Dear friends, fellow travelers, armchair dreamers, spreadsheet lovers, last-minute packers, and people who swear this is the year they’ll finally do it,

 

Let’s just get this out of the way:

 

 

In the best, messiest, most creative, occasionally “what on earth am I doing?” kind of way

.

If DNA Tours were a Christmas movie, this would be the montage scene where:

So instead of a tidy little newsletter, I’m giving you a proper Christmas letter.

The kind you actually want to read. 

 

The kind you might forward. The kind that makes you text someone and say: “Okay… we should probably do one of these.”

 

Here’s to the adventures ahead,

—Dave
 

 

Before I keep unpacking stories, trips, and travel goodness… I need to stop everything for just a moment — because this part matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not a cruise line — it’s a working ship that supplies remote Polynesian islands

 

It doesn’t follow tourism — it follows real life and real communities

 

It invites a small number of curious travelers to come along respectfully

 

This is travel for people who’ve been places… and are ready for something deeper.

And the only way to really explain it
is to show you, tell you the stories, and answer your questions live.

 

 

Saturday, December 27
🕐 1:00 PM Los Angeles
🕓 4:00 PM Miami

 

 

Bring:

a glass of wine 🍷

curiosity

and that friend who always says “I want something different next time.”

 

Because Christmas is about wonder.
And Aranui delivers that rare feeling of discovery — the kind that reminds you why you fell in love with travel in the first place.

 

I promise:
Even if you never take this trip, you’ll walk away inspired.

Alright… invitation extended.

Now let’s keep going — I have so much more to share. ✨

 

 

This year was transformational in so many ways.  Thierry and I were on the road A LOT!  Leading group cruises, speaking at conferences, leading mentoring classes, working with so many wonderful clients and with all of it I finally admitted something important:

 

 

So… we fixed it.

 

I separated my websites… each one focusing on a core strength for you, but making sure ALL info is easy to find no matter how you know me, which site you think of first, or what email you have.

All roads lead to me.. but in a way that works for you! 

 

RiverCruiseKing.com
Rivers only. Europe, wine valleys, Christmas markets, cultural slow travel. My happy place.

MarisRex.com
Yes… it means King of the Seas! Luxury ocean, expedition, and “this ship is insane” voyages. Bold, beautiful, and a little adventurous.

DNA Tours Ltd.
Still the engine. Still the heart. Still me saying, “Let’s make sure this actually feels right.”

CruiseFinder360.com
The plot twist. For people who like to browse, click, and book themselves — but still want perks, protection, and someone quietly watching their back.

 

This year, Santa brought clarity and you're invited! Take a moment and check each one out, tell me what you think!  I really value your opinion.

 

If the world of DNA Tours were Christmas, it wouldn’t be the mall version with blinking lights and canned music.

 

It would be the Christmas you remember, not the one you scroll past.

 

It’s the house where the lights are warm, not blinding.
Where the door is open and the kettle is already on.
Where every ornament has a story — and none of them were bought last minute.

 

In the DNA Tours version of Christmas:

🎄 Nothing is random.
Every ribbon, every gift, every destination was chosen because it means something. There are no filler presents — only things that made it onto the table because someone thought, “This would be perfect for you.”

🎁 The gifts aren’t flashy — they’re thoughtful.
Some are small and quietly extraordinary.
Some are big and life-changing.
But every single one comes with a note that says, “I saw this and thought of you.”

🕯 The magic lives in the details.
The way the lights come on at dusk in a European square.
The silence before a safari sunrise.
The first sip of coffee on a ship deck while the world wakes up.
Those are the moments we wrap and place under the tree.

🍷 Time slows down.
No rushing. No noise. No pressure to “do it all.”
Just good conversation, good pacing, and the luxury of being present.

👣 You’re not a guest — you’re family.
You know where the glasses are.
You can take off your shoes.
And someone’s always watching to make sure you’re warm, comfortable, and exactly where you’re meant to be.

 

✨ And maybe most importantly…
The DNA Tours Christmas isn’t about consumption.
It’s about connection.
Between people.
Between places.
Between who you were before the trip and who you become after.

 

So if DNA Tours were Christmas, it would be the kind that leaves you full, a little softer, and quietly changed — the kind you carry with you long after the lights come down.

 

And yes… there’s always one more surprise wrapped in the back, just waiting for the right moment. 🎁

🌍 The Trips You Can Actually Travel With Me!

 Not brochures. Not someday dreams.

Real departures. Real timing. Real intention.

 

BRAND NEW 2027 & 2028 Departures Listed Too!!

 

MOROCCO! BRAZIL! TAHITI! WINE LOVERS TRIP!

🚢 Luxury cruising | 📍 Japan

Japan during cherry blossom season is not just beautiful — it’s emotionally moving.

