We have experienced Ensenada many times, and have no interest today. However, I did learn one thing; this area is the heart of the wine region. In truth, I have never seen a bottle of Mexican wine. The first vineyard was planted in 1703, but for some reason the results don’t appear in stores north of the border.

Because it’s close to San Diego and Los Angeles, Ensenada serves as the mandatory foreign port for ships to and around Hawaii. It’s also a close Mexican location for good prices on silver and gold, some of which is still mined in the vicinity.

A new shop has opened dockside.

If you want to go into town, shuttle  is $2; back to the ship, $3,

OK, one thing before Cabo fades. It is almost a tradition for me, when visiting Cabo to buy the hottest sauce I can find.

This time I found it in a large store that sold all kinds of goods. Here’s what blew me away; the price was in pesos, but they would only accept dollars.

And now, the food, boss, the food!

Silver Spirit has six restaurants, four of them without extra charge. We ate on the upper pool deck at “Hot Rocks”. You have your choice of chops, steak, or seafood.

It arrives on a HOT piece of volcanic stone with sides, well, on the side. Want it rare? Take it off in a minute. Want it well done? Leave it awhile.

Last night was in Seishin.

This is a Japanese restaurant, which, with nine courses and a wine degustation, is $200 per person. $80 will get you several Sakes. Smaller courses with beer or wine are $30 and $40. I had the forty dollar choice.

The food was excellent, but for me the charge excessive. It is difficult, however, to find good octopus back in Canyon Country.

As we dressed this morning, there was a crew emergency drill. This announcement came over the speakers; “For exercise, for exercise, crew to muster stations.” Don’t they have a gym? I’m sorry.

We head back to Los Angeles tonight.

It’s not often that you visit destinations where the locals and tourist authorities advise you to “get out of town.” But in Rostock, Germany, and the nearby seaside resort, Warnemunde, that’s exactly what many cruise passengers are hearing.

It’s not that they, or any tourists, are unwelcome in Rostock and Warnemunde. The Baltic ports see more than 150,000 cruise passengers annually, according to Cruise Europe statistics. So why encourage them to leave? Cruise tourism authorities in both destinations are aware of the appeal of Berlin as well as the fact that theirs are the closest Baltic ports to the German capital, only three hours away by train.

Berlin, however, requires a full day on excursions offered by many of the cruise lines. Should you visit Berlin and skip Rostock and Warnemunde? Not so fast. By give short shrift to Rostock and Warnemunde, you’ll miss two worthwhile destinations.

My advice: See Rostock and Warnemunde and save Berlin for another visit. Berlin deserves more than a one-day visit. To help you decide, following is a tale of two cities — plus one — to help you make an informed decision about how to make the most of your time.

Wonderful Warnemunde, Historical Rostock

Ships typically dock in Warnemunde, a seaside resort that was famed for its baths and spas in the 20th century. Today, Warnemunde is a bit as if Miami were to meet the Baltic. Beaches are wide and sandy; hotels and bars line the streets across from the beach. Simply strolling the beach, or bicycling, is reason enough to visit Warnemunde.

Wide beaches in Warnemunde, Germany

Only 10 miles from Warnemunde, Rostock is one of the three original Hanseatic cities. Founded in 1218, the city is also home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1419. For the history buff, Rostock is well worth seeing. Moreover, getting to Rostock is easy. The train that departs to the city is within walking distance of the cruise terminal in Warnemunde

A few summers ago, I visited Rostock and Warnemunde on Holland America Line’s Westerdam. Disembarking for the day, I found help and maps in the cruise terminal. With information in hand, I boarded the train for the short transit to Rostock.

Once in Rostock city center, I transferred to a tram to get to the central square, Neuer Markt. From the ship to the central square took only about 30 minutes, including the transfer on the tram. In the tourist information center, situated on the square, I learned that the city features a town wall, gothic churches, charming shops and cafes.

