Early November 2025 found us on the 3-night Inaugural of the Oceania Allura. Her sister Vista is stunning, Allura is as well. Food and Wine has a new partnership with Oceania Cruises thus Allura’s godparents are Food and Wine Best New Chefs...
READ MOREI 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 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...
READ MOREMy third sailing on the Azamara Journey was a pleasant respite from both a busy time at work and the holiday season. Sailing in December put us in Cuba’s winter season which very much reminded me of a Midwest summer but with tropical...
READ MOREFrom the moment I walked on the ship I could tell that the Edge is very different even from the Solstice class ships in the fleet. Public areas are spacious, colors are serene, art is interesting, smiles and greetings are abundant. Unique small...
READ MOREFifth in a series, the Orion keeps the refined simple elegance of her sisters with the addition of a few notable additions such as the Explorer’s Dome a Planetarium/Imax like experience. The decor is Scandinavian in light tones with color...
READ MOREWhen traveling with river cruise lines it is important to remember that water levels can create disturbances in your voyage. Below is a list of river cruise lines and a brief description of their policies on this matter. Viking River–...
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