Perfect timing — blossoms don’t wait

Cultural depth without confusion

Ancient temples and ultra-modern cities in harmony

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – Etiquette Beats Language
Forget memorizing phrases.

A gentle bow, soft voice, and watching how others behave will open more doors than perfect Japanese ever will. Silence here is respect, not awkwardness.

🎄 Did You Know?  Christmas in Japan
Romantic illuminations, strawberry shortcake, festive city lights. Not religious — but charming, stylish, and surprisingly cozy.

🚢 Explora | 📍 Mediterranean

This is not your traditional cruise ship.

Calm, spacious, elegant design

Mediterranean ports without the chaos

A slower, more refined rhythm at sea

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – You Don’t Have to Do Everything
Sometimes the most luxurious choice is staying onboard.

Coffee on deck, a quiet morning, watching the coastline drift by — that is the experience.

🎄 Christmas in the Med
Italy, Spain, France — food, family, tradition, and tables that never seem to empty. Buon Natale is more than my name!

🚢 Norwegian Cruise Line | 📍 Mediterranean Embarkation

This one has a completely different energy — and that’s exactly why it belongs here.

 

This Mediterranean sailing is hosted by my dear friend and brilliant entertainer, Terrell Edwards, and it blends classic Med beauty with something you don’t often get on a cruise: built-in joy, humor, and heart.

 

If some trips are about quiet awe…
this one is about connection, laughter, and shared moments.

Terrell as host — not just a performer, but a connector, storyteller, and human spark

Iconic Mediterranean ports — Italy, Greece, Spain, and beyond, served up with ease

NCL’s relaxed, modern cruising style — flexible dining, easygoing days, fun nights

This is a trip where strangers become friends by Day Two.

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – The People Matter as Much as the Place
Here’s something travelers always say after a great hosted trip:

“I didn’t expect to laugh this much.”

When you travel with a host who brings warmth, humor, and authenticity, the entire experience shifts. Dinners last longer. Conversations go deeper. The ship feels smaller — in the best possible way.

✨ Why I love this one personally
Because Terrell brings something you can’t brochure, upgrade, or pre-book: Energy.

And when you combine great destinations, an easygoing ship, and a host who genuinely loves people — you get a trip that feels less like a cruise… and more like a floating holiday with friends.

If you’ve ever said, “I want a trip that’s fun, social, and still meaningful,” this one deserves a closer look.

📍 Nairobi

This is the trip that changes people and I chose Tauck for my 2027 return to Africa because they just don't miss a thing and I want this to be perfect!

The Great Migration

Tauck’s flawless execution

Africa done safely, deeply, beautifully

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – Safari Is About Patience
The magic isn’t constant action.

It’s the quiet moments, the waiting, the unexpected encounter that stays with you forever. Trust the guides. Let the land come to you.

🎄 Christmas in Kenya
Joyful, communal, musical — Christmas as a shared celebration.

🚢 Amadeus Nova | 📍 Vienna, Austria

This is the trip that turns even the most cynical traveler into a wide-eyed romantic.

Europe’s most beautiful cities wrapped in lights, music, and Advent tradition

The brand-new Amadeus Nova — warm, elegant, and perfectly designed for winter

Hosted by Dave & Thierry (translation: logistics disappear, joy multiplies)

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – Europe After Dark
Everyone plans the days.
The real magic starts at night.

After dinner, when the crowds thin and the choirs come out, cities like Vienna and Regensburg feel cinematic. Skip one museum. Save your energy. Night walks here are unforgettable.

🎅 Christmas in Austria
Chestnuts, candlelight, classical music drifting through imperial squares. Vienna doesn’t celebrate Christmas — it embodies it.

I don’t say this lightly, and I don’t love fake urgency — but this one is real.

The 2026 Christmas Markets on the Danube cruise is down to the final 15 cabins.
And per our agreement, any unsold space gets released back to the ship on January 1st.

Once that happens:

those cabins are gone

the group pricing is gone

and I can’t “pull strings” after the fact

If you’ve been:

reading every email

watching from the sidelines

or saying “we’ll decide after the holidays”

…this is the moment where waiting actually costs you.

This sailing is special:

a brand-new ship

Europe at its most magical

hosted with warmth, intention, and care

And once it’s full, it’s full.

So yes — enjoy the holidays.
But if this trip has been whispering to you, don’t ignore it.

📅 Decision deadline: December 31
🎄 Cabins remaining: 15

If you’re in, I’ve got you.
If you’re unsure, let’s talk — quickly.

No pressure.
Just honesty.

🌍 2027 Holds Adventure! Wine! South Pacific Breezes and Brazilian Rhythms!

