Check out the Freshly Renovated SeaDream II
I had a friend years back—Audrey—who, though positively stunning, decided to have “some work done.” And the results were most unfortunate. I thought of Audrey in January of this year when the award-winning, five-star SeaDream Yacht Club announced that their twin yachts, the 4,260 grt, 112-
Oceania Marina: Converted to Cruising
“That ship is enormous!” exclaims Sanja as the motorcoach delivers us to the Miami Passenger Ship Terminal to board the 66,084 grt and 1,250 passenger Oceania Marina. (Note to self: Do NOT suggest Sanja accompany you on a cruise aboard a ship like Wonder of the Seas or she might just pass ou
How ‘bout Some S.A.L.T.? Silversea’s New Culinary Program
That pizza in Naples, its thin, perfectly charred crust topped with a bubbling, spicy tomato sauce and a blanket of gooey melted cheese. Mouthwatering fish and chips at a tiny pub outside London, a crisp, golden coating hugging the flakiest plaice filet while a heap of tender fries, liberally sprink
Cruising on Viking Venus: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Never say never, I suppose, but I’d be stunned if anyone even caught a cold aboard a Viking Ocean ship, much less contracted COVID-19. I just returned from a 12-night Mediterranean Odyssey voyage aboard Viking Venus, the latest addition to Viking’s gorgeous series of identical 930-passenger, 47,
The Perfect Holiday Gifts for Cruisers
The holidays are BACK — and so is cruising! This year, you can hope to gather with family and friends for holiday dinners, drinks, parties, gift-giving, and other festivities that go far, far beyond that 60-minute video call that was the extent of last year’s holiday celebration — the one wher
Making Up for Lost Time: a Post-Pandemic World Cruise
They say that we make plans and God laughs. Well, God must have been doubled over in knee-slapping hysterics when last year’s lockdown coincided exactly with my retirement date. Gone were my lavish retirement party and, even more heartbreaking, two Caribbean cruises along with my ideal post-
The Cruise Show Must Go On!
Heavy metal fans aren’t going to let a worldwide pandemic stand in the way of their fun. With cruising at a virtual standstill, Monsters of Rock, which for a decade has been the ultimate seagoing celebration of the explosive world of hard rock and metal, is taking the party ashore! Originall
SeaDream Yacht Club Webinar Offers Answers and Updates
Throughout my entire corporate career, nothing was more important to me than providing answers or, when definitive answers were elusive, regular updates that informed and enlightened my clients or colleagues. How refreshing to see that SeaDream Yacht Club adheres to these same business principles in
Silversea Silver Moon Completes Successful Sea Trials
Cruise news to cheer! Sailing suspensions. Cancelled cruises. Refund delays. Scrapped ships. Nasty comments from journalists who consider themselves qualified to slam the entire industry despite never having set food on a gangway. I tell you, these days I brace my
Cruising’s Hottest New Clubs
Everybody dance now! Not too long ago, a get-down, get-funky night of dancing to popular music was nearly unheard of linaboard a cruise ship. A disco, if there even was one, was stashed away like an afterthought in the bowels of the ship or on the topmost deck so as not to offend passengers fo
Testing the Waters: a 3-Day Getaway to St. Thomas
Sometimes—even during a pandemic—a girl needs to immerse herself in a turquoise sea, feel powder-soft sand between her toes and have some crispy, deep-fried conch fritters for lunch. And so I decided, with the Virgin Islands open to visitors, to plan a quick three-day getaway to St. Thomas—a m
ANTI-SOCIAL DISTANCING? Solo Cruising in the Covid-19 Era
When I think of cruising in the Covid-19 era, the chorus of Eric Carmen’s 1975 pop hit “All By Myself” wafts through my mind because, more often than not, I sail solo. People sail solo for a lot of reasons. Perhaps they’re single, divorced or widowed, or maybe they’re stressed-out bu
CRUISE RECIPE: MSC Cruises’ Neapolitan Pizza
I’m Hungry to Sail Again… When it comes to MSC’s pizza, I’m something of an expert since that’s pretty much all I consumed during the 2013 and 2014 Moody Blues Cruises aboard Poesia and Divina, respectively. Unlike the typical sailing where leisurely meals in the ship’s dining room or sp
CRUISE RECIPE: Disney Cruise Lines’ Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milkshake
When you cruise with Disney, you can expect there will be some sweet treats along the way. In honor of National Donut Day, we’ve got a recipe for a milkshake served with a donut on top! You can find this delicious treat at Sweet on You on board Disney Fantasy. It’s a popular spot fo
CRUISE RECIPE: P&O Cruises’ Chorizo al Vino
I’m Hungry to Sail Again… P&O Cruises, the popular Carnival-owned U.K.-based line, has delayed the launch of its massive, 5,200-passenger ship Iona and the star-studded Ionafest naming celebration until Covid-19’s all-clear is sounded….but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a taste of wh
CRUISE RECIPE: Seabourn Cruise Line’s Simple Roasted Salmon with Lentil Stew
I’m Hungry to Sail Again.. Stop what you’re doing right now (and if you’re like me, that pretty much means switching off the Law & Order reruns you’ve been watching for the past two months) and start preparing this heavenly dish from Seabourn Cruise Line! Just look at the directions—si
Introducing Silversea Origin
In these days of cancelled sailings, delayed inaugurals and postponed launches, it’s almost unheard of to hear of a new ship…but today we welcome the intimate Silver Origin, the latest addition to Silversea Cruises’ luxury fleet and, with just 100 passengers and remote and uncrowded destinatio
CRUISE RECIPE: Cunard Line Scones
I’m Hungry to Sail Again! Let’s give midday lockdown a decidedly British accent with Afternoon Tea, that serene and elegant shipboard ritual that so many of us have come to love! At 3:00 p.m., we’ll take out grandma’s china cups, brew fine coffees and teas (don’t even think about popping a
CRUISE RECIPE: Disney Cruises’ Best Cocktails!
I’m Hungry THIRSTY for a Cruise! At first, I was baffled. How on earth could Disney Cruise Line have some of the coolest cocktails at sea? And then I realized that if you’re dealing with as many exuberant kids as Disney does, it’s not surprising that you’d want a stiff drink now and ag
Back to Basics on Oceania Insignia
It seems that, almost overnight, the concept of “vacation” changed from one of relaxation, merriment, and luxury to an “experiential” adventure, often characterized by backbreaking physical work or a grueling life and death struggle. I’m sorry, but that sounds way too much like my daily li
