Destinations

IMPORTANT – If booking international travel, PLEASE make sure you have a valid passport at the time of book. Also, COVID Travel, Testing and Health Requirement information is provided by your Travel Advisor as guidance only and can change without notice. Always reconfirm information by checking government & airline websites before booking and traveling.

I remember I was 12 years old when the original Star Wars movie debuted back in 1977. I must have seen the iconic show over 10 times that first year. I knew I was hooked and would be a Star Wars junkie for life! I was ecstatic back in 2015 when Disney announced they would be constructing a “Star Wars Land” at both Disneyland & Disneyworld. Fast forward into hyperspace to May 29, 2019 and the long-awaited attraction has finally arrived. Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge!

I was honored to be able to attend the press event and the grand opening of Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. I was totally amazed of how I felt like I had been transformed from reality to a “space land” far, far away! So much to see and do. Each nook in this vast 14-acre new expansion is filled with something to uncover including shops to purchase & build Star Wars memorabilia and restaurants featuring galactic food options. Then turns your attention to the masterpiece, the breathtaking display of the Millennium Falcon, which has been recreated to scale in the middle of the Black Spire Outpost. One could spend hours just staring at the attention to detail of this legendary spacecraft.

Disney pulled out all the stops for the world premier and opening of Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge with appearances from Bob Iger, Disney’s Chief Executive, famed director George Lucas, and legendary stars including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Billy Dee Williams. After a short ceremony and traditional Disney fireworks, Bob Iger declared that Galaxy’s Edge was officially opened for business!

We then had the opportunity to experience one of the main two attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. (The land’s second attraction, Rise of the Resistance, will not debut until later this year.) The entrance to the ride is as impressive as the ride itself. In classic Disney fashion, you are in awe and are mesmerized by all the decorations & decor in the hanger as you work your way through the queue to the cockpit. Smugglers Run is very interactive and feels like a cross between Star Tours and a video game. Six people are in the cockpit of the “Falcon” and each person has a job to do. There are two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers. Regardless of how well or lousy you do with your assigned task, you will make it back alive after your flight and you will actually feel like you’ve been inside a Star Wars movie!

Disney has certainly hit a home run on the planet Batuu with Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge. Be prepared to relive your fondest Star Wars memories and create new experiences with family and friends. It’s literally a different world with so much to explore. As you visit this magical destination you will greeted with such phrases as “Bright Suns” & “Rising Moons” and you’ll learn the meaning behind the mantra “Unite the Spark, Light the fire!”

Brent Jenson

If we can help plan your next Disneyland to Disney World vacation, please contact one of our Morris Murdock Disney specialists!

Phone: 800.944.8018

Business Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

 

When planning a trip to Europe for myself and my 3 sisters, we wanted a stress free trip that would provide the active lifestyle we wanted along with the absence of trying to choose where we were going to stay and most importantly….where were we going to eat! Having only been on large cruise ships before, getting onto a European river cruise with only 81 staterooms is a delightful surprise. I chose AMA waterways for several reasons, first the itinerary and dates fit perfectly for me and my sisters. Secondly for the reviews and comments made by my fellow co-workers, letting me know AMA is an amazing product. And finally the beautiful pictures on the AMA website, which come to find out after being on the ship is such a true representation of the product.

We arrived 2 days before our cruise so we could explore Zurich and Lucerne. What a magical city Lucerne is, it is a must see if you are traveling in this region. Taking the train up to Basel, we left early so we could explore the city before sailing, train time was right around 50 minutes from Zurich. The AMA staff were very accommodating since we arrived around 9:00 am and they were still disembarking passengers from the previous cruise, they took our luggage and told us that it would be in our stateroom once we returned. Sure enough, once we returned around 2pm, our luggage had been placed in our stateroom and they had a lunch buffet set up that was perfect after a morning of sightseeing.

Interest in Iceland has exploded over the last few years. I plan many trips a year to Iceland and thought I knew it pretty well based on research and suggestions from DMCs. I was totally amazed on this trip with all I didn’t know. This educational experience was sponsored by Iceland Travel, Signature Travel Network’s number one destination manage company for Iceland. They are based in Iceland and know the product better than anyone. Started out flying on Delta through JFK. Arrival is about 630 am and it is about an hour from the airport to downtown Reykjavik. We saw and had breakfast at the interesting Viking museum on the way. They have a beautiful Viking ship replica inside. Then on to the city. After seeing some nice Icelandair hotels we checked into the Ion hotel. The location was great. I had a wonderful suite with a sauna and city view. We then visited Hallgrimskirkja the beautiful Lutheran cathedral and took a city tour. Dinner was on our own so we visited some of the fun pubs and nightlife for dinner. Who knew you could get some of the best pizza of your life in Reykjavik!