 

Are you Coming?

🚢 Ultra-Luxury Expedition Cruising | 📍 Chile → Antarctica
✨ Now with the exciting possibility of Santiago & Easter Island added

Yes. This one deserves its own moment.
Because Antarctica isn’t a destination — it’s a threshold.

And in 2027, this journey just became even more extraordinary.

This is true expedition travel, wrapped in serious comfort and guided with intention.

Antarctica itself — raw, silent, humbling, and unlike anywhere else on Earth

Ultra-luxury expedition ship (yes, the same caliber as our other polar voyages) with Zodiacs, expert teams, and seamless logistics

The potential to add Santiago & Easter Island — culture + mystery + remoteness, all in one journey

This isn’t just a cruise.
It’s a once-in-your-lifetime chapter.

People often ask:

“What will we DO in Antarctica?”

Here’s the truth travelers always discover afterward:

The most powerful moments are the quiet ones.

The sound of ice cracking

A penguin colony appearing out of the fog

The stillness that makes you feel very small — and very alive

This is not a place you conquer.
It’s a place you receive.

If this extension comes together (and it’s looking very promising), it transforms the journey:

Santiago grounds you — food, wine, history, and modern Chilean culture

Easter Island mystifies you — one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, rich with story and unanswered questions

Together with Antarctica, it creates a perfect arc:
civilization → mystery → wilderness → reflection

Very few trips on the planet offer that.

Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere flips everything you think you know:

long daylight, open skies, summer energy

And Antarctica?
It offers something rarer than festivity:

Because some journeys don’t make sense on paper.
They only make sense in your bones.

If you’ve ever said:

“I want to see something truly untouched”

“I don’t just need luxury — but I appreciate it when it’s done right”

“I want a trip that changes me”

This is that trip.

And if Antarctica has ever crossed your mind — even briefly — this is the moment to lean in and ask questions. Plus, our FLYOVER means we avoid the Drake Passage Roulette gamble!

 

Some doors don’t stay open forever. ❄️✨

 

🧳 Hosted Land Journey | 📍 Morocco

Yes — this one absolutely belongs here… and I’m glad you caught it.

The Colors of Morocco tour is pure sensory travel — vibrant, layered, and unforgettable — and partnering with Collettemeans it’s delivered with polish, comfort, and beautifully paced storytelling.

A full-spectrum Morocco — imperial cities, souks, Atlas Mountains, and desert landscapes

Color, texture, and contrast everywhere — spices, tiles, textiles, music, light

Collette’s strength — smart routing, excellent local guides, and a rhythm that lets Morocco unfold instead of overwhelm

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – Morocco Is About Surrender, Not Control
Morocco rewards travelers who let go a little.

You don’t “figure it out” — you feel it.
Follow the guide. Trust the flow. Let the colors, scents, and sounds wash over you. The magic happens when you stop trying to organize it in your head.

✨ Why I love offering this trip
Because Morocco stretches people — gently, beautifully, memorably.

If you’ve ever wanted a journey that feels alive, a little exotic, deeply human, and endlessly fascinating… this one belongs high on your list.

Another box under the tree. 🎁

I’m genuinely excited to be partnering with Janz of In the Mood for Life to create this beautifully curated wine-lovers’ voyage down the Douro — elevated even further by traveling with our own sommelier, Salvador, guiding tastings and discoveries along the way.

We tested Riviera earlier this year and were thrilled: exceptional value, an excellent ship, thoughtful service, and pricing that outperforms its rivals — without compromising the experience.

And the only thing that makes it better?
Us. 🍷✨

🌍 Janz filmed another of his beautiful travel documentaries about our trip down the Danube to test Riviera River Cruises.  

 

It's fantastic and you will also see yours truly here and there… grab something to sip and watch!

🚢 River cruising | 📍 Porto

Quietly one of Europe’s most beautiful river journeys — and one of my personal favorites.

Dramatic vineyard terraces and golden light

Wine estates run by families, not corporations

A slower pace that invites conversation and connection

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – Don’t Rush Authentic Places
The Douro isn’t flashy.
It’s soulful.

This is where slowing down is the experience. Long lunches, unhurried tastings, lingering views. If you try to “do more,” you’ll actually miss everything.

🎄 Christmas in Portugal
Intimate, family-centered, and delicious. Midnight Mass followed by sweet breads, desserts, and meals that stretch long into the night.

Every year — every single year — I stumble across one travel experience that makes me sit back, grin, and say:

“Ohhh… this changes things.”

This year, that moment belongs to Aranui Cruises — and more specifically, their brand-new ship, Aranui Aranoa.

And yes… this is my super surprise Christmas gift to you 🎄✨

Let’s start with what they are not:

❌ Not a floating mall

❌ Not a mega-ship

❌ Not “entertainment at sea”

Aranoa is something far rarer.

