Rob will also continue to contribute as a member of the Travel + Leisure Travel Advisory Board in 2026.聽 The Travel + Leisure TAB is a hand-selected group of leading luxury travel advisors and executives who advise T+L editors and leadership on emerging travel trends, changes in traveler behavior, luxury cruise, hotel and experiential travel insights and more.

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You know Q is a proud member of Virtuoso, the world’s largest network in luxury and experiential travel. That means that our clients have access to promotions and benefits not available to others on many cruises or hotel stays.

(AI generated images)

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Discover why Antarctica is a haven for those seeking relaxation intertwined with beauty and adventure. Q’s own Rob Clabbers has been fortunate to travel to the 7th continent five times (so far!)

In this panel conversation, Rob talks with experts from Silversea, Quark and National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions.聽 Learn what to expect from an Antarctic Expedition, expedition styles, the right traveler for Antarctica, and hear the answers to frequently asked questions about expeditions.

Click to (run time 60 minutes).

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The Virtuoso Cruise Icon designation is granted only to the top 1% of all Virtuoso advisors who plan cruise travel.聽 Keeping in mind that there are over 20,000 Virtuoso advisors globally, this is quite a feat, and Kevin has been awarded this honor for the fifth year in a row!

Kevin has been an integral part of the聽杏吧传媒 team for over 16 years. He has sailed on many ships and lines and knows how to maximize benefits for his clients with the Virtuoso Voyages program and other special offers available to Q clients.

Kevin is an active participant in the Virtuoso Voyages cruise community and also one of the聽top advisors for cruise lines like Cunard Line.

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Are you, or someone you know, passionate about luxury cruising and experienced in sales? 聽Are you a friendly professional with a talent for building strong client relationships and delivering exceptional customer service? 聽If so, you may be the right person to join our team at 杏吧传媒.

We are seeking a Cruise Travel Advisor to join our team in our office on Chicago鈥檚 Michigan Avenue. This is a permanent in-office position, ideally full-time, but we are open to considering part-time options for the right candidate as we understand you may be juggling family commitments or your love for travel!

Find more details on our Career Page.

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Virtuoso’s global network includes over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries, and average annual sales of around US$30 billion.

Q’s active participation within the Virtuoso community helps further improve the luxury network. Q clients benefit from more access and extras while traveling.

Congratulations to all fellow winners and nominees. Together, we’re better.

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Virtuoso honored Member Agencies, Advisors, and Preferred Partners that have gone above and beyond in the travel industry over the past year. The Virtuoso Most Engaged Agency award places Q at the very top of over 2,000 luxury Virtuoso travel agencies from around the world.

Q鈥檚 small but mighty team of professional travel advisors participates actively in programs to help design and arrange the best travel experiences for Q clients, including:

• Study tours and product training to provide up-to-date, first-hand knowledge of destinations, experiences and cruise lines
• Specialized communities focused on clients who enjoy types of travel, such as Ultraluxe; Adventure; Cruise; Family; Celebration Travel.
• Technology including Cruise Fare Tracker; Virtuoso Hotel Booking engine which offers extra benefits, upgrades, credits and more; Virtuoso Air with special premium and cruise fares

Q鈥檚 management team serves on advisory boards and committees for Virtuoso, Travel + Leisure magazine; cruise lines, hotels and other travel providers.聽 This helps those organizations understand the needs of today鈥檚 traveler and develop strategies to best serve them.

In return, Q鈥檚 participation provides the team, and thus Q clients, with the latest insight on trends and developments in travel, and access to experiences that may not be available elsewhere.

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At Q, we travel to gain first-hand knowledge of hotels, cruise lines, expedition companies, ships, and destinations. That allows us to fine tune our clients鈥� experiences and help set their expectations – even more important now cruise and land travel have resumed. After all, right now, things are simply different.

During the pandemic, the Q team traveled on dozens of ocean and river cruises, international and domestic land trips, short and long-haul flights.聽 What did we learn?聽 Ten updated travel tips, for travel now:

1)聽 Pack a healthy dose of flexibility聽and patience

Life changed over the past two years, and it continues to do so. COVID protocols have relaxed at home and in many places abroad.聽 But that doesn鈥檛 apply everywhere: some locations and travel providers still apply stricter rules than you鈥檙e used to.聽 Changes can pop up at any time too. You must review the rules before starting any trip!

We are also seeing significantly more flight schedule changes than usual. Many airlines reduced workforce and fleet size during the pandemic. The renewed demand for travel means that many airlines and airports are struggling. Airlines tell us that it is not unusual for an air reservation (especially with connections) to undergo more than three schedule changes between the time a flight is booked and the actual trip!

Cruise itineraries may change too. Destinations may be dropped, (sometimes at the very last minute) and onboard or on land experiences (restaurant opening hours, mask requirements) adjusted.聽 Travelers who want to know exactly what their travel experience will be like, and those who get anxious when things change, might consider staying home right now.

2)聽 Plan ahead, budget more

Don鈥檛 procrastinate: the best hotels, tour guides, transfer companies and experiences sell out months in advance due to that renewed demand for travel. In fact, some of our local partners in Europe won鈥檛 handle any new requests through the fall, because they cannot guarantee the level of service they know our Virtuoso clients expect.

