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...
Daughter of sharecroppers, Clementine Hunter couldn’t read or write. Her life may have passed by without leaving any footnote in history. But in her mid-50s, Clementine found some discarded paints and paint brushes left behind by an artist at Melrose Plantation. Taking the art supplies to her four-room plantation cabin, the long-time kitchen worker decided to try her hand at painting. Using an old window blind for canvas, Clementine began to paint a river baptism scene. When …
A peregrine falcon swoops in and lands on the railing of the Viking Polaris. Dolphins cavort in the ship’s wake. Those sightings will be listed on a large wildlife board organized by Dr. Tim Gerber to be shared when we gather for daily reports. A few decks down in the Hangar, two yellow six-passenger submarines named George and Ringo are ready for passenger expeditions. Two military-grade Special Operation Boats (SOBs) also wait in the Hangar for excursions …
In a cruise industry first, Viking has been named the No. 1 cruise line for river cruises, ocean cruises and expedition cruises. The awards were announced by Conde Nast Traveler in the publications 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. This marks the first time that any travel company has won the three categories in the same year. It is also the third consecutive year that Viking has won both the river and ocean categories. “To be the only company …
The Ruby Princess certainly lives up to her glistening name. She is an elegant beauty. Boarding the ship, I had to stop and admire the dazzling Piazza, a golden atrium that spans three decks. Marble floors, sweeping staircases and a domed chandelier help the space sparkle. Glass-enclosed elevators glide up and down to give a bird’s-eye view of the plaza. The central meeting space for the ship, the Piazza is also where entertainment will take place, where …
Crossing the threshold of the new Viva Two riverboat, I read the sign at the entrance: “Enjoy the Moment.” That’s exactly what I did on my weeklong cruise on the Danube River. I enjoyed every moment of it. Christened in Düsseldorf, Germany, on March 23, the 195-passenger, 52-crew Viva Two features 95 stylish and comfortable cabins. The seventh ship in the fleet, Viva Two’s parent company is the 50-year-old riverboat builder Scylla which has built vessels for …
No matter how beautiful a ship is, it is the crew that sets the tone for a cruise. If crewmembers are courteous, helpful and adept at doing their jobs, passengers feel the pleasant vibe and usually respond in kind. The American Countess had an excellent crew. I know that they work hard but they always seemed to have a ready smile and went out of their way to make passengers feel welcome. My cabin attendant Bonita, for …
Fifty-six steps lead the way to the huge memorial building. Why so many, a visitor asked? “One step for each year of his life,” a park ranger answered, watching people climb the stairs while others took a shorter path through the woods. The man for whom the massive memorial was built was the nation’s 16th president. And this was where he was born on Feb. 12, 1809. That man, of course, was Abraham Lincoln. Replica of the …
The timing is perfect. After a leisurely dinner, we can sit in The Grand Lobby and have a cocktail. Then, when the doors open, we head into The Theater for the evening’s entertainment that kicks off at 8:15 p.m. The American Countess Ensemble on our cruise is Emma Harper, Nick McCarthy and Michael Nicholas. Emma also is the cruise director and her husband Nick is the riverlorian. Must keep them both very busy. Nick McCarthy The trio …
On his 33rd birthday, Air Force pilot Colonel Charles E. Shelton was shot down over Laos on April 29, 1965. Shelton was taking reconnaissance photos for his country during the Vietnam War. “He was believed to have been captured but he was never released at the end of the war and his remains were never found,” says local guide Laura. “For almost three decades, his family worked to try and get him home. But it never happened.” …
Ask Chef Regina Charboneau which river, lake or ocean she likes the most and she will answer that is like trying to say who your favorite child is. She loves them all. So says a tidbit of information at the top of our American Countess dinner menu one night. However, the chef doesn’t mind sharing some of her favorite dishes for our dining pleasure and the menu highlights her wonderful cuisine. Although her home is on the …
Trusted by over 1.5 million cruisers since 2003. Get FREE access to members-only pricing.
There is a highly acclaimed way to receive multiple quotes from a site called CruiseCompete, where cruise specialists compete to offer you the best deal. The media sums it up for CruiseCompete:
“Score Luxury Cruises at Bargain Prices” (The Street)
“Best site for cruise deals” (The Wall Street Journal)
“28 Best Travel Sites” (Kiplinger's) Multiple annual mentions
“36 Web Addresses You Should Know” (The Washington Post)
All Things Cruise is dedicated to the joy of travel. Specializing in ocean, river, ultra-luxury, small ship and expedition cruises.
We would love to have you subscribe for travel updates, news and great offers directly from the cruise lines!
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