Designed to:

supply remote Polynesian islands

connect real communities

and bring a small number of curious travelers along for the ride

This is authentic exploration, not curated spectacle.

Here’s what makes Aranoa unlike any other cruise line you’ve heard me talk about:

The Austral Islands are remote, wild, and breathtaking — and simply not accessible by traditional cruise ships.

You’re not following tourism.
You’re following life.

Aranoa delivers:

food

supplies

medicine

materials

Traveling on Aranoa means you’re part of something meaningful, not just consuming scenery.

No staged dances.
No manufactured smiles.

Instead:

genuine welcomes

real conversations

communities that receive you as guests — not customers

Let’s be clear — this is not roughing it.

Aranoa blends:

modern design

comfortable cabins

excellent food

thoughtful spaces

It’s elevated exploration, not sacrifice.

Aranoa guests tend to be:

curious

thoughtful

well-traveled

and deeply respectful

The vibe onboard?
Smart. Warm. Grounded. Human.

I couldn’t not share this properly — so I’m hosting a Zoom Party where we’ll dive into:

what makes Aranoa so special

why the Austral Islands are one of the world’s last great secrets

who this trip is perfect for (and who it’s not)

and how this fits into my hosted travel philosophy

🕐 1:00 PM Los Angeles
🕓 4:00 PM Miami

Bring:

a glass of wine 🍷

curiosity

and that friend who always says “I want something different next time.”

Because Christmas is about wonder.

And Aranoa delivers that rare feeling of:

discovery

humility

and genuine connection

This isn’t a trip for everyone.
But for the right traveler?

It’s unforgettable.

I can’t wait to tell you more — live, relaxed, and story-filled — at the Zoom Party.

🎁 Consider this one unwrapped.

🚢 Aranui Cruises | 📍 Tahiti

This is the trip people say:
“I didn’t even know travel like this existed.”

Islands almost no one ever sees

A working ship serving real communities

Raw, human, deeply moving travel

🎁 Dave’s Stocking Tip – You Are the Guest, Not the Consumer
Arrive gently. Slow down. Listen.

These places give more when you ask less — and they stay with you long after you leave.

🎄 Christmas in French Polynesia
Floral decorations, Polynesian carols, communal feasts, and soul.

This one’s for the travelers who love to browse, compare, and explore on their own — but still want a professional quietly watching their back.

CruiseFinder360.com was built on a simple philosophy:

You should be able to search and self-book cruises freely, without giving up expert guidance, perks, or protection.

Think:

transparent browsing

real-time availability

access to advisor-only benefits

and a human behind the scenes making sure nothing slips through the cracks

You get the independence you enjoy…
with the peace of mind of having me in your corner if you need it.

Because even when you like to do it yourself,
travel is better when someone experienced is still keeping an eye on things. 🎄✨

One quick, important note before I let you get back to the holiday magic.

What I do best — and what I truly love — is matching travelers with the right river and sea cruises. Not the most advertised ship. Not the one everyone’s talking about.
The one that fits you: your travel style, your pace, your dreams, and your vision of what a perfect vacation actually looks like.

Because the best trips aren’t just about where you go.

They’re about:

how it feels to be there

how easily everything flows

and who you share the journey with

When those pieces line up, travel becomes more than a vacation.
It becomes something soul-stirring — moments you carry long after you’re home.

And the real luxury?
It isn’t champagne or thread counts.

It’s peace of mind — knowing every decision was made thoughtfully, with your experience at the center.

As we head into Wave Season (the busiest booking period of the year), this is the perfect time to book a planning appointment — whether you’re thinking about one of the hosted journeys you just read about, or something entirely different.

No pressure. No obligation.
Just a conversation about where you’d like to go next — and whether it makes sense to start now.

✨ If it’s been on your mind, let’s talk before Wave Season does what it always does.

You know where to find me.

Before the year wraps up, I want to say something that truly matters.

Thank you — not just for booking trips, but for trusting me.

Trusting me with your time.
With your vacations.
With moments that matter.

 

Travel isn’t just dates on a calendar. It’s anniversaries, long-awaited dreams, family milestones, personal “finally” moments. And I never take lightly the fact that you invite me into that space.

 

Whether you traveled with me once years ago, join me every year, quietly follow along, or are still waiting for the righttrip — I appreciate you more than you know.

This community is thoughtful, curious, kind, and wonderfully human.

You ask great questions. You notice details. You value experience over noise.

 

And honestly?

You make what I do a joy.

So as the year closes, please know how grateful I am — and how excited I am for the journeys still ahead, together.

 

From my heart to yours,
thank you. 🎄✨