Vatican VIP – Miracles Do Happen
Monday Mantra It’s a Miracle … It’s a Miracle … It’s a Miracle Vatican VIP Room to breathe, a papal address — this is a trip with a difference. Life is full of surprises. Like today, I saw the Pope. Bam! Just like that. I guess I should explain that I’m in Rome
Cruise Ship Friendship
Monthly Mantra Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … “Wait! Wait! I want to give this to you!” That was the older woman with the organza hat, waving me down as I gathered my luggage after disembarking Queen Elizabeth 2 in Southampton in 1983. At the time, I was [&h
Cruising Raises The Zombies’ Legacy
Monday Mantra Sailing into the Hall of Fame … Sailing into the Hall of Fame … Sailing into the Hall of Fame … Next month — March 29, to be precise — all eyes will be on Brooklyn, New York’s Barclay Center and the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Hall’s [&hellip
The Weight After
The Monthly Mantra A Holiday Miracle! … A Holiday Miracle! … A Holiday Miracle! Dover sole: delicate and moist in a sauce of butter, garlic and wine. Veal Wellington: tender slices of flavorful veal topped with a rich mushroom duxelle and wrapped in a flaky crust. Lobster bisque: creamy
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2018
The Monthly Mantra And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! It’s time for the Judi’s Choice Awards and this year my head is spinning! 2018 has seen explosive developments in the cruise industry, big and small, far and near – so here are this year’s
For a Healthier Trip, Avoid This Common Mistake
Drinking enough water throughout the day is something we could all improve at. Water plays a crucial role in how our body functions both mentally and physically, so when you’re dehydrated, you’re not operating at peak performance. It’s hard enough to drink 8 glasses on a regular day, but what
Delicate Features – Face Plates as Fine Art
The Monthly Mantra An Unusual Setting … An Unusual Setting … An Unusual Setting Well now. This is different. A cruise-ship press event … at a china shop? Okay, not just any china shop but New York’s chi-chi Bernardaud, masters of the art of French porcelain who, to this day, carry Marie Anto
Trick or Treat … or Travel
The Monthly Mantra Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! I just finished the final Twix in the massive bag of assorted Halloween candy I bought — obviously, a bit too early — for my trick-or-treaters. I finished the Twizzlers yesterday, so if the kids don’t like Th
Packing is Such Sweet Sorrow
The Monthly Mantra Packin’ it in … Packin’ it in … Packin’ it in … It’s late afternoon the day before disembarkation and I’m on my balcony gazing out at the ocean, serenaded by the gentle swish of the waves. But ever so subtly, I find myself bracing for the transition from carefree h
Cruising to a New Europe – by Sail
The Monthly Mantra A Space in the Crowd… A Space in the Crowd… A Space in the Crowd… Venice is vexed. Barcelona is bothered. London is livid. Prague is p.o.’ed. And Rome is revolted. I just watched a news report that said that residents of European capitals are up to HERE with the thousands
Bermuda, Booze, Horizon: Three ingredients to a killer cocktail
The Monthly Mantra Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … People cruise for all sorts of reasons: to visit exotic ports of call, to relax poolside, to enjoy the fine dining and to meet new friends. I, meanwhile, cruised to Bermuda aboard Carnival Horizon last week to pi
Exploring Carnival Horizon
The Monthly Mantra Just a Tease … Just a Tease … Just a Tease … It’s not possible to do everything there is to do aboard Carnival Horizon in 18 hours … I really tried. On May 23rd, I found myself strolling up the gangway of the newest member of Carnival’s fleet. That’s the good [&helli
Spooky Sailing; Cruise with the Monsters from Hotel Transylvania
Dream Cruises is collaborating with Sony Picture Entertainment this summer to offer a theme cruise with a spooky side. Guests aboard two of Dream Cruises ships, Genting Dream and World Dream, will get to experience activities based on Sony’s latest animated motion picture; Hotel Transylvania 3: A
What’s the Deal with All-Inclusive Cruises?
Vacations can be expensive. From hotels to dining and entertainment, costs add up quickly, especially when it’s a family trip. Back in 2013, American Express estimated the average cost of a vacation totaled more than $1,000 per person. Five years later, costs have generally gone up, not down. For
No Time for a Trip? Take a Daycation!
There’s nothing better than going on vacation, except when you think about the costs and all the time spent traveling to your destination. Thanks to Daycation, it’s possible to enjoy a relaxing day by the pool without going too far from home. What is Daycation? Daycation is an innovative new ser
Forget the iPad, We’re All About the Sky Pad
A million-dollar makeover for Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas has guests jumping for joy, literally. The new Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline experience, is the talk of the industry thanks to Royal Caribbean’s bold new adventures campaign. The feature is exclusive to Royal
What are the Best Cruise Ships for Kids?
Step aboard most new cruise ships these days and it’s clear they’ve placed an emphasis on entertainment for kids and young adults. When many think of taking a cruise, they envision a week laid up in a deck chair drinking Pina Coladas and enjoying a good book. Newer ships certainly offer that par
Into the Heart of Cascadia: Cruising the Pacific Northwest
Home to slumbering volcanoes, lush forests, and rolling rivers, the Pacific Northwest is an intrepid soul’s paradise. Those looking to explore one of America’s most unique regions can now do so with UnCruise Adventures new Rivers of Adventure itinerary. Known for their small ship cruises that ar
Carnival Makes Splash with New Cuba Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Line made a splash recently with their announcement of new Cuba itineraries for the 2019-20 cruising season. The popular cruise line plans to offer 23 new cruises to Havana in the next two years, including three and five-day itineraries across five ships cruising from several of Carn
Viking Jupiter Float Out Honors Maritime Tradition
Viking Cruises strives to establish an intimate cruise experience for each and every guest. Their newest ship, Viking Jupiter, personifies that commitment in every way possible. Viking Jupiter recently reached a major building milestone as it was “floated out” for the first time since construct