We were up early the next day to visit Krauma the geothermal baths. The experience was going between very hot baths then plunging into ice cold. I definitely felt invigorated! We enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Next on to Husafell Hotel, an amazing resort at the base of the glacier. We then got to go into the heart of a glacier. We tracked up the glacier in super Jeep’s with huge tires made for the climb. Inside the glacier was amazing. It was incredible to hear the history of glaciers in Iceland and how they are shrinking drastically due to climate change. The Husefel restaurant that evening was a treat with such fresh salmon and cod. We went to Thingvellir National park the next day to see some breathtaking waterfalls and geysers then on to Fridheimar Greenhouse. Iceland is famous for lots of greenhouses because of all the geothermal energy used to heat them. They grow the most delicious tomato’s. We were treated to a fantastic tomato soup and fresh bread lunch. On to more incredible waterfalls and lava fields. This night was my favorite hotel Hotel Ranga on the Eystri-ranga river. The rooms were so cozy and the views were astounding. This was one of the best places to see the northern lights. We enjoyed a fresh seafood experience that evening.

I can’t think of a better way to escape the cold Utah weather than a cruise to the Caribbean. In fact the Eastern Caribbean!

My recent travels took me aboard the beautiful Caribbean Princess sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Along the way we made stops at Princess Cay, a private island belonging to Princess Cruises. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Grand Turks in Turks and Caicos.

Even though San Juan is an American Territory, they remain independent and are self-governed. Old San Juan is a beautiful city that is over 465 years old. It is surrounded by Ft. San Cristobal. The fort was completed in 1783 and was built to protect the city. Across the city hall, there is a monument depicting all of the US presidents that have visited San Juan.

Amber Cove is an area just outside of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It is a beautiful city that enjoys access to the Caribbean blue waters. You can enjoy the day swimming with dolphins, kayaking or just relaxing on the beach.

The Dominican Republic was discovered by Columbus’ flag ship, the Santa Maria in Christmas Eve 1492.

For me the highlight was in Turks & Cacos. I spent the day enjoying the turquoise blue water of the Caribbean, snorkeling & swimming. The highlight was spending time with the stingrays. With the help of our local guide, I actually held a stingray and gave it a kiss! It was a bit salty, but not something I will forget!

Princess Cruises is also in the process of converting their ships to the use of Medallions. Unlike traditional cards used on other cruise lines, these medallions will unlock your stateroom when you approach the door, help you order food and have it delivered to wherever you are on the ship and even find those you are sailing with if you get separated. The medallions are still a bit of a work in progress, but should make your cruise a much more smooth experience.

The best part was I came home with a little sun and ready to face the remaining winter days in Utah!

Susan Hatch

If I can help plan your next cruise, please contact me:

Street: 404 East 12300 South
City: Draper, UT 84020
Phone: 801.483.5228

Business Days:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Visiting Italy can be compared to stepping into your favorite gelato shop — everything looks so good and it can be hard to make a decision. There are so many choices, all so different, and yet all so delicious. There is something in the Gelateria, or the country of Italy, that appeals to everyone. And just like a good gelateria, Italy invites you back time and time again to try a new flavor.

For the first timer a visit to the “Big 3” is essential: Rome, Florence, and Venice. But realize that because they are the Big 3, there’s a good chance that everyone else had the same great idea. For this reason, by getting off the beaten path, even within these famous cities, you can find some hidden gems of Italy. I’ll share my thoughts on some of these hidden gems of Rome, Florence, and Venice and save the other tastes of Italy for another time.

A first timer’s visit to Rome will likely see the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica as well as the sights of Imperial Rome, but let me offer a suggestion for my favorite museum in Rome, the Museo Borghese. Nestled in the middle of the Villa Borghese, a large and beautiful city park sits the Museum Borghese, a 17th century Villa converted to a museum. The museum houses several famous and spectacular Bernini sculptures as well as an impressive collection of art including pieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Reubens. While the Museo Borghese is popular, the crowds are well managed with a required reservation and timed entry for all visitors. The museum is a comfortable size and the entire collection can be easily enjoyed in under two hours. It’s a pleasant break from the city and the crowds. Afterward you can reward yourself with a nice stroll or bike ride through the massive park and finish off the afternoon at the far end of the park in the Terrazza del Pincio. This Terrazza commands an impressive view of the city of Rome and the Piazza del Popolo below.