Review: AmaWaterways’ AmaKristina – Beautifully Appointed and Designed

Our Ratings of AmaKristina: Boarding and Disembarkation: 10/10 Design and Appearance: 10/10 Stateroom: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Excursions: 10/10 Service: 9/10 Entertainment: 9/10 Overall Rating: 9.5/10 After four magical days in Paris, it was time to get to the Gare de Lyon station and board the train to Arles (pronounced “aarlz”), the city in the south of France where we would begin our eight-day cruise on the Rhone River aboard the AmaKristina. While we had a smooth ride …

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World Travel Expo Miami 2023 – Focus on “The Future of Cruising: Trends That Will Shape the Industry”

One of the keynote sessions at the just-concluded World Travel Expo (WTE) Miami 2023 focused on “The Future of Cruising: Trends That Will Shape the Industry.” Moderated by Hydi Webb, the president and CEO of Visit Florida, panelists included Kristin Karst, co-owner and executive vice-president of AmaWaterways, Ken Muskat, managing director of Scenic Group USA and Rick Sasso, president and CEO for MSC. The biggest takeaways included: — Cruising has rebounded from the record year of 2019, …

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WRAP UP-American Cruise Lines’ American Constellation Grand Puget Sound Cruise: A Great Way to See the USA … and Sea Lions on a Sunny Weekend

It’s the last day of our 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise on American Cruise Lines’ ship, American Constellation, and Rick, the hotel general manager, has promised something special. As we head for the main dining room for breakfast, there’s a surprise waiting. Today also happens to be Mother’s Day, and the ship is honoring all mothers with flowers and chocolate, as well as a photo op under a canopy of pink balloons. The crew went to a …

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American Cruise Lines ~American Constellation~ Days 4 through 9: More Whale Watching, and Where Did the Time Go?

Day 4 It’s Day Four of our 10-night, American Cruise Lines’ Grand Puget Sound sailing, and if this were an ocean-going vessel, it would be called a “Sea Day” American Constellation departed Tacoma early this morning en route to our next port, Anacortes, and we will spend most of the day on the water. That’s reflected in the ship’s daily planner, the “Ship to Shore Coastal Rundown,” which features additional activities throughout the day. Such as, a …

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American Cruise Lines ~American Constellation~ Day 3 ~Ship’s Staff Make Every Guest Feel Special

It’s morning on day three of our 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise on American Cruise Lines, and American Constellation is docked at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Washington, the state’s third-largest city. This is the second cruise we’ve taken that navigates U.S. waters, and if you’ve never tried seeing your home country from a ship, you should really give it a lot of consideration. Maybe you’ve driven to many of the same locations, or visited on …

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American Cruise Lines ~American Constellation~ Day 2, Like a Moving Postcard Around Puget Sound

It’s day two of our 10-night Grand Puget Sound voyage on American Constellation, and Pam and I are still adjusting to the three-hour time change. No need to set an alarm — we are wide awake by 5 am. Breakfast is buffet-style in the Sky Lounge, an inviting enclave aft on deck four with lots of comfy seating both inside and out. We are docked in Bremerton, Washington, and this morning we are signed up to do …

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American Cruise Lines ~American Constellation~ First Day, Seeing Orcas!

After we got the news we were booked on American Cruise Lines’ 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise, the first order of business for these two, longtime Floridians was finding clothes for a much different climate. 10 Night – Grand Puget Sound .. American Cruise Lines, American Constellation (cruisecompete.com) This would be our first experience with ACL, which for over 50 years has specialized in cruises exclusively on U.S. rivers and coastal waters, from Florida to Alaska, with …

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Cruise360 Offers Much to “Believe” About Cruising, Including Latest Industry Trends

“Believe.” That message was delivered loud and clear at the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) Cruise360, their annual conference and trade show, held at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, April 18-23. “The overarching message to advisors was that cruising is sailing into a bright future, and there’s not been a better time to be selling cruise vacations.” Described by CLIA as “Our biggest professional development event of the year, Cruise360 features a week’s worth …

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Holland America Line Celebrating 150th Anniversay and Showcases Culinary Alliance

Here’s a fun fact: Did you know Holland America has been sailing Alaska before Alaska even become a state — 75 years, to be exact. That was just one thing we learned from Holland America’s president, Gus Antorcha, during a private event onboard Nieuw Amsterdam prior to the start of Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale. The cruise line is celebrating both its 150th anniversary and its alliance with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), announced last …

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The Walls Come Alive in Sabatini’s ‘360’ on Princess Cruises

In the late Eighties, there was a famous commercial for bath products that coined the line, “Calgon, take me away.” That could easily apply to what Princess Cruises has achieved in creating “360,” an immersive and interactive dining experience like no other, where a select group of guests are virtually transported to a tour of European food meccas. Launched last November on Discovery Princess, it debuted on Enchanted Princess in January, and this week, invited media got …

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