Understanding Escorted Tour Itineraries

Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2012

Thinking about taking an escorted tour?  Here is a glossary of some common terms used in our itineraries:

Visit - Your coach will stop and you'll get to visit a specific site.
View - A brief stop and an opportunity to take photos.
See - Your Insight coach will drive by the site so that you can see it.
Sightseeing tour - A local city guide will accompany you on a tour of a city or site.
Orientation tour - Places of interest are pointed out, allowing you to go and explore them on your own.
'Why not see' or 'perhaps enjoy' - These phrases refer to optional excursions not included in the tour package, but are available for an additional fee.
Time to explore and discover - Free time on your own.
A day to relax - No planned activities; time for optional excursions or other independent activities.

Our tour specialists are always available to help you understand what is included on a tour vacation, so that you can plan how much money to budget on your European vacation.

Fall Foliage Season

Posted on Monday, September 05, 2011

Feel the crispness in the air that heralds a change of seasons among Canada and New England's loveliest towns and picturesque shores.  Nostalgia, history, charm and romance are the hallmarks of this brilliantly bedecked rustic Acadia.  Rugged shorelines offer visitors a bounty of delicious delights against a backdrop of wistful scenes from fishing harbors to iconic lighthouses.  Great cities from Montreal to Quebec City offer a French savoir faire, while Savannah and Charleston charm with a genuine Southern Hospitality.  Start researching a fall foliage tour or cruise vacation.

Save on Cosmos' Fall Foliage vacations!

Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2011

Save $100 per person on  select Fall Foliage vacations.*

From the blazing glow of the golden Aspens to the varying shades of orange, red and purple in New England, fall colors shuffle in the beginning of the fall season. You can choose from one of two Cosmos New England tours that allow you to experience this beautiful time of the year in full color. And if you book your Cosmos Fall Foliage vacation before October 31, you will save $100 per person on select departures.*

New England Traditions

10 days from New York City to New York City

Charming New England comes to life on this scenic and historic vacation. Start your trip in New York City, then travel to Newport, Rhode Island, home to magnificent mansions, skilled sailing, and fresh seafood. Continue to Plymouth, Massachusetts, for two overnights and plenty of time to sightsee. Visit Plimoth Plantation, where costumed interpreters portray the early 17th-century lifestyle of the Pilgrims, and see Plymouth Rock, the spot where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. A major highlight in Plymouth is a whale-watching expedition for dolphins as well as finback and humpback whales.

New England Traditions with Extended Stay in New York City

12 days from New York City to New York City

Enjoy a harbor cruise in Hyannis, the "Homeport of Cape Cod." Then travel to historic Boston for a sightseeing tour of Boston's major sights and free time, before spending an overnight in the oceanfront village of Ogunquit, Maine. Marvel at New England's glorious fall foliage as you travel to Lake Winnipesaukee for a scenic cruise and an overnight in Shelburne, New Hampshire. In Vermont, taste local maple syrup and sip fresh apple cider before boarding a ferry across Lake Champlain into New York. While in New York, visit Lake Placid, Saratoga, and Albany before traveling back to New York City for two nights and an orientation tour of New York City's most famous sights. From the historic sights to the scenic beauty, this vacation through New England is sure to delight.

Popular Fall Foliage Tour Stops

Posted on Friday, August 26, 2011

A land tour of New England in the fall is spectacular, covering less ground than a cruise perhaps, but providing a closer, more in-depth look at the area.

Tours often begin with sightseeing in Boston, the "cradle of American liberty," before continuing on to Lexington and Concard, where travelers have the opportunity to follow the path of Paul Revere's legendary ride.

Architecture reminiscent of Norman Rockwells, a native to the area, abounds.  For an in-depth look at the area's impact on his work, visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass.

Calm Lake Placid in upstate New York, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, offers a peacfeul escape from the big city, while the trip into Vermont instantly calls into minds of ice cream lovers, the sweet richness of New & Jerry's.

In New Hampshire, venture onboard a ship for a cruise of the island-speckled Lake Winnipesaukee, the sixth-largest natural lake in America, at the foothills of the glorious White Mountains.

While some land tours don't get as far north as Bar Harbour in Main, the same fresh lobster and brillian autumnal foliage can be found in Kennebunkport.  Here, secluded Goose Rocks Beach sprawls for three miles. 

Fall Foliage Cruise

Posted on Monday, August 22, 2011

Cruising the Northeast is popular from May through October, but trvael peaks when the dazzling colors of autumn emerge.

Many cruises kick off amid the bright lights of New York City, but the rest of the journey proces to be a stark contrast - quaint port cities, cobblestone streets, even horse-drawn carriages.

Elite Newport, a seasode town straddling wo Rhode Island bays, is known for its extravagant 19th century summer homes, especially those lining the grand Ten-Mile Drive.

Indule in fresh lobster in pictureqsue Bar Harbor, Main, before venturing to the nearby Acadian National Park, where mountains, trees, ocean shoreline, ponds and lakes offer prime fall foliage viewing spots.

Southwest Halifoz, Nova Scotia, lies Peggy's Cove, a charming village known for the Sou'Wester Restaurant and its seafood chowder.  Driving tours near Halifox promise to be package with sweeping vistas, rich farmlands and decadent vineyards. Stop in at the Grand Pre Winery for tasting.

These are just some of the beautiful ports you will visit on a New England cruise.