Book your place on the cruise:
Contact Eleni by email: eleni@omega-travel.com

For 25 years of living in Vancouver I’ve watched the Alaska cruise ships come and go but never been lucky enough to sail on one. Well that is about to change!

I’m extremely excited to invite you to join me on a 7 day Ukulele Cruise that sets sail on June 28 2017 and returns July 5 2017.

The cruise itself is amazing. I’ve been told this many times by people who have done it. They describe it as the trip of a lifetime and the best cruise they have ever been on. It’s a chance to experience the gold rush towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan that Robert Service made famous in his tales of the Yukon and get close up to glaciers and other natural phenomena that only exist in northern latitudes.

Wildlife abounds up there and there is every chance you’ll see whales, orcas, sea lions and the occasional ice worm (yes they actually do exist according to Wikipedia!)

Concerned about the cold? Don’t be. At this time of year you can generally expect to be strumming your ukulele on deck in sunshine and summer t-shirt temperatures.

And you get to have fun upgrading your ukulele skills! as I, Ralph Shaw, will be teaching a daily 1 hour ukulele workshop that covers a variety of skills and skill levels.

The particular timing of this cruise is also quite neat because you’ll get to celebrate two national holidays: July 1, Canada Day and July 4, USA Independence Day. So at least two big parties are pretty much guaranteed!

If you’re interested in coming along on this remarkable ride then here is how it works:

I have personally put this together with a local Vancouver travel agent (Eleni at Omega Travel) so there is no middle-person arranging this. I have block-reserved 30 cabins of 3 different styles (Inside, Window and Balcony). Its first come first served so in order to get the cabin of your choice (plus any other early booking benefits) you should get onto this as soon as possible.

All your questions about the cruise and your payment will go through Eleni. Her prices are in Canadian dollars which is great for people from countries such as the USA because the Canadian dollar is at a low point right now. Omega Travel is a highly reputable company in operation for 40 years.

Eleni will help you with all details regarding booking your cabin and booking your place in the uke class – for which there is an added fee for each person taking the class – and anything else you need to know. She can even help you with flights and hotels from your starting point to Vancouver. Here’s the schedule:

June 28, 2017 Vancouver, Canada
Evening. Embarkation aboard Holland America’s Volendam, a mid-size cruise ship.

June 29 The ukulele group are invited to have dinner together on-board in order to get acquainted. After that you’re on your own to enjoy the vacation however you wish!
Possible tours at the ports of call include a train ride from Skagway, gold panning, a visit to a glacier and more.

The daily one hour Ralph Shaw Ukulele Class is for a broad range of skill levels. It’s not a beginner class so you need to have some experience with playing chords and strumming on a GCEA tuned uke. But whether you’re a relative beginner or experienced intermediate I have different approaches to each song that will keep you busy and happy. Learn new ways to strum plus build a fun repertoire of songs to sing together as we sail. I will be around and available so we’ll have lots of opportunity to meet and hang out.
After your final uke class there’ll be an open-mic where anyone who wishes to can perform for the rest of the class (but not in front of the whole ship – sorry!)

July 5 Debarkation back at Vancouver.

This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Vancouver at its finest, visit Alaska, learn ukulele and spend some time with Ralph all in one go.

I do hope you’ll consider it. And do book as soon as you can to ensure your place. I look forward to strumming with you out on America’s beautiful northwest coast!

Bye for now shipmates!

Ralph Shaw
Book your place on the cruise:
Contact Eleni by email: eleni@omega-travel.com

Eleni Diamantopoulos
Assistant Manager
Omega Travel
Téléphone: (604) 738 7161 | Direct : (604) 742 4226
Toll Free : 1 800 663 2669
3230 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2H4
Canada

Musical Evening with Ralph Shaw and Guests in lovely Great Longstone  in Derbyshire

Entrance fee: £7.50 per person