I was advised to begin my exploration of Rostock at St. Peters Church, where I took the elevator up nearly 12 stories for a view of the city. Afterward, I walked the city squares and wide pedestrian streets, stopping for bratwurst before heading back to Warnemunde by boat.

In Warnemunde, I rented a bike near the train station and rode for a couple of hours along the promenade skirting the beach. Westerdam did not depart until 10 p.m., so after dinner on the ship, I walked back into Warnemunde. When I returned to the ship, the trains were returning with passengers who had opted for Berlin. As I watched them disembark, tired from the long journey but enthused about what they had seen, I was glad I stayed nearby. But as with most things, I had a tinge of “buyer’s regret” that I had not seen Berlin.

Berlin In One Day

On another Baltic cruise, I decided to head for Berlin from Warnmunde, nearly a three-hour journey by train each way. Here’s how to make the most of one day in Berlin if you’re not on one of the excursions offered by the cruise lines.

Prepare for a long day, which requires a 150-mile journey each way by train or bus to Germany’s capital.

Your goal is to see the major sites, including the remains of the Berlin Wall, historic Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. You can do all that, and you’ll also have time to walk Berlin’s most famous boulevards and sample one of the city’s many museums.

After arriving at Berlin’s main train station get yourself on the S Bahn to the Zoologischer Garten (it’s only three stops – about 10 minutes). Once there, head outside to admire the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, destroyed in a World War II air-raid. The emotional effect of seeing the stark shell of the church is a powerful reminder of the devastating effect of war.

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, destroyed in a World War II air-raid.

Board double-decker Bus 100 in front of the Zoo railway station for city tour using public transportation. Take a seat on top to enjoy the scenic ride that carries you through the Tiergarten (Berlin’s large city park), past the Reichstag, along Unter den Linden, and around Alexanderplatz, the open square and public transport hub.

Berlin’s largest city park, Tiergarten.

Exit the bus at Museum Island, situated on the Spree River and home to four internationally renowned museums. Any one of them is worth your time, but as you are trying to maintain a schedule, limit yourself to the most popular, the Pergamon, home to original-sized, reconstructed monumental buildings such as the Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate of Miletus, and the Ishtar Gate, all consisting of parts transported from the original excavation sites.

Leaving Museum Island, stroll along Unter den Linden until you reach Pariser Platz, a prestigious address in prewar times that has returned to its former glory.

Surrounding the square are the American, French and British embassies, and on one corner is the beautiful Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. Take a seat at an outdoor table at Restaurant Quarré and split a Chocolate milkshake, pricey at 9 euros, but worth the experience and the view — and plentiful enough for two.

From your seat outside Hotel Adlon, take time to admire Brandenburg Gate, once the formal entrance to the city and still a grand symbol of Berlin. When you’re done, head through the Gate, across Ebertstrasse, to the Reichstag. The first parliament of the German Empire, the Reichstag was opened in 1894 and housed the German parliament until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire supposedly set by a Dutch communist.

This fire proved to be a valuable excuse for the Nazis to suspend most civil rights and increase the state security apparatus. Following World War II, the Reichstag building again became the seat of the German parliament, and in October 1990, the official German reunification ceremony was held there. The building was completely reconstructed in a project led by architect Norman Foster and completed in 1999.

Check your watch. If time allows, take the free elevator up into the dome, which the locals call “the light bulb,” for stunning city views and to watch the democratic process take place below.

Head back to Ebertstrasse to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Also known as the Holocaust Memorial, the five-acre site has thousands of irregularly sized concrete slabs arranged in an unpredictable grid.

According to the designer’s project text, the slabs are designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason. About a block away, you’ll find a sign marking the spot of the bunker where Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide.

Move on to Potsdamer Platz, a study in urban renewal and modern architecture, and continue to the Topography of Terror, a free, open-air exhibit on the organizations of the SS and the Gestapo, their crimes and their victims.

