I was delighted to be invited to the naming ceremony of the latest Edge Class vessel Xcel. This short 2-night sailing included the naming ceremony extravaganza. Not my first naming ceremony but my first time in a suite with suite amenities on...
READ MOREMid-May in Northern Europe can have unpredictable weather.The Seabourn Ovation is the opposite as predictable as the rising sun.This was my third Seabourn cruise and I sailed with many passengers who farexceeded my time with Seabourn. Many were...
READ MOREAfter several years I returned to the relaxed and familiar Holland America Family and immediately felt at home. The always gracious crew was friendly and attentive. The ship comfortably designed with a stable ride even in rough water in my deck 5...
READ MOREConsider ear plugs for the shows. I found it painfully loud at times My Apple Watch even warned me of dangerous noise levels on several occasions. Not a fan of the unbalconies. No breeze and the glass is at chest level. Stark and...
READ MOREI was on the Virtuoso Cruise Committee when Atlas was introduced as a new cruise partner. I did not offer them for some time as I have seen upstarts under perform. I watched the Virtuoso Verified Reviews and finally decided to offer...
READ MOREItaly has a draw that to many is a sirens song and Venice is it’s soul. The lagoon is a massive body of water just off the Adriatic Sea and is a busy waterway for small vessels. Large cruise ships were banned in summer 2021 and now must port in...
READ MOREThe Viking Polaris is stunning. Her glamour shots do not do her justice. It is impossible to capture her feel in photos. Space in public areas is impressive even with a full compliment of passengers she was uncrowded. I was constantly surprised...
READ MOREEarly May 2023 the Vista was christened in Malta. Attending the naming ceremony was magical, speeches and entertainment ending in fireworks. The care and attention to detail so evident in the festivities extended to Vista. As soon as I stepped...
READ MOREVictorian opulence meets modern day comfort with a serving of Americana. River cruises on American Queen are so unique that they really don’t fit into even the river cruise category. Unusual in the number of passengers for a river ship with...
READ MORESome ships are refurbished and then there is Windstar, ships cut into, rebuilt from the engines up so that they feel better than new because they did not lose the Windstar crew which is the soul of a ship. New meets old seamlessly and every inch...
READ MORESome premium cruise lines have been quietly modifying their policies on room service. Once room service was entirely complimentary but that is no longer the case. Norwegian Cruise Line offers continental breakfast free of charge until 10:00 a.m...
READ MOREAlways known for the personal touches of the Tollman Family the Uniworld ships are individually designed for the rivers they sail and all spaces including each cabin are uniquely decorated. The Joie de Vivre has a playful moulin rouge theme with...
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