Barbara Ramsay Orr

Champagne Dreams: Round Trip from Marigot, St. Martin, on the SeaDream II

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Marigot, Saint Martin I always associate champagne with the SeaDream Yacht Club. Every cruise I have done with this line has featured champagne as a favourite libation during its cruises, and this one kept up the same trend. It’s a champagne cruise, for sure, but right now, it is one of the best bargains around. That may not be the case after this Spring, when the ship will undergo a massive refit, changing the more staid decor …

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Pier 88, New York City

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Photo from Barbara Ramsay Orr

  There is nothing in the cruising world quite so exciting as the christening of a brand new boat. The christening ceremony of the Scenic Eclipse was especially highly anticipated – not just because the ship is revolutionary and ultra-luxurious. Not just because it has two helicopters and a submarine. Not just because it is drop dead gorgeous. Those are all true and compelling reasons for excitement. But the reason we are all a bit giddy is …

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Getting Active, Learning New Skills, Experiencing History – All on an Active Discovery on Avalon

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Approximately 5.7 million people took a river cruise in the past three years, a number that has more than doubled since 2009, according to data from Cruise Lines International Association. The overall appeal remains the same – the lazy pleasure of putting yourself completely in the hands of someone who will coddle you while steering you through new adventures. But river cruising is no longer a passive or unrefined experience. River cruise lines are developing programs that …

Read moreGetting Active, Learning New Skills, Experiencing History – All on an Active Discovery on Avalon

Lessons learned: What to do when a cruise goes wrong

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Day 8: Saturday The cruise that wasn’t is over – after breakfast in the hotel, passengers are bussed to the nearby Schiphol Airport for their flights home. And I know that I would love to do this trip again, next timeon a boat!  Lessons Learned: What To Do When A Cruise Goes Wrong 1. Make sure you are booked with a reputable cruise line. Emerald Waterways did everything possible to overcome the obstacles thrown in the way …

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Day Seven: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

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Barbara Orr just had a very unusual cruise experience. Over the next few days she will explain what happens when a trip does not work out as planned. We thought it important to share this information with you, our readers, because these things do happen when you travel and it is wise to think ahead as to how you might react in a similar situation. — Cynthia Boal Janssens, editor Cruises are expensive investments of money and …

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Day Six: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

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Barbara Orr just had a very unusual cruise experience. Over the next few days she will explain what happens when a trip does not work out as planned. We thought it important to share this information with you, our readers, because these things do happen when you travel and it is wise to think ahead as to how you might react in a similar situation. — Cynthia Boal Janssens, editor Cruises are expensive investments of money and …

Read moreDay Six: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

Day Four: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

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Barbara Orr just had a very unusual cruise experience. Over the next few days she will explain what happens when a trip does not work out as planned. We thought it important to share this information with you, our readers, because these things do happen when you travel and it is wise to think ahead as to how you might react in a similar situation. — Cynthia Boal Janssens, editor Cruises are expensive investments of money and …

Read moreDay Four: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

Day Two: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

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Barbara Orr just had a very unusual cruise experience. Over the next few days she will explain what happens when a trip does not work out as planned. We thought it important to share this information with you, our readers, because these things do happen when you travel and it is wise to think ahead as to how you might react in a similar situation. — Cynthia Boal Janssens, editor Cruises are expensive investments of money and …

Read moreDay Two: What happens when a cruise goes sideways

Special report: What to expect when your cruise goes sideways

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Barbara Ramsay Orr, one of our most experienced writers, just had a very unusual cruise experience. Over the next few days she will explain what happens when a trip does not work out as planned — in this case, due to weather and flooding. We thought it important to share this information with you, our readers, because these things do happen when you travel and it is wise to think ahead as to how you might react …

Read moreSpecial report: What to expect when your cruise goes sideways

Cake and cuckoo clocks on the rivers of Europe

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I’m not big on jewelry, despite the fact that my sister-in-law is a jewelry designer and my husband turns to her for every birthday present he has to get for me. Usually I’m ‘take it or leave it’ about such things. But I’m excited about this gem – The Emerald Sky – a jewel of a ship that launched in 2014 and won the “Best New River Ship” designation. I’m interested to experience this new ship, particularly …

Read moreCake and cuckoo clocks on the rivers of Europe

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