked: spectacular food freshly prepared, huge comfy beds and bedding, showers lined in stone, wooden decks overlooking the Mara, resident warthogs to make you feel welcome. 5-star in every way.
Also in Kenya, we really enjoyed our full day as tourists in Nairobi, visiting the Karen Blixen “Out of Africa” farm, the baby elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Conservancy.
Egypt: This was truly a trip of a lifetime for me as I am a history buff and fascinated with the amazing art and architecture of this 5000 year old civilization. My all-time travel high was an early morning hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. Night time visits to the temples of Luxor and Karnak are a must. The spectacularly designed new Egyptian Museum will be opening in 2009 so a visit here will be fantastic as it is located on the road to the Pyramids. King Tut’s golden mask no longer travels so this is the only place to see it, along with his other astounding treasures. Several hotels in Cairo are super deluxe (namely both of the Four Seasons), as are a few of the Nile cruisers. I would also recommend overnight stays in Luxor and Aswan because both so have much to offer.
Guatemala: This Central American country is a true gem. Indigenous peoples, colorful markets, colonial cities, Mayan ruins, volcanoes, jungles, year round spring-like temperatures, fantastic coffee. Combined with a stay in Belize, this makes a perfect vacation. The Virtuoso hotel in La Antigua, Casa Santo Domingo, is the most unique I’ve ever stayed in – it’s built in and around the ruins of an old monastery.
Jamaica: Enjoyed the north coast of Jamaica. Round Hill Plantation is paradise.
SE Asia: Bangkok (full of temples and exotic spices) and Singapore (home of the only zoo “Night Safari” in world). The cruise we took in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and Singapore, through the Straits of Malacca, was like a dream. The clearest water, the whitest beaches, the greenest palm trees – everything was a superlative.
China: Visited first in 1982 after China was opened to the West, then again in 2005. What a difference! Beijing is becoming huge and very Westernized, losing most of its charm. I really loved Guilin, just north of Hong Kong. This is the area of the huge limestone outcroppings along the Li River. It’s really quite other-worldly and magical.
Peru: Machu Picchu is breath-taking. How did the Incans get those huge stones up there to create a city in the sky? The entire Sacred Valley is very interesting. Biggest surprise? The fantastic food everywhere in Peru, and the sophistication of many of the hotels, restaurants and museums.
Mexico: Besides many trips to the Yucatan peninsula, we recently spent a week in San Miguel de Allende, a well-loved Colonial city in central Mexico. We took classes in water color painting everyday, and could have stayed for weeks studying cooking, history and Spanish. The Virtuoso hotel is the beautiful the Casa de Sierra Nevada. Actually spread among several historic buildings, the rooms, gardens, and restaurants are lovely. All rooms are unique, many with their own patios and terraces, and you can walk everywhere.
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Judi Glass
Expert Bio
judi@mccabebremer.com
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Angie Cavallaro
Interests & Specialties
Group Cruises
Expert Bio
Sales & Systems Support
angie@mccabeworld.com
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Bambi Duvall Bambi Duvall
Interests & Specialties
Honeymoon planning, Group travel
Expert Bio
My Recent Trips
2004-Prague and Budapest; Inn at Little Washington; Riviera Maya Mexico; Bermuda; Antigua
January 2005-St. Lucia; experienced Ladera resort, Jalousie Hilton and Anse Chastanet.
March 2005-St. Michael’s –Inn at Perry Cabin.
May 2005-Naples, Florida; experienced the Naples Grande Resort.
July 2005- Belize –Experienced Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn.
August 2005- 1 week at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
November 2005-Maui, Hawaii; experienced the Hyatt, site inspections at the Four Seasons, Fairmont, Ritz Carlton. Oahu, Hawaii; experienced and did site inspections of over 20 properties in Waikiki.
February 2006- 4-night Caribbean Celebrity Cruise on the Zenith.
March 2006- Biarritz France and Bilbao Spain. Experienced Hotel Du Palais and Business Class on Air France.
May 2006- 3 nights Bermuda at Cambridge Beaches and 9 Beaches. Also inspected The Reefs.
June 2006 – 4-night Caribbean Cruise on Carnival for my families bi-annual reunion.
July 2006 – Alaska 1 week cruise on Holland America. Escorted 44 people.
August 2006 –1 week at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas
October 2006-The Tides Inn, Irvington Virginia
November 2006 –Celebrity 5 night Caribbean Cruise on the Century, while in the port of Key West I experienced the lovely private island, Little Palm Island. While in the port of Grand Cayman, I experienced the beautiful Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman.
December 2006- Atrium 1844-Towneytown Maryland
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LaVonne McKay LaVonne McKay
Interests & Specialties
Scotland, Australia DS, Golf
Expert Bio
703-905-9100
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Sigrid Braeckeveldt Expert Bio
Interests & Specialties
Hawaii, Europe, Honeymoons
Expert Bio
Sigrid Braeckeveldt
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Bahar Makinaci
Expert Bio
Bahar's Bio
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Yeager Mary Lou
Expert Bio
Mary Lou's Bio
My Recent Trips
April/May 2007
France: Champagne, Lorraine, Alsace
London/ Queen Mary 2 Southampton/ New York
4 nights in unforgettable chateaux. A gourmand’s delight. One day private tour of Verdun and WWI battlefields.
6 nights barging “Lorraine” Strasbourg to Nancy.
2 nights Paris at fantastic Le Grand Intercontinental with Opera view
Eurostar to London
Fourth journey on lovely QM2. (New Brooklyn port excellent. A pre-booked sedan whisked us to Penn Station in 30 minutes. If time is not of the essence, why fly?)
July 2007
Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas Norfolk to Bermuda
A last chance to experience a great ship before leaving the fleet. Great everything.
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Western Caribbean from Miami
She’s the largest afloat. Great cruise. Great food. Great staff. Go!
September 2007
Australia
As an Aussie Specialist, attended Tourism Australia’s Corroboree in Hunter Valley New South Wales. Home of great Semillon and Shiraz wines. Loved the wine and food pairings.
Followed by Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Ayers Rock.
Introduced to Hot Air Ballooning (when they say don’t wear white. Don’t. It’s not called the Red Centre for nothing) and Camels (as in riding. Mine was Jack. Actually sweet).
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