Cynthia Boal Janssens is a veteran travel and cruise writer who is particularly interested in small ship cruises. Cynthia’s Bio
Cynthia Boal Janssens is a veteran travel and cruise writer who became well known to Midwestern audiences during her stint as travel editor of the Detroit News. She has been a freelancer for a number of years now and has been specializing in cruising for most of that time. She has been published in newspapers and magazines across the USA (and in Africa, too!)
She is particularly interested in small ship cruises and those have taken her to Antarctica, deep into the Amazon, through the rivers of France and next month she will be reporting here on a seven-day cruise to the Galapagos Islands. But she sails the big ships, too, and often participates in the inaugural cruises of new vessels.
Cynthia is a former national president of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and when she isn’t cruising, chances are she is on the golf course … she also does a lot of writing about golf travel.
Cynthia and her husband Chet, who travels with her and takes most of the photos, live in Northern Michigan in the summer and Southwest Florida in the winter.
A long-time consumer advocate, Cynthia welcomes your questions about cruising…she has visited most every cruise area of the world and always wants to go back.
What world cruise would you recommend? We are not rich people, but like to travel.
I recently read in our Sunday paper that a certain cruise line is now going to have Single cabins starting this Summer, Which Cruise line is it? I went on Royal Carribean as my 1st cruise last summer. And I loved it. Can’t decide what to do this summer, can’t afford cabin alone, since friends can’t join me. But I do like to travel alone, like when I go to Europe,I’m not shy, I love to meet people.
The ship is the Norwegian Epic operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Is this YOU? Just happened to stumble across your piece on new cruise ships and thought I’d say hi!!
Actually, Jesse, yes…this is me! (Jesse and I worked on the college newspaper, the Ohio University Post, together for several years. Not to mention attending many of the same parties!)
Come on over to my Facebook Page!
I am going on a cruise during the month of May . My husband and I are traveling to venice first to catch the cruise and we are planning in staying there for at least an extra day. Any recommendations?
You will have no trouble entertaining yourselves for a day or two in Venice. It is one of the world’s great walking cities. Just start walking (plan to get lost, it always happens) and you will have a wonderful time. Do take a ride or two on the water taxis (called vaporettos) as they are very cheap. You can ride the vaporetto across the Grand Canal to visit the basilica. Get yourself a map and don’t be afraid to ask for directions. St. Mark’s Square is the center of everything so just ask how to get back there. It is worth taking a tour of the Doge’s Palace, too.