The site is bordered by a remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall. Checkpoint Charlie lies another 250 yards further east. After viewing the Topography of Terror, continue on to the Mauermusuem Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, which is open until 10 p.m.

From Checkpoint Charlie, walk up the other side of Friederichstrasse six blocks to Berlin’s most beautiful plaza, Gendarmenmarkt.

Twin cathedrals (French and German) topped by tall domes in the gorgeous Baroque style anchor this square, with the grand Konzerthaus standing between them.

Each church has attractions: On the south side, the Deutscher Dom offers a government history museum, while the Franzosischer Dom has a nice restaurant and a tower with wine bar and dizzying spiral staircase leading to a panorama view.

Find your way to double-decker Bus 200 to travel the opposite side of the Tiergarten to the Zoo, and make your way back to the main train station and back to Rostock/Warnemunde before your ship departs.

The all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager of Regent Seven Seas Cruises has been voted the cruise ship with the best food and dining room service by members of the prestigious World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society for the second year in a row.

According to the society, when choosing a cruise, “the category of food is often at the top of everyone’s list of importance.” When voting, their members considered food taste, quality and presentation.

Equally important is dining room service. Ships were considered based on the following six criteria (1) ample staff to ensure that there are no long delays in serving, (2) promptness in responding to special requests, (3) ability of the staff to communicate and explain the menu, (4) the staff’s ability to remember guest preferences, (5) promptness in serving, replacing utensils as needed, and (6) general attitude and friendliness of the staff.

“All of us at Regent Seven Seas Cruises share this tremendous accomplishment with the officers and crew of Seven Seas Voyager,” stated Mark Conroy, president, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “We work hard every day to exceed our guests’ expectations and our food and service is the very best at sea.”

Seven Seas Voyager, which recently emerged from a multi-million dollar refurbishment, carries 700 guests. Suites range in size from 356 to 1,403 square feet. Cruise fares are inclusive and include fine wines and premium spirits, a selection of shore excursions in all ports, onboard gratuities and air transportation from 23 gateway cities.

Guests can choose from four open-seating, gourmet dining venues, including Compass Rose, the ship’s main restaurant, serving Continental fare, American favorites and Canyon Ranch Spa Cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Signatures specializes in inventive, award-winning French cuisine. Seven Seas Voyager and her sister ship, Seven Seas Mariner, are the world’s only ships with a restaurant operated under the auspices of the legendary Le Cordon Bleu® of Paris.

A contemporary interpretation of a traditional American steakhouse – Prime 7 - offers eight USDA Prime, dry-aged steaks to choose from, as well as lamb, pork, poultry and seafood selections.

La Veranda offers both indoor and al fresco seating. Elaborate breakfast and lunch buffets are complemented in the evening by regional specialties from the destinations visited.

Seven Seas Voyager visits Scandinavia and Russia from June through August before sailing Southern Europe in September and October. In fall and winter, the ship sails the Caribbean and Panama Canal.

The 30-year-old World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society is comprised of travelers with an impressive cruising pedigree. Members who participated in the survey have sailed on 37 cruises, typically two or more voyages per year. Consequently, their voting reflects first-hand experiences, rather than general opinions about ships they have not traveled on.

For more information on Regent Seven Seas Cruises or to receive a 2011 brochure, see a professional travel agent, visit www.RSSC.com or call toll-free (800) 285-1835. Great rates on RSSC cruises can also be obtained through www.cruisecompete.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is giving customers an extra hour to book a cruise vacation before the line implements its largest rate increase in company history with prices going up by as much as seven percent fleet-wide on Friday, April 2.

The company’s call center will stay open until 1 a.m. the morning of the increase giving everyone a last chance to book current pricing on the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships along with its newest and largest ship, Norwegian Epic.

Price increases will take effect on more than 125,000 rates across the fleet on every ship and every sail date through 2012.

