Bored of cruising the Caribbean? How about Alaska?

I’ve always wanted to do a Panama Canal, but with my wife as a school teacher the timing is never right. 

That certainly shouldn’t stop you, especially if you are tired of cruising the Caribbean and want something different and yet not too far from home. 

Holland America has 28 full and partial Panama Canal cruises planned for 2013 to 2014. 

Past Bermuda favourite the Veendam will now homeport in Boston for the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean cruises. The first one leaves on October 19 to San Diego for a 21-day cruise. There is an option of doing a 17-day cruise to San Diego on the Veendam if you want to board in Fort Lauderdale on October 23. 

Additional stops will be in Key West, Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Puerto Caldera, Corinto, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta.

The Veendam Panama Canal cruises start at $1,899 per person for an interior cabin up to $8,199 per person for a suite.

American Airlines 

The company has partnered with Marriott again. AAdvantge members will earn two miles per $1 spent at the following hotels: JW Marriott, Autograph collection hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels and Marriott Vacation club. 

There is also a two mile per $1 deal on room rate only at The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, and Gaylord hotels and one mile per $1 on room rate only at the following hotels: AC Hotels, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, residence Inn, TownPlace Suites and Marriott Executive Apartments.

You’ll have to signup at www.marriottrewards.com to get the extra miles.

There’s an additional 500 bonus miles when you stay at one of the above hotels between July 15 and august 15. 

Best Western

You can earn a 1,000 point bonus for downloading and using Best Western’s app for iPhone or Androids. You must and stay by September 30, 2013. It also has an app available for BlackBerry but the deal doesn’t apply to that device. 

Air Canada Aeroplan

Aeorplan recently announced changes where it has scrapped the seven-year term limit on miles. It used to be your miles expired after seven years whether or not you had activity within the previous year. It is still maintaining that your account must have some activity within the previous 12 months. That’s easy enough to do even if you don’t fly Air Canada by staying in one of its partner hotels or using its online eStore partners.

That rule goes into effect on January 1, 2014.

It will also be adding bonus miles at the eStore with Diamond members earning a three times the miles per transaction while Black and Silver members will eran a 2x the miles per transaction. 

There are additional bonus mile per award level for Saturday night stay on trips to Florida, New York, California, London and Paris. 

There’s a lot more on offer and you can read about it at distinction.aeroplan.com

Other Holland America ships doing the Panama Canal include the Zaandam, the Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Statendam and Amesterdam. 

Delta/Hertz

Delta and Hertz rental car company have teamed up for savings up to 40 per cent. 

In addition, rentals for one or two days earm 500 bonus miles, three to four days 900 miles and five days or more 2,000 miles. 

Delta/FedEx

You can also earn bonus miles by shipping with FedEx. If you are bringing something in from overseas, you might as well get some Delta airmiles for it. This promotion is good through July 31. Go to www.fedex.com/delta to sign up.