A Master Mixer’s Memoir
Monday Mantra Cosmo Guy … Cosmo Guy … Cosmo Guy … A Master Mixer’s Memoir A bartender who can get the cosmopolitan right has clearly been around — and is just as clearly going places. It started with a cosmopolitan, that concoction of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime that few barte
Cruising into the Future
Monday Mantra Tech-yes or Tech-no?…Tech-yes or Tech-no?…Tech-yes or Tech-no?… Cruising into the Future Ready or not, here sails the Internet of Things! Last week, Carnival Corporation announced the launch of Ocean Compass, a quarter-sized gizmo designed to further elevate the cruis
Resolve This! – A dozen ways to be a better cruiser in 2017.
Monday Tuesday Mantra Happy New Year! … Happy New Year! … Happy New Year! Resolve This! A dozen ways to be a better cruiser in 2017. It’s time for me to look ahead to a bright and shining new year and give some thought to what I might do to enjoy cruising even more in […]
Welcoming White Cliffs
Monday Tuesday Mantra Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … There’s plenty to recommend in Dover and the towns of southeast England. Well, here I am spending the holiday season completely ashore in southeastern England (for full details of where and why
The Third Annual Judi’s Choice Awards – And the Winners Are!
Monday Mantra The Judi’s Choice Awards…The Judi’s Choice Awards!…The Judi’s Choice Awards… And the Winners Are! Cruising has plenty of biggest, first, and most wonderful accomplishments. The Judi’s Choice Awards recognize the best of the rest. Today, I look back on 2016 and recogni
Post-Cruise Blues – The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst.
Monday Mantra Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad… Post-Cruise Blues The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst As we celebrate this magical time of year, I ask each of you to briefly pause and send kind and encouraging thoughts to [
Caribbean Cruising Gets Cool – and Hot!
Monday Mantra SPActacular! … SPActacular! … SPActacular! I don’t want to be scrubbed with grated coconut or have my body wrapped in banana leaves. The tinkle of chimes doesn’t help me achieve well-being and I sure don’t want to dunk my feet in a tank and let hundreds of hungry litt
Going Down? – Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time.
Monday Mantra Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star… Going Down? Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time. Life is pretty darn good when everything is so perfect that an elevator’s “ping” is your big
Nun Better
Monday Mantra Heavenly…Heavenly…Heavenly… One of San Juan’s most divine hotels started as a Carmelite convent Now, here’s an eye-opener: Before sailing from San Juan last week, I spent an extraordinary night in a convent. I’d wager that few who know me would believe
History in the Making – There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego.
Monday Mantra Salvaged!…Salvaged!…Salvaged! There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego “I’ll give you 20 bucks if you turn to that woman and say ‘Shut the f— up.’” That, I believe, was the first thing I ever said…we
Carnival Feast – A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering.
Monday Mantra Hooked … Hooked … Hooked … A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering. If you have a serious cruise addiction, particularly if you’ve had it for decades, chances are you can trace it back to Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival’s kind of like the cruise fan’s Marlb
Oceania Enthusiasm – When you can’t believe cruising can be like this.
Monday Mantra Oooooceania!…Ooooooceania!….Ooooooceania! Oceania Enthusiasm: When you can’t believe cruising can be like this ✓ A prestigious luxury cruise line. ✓ A stunning 684-passenger mid-size ship. ✓ Award-winning dining. ✓ Regular New York departures. ✓ Fabulous Bulgari
Comforts of Home
Monday Mantra Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … It’s strange what you miss while having the time of your life. By this time, you’ve probably figured out that I love to cruise — aboard big ships, small ships, yachts, riverboats, and expedition ships.
The Show Must Go Onboard – Cruise entertainment has really grown up.
Monday Mantra That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … Cruise entertainment has really grown up I endured lousy comedians and jugglers. I attended an hour-long zither concert. I put up with marginally talented s
Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes….
Monday Mantra Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm… Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes…. How do cruises cope with stormy weather? My heart goes out to everyone whose cruise was cancelled, rerouted, or adjusted because of the devastating power of Hurricane Matthew.
Don’t Remind Me – I’m on vacation. What else do I really need to know?
Monday Mantra I forgot! … I forgot! … I forgot! … Don’t Remind Me I’m on vacation. What else do I really need to know? The first thing I do when I arrive at my cruise port is buy a toothbrush to replace the one I left on the sink at home after brushing my […]
Crew Woo – Sure, the uniforms were hard to resist. At least on board….
Monday Mantra The Love Boat … The Love Boat … The Love Boat … Sure, the uniforms were hard to resist. At least on board…. I wonder how Lois and Stefano are doing. I met Lois on an m.v. Homeric cruise a million years ago and on that sailing, she met Stefano, a navigation officer. […]
A Southern Lady in the Big Apple – American Duchess is one mighty fine riverboat.
Monday Mantra A Real Peach … A Real Peach … A Real Peach … A Southern Lady in the Big Apple American Duchess is one mighty fine riverboat. Once in a while, cruise writers — even lowly freelance ones like myself — find themselves at cool press events where industry announcements are made. W
Tropical Snow Job – Bikini babes and a whole lotta blow made this world cruise one for the books.
Monday Mantra Busted!…Busted!…Busted! Bikini babes and a whole lotta blow made this world cruise one for the books. Two weeks ago, authorities arrested three Canadian cruise ship passengers after police and sniffer dogs searching Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess found cocaine inside two
Lost-o-phobia – The irrational fear of having to live without whatever you packed.
Monday Mantra Luggage Lunatic … Luggage Lunatic … Luggage Lunatic Lost-o-phobia (n. | lȯst-ə-ˈfō-bē-ə) The irrational fear of having to live without whatever you packed. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been cruising for more than 35 years and have never once experienced the loss of a bag.
