Is it over yet? We are drumming our fingers wondering when the pandemic will be history or when a vaccine is developed allowing Americans to be welcomed in other countries. While we wait, we can think about cities we have seen in movies that we might visit with a great big ship underneath us. Nice, France. You can think of plenty of movies set on the French Riviera. All of them stylish and elegant. To Catch a …
Many great cities can’t be reached by ocean liners. River cruises are another story. You can drive to these cities and towns. While the Coronavirus keeps us at home, let’s ponder some of those great cities as future destinations. Frankfurt, Germany. Also known as Mein-hattan because of all the architecturally significant skyscrapers. Great during Christmas market season, yet you also have the apple wine season. Mainz, Germany. Another great Christmas market town. It’s also the place where …
Remember Club Med? The all-inclusive vacation? You paid for drinks with plastic beads you wore around your neck. After our one experience, I realized “Everyone was treated equal.” On a cruise, “Everyone is treated like a king or queen.” There’s a difference. You will be spending some money along the way. Some people you meet aboard ship might come across as “cheap.” Let’s be gracious and say they were unprepared. Here are 12 areas you will likely …
Read more12 Places You Spend Money at Sea & Why It’s Well Spent
If you are reading this article, you love cruising. You are counting down the days until the industry resumes operations. It’s fun to think about favorite ports you have visited. These are the ones I would return to in a heartbeat. In no particular order, they are: Malta. It’s been called one of the most visually beautiful harbors to experience as your ship approaches the city of Valetta. You are in the Mediterranean. You think you know …
Did you know the Queen Mary 2 has a port bar! That’s what they serve! Fancy display cabinet, bottles going to back to 1840 or so. They are for sale and consumption. -Editor Any Port in a Storm While we’re waiting to sail again, if you are getting tired of toasting with “quarantinis” after four months, perhaps it’s time to discover the Joys of Port Wine. Using this time to get knowledgeable before visiting the Port bar…. What is Port? It’s …
Life is getting closer to normal, but not cruising yet. Entertaining at home is higher on your To Do list for the summer. What might this look like? The Washington Post ran a great article, “How to Host a Get Together as Safely – and Graciously As Possible.” (1) It’s definitely worth reading. They bring up a brilliant point: “It’s important in pandemic times not to think about ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ – It’s all about levels of …
Read morePost-Pandemic Home Entertaining, While You’re Not Cruising
Every cruise has the potential to be the vacation of a lifetime. When booking your vacation, it’s important not to see the base fare and think “That’s what this vacation is going to cost.” You need to look at the big picture. We aren’t talking “hidden fees,” but additional costs that don’t immediately come to mind. Here are some pointers in considering the total cost. What I’m Excluding, What I’m Including Let’s skip everything you spend onboard. …
Read moreBudgeting for Those Sometimes Unexpected Cruise Costs
Afternoon tea is one of those genteel British traditions that finds its way to sea. It’s a non-alcoholic way to socialize. Traditional afternoon tea at the Ritz Hotel in London is about 61 GBP. That’s about $ 76/head. At sea, it’s free. You can recreate the experience at home. Tea Isn’t High Let’s start with some history. Anna, Duchess of Bedford is credited with creating the idea in the early 1800’s. Served around 4:00 PM, it was …
Do you like big parties and galas? Do you dance a lot? This can be a major part of your cruising vacation. Depending on your age and interests, it’s worth talking this over with your travel agent. Different cruise lines have different personalities. You want to align yourself to the right ones. Start by thinking about: “What’s life like at home?” Maybe you attend lots of weddings. Perhaps you are on the charity gala circuit in the …
Read moreWhat Kinds of Parties Will I Find on My Cruise Ship?
What can cruise travel lovers do when they are on land? Travel through food. Our big revelation started with a conversation. We love Barcelona. Lots of reasons, but tapas, wine and music are three components. While cleaning we discovered a tapas menu from a previous trip. We bought Iberico ham, manchego cheese, shrimp for grilling, Rioja wine and other supplies. We setup small plates, poured our wine and put on the music. Barcelona arrived, without the nine-hour …
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
