Monday Mantra Happy New Year!… Happy New Year!… Happy New Year! Promises, Promises I will set sail into the New Year with the best intentions. As we cruise into 2015, I find myself with a boatload of resolutions that are sure to make me a more pleasant shipmate … if I can keep …

Five Faves Five Favorite Stories from 2014’s Cruise News A fond look back at the year’s top cruise trends. New ships Norwegian Getaway, Regal Princess, and “smart ship” Quantum of the Seas, plus dozens of new river ships — including from Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Tauck, Scenic Waterways, and new …

Monday Mantra DECK the halls…DECK the halls…DECK the halls…   Escape into the Holiday Spirit Cruising the Danube can reawaken your childlike joy of the season.   They say Christmas is a magical time filled with family, friends, warmth, and wonder. And it certainly is, if you’re about 7 years old. Starting from …

Would You Cruise Cuba? The Caribbean’s largest island is a fascinating destination waiting to be explored With the surprising news that the U.S. government wants to re-establish diplomatic relations and ease restrictions on travel to Cuba, chances are American cruise companies are already looking at the opportunity to bring guests to colorful Havana …

Five Faves Caribbean Cravings Cruise up to these tropical hotspots to really get into the spirit of the islands. You don’t have to do an excursion in every cruise port you go to. In fact, I personally sign on for only one or two excursions per cruise. The rest of the time, I …

Monday Mantra Cabin sweet cabin…Cabin sweet cabin….Cabin sweet cabin… Cabin Fever From poky inside staterooms to the luxury of a doorbell, there’s no place like your home on board.… From yesteryear’s humble inside upper and lower, I have risen phoenix-like to the extravagance of spacious balconies, full bathrooms (with tubs!), little refrigerators, en …

Five Faves Cruise Enthused Five Favorite Onboard Thrills Modern-day cruisers might not realize that there actually was a time when shuffleboard and bingo were it for onboard activities. But then came waterslides and rock-climbing walls and today, the opportunities — and possibilities — for onboard thrills are endless. Here are our five favorite, …

Monday Mantra I’m thinking small… I’m thinking small … I’m thinking small … The Long and Short of It There are hidden bonuses to cruising with less. “I know what you mean about small ships,” the lady next to me at the bar said. “We sailed Holland America Line’s Westerdam last year and …

Five Faves Cruise Ship Superlatives We’ve lined up five of cruising’s top … most … best … to the extreme!!! Cruising is an experience that always asks for more. One more day on vacation. One more mojito. One more shrimp at the buffet. So it’s no surprise that cruise lines take great pride …

Monday Mantra I have no pain to kill… I have no pain to kill… I have no pain to kill… Hidden Heaven One little paradise can make an early wake-up call worth the pain. San Juan. St. Thomas. St. Maarten. Jost van Dyke. Jost van what??? Unless you own a private yacht or …