Debi Lander's Blog Archives – Page 2 of 3

Arrival in Budapest for the Viking Danube Waltz Cruise

June 18, 2018June 12, 2018 by Debi Lander

ABOARD THE VIKING VILHJALM — Overnight flights leave most travelers tired and groggy, a feeling I experienced upon arrival in Budapest. Clearing customs quickly, my travel partner and I met the Viking Cruise representatives at the baggage claim exit. They escorted us to a bus that delivered the group directly to the Viking Viljhalm docked on the Danube River. The mighty waterway, famous for the Straus Waltz, splits the enchanting capital of Hungary with Buda on one …

Final Review of Celestyal’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean Cruise

June 8, 2018 by Debi Lander

The final morning on the Celestyal Crystal came all too soon. The seven-day cruise whizzed by with so many excursions and activities that I barely found enough time to sleep. Reflecting back on the islands toured, the photos taken, and history lessons learned, my head and heart burst with joyful memories. I’d sign on and recommend this cruise for anyone wishing to capture the spirit of the Greek isles. The disembarkation process was a breeze. Our luggage …

A Stop at Ephesus in Turkey

June 8, 2018 by Debi Lander

The 7-Day Aegean Islands Cruise on the Celestyal Crystal gives passengers the option of a daylong exploration of Patmos, an island in Greece with early Christian relics, or a half-day in Kudasasi, Turkey with the opportunity to see the archeological wonders at Ephesus. The ancient world made Ephesus a center of travel and commerce. For a little over an hour, the UNESCO World Heritage site became the center of my world. The Greeks originally built Ephesus in …

Viking River Cruises present the Danube Waltz

May 30, 2018 by Debi Lander

My cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Passau, Germany will pass through four European countries over eight days, with six included guided excursions. I’ll take a non-stop flight from Philadelphia to Budapest, and then embark on the Viking Vilhjalm, a Viking Longship with streamlined Scandinavian design and understated elegance. My home for the next eight days will include a 205 square foot Veranda Stateroom with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda. It also includes …

A Brief Visit to the Glories of Crete (Day 5)

May 30, 2018 by Debi Lander

Many first-time visitors to mainland Europe are amazed to see cathedrals still in use after 800-1000 years. But Greece takes visitors much further back in time. The home of the mythological gods lies scattered with a wealth of ruins and relics dating back 3,000-4,000 years. The Greek island of Crete had one of the earliest civilizations dating back to the Bronze Age. The Minoan settlement employed skilled workers who built complex architectural marvels and created intricate artistic …

Spectacular Santorini

May 29, 2018 by Debi Lander

You’ve seen the classic images of Santorini: a cluster of whitewashed terraced houses clinging to high crimson cliffs – – highlighted by marine blue church domes. Spectacular sunsets, black sand beaches, and legends of the lost continent of Atlantis add dramatic color and mystery to an already full palate. The volcanic island’s wow factor just has to be seen and experienced in person. Celestyal’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean cruise offers two full days to explore Santorini – more …

Many Treasures on Magnificent Milos

May 21, 2018 by Debi Lander

Milos, Greece lures travelers in many ways: few crowds, a variety of noteworthy attractions, yummy cuisine, and friendly people. This lesser-known volcanic island in the Aegean lies at the southwestern tip of the Cyclades group. It proved one of my great travel discoveries, with its mysterious landscape, incredible beaches, and very sport where a 19th-century farmer unearthed the famous Venus de Milo (s) statue. Somehow the “s” has been lost beyond the shores of its island namesake. …

Mythology and Archaeology on Delos

October 12, 2018May 20, 2018 by Debi Lander

Before our cruise on the Celestyal Crystal began, we signed on for a tour of Delos. Reaching the tiny, uninhabited island requires a circuitous route, starting with a shuttle to Chora, the main town of Mykonos, followed by a walk around the harbor to the ferryboat dock. Then, you hop on board the ferry and make the half-hour cruise to Delos. (You pass the famous Mykonos windmills in the distance.) Delos, one of Greece’s most important archaeological …

Discovering the Celestyal Crystal on Embarkation Day

May 24, 2018May 18, 2018 by Debi Lander

Celestyal Cruise’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean Island cruise departs and returns from Piraeus (near Athens) on Mondays. This week-long itinerary, new in 2018, differs from Celestyal’s 3 and 4-day cruises. The Celestyal Crystal, a medium size cruise liner with a maximum of 1,200 passengers, spends an overnight in both Mykonos and Santorini. Boarding begins at 2 pm; however, we arrived later, at 4:00 pm. That time slot worked out beautifully. We passed through the pre-boarding rituals in a …

Pre-Cruise: Scaling the Acropolis in Athens

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 by Debi Lander

We flew into Athens the day before our Celestyal cruise embarkation to eliminate last minute flight worries. The added time gave us the chance to explore Greece’s capital. No sooner than we checked into the ideally located Airotel (Hotel) Parthenon, John and I left to explore the Acropolis, looming over the city center. The view reminded me of Edinburgh, Scotland where Castle Rock dominates the skyline. We began the gradual climb up the craggy limestone hill, a …