Allison-Shane's Blog Archives

Have You Ever Circumnavigated an Entire Country Before?

May 9, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Read below about new, exciting voyages from my friends at Hurtigruten Cruises: In the summer of 2020, we have two exciting itineraries that completely circumnavigate Iceland! Aboard MS Fram, named after the legendary ship used by Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, each expedition dives deep into the history, culture, and wildlife of this magnificent island country. Plus, MS Fram will be completely refurbished in the spring of 2020; not only will her cabins and …

Machu Picchu

April 29, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Just getting to there is worth the trip in itself. This is not an overstatement. We left the United States from Fort Lauderdale airport for the five hour flight to Lima. I don’t know how they knew we were coming, but a multitude of taxi drivers greeted us upon arrival. First there were the pretty women with signs at baggage claim then a ton of them once we exited the terminal. There was no line so …

Experience the Grandeur of Northern Europe

April 18, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Cruise in comfort and luxury aboard one of PONANT’s eco-friendly, intimate ships to exceptional destinations in Northern Europe. We invite your clients to discover nature, history and culture on specially created itineraries that explore the English Channel and the Irish Sea, the world’s best museums between Belgium and Denmark, and the fairy tale cities in the Baltic Sea—highlighted with a stop in St. Petersburg that reveals the majesty of Imperial Russia. To book a cruise …

What is Your Ideal River Ship Size – XS, S, M, L or XL?

April 16, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

CruiseCompete Helps Travelers Choose the Perfect River Cruise Ship Size for Up Close & Personal Voyages All those with the hearts of wanderers will appreciate the appeal of a river cruise; an experience rich in culture, made possible by ability to disembark and re-embark at leisure, an option not available on sea-faring cruises. These cruises are made even more popular because most are all-inclusive voyages, offering countless amenities. River cruise ships range from very private eight-person barges …

Never Be Bored: 18 Things to Do Before Dinner on QM2

April 15, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Below is a blog courtesy of my friend, Bryce Sanders. Enjoy! Veteran cruisers choose 2nd seating for dinner. If you are travelling on QM2 and dining in Britannia, there’s a big window of time between 4:00 PM and 8:30 PM, especially on transatlantic crossings. This might be downtime, but it can also be put to good use. Let’s assume you went to afternoon tea at 3:30 PM. Who wants to miss out on white gloved servers …

Flourless Chocolate Cake compliments of Viking River & Ocean Cruises & AllThingsCruise

November 29, 2018March 6, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

This dense moist cake is like a giant chocolate truffle—crunchy on top with a deliciously fudgy center. Extremely rich yet so simple to make, it is popular all year round. It is gluten-free and you can even make it in advance—just take it out of the refrigerator an hour before serving–it tastes even better the second day. Ingredients 8 oz (227 g) dark chocolate, chopped 3 T (21 g) unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ tsp (1 g) …

A Fantastic Princess Cruises Sale with Up to 40 Percent Off Select Spring and Summer 2019 Cruises and Cruisetours

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Princess Cruises’ “Sail Into Savings” sale starts today and offers up to 40 percent off on select cruises and cruisetours. The sale runs from March 5, 2019 through April 30, 2019 and includes deals to sought-destinations such as Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean. Cruise vacations offered in the “Sail Into Savings” sale, include: Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise from Vancouver, B.C. to Anchorage (Whittier) aboard Coral Princess – 7 days: $549 interior (was $999); $1,099 balcony (was $1,899) Alaska Cruisetour CAZ …

101 Captivating Reasons to Choose a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing for Your Travel Vacation

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Indulgence and Inspiration Aboard the World’s Only True Ocean Liner Cunard first started crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1840. For many years, sailing was how celebrities, politicians …

Sangria compliments of Viking River & Ocean Cruises & AllThingsCruise

November 29, 2018February 20, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

The term sangria can be documented back to a punch enjoyed in London in 1736. The original ingredients included Madeira (a fortified Portuguese wine) sugar, lime juice, water and nutmeg. Over the centuries, the recipe has been modified, but it is still the classic preparation of wine and citrus fruit that makes sangria a favorite today. Ingredients 1 lg orange, peeled, segmented and cut in half 1 C (151 g) strawberries, hulled and quartered 1 C …

Bûche de Noël compliments of Viking River & Ocean Cruises & AllThingsCruise

November 29, 2018February 6, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

This grand dessert is a descendant of the medieval subtlety—food disguised to look like something else. Here, chocolate cake masquerades as the traditional yule log for a long winter’s night. Although making the log look realistic can be challenging, even a simple approach is great fun to make and delightful to serve on a holiday evening. Ingredients CAKE: Unsalted butter for greasing Confectioners’ sugar for dusting 5 lg eggs, separated 1 C (192 g) sugar, divided …