The Majestic Great Lakes, Toronto - Chicago
Discover a world destination in your own backyard on this Great Lakes adventure aboard Victory Cruise Lines’ M/V Victory I. This high summer getaway begins with an included one-night hotel stay in the buzzing metropolis of Toronto. Then you’ll set sail for a jaunt that touches each of the five Great Lakes.
Coastal Gems of the Emerald Isle with Professor David Craig
Ireland’s gorgeous coastal scenery of towering cliffs and ruggedly beautiful islands awaits you on this magical exploration of the Wild Atlantic Way and County Donegal, a hidden gem. Learn from beloved Willamette professor David Craig on this exciting trip.
New York Theater Tour
Travel to New York City for a week of fantastic shows on Broadway (and off), including "Company", "Girl From the North Country", and more. Enjoy intimate discussions with arts professionals and a private tour of the best art galleries in the Chelsea district. Led by award-winning playwright and actor James Ryan, this trip provides incredible insight into what goes into each production.
Mediterranean Pathways
The luxury cruise began in Rome and included stops in the beautiful and historical regions of Sorrento & Capri, Sicily (Taormina), Corfu, Gythion, Mykonos, Ephesus, Dubrovnik and Venice.
Wild West Adventure: U.S. Monuments
This tour of great national parks included a float trip on the Snake River, extensive viewing of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone, the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, Wyoming, the Devils Tower and the amazing Mount Rushmore lighting at night.
Canyonlands of the Southwest
This tour of great national parks included a visit to Sedona, a train ride on the Grand Canyon Railway, a cruise on picturesque Lake Powell, a float trip on the scenic Colorado River and a visit to the spectacularly beautiful Zion Canyon.
Glacial Adventures of Alaska
This fabulous five-star cruise through the Inland Passage to Alaska and back included stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, the Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, and Victoria.
Antarctica, the Falklands & Cape Horn
Featuring incredible views of some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, this trip included stops at the Chilean Fjords, Tierra del Fuego, the Beagle Channel, Cape Horn and four days in Antarctica before finishing on the Falkland Islands (great for bird-watching) and Montevideo, Uruguay.
Historic Harbors of New England & Canada
This six-star cruise visited the harbors of New York; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Quebec City.
New York Theater Tour
For the past two years, alumni have toured the Big Apple's legendary theater scene while enjoying six-night stay at the luxurious Kimberly Hotel in midtown Manhattan. In 2017, our group saw the smash hit "Hamilton," and in 2018, the trip featured "The Band's Visit."
Croatia & Pearls of the Adriatic Coast
In addition to three nights in luxury hotels in Zagreb and Opatija, the highlight of this trip was a seven-night cruise along the gorgeous Adriatic Coast.
Tanzania Service & Safari
Featuring a wildlife safari and a volunteer opportunity with the nonprofit organization, Red Sweater Project (founded by Ashley Holmer '00), this unique trip gave explorers the chance to see an incredible part of the world and give back to the locals at the same time.
Stars of Western Cuba
Beginning in Cienfuegos and with stops at Trinidad, Cayo Largo, Guanahacabibes National Park and Havana, this trip provided travelers with an unforgettable experience of Cuba, one of the world's most sought-after destinations.
Cuba: The People and Culture
This more economical land tour enabled travelers to experience the history, people and culture of this heretofore forbidden land. Highlights included visits to Finca Vigia (Cuban home of author Ernest Hemingway), Old Town Havana, Cienfuegos, colonial Trinidad, Las Terrazas Eco-Preserve, and the Bay of Pigs and Santeria museums.
Coastal Norway: The World's Most Beautiful Voyage
The combination of fall colors, unsurpassed scenery of the Norwegian fjords and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights made this a truly amazing trip! The 11-day cruise took Bearcat Explorers along the pristine Norwegian coastline to unspoiled fishing villages, historic towns and a crossing of the Arctic Circle to the Northernmost point of Europe.
Italy's Magnificent Lake District
Having done three previous trips to Tuscany, we this trip offered a fantastic opportunity to see the Lakes area of Northern Italy. Our base for this enchanting exploration of villages, villas and vistas was the Hotel La Palma in Stresa, a beautiful town that offers the best of the Lake District’s legendary culture, cuisine and beauty.
An Oceania Cruise from L.A. to Miami via the Panama Canal
Along with a first-class cruising experience, this trip featured stops in San Diego, Mexico (2), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia and the Cayman Islands.
Japan & 50th WU-TIU Anniversary
This special journey through the history, mystery and charm of Japan commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the sister university exchange relationship between Willamette and Tokyo International University. Travelers discovered an amazing variety of places from modern Tokyo, Kawagoe (known as "Little Edo," it is the sister city to Salem, Oregon and home of TIU), the peaceful countryside of Takayama and the timeless ancient capital of Kyoto with its thousands of shrines and temples.
Kayak the San Juans
Alumni joined Professor Luke Ettinger for a three-day, two-night expedition in the beautiful San Juan Islands. The kayaking excursion offered a variety of island scenery, and included killer whale habitat and island hopping.
Portugal & The Douro River Wine Country
This river cruise provided visits to historic Lisbon and the spectacular Douro River wine country, with nine sightseeing tours and 26 meals included.
The Best of India and a Ganges River Cruise
This marvelous tour hit all the country's significant locales while providing travelers with seven nights aboard the brand-new, all-suite RV Ganges Voyager. The comprehensive journey included stops at bustling Delhi, fortified Jaipur, Ranthambore’s tiger-filled national park and Agra’s unparalleled Taj Mahal.
Switzerland & the Heart of the Rhine & Moselle
This Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam cruise along the scenic Rhine and Moselle rivers included 14 sightseeing tours, wine tastings, lectures, and local entertainment.
Tuscany, Featuring Professor Emeritus Roger Hull
Bearcats joined Professor Emeritus Roger Hull in Tuscany for eight full days of Italian art, culture, wine and cuisine. The first six nights were spent in the ancient Etruscan city of Cortona. Daily forays included visits to Assisi, Perugia, Pienza, Montepulciano and Siena, with the last two nights coming in Florence.