(62 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Carol Horner

Virginia Beach, VA

Australia, New Zealand, S. Pacific & Japan Expert

By the time I was married, my husband and I decided to purchase our own agency, and we have dedicated our careers to helping people taking fantastic luxury vacations to incredible destinations across the globe. We have instilled a love of travel i...
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By the time I was married, my husband and I decided to purchase our own agency, and we have dedicated our careers to helping people taking fantastic luxury vacations to incredible destinations across the globe. We have instilled a love of travel in our children as well, all of whom have studied and lived abroad, and also planned destination weddings. I am a specialist in the following destinations: Australia — I have traveled to this destination three different times, exploring both coasts of the continent. This is a destination that seems out-of-reach for many people, but I help my clients realize that it's not difficult at all to enjoy this trip of a lifetime. The South Pacific — I love to help my clients explore this diverse and beautiful region. I've taken many trips, but my favorite one was a trip to Tahiti with my husband. We stayed in over water bungalows, received breakfast via canoe delivery, and even incorporated a 7-day cruise around the Polynesian Islands into our itinerary. When you book with me, you know that you have an agent who will be by your side throughout the entire experience. I am known for my expert communication skills. I stay in touch with my clients from the first moment they contact me to begin planning until they return home from their vacation. I am extremely accessible. Recently, one of my clients contacted me to say that she left some jewelry at a hotel in Budapest and asked if I could help her retrieve it. I was able to contact the hotel and ask them to ship the jewelry back home, allowing my client to relax and enjoy the rest of her adventure. Life is too short. Take the trip. Buy the shoes. Drink the wine. And contact me to begin planning your next unforgettable trip!

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Carol Horner

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Cruising the Heart of Germany on Viking Njord

Bamberg City Hall on an island

Sailing Europe on a river cruise has always been on my list, but sailing the heart of Germany in November could not be resisted. Germany know for their Christmas markets and shops is a wonderful time of year to visit Germany. Our adventure began in Nuremberg, after arriving at the station, a short cab ride delivered us to the dock of the Viking Njord. The crew greeted us at dockside and took us straight to our room. Everything was beautiful on-board as we toured the ship and relaxed and started to meet fellow passengers. Dinner and entertainment on-board were delightful as we prepared for our first tour the next morning. We had decided to do a semi-private tour with 4 other guest to maximize our visit to Nuremberg. We visited the Old Town including the Imperial Castle and even a great gingerbread shop to sample many different kinds of gingerbread. The Christmas markets were setting up and Christmas was in the air. After leaving Old Town, we traveled to the Nazi parade grounds including the Documentation Center that went into great detail on how Nuremberg played into the growth of the Nazi party. That evening we set sail for our next stop Bamberg, home of magnificent cathedrals and the picturesque city hall built on an island in the middle of a river. Bamberg was founded in 902 and remains a medieval-looking city know for its symphony music and a specialty, "smoke beer". After a wonderful breakfast, we set out on a short bus ride to the city center. Meeting our guides for the day, we walked into the medieval town center and enjoyed hearing the history and the many viewing sites of interest. Bamberg is easy to walk around in with many shops and statues of interest. After passing over the bridges and through the city gates, we worked our way to the medieval Bamberg Cathedral. The cathedral combines the late Romanesque and early French-Gothic styles. What a step into a different time when Bamberg was the center of the Holy Roman Empire. All this touring did build up a thirst, so what better way to quench it than trying out the local beers. Smoked beer is well known in Bamberg so we had to try it out. After a few other samples, we headed back to the ship and prepared to set sail to our next two stops of Wurzburg and Rothenburg. After Breakfast, we departed for a full day in two of Northern Bavaria’s most charming destinations. We toured the Bishops’ Residenz, an exquisite baroque palace in Wurzburg. The Residenz is a very large structure that offers an excellent guided tour of the many hallways and rooms used by the Bishop. Gardens surround the palace and are worth a look. We then bused along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg, a great medieval town with its joyful Christmas market. The town is still walled and looks very similar to its medieval times. After arriving, we had a good lunch with our group at a local restaurant. Afterwards we set out touring the many sites within the town including the Christmas shops that were excellent. We were able to ship our purchases back home, which was very convenient. We returned to Wurzburg where the ship was waiting for us. The crew were all outside with welcome signs as we arrived. That evening the ship offered “A Taste Of Germany” that used all the public areas for a unique culinary experience featuring local German favorites and local music. We sailed the Main River in the morning, arriving in Wertheim around noon. Wertheim is located where the Main and Tauber Rivers converge. The old town is a reminder of medieval times with it’s half timbered homes and narrow streets. Flooding still remains an annual event with many buildings displaying markers of previous floods. The castle sits well above the town, but had been badly damaged during the Thirty Year War in 1634. After the tour, we continued with another guide that took us to a small museum that focused on the local impact to the Jewish community during World War II. It was a thought provoking experience about the events before and during the war even in small towns throughout Germany. We walked through the town one more time on the way back to the ship. The last day we arrived in Frankfurt around breakfast and disembarked for a full-day excursion to Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Upon arrival we visited the red sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle, originally built in the 12th century. Inside the castle is one of the largest wine barrels in the world. The town was a mix of medieval and college town all in one. The town had lots of energy and great food. We lunched at the Ritter Hotel in the heart of the town. The menu and service were very good. After some shopping and site seeing, it was time to head back to Frankfurt and our ship. The location of the dock was perfect for walking around the small old town of Frankfurt and the many shopping areas. The next morning we had an early departure for the airport, but we will always fondly remember our Heart of Germany Viking River Cruise.

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Heart of Germany Adventure

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