As first small ship sailing experiences go, an 8-day voyage aboard Variety Cruises’ 25-cabin motorised sailing yacht Panorama II through Spain and Portugal ain’t half bad!
TravelManagers’ Personal Travel Managers Di Yates, representative from Montrose in Victoria, and NSW representatives Vicki O’Dea from Lane Cove, Lisa Metzl from North Avoca and Lana Kanchik from Alexandria travelled from Malaga to Lisbon, hosted by Aaron Russ, General Manager for Wild Earth Travel.
“I had not been on a small ship sailing excursion before, but having now experienced it for myself I can advise clients with confidence about who it would be suited to and what to expect, which is simply invaluable and adds to providing real personal service,” says Yates.
“Portugal is definitely on my bucket list of places to visit and Spain is one of my all-time favourite countries so I jumped at the chance to participate on this famil. I was excited to experience more of the country and to visit places I had not been to. Travelling on a small ship allowed us to sail overnight departing around midnight each night and arriving into ports early in the morning allowing all day and most of the evening in the ports we stopped at.”
Getting lost in the Great Siege Tunnels at Gibraltar! L-R: Lisa Metzl, Lana Kanchik, Di Yates and Vicki O’Dea
The day excursions were a highlight for all the PTMs but for Yates it was the first day excursion to Granada, and the stunning architecture and series of palaces and gardens of the Alhambra, which proved most memorable.
“I will definitely be recommending the day trip to Granada for my clients. The Alhambra was simply incredible, stunning architecture and beautiful palaces and gardens, this was truly an amazing experience and a real highlight for me. There is a limit on the number of people that are allowed entry into the Alhambra so you need to book well in advance – at least 3 to 6 months. You can’t purchase tickets on the day to visit, many people on the boat missed out because they do not know about how quickly the tickets sell out.”
Lisa Metzl said Panorama II provided an extremely comfortable 3-3.5 star experience for the group.
“I found the buffet lunch to be fantastic, the selection of food was outstanding. Most of the dinners were 5-course and a-la-carte, and there was plenty of food. Going hungry onboard was never an option!”
Lisa Metzl above the El Tajo Gorge that separates the mountain top Ronda city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town dating back to Moorish rule.
The personal approach and genuine commitment to service from the staff is clearly evident especially in a smaller cruise vessel.
“As the small ship only has around 48 passengers, it is intimate and unique, nothing was too much effort for the crew and staff. They truly were fabulous, very attentive and very professional in their approach to sailing,” says Yates.
Kanchik says the famil was invaluable for gleaning firsthand knowledge.
“My personal experience will help me give accurate advice to my clients on what to expect, inclusions, pace and standard of accommodation. For instance, I would suggest this experience to very fit mature-age travellers who love history as there is a lot of walking involved, and every place you visit has historical significance.”
TOP IMAGE: The Captain and ‘the crew’ – TravelManagers’ PTMs (from left) Lisa Metzl, Lana Kanchik, Panorama II’s Captain, Vicki O’Dea with Di Yates (front)
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