Cruise Ship Review: Avalon Waterways Avalon Saigon
Pulling in to Siem Reap, we pass by markets, restaurants, and a church —establishments that would seem commonplace in any village. Except this one is floating. During the rainy season, Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, swells more than five times its size. Stilt homes sit l
Yaaachts Queen! Cruising the Suez Canal
Today’s megaships grab headlines with the sheer grandeur of their size and their array of dazzling activities, while smaller ships counter with their focus on personalized attention and luxury amenities, touting a “yacht-like” experience. Taking it one step further with actual megayachts, two
Floats My Boat: Love in the Wind
Just like a couple of eager kids, we grabbed each other’s hands and carefully stepped barefoot from the soft netting of our catamaran to the smooth metal edge of the bow. The lush, green mountains of Bora Bora were before us, turquoise water below. At that moment, our newlywed bond intensified. We
The Rough-Edge Corner of Costa Rica
Forget the platitudes about Costa Rica — the “safe” country, the “Switzerland of Central America,” all of that. If you cruise along the country’s northern Pacific edge, in Guanacaste Province, you’ll find nature in the raw, animals that would just as soon sting, maim, or eat you as loo
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
MSC Grandiosa: The Name Says It All
In today’s cruise world, being good simply isn’t good enough. So when you are given a name like “Grandiosa,” expectations run high. MSC Cruises has pulled the plug on being good and gone all in on being spectacular with the launch of the new MSC Grandiosa. With Hamburg, Germany, decked out a
The Mysterious Magic of the Venice Art Biennale
The Venice Art Biennale is the most important contemporary art show in the world. For six months every other year, it takes over the entire city of Venice. But it’s much more than an art show. If you are at all interested in art, architecture or just a lover of Venice, you should consider extendin
Vitamin Sea: The Suite Life
As wellness continues to take center stage in everyday life, cruise ships are giving healthy-minded passengers a boost with wellness-themed rooms and suites featuring a variety of amenities to help promote overall wellbeing. This trend, also seen in hotels and resorts, makes perfect sense when you c
Virgin Voyages: New Kid on the Dock
Whatever you do, don’t call it a cruise. Call it a voyage. In fact, Richard Branson, founder of the world-renowned Virgin Group, was so inclined to stress the difference that he changed the original name of Virgin Cruises to Virgin Voyages in October 2016, less than two years after establishing hi
Taking the Moscow Train with Seabourn
Taking the fast train to Moscow sounds like something out of a 1950s spy movie, and in many ways it felt like that too. The stops on the Seabourn Baltic cruise leading up to this point played out like the opening scenes, building suspense to the final climax, the highest point of the drama … [&hel
The New AmaMagna : Embrace the Bigger and Better
The lounge on AmaWaterways’ new AmaMagna comprises a large spacious area with incredibly comfortable seating areas. Each side of the lounge connects to a library, doubling a space that, on any other river ship, always feels more confined. I find this a peaceful place to sit and reflect for a momen
Eco Oceans: Scenic Eclipse Offers Fresh Greens on Blue Seas
According to Executive Chef Tom Goetter, Scenic Eclipse has 2,500 different recipes across its eight restaurants. But when you’re spending multiple days in remote, frozen tundras and rugged fjords, how do you keep ingredients fresh? Thanks to the ship’s Urban Cultivator, guests can enjoy fresh p
Floats My Boat: The Boaty Weekender Music Cruise
The long-gone dockyards of the River Clyde built some of the world’s most famous ocean liners, including Queen Mary and the QE2, but cruise ships aren’t spotted in Glasgow anymore — quite apart from anything else because it rains on average roughly every other day in Scotland’s biggest city.
Vitamin Sea: Mother Nature’s Natural Spas
Organic, all-natural, wild, and raw are the buzzwords today as we increasingly realize the value of reconnecting with the natural world. Renewal, revitalization, and restoration are key, and these no longer go hand-in-hand with chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and a cosmetic surgeon. There is a desire fo
Immersed in Commerce: The Evolution of Onboard Retail
There’s no lack of at-sea thrills these days — from racetracks and roller coasters to water slides — that elicit screeches and screams of joy. But when those heightened sounds emanate from the onboard watch shop … well, something unexpectedly special must be happening. Virtual Reality at Sea
Last Call: Martinis – Shaken or Stirred?
The Place — Martinis Grab A Seat — All Oceania ships Standout Feature — Piano bars are a staple on most cruise ships, but Martinis outdoes them all by pairing jazzy standards on an ebony Steinway with an intimate gentleman’s club atmosphere and, of course, 26 varieties of the titular c
48 Hours: Key West
This southernmost city in the United States has a way of achieving notoriety. Take the time it “seceded” to become the Conch Republic. Or José Martí’s historic attempts to galvanize exiled Cubans. Then there’s the renowned Fantasy Fest, an annual jaunt that empties stores across the nation
Pandaw’s Pursuit Of Laos
Experiential river cruising provides an opportunity to discover new lands, cultures, and people, deviating from the path well-traveled. Intrepid travelers recognize that going off the radar has its perks, and cruising the Mekong River, as it dissects intriguing Laos, is as rewarding as it gets. Fasc
Adventure into the Ice with MS Roald Admunsen
My journey ends at two red flags, about knee height, emerging from the ground in an “X” shape. I’m supposed to turn around, to meander back to the boats and get on the ship, but the solitude tempts me to stay. This marks the first time I’ve found myself alone on this continent. Yes, a [&hell
Clyde Butcher: Florida’s Photographer
Inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame in 1998, photographer Clyde Butcher is best known as the “Ansel Adams of Florida.” Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1942, Butcher claimed Florida as his home in 1980. Like most visitors, he was unaware that there was more to Florida than beaches until he w