For more information on Norwegian or to book a cruise now, call (866) or go to www.ncl.com. You can become a fan of NCL on Facebook at www.ncl.com/facebook to receive the latest news and inside information, as well as updates on Norwegian Epic.

Star Clippers is offering free air and $1,000 savings on seven 14-night sailings aboard Star Clipper and Star Flyer in the Mediterranean from May through September.

Eligible for the promotion are two 14-night “Grand Mediterranean” voyages between Monte Carlo and Rhodes on the Star Flyer. Departing July 3 from Monte Carlo and Aug. 21 from Rhodes, the cruises call at less-visited destinations in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Sicily and Corsica. Fares begin at $3,285 per person, double, which includes free air and $1,000 off the brochure rate.

Also eligible are two 14-night cruises by the Star Flyer — a roundtrip from Monte Carlo departing May 29 and a voyage from Monte Carlo to Cannes departing Sept. 11. These cruises explore the French and Italian rivieras with a call every day to ports in Corsica, Italy, Sardinia and France, and a maiden call at Lerici, Italy.

Also included in the offer are three 14-night Star Clipper cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean round-trip from Athens. Departing May 22, June 19 and Aug. 7, the ship calls at seven additional Greek ports and three ports in Turkey, including three maiden calls. Fares for the 14-night sailings begin at $3,570 per person, double, which includes free air and $1,000 off the brochure rate.

For more information, call (800) 442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com.

The Yachts of Seabourn has opened its 2011-12 cruise season for sale with two-for-one cruise fares plus value-priced air add-ons on all Seabourn voyages through fall 2011.

Cruise fares start at $3,250 per person, and round-trip, add-on airfares from 40 North American gateways begin at $499 for economy and $1,999 for business class. A complete 24-month listing of itineraries and fares is available at www.seabourn.com.

“With the addition of Seabourn Sojourn this June, and Seabourn Quest in 2011, travelers can book now to travel well and save well, on six intimate Seabourn yachts sailing to every corner of the world,” said Seabourn President and CEO Pamela Conover.

To qualify for the two-for-one promotional fares, 2010 and 2011 cruises must be booked by May 31. Both the cruise fare and airfare promotions are capacity controlled and subject to space availability. For more information, call (800) 929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, is waiving single supplement fees for seven sailings this spring. The offer is for stateroom categories B through F when booked by April 30.

Eligible sail dates are April 6, Cook & Society Islands, 11 nights; April 17, Society Islands, seven nights; April 24, Society Islands, seven nights; May 8, Fiji Westbound, 13 nights; May 22, Fiji Eastbound, 15 nights; June 12, Society Islands, seven nights; and June 19, Society Islands, seven nights.

For more information, call 800-848-6172 or visit www.pgcruises.com.

Compagnie du Ponant, a French company that recently opened a U.S. office, is introducing a new $150 million mega-yacht, the 264-guest Le Boréal, this spring. The 466-foot mega-yacht was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. A sister ship, L’Austral, will debut in spring 2011.

Le Boréal will have a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2. Public spaces include a theater for performances and lectures, the Main Lounge with a dance floor and live music, the Panoramic Lounge for live entertainment and Internet access, a library, two open-air bars and two restaurants. Serving French and international cuisine, La Licorne will offer three meals a day in an elegant setting. At the more casual La Boussole, guests can dine inside or in the open air on lighter meals for breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinners. The yacht also provides 24-hour room service.

The vessel will have a Carita spa with a hammam and a hydrotherapy room. The fitness center will be equipped with treadmills, bicycles and kinesis equipment. The ship also has an expansive Sun Deck with a swimming pool and terrace with panoramic views. Le Boréal has will carry a fleet of Zodiac rubberized rafts that allow guests to explore as well as a marina platform that allows access to the water for swimming or water sports.

