Conquering the Markets of Hong Kong
This summer I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit the city of Hong Kong, China. What made the experience even more memorable was being able to take my ten-year-old daughter. She is an adventure-seeker, like me, so it was an easy sell despite the 19 hours we would spend on the plane. Within t
7 Musts In Quebec City
Shopkeepers who greet you with a “bonjour!” A hotel that reminds you of chateaux from the Loire Valley in France. Old-World style cafes and narrow cobblestone streets bordered by quaint stone buildings. Quebec City, the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec in Canada, is located on the bank
Sampling Sydney’s Cocktail Culture in the CBD
Next time your cruise ship docks in Sydney Harbour and you’d like to visit some of the city’s most unique cocktail lounges, here are three in the Central Business District that we highly recommend. Our American daughter, Ashley, lives and works in Sydney and we recently visited her to celebrate
Tall Ship Sailing in the San Juan Islands
An inspiration for the senses, Washington State’s pristine Salish Sea and its intriguing San Juan Islands are spectacular from the deck of the historic Schooner Zodiac. A beautifully restored windjammer with the classic grandeur of a 1920s billionaire’s yacht, the Schooner Zodiac offered us an i
Advantages of Flying Into Port Miami a Day Early
Miami is one of the world’s most popular cruise ports, but did you know the city has a lot more to offer those who fly in for their cruise vacation a day or two early? From the unique Latin culture to the spectacular beaches and attractions the whole family will enjoy, Miami is a great […]
Why Your Next Cruise Should Include the United Kingdom
A regular in the top 10 of international tourism destinations and with a tourist industry predicted to be worth over £275 billion by 2025 – there’s obviously something special about the United Kingdom. Anyone who has visited this green and pleasant land will know it has breath-taking landsca
Bermuda, Booze, Horizon: Three ingredients to a killer cocktail
The Monthly Mantra Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … People cruise for all sorts of reasons: to visit exotic ports of call, to relax poolside, to enjoy the fine dining and to meet new friends. I, meanwhile, cruised to Bermuda aboard Carnival Horizon last week to pi
Luxury Hotel Brand Sets Sail in Indonesia
Luxury brand Ayana Hotels is scheduled to launch the world’s largest specially built Phinisi cruise ship this September. Ayana Lako di’a will grace the crystal waters in and around Indonesia’s Komodo Islands. Onboard the 9-bedroom luxury Phinisi, passengers can expect 5-star luxury cabins,
Weird Wednesday: Thames Town
Visitors to Shanghai are often in awe of the size and scale of the city. With a population of more than 24 million, it’s the largest in China and the 3rd largest by population in the world. The city’s proximity to the ocean (the Chinese characters for Shanghai translate to “upon the sea”
Norwegian Joy Headed Stateside After a Year in China
Norwegian Cruise Line made a splash with the announcement that their ship Norwegian Joy would be built with the Chinese market in mind. However, after just a year of sailing from Chinese ports, the cruise line announced Norwegian Joy would be headed back to the United States for future cruises. The
48 Hours In: One Dam Fine Town
Amsterdam has always been a seafaring town. It started a thousand years ago as a fishing village on a narrow dammed strip of land surrounded by water and bog. But the town soon expanded with increased trade, and by the 17th century it was the richest port in the world. Amsterdam’s Golden Age was m
Nice Rice: The Many Flavors of Indonesian Cuisine
Indonesian cuisine has always been one of my favorites since my first exposure to it on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Why Curaçao you ask….(You did ask didn’t you?). The ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, are intrinsically tied to the Netherlands with a strong Dutch profile.
Cruise Connection: Peruvian Perfection
Under normal circumstances, one would be hard pressed to find any commonality between intrepid exploration of the Amazon, luxury cruising, and culinary creativity. Then again, cruising with Aqua Expeditions is anything but common. Scheduling a 4-night sailing out of Iquitos, Peru, on the Aria Amazon
Grape Destinations: A View From The Top (Of a Fermentation Tank)
Being in the wine business certainly has its perks. One such perk, “Harvest intern” for a week in beautiful Napa Valley, California. In late September 2016, for the second vintage in a row, I worked side by side with the owners, wine makers, cellar masters and other interns at Amici Cellars, a p
Shore X: Lights, Camera, Excursion!
Hooray for Hollywood! Travelers cruising to California cities can celebrate movie magic — and not just in iconic Los Angeles. Beautiful San Diego and San Francisco offer up tons of filming locations to be admired by fans on a California cruise seeking to retrace their favorite movies and televisio
Cruise and Stay for the Best South Florida Music and Art Festivals
South Florida has long been a hotspot for the world’s most talented artists of the stage and canvas. If you’re thinking about taking a cruise from one of the area’s ports, then you might consider coming early or staying a few days after to really explore everything South Florida has to offer.
Beaches, History and Adventure: Experience a Puerto Rico Vacation
The city of San Juan, Puerto Rico is the largest and one of the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean for good reason. Its variety and ability to charm visitors is legendary. One visit is not enough to discover all that the island offers to travelers. As you come into port, you’re greeted by
For Shore: Navigators Through the Millennia
From the Vikings and great European explorers to 20th-century sailing vessels and warships, maritime museums tell the stories of colonization, trade, and war that have shaped the world as we know it today. Detailed below are some of the best museums worth a visit during your next stop in popular por
Blossom of the Costa del Sol
Though it may be a stretch to claim the sun is always shining on Spain’s Costa del Sol, it’s a safe bet that you’ll be treated to clear skies and mild, breezy days almost any time of the year. The Port of Málaga is located along the coast in the province of the same name, […]
Cruise Deal of the Week – June 15, 2018
Known as “The Happiest Place on Earth” and “Where Dreams Come True,” Disney theme parks are some of the most popular attractions across the world. It should come as no surprise, then, that Disney Cruise Line embodies the motto of the parks in every way possible. Disney Magic Heading to Quebe
