Cruises were probably the first all-inclusive vacation experience. Except for tipping, if you didn’t drink alcohol, your stateroom account might be zero when the ship returns to port. More and more aspects of the ship are operated as profit centers today, but there are still plenty of freebees. Because there is so much going on simultaneously, it’s easy for these benefits to get lost in the shuffle. How many of these have you taken advantage of recently? …
You might think our Atlantic Coast voyage on the Azamara Quest was all brie, tapas and good wine. During the voyage I was also able to sit down with Captain Jonas Lyddby, the Master of the Azamara Quest. I’ve never sat down with a Captain before! There were plenty of questions I wanted to ask. When the opportunity presented itself, I set aside the brie, tapas and good wine and picked up my pad and pen. How …
Cruising is popular. This is an ideal time to travel. There is a galaxy of destinations served by a fleet of cruise companies and vessels. You can sail to Antarctica or Greenland! You can sail on a canal barge or a take a river cruise. Which one should I choose? First of all, it would be difficult to make the wrong choice. Here are a few considerations. I get seasick easily. This is a likely reason river …
Have you heard about the movie, “Let Them All Talk?” It stars the Cunard ship, Queen Mary 2. It also stars Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen and Dianne Wiest. It was made in 2020. If you have ever wondered what it is like to sail on a transatlantic crossing or have tried to explain to friends why you sail with Cunard, this is your movie. You never heard of it? That is understandable. The film was filmed aboard …
“Vive la différence” is a French expression with many meanings, such as appreciating cultural diversity. In this article we can assume many types of people take cruises. Some want to meet new people while others want to spend time by themselves. Regardless of the cruise line you choose, both options should be available to you. Let us consider a few examples. Choice of cabin. Cost will be a major factor in this area. Friendly: Boo a regular …
When you cruise, your ship is your hotel. This is a big advantage because at some destinations, you are indirectly bringing the best hotel and the best restaurants with you. Cruise lines put lots of thought into choosing ports. There is the desire to find the undiscovered gem along with visiting famous cities with glittering reputations. What do you prefer? There are pros and cons. Do You Prefer Beaches? Some people love island hopping in the Caribbean. …
We just came back from a great cruise. This involved an overnight stay in Bordeaux, France. My wife and I have been traveling for years, but the pandemic lockdown meant we were out of practice. I am writing this article so you can learn from my mistakes. Research the city beforehand. Although we hope to return to most cities we visit, we approach each new visit from the point of view we might not pass this way …
What a great cruise! Wow! On Friday evening we returned home after a 10-night cruise from Southampton, England to Lisbon, Portugal on the Azamara Quest. We paid for our own cabin, but we got a great rate and an upgrade to a balcony cabin. Overall Score: 97/100 Before I get into details, it’s important to understand Azamara’s approach. They have cruises for adults, which I define as people whose children have grown. Put another way, your fellow …
Monday, September 5th: On Monday we arrived In Gijon, Spain. This city has the largest bulk materials port in Spain. We docked near a freighter that was either loading or unloading loose coal. The pile on the concrete pier was enormous! One hillside featured the round tanks used to store natural gas while the tanks on the left hand side were oil tanks. Azamara provided shuttle busses into the city of Gijon. It is known for …
Wednesday, August 31st: Our second day, the first full day and our one sea day. Up and groggy at 7:00 AM. Thankfully the cabin steward called before arriving with our breakfast so we at least had covered up. The coffee is excellent and they serve Tiptree jam. Life doesn’t get much better. We have a balcony on deck 7 overlooking the bow. This is pretty cool. We asked the ship to send someone to show us how …
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