Celebrity Cruises ~ First there was Edge. Followed by Apex. And now ~ Beyond

Celebrity’s new marketing campaign is “Journey WonderFULL.” Ships like Beyond are leading the way to make that happen. The newest ship in the Celebrity Edge series, Celebrity Beyond, came to Ft. Lauderdale Nov. 4 to kick-off its first season in the Caribbean as well as host its official naming ceremony, featuring the ship’s Godmother, U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Some 2,500 travel specialists, media and company executives were on hand to mark the occasion. Beyond was launched …

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Cruising on Virgin Voyages’ Debut Ship, Scarlet Lady ~In a Word, “Wow”

In the Spring of 2020, we were excited to get an invitation to cruise on Sir Richard Branson’s new cruise line, Virgin Voyages, and its debut ship, Scarlet Lady. Then the pandemic hit, and you know the rest of that story. Fast forward to the Fall of 2021, and while at Seatrade Miami, we had the opportunity to tour Scarlet Lady, as well as meet Sir Richard. Still, it wasn’t a cruise. So this year, going on …

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“Here Comes the Sun” ~as in, “Sun Princess,” the Newest, Largest, Most Innovative Princess Ship to Date

FORT LAUDERDALE_While storms roamed South Florida all day, in the late afternoon the rain stopped and we could all proclaim, “Here comes the Sun” — as in, “Sun Princess,” the newest, largest, most innovative Princess ship to date. Top executives from both Princess and its parent company, Carnival, along with Randy Fenoli, host of the TLC show, “Say Yes to the Dress,” were on hand here at Terminal 2 at Port Everglades to formally reveal the name …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen~Overall a Leisurely Vacation!

ON THE OHIO RIVER_As our river cruise on American Queen concludes, here are some overall impressions — our first time to cruise a U.S. waterway — that will hopefully help decide if this cruise is right for you. Based on our conversations with other guests, and the fact American river cruising has been one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments over the last few years, it’s clear the popularity of traveling one’s own country’s waterways is on the …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen~Marietta, Ohio

ON THE OHIO RIVER_It’s amazing how much the Ohio River winds around. Our cruise started in Kentucky, continued to Indiana, up to Ohio, back to Kentucky, then to West Virginia and now Ohio again. Today the American Queen is docked in Marietta, Ohio, another one of those charming riverboat towns that served as a gateway to the West, and our last port of call. The skies are threatening, and the boat has ponchos and umbrellas at the …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen~Point Pleasant, West Virginia

ON THE OHIO RIVER_Is it Friday already? As cruisers know, it’s easy to lose track of the days when you’re sailing — each day bleeds into the next. But it is indeed Friday, and we are at our second to last port of call, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The tours start later today, not until after lunch, so this morning we are free agents. For the boat, the first order of business is docking at a fuel …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Maysville, Kentucky

ON THE OHIO RIVER_One thing that has surprised us on this cruise is how much we are learning about our own country. While cruising the world and travel in general is always a great educational experience, taking our first cruise on America’s waterways has been enlightening beyond our expectations. Take, for example, our latest stop — Maysville, Kentucky. With a population of less than 10,000, it’s enjoyed a rich history from its founding by frontier legend Daniel …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Cincinnati

ON THE OHIO RIVER_On day three of our eight-day cruise from Louisville to Pittsburgh, aboard the American Queen steamboat, we have gone from small and charming (Madison, IN.) to big and sprawling — Cincinnati, Ohio. We have also left the mild weather behind as well. Today the forecast is bright, sunny and hot, about what you might expect on a summer day in August. The tours start a little later than usual, which gives us a chance …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Madison, Indiana: ‘Most Beautiful River Town in America’

ON THE OHIO RIVER_Day two of our American Queen cruise finds us docked in Madison, Indiana, called by Charles Kuralt “the most beautiful river town in America.” Founded in 1809, the former transportation hub for Mid-America, which also played an important role in the Underground Railroad, is today a collection of charming historic homes, shops and museums. After a quick buffet breakfast at the Front Porch, we board a bus at our appointed time to begin our …

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Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Indiana

ON THE OHIO RIVER_After spending the night in Louisville at The Brown Hotel, we were on our own until 3 pm, when we would board a bus for the short drive to the port. Some in our group opted to take American Queen’s premium tour of Churchill Downs. It gave me a chance to write and Pam an opportunity to shop. American Queen runs their own fleet of modern buses, which also provide “hop on-hop off” tours …

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