Shore Excursions: Forts in Ports
Today, the battlements provide beautiful backdrops to our snapshots, and their towers reach reassuringly into clear skies – but as in centuries past, they allow us to keep watch as each new ship enters the harbor from ports unknown. Fort Jefferson A 2-hour ferry ride from Key West stands the large
Best Cruise Ports for Surfing
As the immortal Beach Boys taught us way back in 1961, “Surfing is the only life, the only way for me.” It’s nearly impossible to explain why the act of paddling out into the waves on a big, floating board only to have them push you back toward shore can be so all-consuming. You just […
Side Trip to Cinque Terre
Known as the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre (pronounced Ching-kwe Ter-ray) is a cluster of five picturesque villages in Northwest Italy that adorn the shoreline with colorful buildings, steep cliffs, beautifully rugged and rocky beaches, and small but completely charming ports and harbors. And if you
Pre-/Post-Cruise: 48 Hours in Anchorage
I never realized how truly unique my home city was until I began to travel. Growing up, it was normal to reroute my way to school due to a moose along the path or to ski to the supermarket because our car couldn’t make it out of our snow-filled driveway. Anchoragites have a close relationship [&he
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2018
The Monthly Mantra And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! It’s time for the Judi’s Choice Awards and this year my head is spinning! 2018 has seen explosive developments in the cruise industry, big and small, far and near – so here are this year’s
Cruise Control: Which Beach in Aruba? Baby Beach! (Video)
You finally made it to nearly all the islands the Beach Boys sing about… but there’s just one left. You’re crossing Aruba off your list! Imagine docking at the port of Oranjestad. When you disembark the ship, you look around to see the streets flooded with colorful buildings and shopping touri
