Jackie Sheckler Finch fell in love with cruising 35 years ago when she rode the magnificent Mississippi Queen riverboat in its inaugural 1976 voyage. A newspaper reporter, photographer and travel writer, Jackie has cruised on large and small vessels on numerous rivers and oceans. Read more...
Celestyal Crystal has successfully resumed operations with its signature seven-night Idyllic Aegean itinerary. The ship will call upon Kusadasi in Turkey and Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion, Mykonos, Milos and Crete in Greece. “Following a most difficult and challenging year, we are beyond thrilled to be welcoming guests back onboard this summer on our most popular and signature Greek island itinerary,” Chris Theophilides, Celestyal Cruises CEO, said in a news release. “This was no small task and is due …
Walking the Camino de Santiago was a long-time goal of Stacy Eull. But when the Minneapolis woman completed the pilgrimage on Oct. 26, 2019, she had no idea that COVID-19 was just around the corner and world-wide travel would be curtailed. “The pilgrimage was hard,” Eull admitted. “But I’m so glad I did it. I had heard about the pilgrimage for years but I never had time off from work to do it. Too many responsibilities. I …
Viking is welcoming back guests with new Mediterranean cruises beginning this summer. The Viking Venus and Viking Sea will homeport in the Maltese capital city of Valletta – a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site – and sail two different 11-day roundtrip itineraries in the Mediterranean. As a result of strong demand, Viking also has announced it is adding more sailing dates this summer for its Welcome Back voyages around Iceland and Bermuda. “We thank the government of …
When Jon England cruised aboard the American Harmony in December 2019, he had no idea that would be his last voyage for 16 months. As a popular cruise entertainer, Jon already had his full year’s schedule for 2020 cruises. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Suddenly, that wonderful American Cruise Lines trip between New Orleans and Memphis would be Jon’s unexpected final one until May 2021. This Friday, May 7, Jon will be headed back to Memphis for …
How about taking a cruise on the new American Countess riverboat and play golf? Well, actually golfers won’t be playing aboard the Countess. Golfers will have the luxury of cruising and stopping at four of the most prestigious courses along the Lower Mississippi River. Sailing May 8-16 from Memphis to New Orleans, guests can tee off at Colonial Country Club in Memphis; The Bluffs in St. Francisville, Louisiana; Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary, Louisiana; and Black …
A new royal riverboat is now cruising America’s rivers. The American Countess was christened in New Orleans on March 21 and is now on her way for an eight-day journey to Memphis. “As we celebrate the grand debut of the American Countess, I could not be more appreciative of the incredible team that made it possible,” John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company, said in a news release. The fourth boat to join the American …
When my plane landed at Memphis airport, I called The Guest House at Graceland to request a complimentary shuttle to my accommodations. When I asked the hotel receptionist how I would recognize my ride, she just laughed. “Oh, you will know it right away,” she said. “Don’t worry about that.” How right she was! A few minutes later, a sleek blue-and-gold shuttle arrived with huge likenesses of Elvis on the sides and back. I didn’t even need …
We seemed plunked down in a different world. It looked like something from the depths of history. Or maybe from planets beyond our orb. Great shards of ice glistened like diamonds in deep sapphire waters. Tidewater glaciers swept like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys. Mountains, some as high as 15,000 feet, rose straight out of the ocean. Snow-draped peaks towered over sparkling fiords. “It feels like you are going back in time, back to the …
The Land of Fire and Ice is no place for sissies. Life on this frozen rugged island in the middle of an ocean has not be easy with volcanoes, glaciers, deforestation, months of 24-hour daylight followed by months of endless night. But Icelanders are friendly and proud to share the treasures of their country. My Ocean Diamond 10-day circumnavigation cruise around Iceland, starting and ending in Reykjavik, was the perfect way to see this incredible country. Iceland …
Yes, Virginia, there is a roller coaster on a cruise ship. And Santa Claus just rode it. Taking a break from his pre-Christmas gift making, Santa ventured down to Finland to take a test run on BOLT, the first-ever roller coaster at sea aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s new Mardi Gras. The ship is being delivered at the Meyer Turku shipyard later this week. With enthusiastic shrieks of delight and a few hearty “ho-ho-ho’s: echoing throughout the shipyard, Santa zipped …
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