January 26, 2012
Discovering the joys of Small Ship travel
Early in December, I took a group of family and friends on a trip to the Middle East, which included time aboard a small ship. (I posted photos of the trip on Facebook—it really was quite an adventure!) Our ship was a bit different than the ones you’ll cruise on with Grand Circle, but the overall experience was the same. And while I’m familiar with Grand Circle’s fleet of river ships, I must admit one thing: This was my first time actually traveling this way.
Well, I loved it. The ship pulled right up along the dock, and we were free to come and go as we pleased—wandering around little towns like Hurghada, Port Said, and Luxor, and then walking or taking a quick cab back. As we cruised, I loved just sitting and watching the river go by—it’s so easy, visual, and peaceful. It made it much easier to actually write in my journal! What really made the experience shine, though, was the crew. They were amazing—so knowledgeable. Our guides worked beautifully with our group, despite our different interests, energy levels, and needs. Not an easy job, but they made it look that way.
Now I really understand why you all rave about your river cruise experiences! Just ask Linda Totten, who submitted this month’s Traveler Story. River cruising—and Grand Circle—has become a family tradition that spans generations.
Do you have your own cherished travel traditions? If so, I’d love to hear about them. I always look forward to receiving your emails—or, please post your comments here.
Harriet Lewis
P.S. We’ve just announced three new Small Ship CruiseTour itineraries, which feature the same fleet of ships that I sailed on in December. I’ll be discussing these new destinations next month in Harriet’s Corner.
Dear Traveler,
As a former teacher, I know that the most important lessons in life can’t be learned from textbooks. So I’ve always considered the world my classroom—and, thankfully, it’s one filled with endless lessons.
I know that Grand Circle travelers share my passion for learning and discovery … and that’s one of the reasons why I created Harriet’s Corner: I wanted us to have a special place where we could learn from and about each other by sharing stories about the places we’ve been—and the people we’ve met—during our travels.
Since launching Harriet’s Corner, I’ve received emails from hundreds of Grand Circle travelers eager to share stories, pictures, and insights from their journeys—and I’ve been truly moved too see how many of you have embraced the site! So I’m excited to announce that we’ve made some significant changes to Harriet’s Corner … changes that will make the site more interactive and even easier to navigate. Here’s what’s new:
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Grand Circle’s “Community” section—As part of the overall redesign for the Grand Circle website, we’ve created a special section that’s all about connecting with others who love to travel. This is where you’ll find Harriet’s Corner, along with Travel Companions and our new Traveler Discussions forums, which allow you to “talk” with other Grand Circle travelers about the places you’ve been—and the destinations that remain on your “must-see” list.
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Comment on my Journal entries—Our new Traveler Discussions forums aren’t the only place on the Grand Circle website where you can post comments for others to see. After each Journal entry, you can let me—and other Grand Circle travelers—know what you think by posting your comments online. My hope is that this new feature will help facilitate a lively, open dialogue among Harriet’s Corner readers.
I’d like to note here that, while I won’t be able to respond personally to each and every posting, my dedicated team will be monitoring your comments and will address any urgent issues or questions that arise. From time to time, I’ll also choose some of the most frequently asked questions to answer in Travel Talk.
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Calendar of Events—In this section, you’ll find details about the various events we host here in our Boston headquarters. So if you live in or around the Boston area—or are planning to visit—I hope you’ll consider joining us.
Of course, there are some things about Harriet’s Corner that haven’t changed … in particular, the detailed and evocative stories you’ve come to know and love! You can still learn about other travelers’ (and Grand Circle associates’) experiences in Our Favorite Traveler Stories; read about Program Directors and our community service events worldwide in News & Views from Grand Circle; and enjoy a true taste of another culture using the recipes in Global Kitchen.
As before, I’ll be adding new content to the site every week— and letting you know via email when an update to Harriet’s Corner pertains to a destination that interests you. (If I don’t already have your email address, you can sign up to receive my updates here.)
Whether you’re new to Grand Circle or have traveled with us before, I hope you’ll become part of the Harriet’s Corner community, connecting with fellow travelers while learning more about our trips. And I hope that what you find in these pages will inspire you to keep learning from and about the many countries and cultures that coexist in this, our global classroom.
Best wishes and happy travels,
Harriet Lewis
Vice Chairman
Grand Circle Travel
P.S. Every time you travel with Grand Circle, you help us give back to communities worldwide through Grand Circle Foundation. With your support, we’ve given more than $50 million to support the education of young people and the preservation of cultural treasures and traditions. Thank you! (Learn more about Grand Circle Foundation by visiting www.grandcirclefoundation.org.)