Allison-Shane's Blog Archives

Simplify Your Onboard Dining With A Comprehensive Guide to Cruise Line Restaurants

February 4, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

5 Ways to Plan Your Cruise Dining Experience With the New AllThingsCruise.com Restaurant Guide and Reviews AllThingsCruise invites passengers to review on-ship restaurants with a new, exclusive website feature that allows passengers to determine which of the more than 2,500 restaurants-at-sea they’ll choose on their next cruise. The AllThingsCruise.com restaurant feature provides passengers with 5 easy ways to get the most out of their cruise dining experience: Become a reviewer – Share your wisdom about your own dining experiences …

Cabin Upgrades and VIP Status on Ships! Do They Exist?

February 2, 2020January 31, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

7 Strategies to Obtain a Cabin Upgrade on Your Next Cruise Is it really possible to receive a cabin upgrade on a cruise ship? Yes, it is. Please read about my experience on Cunard, one of my favorite lines. We boarded Queen Mary 2, a majestic ocean liner, in Southampton, England, poised to enjoy a transatlantic cruise ending in New York City. We were shown to our stateroom and it was lovely and spacious with an enclosed …

3 Cruise Trends That Will Remake the Face of Cruising in 2020

January 30, 2020January 30, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Big Things in Small Packages, the Innovations of Expansion, and a Fresh (Water) Take on Cruising: Thanks to their more than 1.3 million members and expert knowledge of the cruise line industry, CruiseCompete has an insider’s take on cruise trends on the horizon for 2020. Here are CruiseCompete’s Top 3 predictions for the most noteworthy trends of 2020: 1. Expansion and Innovation–Many of the cruise lines are employing a “bigger is better” philosophy, building ships that have …

Cruise Trends ~ A Snapshot of What Was Popular in 2019

January 29, 2020January 28, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Each year I publish CruiseCompete’s annual CruiseTrends™. It’s a great snapshot of what was popular in the cruise industry in the previous year. We hope you enjoy. CruiseTrends™ reports are compiled based on actual consumer quote requests and transactions taking place via CruiseCompete.com, the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003. Consumers request an average of more than 25,000 cruise quotes per month via CruiseCompete. Most Popular Cruise Lines Ranked by the total number of quote requests for …

Sea Kyaking in Antarctica With Scenic

January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Antarctic sea kyaking experience. Kyaking in Antarctic (Danco Island). Turn up the volume, and you can hear the water, paddles….and penguins (Gentoo). Scenic Antarctica- What’s Included? 200-guest luxurious Discovery Yacht 100% spacious Verandah Suites Specialist Polar Discovery Team Widest range of discovery excursions in the Par regions Average of two discovery excursions per day* Active discovery experiences – Zodiac cruising, kayaking and snowshoeing Expert-led range of Scenic Freechoice shore excursions …

Ready to Take the Polar Plunge With Scenic?

January 23, 2020January 17, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Scenic visits the Antarctic Peninsula’s west coast…a land of white icescapes, towering peaks and a maze of protected channels, home to vast colonies of penguins, seals and pods of whales. It’s the perfect place to experience a polar plunge! Every day will be a feast for the senses, a veritable parade of wildlife as you savor a rare chance to witness a part of the world few have set foot upon. What’s Included 200-guest luxurious Discovery Yacht …

Marrakesh, Fabled Moroccan City

January 9, 2020 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Please enjoy this story from my friend Richard Joseph from his recent visit to Marrakesh in Morocco … It wasn’t Crosby, Stills and Nash’s 1969 “Marrakesh Express,” but rather Ryan Air that deposited us in this fabled Moroccan city. Outside of the modern airport a prearranged taxi took us back in time, it seemed, to the edge of the old city or medina. A quick glance revealed there was no way this taxi could get into the …

All About the Galapagos Islands and Why Everyone Wants to Visit This Remote Destination

December 10, 2019December 7, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Image courtesy of photographer Goran Thulin

The Galápagos Islands of Ecuador are becoming a must-see destination for their remarkable natural environments with native wildlife in sea and on land, incredible shore excursions, ecotourism, and delectable restaurants. The Galápagos Islands offer 19 volcanic islands, with Galápagos tortoises settling to give birth on Isla Bartolomé. Stroll or hike on land with flamingos and iguanas. Mountain bike in Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal- the off-beaten paths are sure to provide the thrill of a lifetime. Explore …

The Galapagos, a Celebrity Flora Itinerary

December 10, 2019December 2, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

The Celebrity Flora- this evolutionary new ship arrived in 2019 and features extraordinary creature comforts. Here is an example itinerary, from the May 24, 2020 sailing. This itinerary makes stops in: Baltra Island Daphne Major Gardner Bay (Espanola) Punta Suarez Cormorant Point Post Office Bay Moreno Point Urvina Bay Espinoza Point Vicente Roca Point South Plaza (Santa Cruz Island) Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) Puerto Ayora Baltra Island For more information on this itinerary, please visit: https://www.cruisecompete.com/itins/celebrity_flora_beaghfga.html. …

Cruise Lines and Ships Offering Sailings to the Galapagos Islands. When is the Best Time to Visit?

December 10, 2019December 2, 2019 by Heidi Allison-Shane

Image courtesy of photographer Kurt Soderling

There is no “wrong” time to visit the Galápagos Islands. Different times of the year have different things to see and do. The birds, tortoises and dazzling marine life are always there, waiting for their photos to be taken.