Emeralds of Cartagena: Colombia’s Prized Gemstone
Here in Cartagena, a bustling port city on Colombia’s Northern coast, tourists flock from cruise ships to experience one of South America’s most distinct regions. Many are after something specific as they venture into the city, a gemstone which played a pivotal role in Cartagena’s history. Car
5 Ways To Have A Blast In San Blas
Panama’s San Blas Islands are exotic, friendly, and relatively nearby; often a port of call on Panama Canal itineraries, including those featuring partial transits of the Canal. They form an archipelago consisting of 378 islands scattered around in an area of 100 square miles in the northwest of P
MSC Reveals More About Highly Anticipated Ocean Cay
For what feels like years now, cruise and vacation enthusiasts have been hearing about Ocean Cay, a private island resort in the works from MSC Cruises. Delays have slowed progress, but new details have emerged about the resort set to open in early November of 2019. Relax by the beach or take a snor
48 Hours In: Happy Havana
For many visitors to Havana, the city may seem frozen in time, but if you look beyond the fading facades of its elegant past, the Cuban capital is changing rapidly as a young generation of Habaneros pulls it toward the future. Everywhere you turn, colonial-era buildings that had fallen into disrepai
6 Must-Sees In Cadiz, Spain
Most cruise passengers whose ships call at Cadiz, a White City in the Costa de la Luz (the Coast of Light) in the Andalusia region of Spain, immediately head out of town. It’s understandable, as the nearby treasures of Seville and the wines of Jerez de la Frontera beckon – I myself visited Sev
Viking Announces 2020-2021 World Cruise
Are you ready to relive the most fascinating wager in fiction? When Jules Verne wrote Around the World in 80 Days, the fiction trip he imagined was a perilous one. The one major gripe most have with the novel is the lack of time protagonist Phileas Fogg had to spend in each new place as […]
TRAVEL TIPS: Ajaccio, Corsica – a Hidden Gem in the Mediterranean
Perhaps you remember hearing the name “Corsica” in your high school history class, since the island is the birthplace of one of Europe’s most well-known historical figures: Napoleon Bonaparte. The French emperor was born right in Ajaccio, so the city is packed with history and offers visitors
5 Reasons to Pre-Cruise at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower
Through the years when our family has sailed from Port Canaveral on such lines as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, we have always spent some time in Orlando pre-cruise. And why not? By doing so, we are already near the port on embarkation day so there is no stress if there are flight
For Shore: Your Daily Tot on Tortola
If you’re going ashore in Tortola, why not go rum hunting? The Caribbean has the perfect climate to grow sugar cane, and during the colonial period plantations sprouted among the islands. It wasn’t long before someone noticed that the byproducts of the refining process – molasses – ferme
Cartagena’s Best: Exploring the Caribe Emerald Museum
One of the most interesting trends in cruising is the rise in popularity of South American cruise ports. Cartagena, on Colombia’s northern coast, is one such city where tourists are exploring more so now than ever before. First time visitors to the city are struck by its beauty and charm and can s
TRAVEL TIPS: Doha, Beyond Skyscrapers & Shopping Malls
In recent years, the Middle Eastern country of Qatar has become a major world power, and its capital Doha is a metropolis, complete with massive geometric skyscrapers that light up the Qatari sky at night. Thanks to the discovery of oil in this small country, located on the Arabian Peninsula, Doha h
Heading Ashore: 9 Things to See in Rome
For most cruise passengers sailing in the Med, a call at Civitavecchia, Italy, the port of the Eternal City, means that, as the saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome.” It will necessarily be a long day on those roads – it is about a 45-minute to one-hour’s drive (or longer, depending on traff
48 Hours: Vancouver – Have a Gas in the City of Glass.
The enchanting city of Vancouver is located on the west coast of Canada and takes her rightful place as the largest city in British Columbia. She sits nestled amongst beautiful, snow-peaked mountains, brims with numerous luscious parks, and is touched by the deepest of oceans. For at least 14,000 ye
Dalmatian Coast
Tauck, the New England based touring company, has had more than 90 years experience organizing escorted trips to more than 70 countries. So it was no surprise that its evolution and expansion from luxury river cruising to small ship ocean cruising has been such a success. As it does with its river c
Wilderness Found: Discovering Cunard’s Alaska
Few places in this world are truly wild thanks to man’s continual reach, yet the wilderness of Alaska remains pristine and ripe for exploration. From towering glaciers glimmering in the sunlight to a mother bear teaching her cubs the finer points of salmon fishing, life thrives without constraint.
Maximum Middle East
The scene was a cruise ship sailing in the Middle East, but it felt more like a James Bond movie. While guests on the ultra-luxurious 600-passenger Seabourn Encore were sipping martinis and champagne around the pool, four burly armed guards arrived by small motorboat, under the cover of darkness. Th
Food To Thai Me Over
Thai food has long held a special place in my professed obsession with searching for ultimate culinary bliss. It is definitely my ‘go to’ ethnic food. Who hasn’t felt the urge to make the phone call to your local Thai restaurant and order the quintessential Pad Thai, Tom Ka Gai or Chicken Sa
Seeing Seattle On a Budget
Looking for a way to see the Emerald City on a budget? We have you covered! Seattle may seem like an expensive town, but they have a lot of attractions that are free. Grab your coffee and let’s hit the streets of Seattle for some fun! Enjoy the Local Attractions Pike Place Market The essential
Cozumel’s Best: Fun in the Sun at Playa Mia Grand Beach Park
Does your vision of the perfect vacation include catching a nice tan, sipping a cold drink from a coconut and not a single email or Monday meeting on the agenda? Of course it does! If you’re taking a cruise vacation to the paradise island of Cozumel, Mexico and you’re looking for the ultimate mi
Adventure Unbridled: A Galapagos Expedition
As she glides through the brilliant turquoise waters of Gardner Bay, there’s already a crowd forming along the top deck of Celebrity Xpedition. They’ve gathered for the sea lions. Weighing in at around 600 pounds and prone to guttural barks and yelps, these salty dogs are a staple of any trip to