Demand also increases fares for flights and hotel rooms. Reduced capacity and the quest for personal space means that (especially) business class flights can be double or triple the cost in former years. That room you paid $400 a night for in 2019 may very well cost $1,000 this year, especially in always popular destinations like Italy, France, Hawaii, etc.

Want to maximize your travel budget? If you鈥檙e open to alternative destinations, give the advisors at Q a call. Or let us start planning your 2023 vacation now, so we can help you get the vacation you want before it is sold out.

3)聽 Vaccination Cards and boosters

Destinations, tour operators and cruise lines may restrict access to those who are fully vaccinated.聽 You may have to show your official COVID certificate, upload it on an airline or immigration website so it can be reviewed digitally, or create a QR code.

Some locations will require you to be 鈥渂oosted鈥� too, with less than 270 days between your last shot and the last day of your upcoming vacation. Some countries don鈥檛 recognize the paper US CDC COVID vaccination card, and you may still have to show a negative COVID test before you can enter.

4)聽 Lie low before you go

The incubation time of the virus means that the week before your vacation is not the time for a busy social schedule. Reduce your risk of getting infected a few days before you travel. Avoid crowded places (churches, restaurants, movie theatres, sports arenas, bars, family get-togethers etc.)聽 And while it is tempting to explore restaurants in the embarkation port of your cruise or tour, eat outdoors or in your own 鈥渂ubble鈥�.聽 Wouldn鈥檛 it be a shame to test positive just before your vacation starts?

5)聽 Tests and masks

The US and many other countries no longer require masks on flights, but some international airlines and countries do. They may require you to wear a specific type: (K)N95 or FFP2, or at least a surgical mask. Some are hard to get, so plan ahead and always carry enough, just in case you tear a strap. Verify guidelines on your airline鈥檚 website at least a few days before departure.

Many cruise lines have relaxed mask requirements too. Still, most will recommend that you consider wearing a mask in busy areas (the theatre, at muster drills, etc.).聽 Also, on shore excursions, local guidelines will be followed, so be prepared to be masked on buses, in indoor venues and other public areas.

A negative COVID test is no longer required to enter the United States either. But other countries, cruise lines, tour operators and destinations might require proof of a negative COVID test before your vacation can truly begin. Test requirements can be confusing. Rapid antigen or PCR test, in-person or proctored at-home test, number of hours before flight arrival or departure?

Give yourself enough time to understand all test requirements. If needed, schedule your appointments well ahead of time. Be guided by your airline, cruise line, hotel or vacation operator in addition to official government sources of the countries you鈥檒l visit.

6)聽 Test 鈥渁t home鈥� before you depart

We all hope it doesn鈥檛 happen, but should you test positive for COVID, it is better to find out at home before you leave, rather than on arrival in your destination or on your ship. That way, you can alter your plans, hopefully save some money, and 鈥渜uarantine鈥� at home. Like many of our clients, we will do an at home test shortly before departing on a trip for that extra level of confidence.

7)聽 Print everything – and charge your phone

Airline employees, immigration officers, hotel check-in staff and even restaurant hosts may still ask you for COVID vaccination proof, test results, completed passenger locator forms, affidavits or whatever your destination may require. QR codes only work if your phone is charged. Good-old fashioned paper, sorted in the way you鈥檒l need to present it, and maybe with key information highlighted, may make the process easier.

8)聽 Bring extra medications and more

When you travel, it鈥檚 always possible that your original plans may be waylaid, and not just because of COVID. Flight delays or cancellations, weather disruptions鈥β� Bring sufficient critical medications to cover you in case your trip is longer than planned 鈥� asthma inhalers, blood pressure tablets or whatever you may need.聽 And during COVID, when there is a chance that you may be quarantined, taking another two weeks of supplies is wise.

Oh, and we don鈥檛 need to remind you to keep these items in your carry-on bags, rather than in checked luggage, right?

9)聽 Buy insurance – and understand what it covers

Always consider purchasing travel insurance when planning a vacation. (Credit card, home or health insurance only go so far!) In a pandemic, you have even more reasons to do so. Travel insurance doesn鈥檛 cover your worries to get ill. But you may be covered if a physician tells you that you cannot travel for medical reasons, for example, in case you are diagnosed with COVID. Your insurance may also help offset certain costs for extra accommodation or travel expenses. (Don’t assume your cruise line or hotel will.) Check with your insurance provider for specifics.

10)聽 Be nice

All of this is new to everyone, and things change rapidly. While that can be frustrating to you, many of the people you encounter have to deal with these changes too 鈥� often with fewer colleagues and less information than ideal. Be nice and courteous. It will improve the day of the people you encounter, and yours.

Bonus:聽 All of it is totally worth it!

Yes, travel is more uncertain and a bit more work. Things aren鈥檛 quite like they were. But once you鈥檙e on the road after months or years at home, enjoying the sights, sounds and flavors of travel again can be magnificent!

Just call your favorite Q travel advisor to help you on your way.

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