All but eight of Le Boréal’s 132 suites and staterooms have verandas. Measuring between 484 to 200 square feet, the suites and staterooms have king or twin beds, bathtubs or showers, L’Occitane amenities, flat-screen satellite TV, DVD, CD and iPod players, satellite telephone and Wi-Fi. Suites also have Nespresso machines and Carita amenities. Le Boréal has the flexibility to reconfigure 40 staterooms into 20 suites, making a total of 24 suites and 88 staterooms. Read the rest of this entry »

NCL has owned a private island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl regularly call on Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year.

Now, Norwegian Cruise Line Plans to Significantly Enhance Its Private Island Great Stirrup Cay – Company plans in excess of $20 million in improvements with completion by late 2011

Norwegian Cruise Line announced   that it will make major enhancements to its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, located 120 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale in the Berry Island chain of the Bahamas. The 250-acre island will undergo a two-phase renovation, totaling in excess of $20 million, spanning 22 months and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.

“We have one of the best private islands, particularly for swimming and snorkeling. With these improvements, we can provide an even more enjoyable island experience for the more than 9,000 guests who visit Great Stirrup Cay weekly during the height of the season,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Highlights of the enhancements include an expanded beach front, exciting island excursions, additional dining facilities, private beachside cabanas and a new kid’s area.”

The first phase of improvements to Great Stirrup Cay is already underway. This includes the excavation and formation of a new entrance channel for tenders marina basin and arrival area with welcome pavilion that will be the site for new tender landings and docks. Once this is complete, the island’s current beach front will be expanded significantly to accommodate more guests.

New infrastructure and landscaping to enhance the guest experience is planned in the second phase including new dining and bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise program activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kid’s play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. Several new island activities and shore excursions will be added including wave runners, a floating Aqua Park with a variety of water toys, kayak tours through man-made rivers within the island, an eco-cruise, and a stingray encounter experience. These are in addition to the existing snorkeling; floats; inflatable hippo slide; and parasailing that are currently offered.

Norwegian has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl regularly call on Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year.

What those guys are doing standing there on rollers is beyond me, but I love the whimsy.

Basically, we’re docked at another freight yard,

but there’s a shuttle to the main entry. Once there you can shop for jewelry, drugs, crafts, etc.

Taxis to town are $6 each way and are fun motorized carts.

A note. I am getting response from those of you who know Ralph Grizzle, the honcho and owner of Avid Cruiser. It appears that when Ralph sends out notice of a new entry, my name, Geoff Edwards does not appear. I’m sure some of you were surprised to read about “his wife” Michael.

Someone asked me a while back to characterize a luxury cruise ship. Well, how about if a lady comes to Reception and says: “I need a new battery for my watch.” And the man in charge says, “Yes, of course.”

Silver Spirit can overwhelm in other ways. Dinner last night was in La Terrazza, a superb Italian restaurant.

We tried to get photos of the two page menu. The print is small, and we forgot to count the courses offered.

Suffice to say, you could eat here every night and not repeat, well, not repeat your selection. The food, delicioza. (Is that Italian?) There was no way we could complete all the courses. We’ll give it a go again.

Oh and by the way, 12 pizzas just waiting for you.

A while back as I was drumming on the steering wheel, I missed hearing the usual whack from my left hand. OMG, my wedding ring was gone. We searched everywhere, but no luck. Thus, one of our goals on this trip is to buy me a wedding ring. We saw one in the boutique that came close to what we are looking for . . .  but not quite.

Natalie said, “It comes with no tax or duty.” I replied, “It’s a wedding ring, it comes with tons of duty.”

I went ashore to see if I could find a ring I liked. YES, I found exactly what I was looking for. Now, if I could convince Michael, we’d be man and wife again.

“That’s UGLY!!!!”

We’ll look tomorrow in Cabo San Lucas.

Meanwhile, our TV is down so I’ll catch up on today’s news in the library.

Michael may get a pedicure.

Tonight, dinner with some journalist friends. Later we may want to be alone, so we’ll go to the casino.

k