Five Fave Adventure Tours in Southeast Asia
As if travel to Southeast Asia isn’t exciting enough, there have been enormous strides to develop shore excursions that appeal to the adventurous spirit of both young and old intrepid travelers. Entrepreneurs from around the globe have created ingenious activities deviating from traditional, “
Create Your Own Whisky Blend Aboard Carnival
Hundreds of years ago in a peat bog somewhere in Scotland, Friar John Cor distilled the first batch of scotch whisky. It probably wasn’t the best-tasting spirit, considering it was the year 1494, but thanks to hundreds of years of refined distilling, scotch whisky has grown into one of the most po
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
Dish It Up: Season’s Eatings
Stroll from deck to deck aboard any cruise ship during the holidays, and the wafting aromas are enough to knock your blinking-lights Santa socks off. Fresh-baked Christmas cookies here, latkes there, stuffing everywhere — what’s a foodie to do? Why, indulge, of course. We’ve got the goods (and
Food To Thai Me Over
Thai food has long held a special place in my professed obsession with searching for ultimate culinary bliss. It is definitely my ‘go to’ ethnic food. Who hasn’t felt the urge to make the phone call to your local Thai restaurant and order the quintessential Pad Thai, Tom Ka Gai or Chicken Sa
Shaq Brings Great Food and Fun to Carnival
UPDATE: Carnival recently announced Big Chicken will be one of the dining options on board the new Carnival Mardi Gras! He spent well over a decade dominating the hardwood courts of the NBA, but now international star of sport, film and music Shaquille O’Neal is setting his sights on a new endeavo
Keepin’ It Cool at Martini Bar & Crush
How often do you get to feel cool? At Celebrity Cruise Line’s famed Martini Bar & Crush, keeping things cool (literally) is always a top priority. At this martini bar, you’ll find a classy twist on traditional martinis using only top quality spirits and ingredients. You don’t have to be Ja
Yes, You Can Still Enjoy A Cruise While Dieting
Embracing healthier diet and exercise lifestyle choices requires long-term commitment to see results. If you eat junk food every time you attend a party or go on a vacation, it will be incredibly difficult to reach and maintain a healthy weight. You need to find healthy eating practices that you can
Rum and Coke Reinvented
Sidle up to Alchemy Bar on board Carnival Cruise Line ships and feel the power of Bacardi’s cocktail therapy. You don’t order drinks, you order cures and the skilled mixologists have the unique solution for whatever ails you. With drinks called potions, antidotes and elixirs, you’re sure t
Grape Destinations: The Wines of Nova Scotia
This year my husband and I had the pleasure of traveling to the Northern Atlantic coast to visit the Canadian maritime province of Nova Scotia. One thing I was pleasantly surprised to discover was how Nova Scotia is a well-hidden wine country! Even though wine from this wind-swept area o
5 Foods You Have to Try in the Bahamas
Going to the Bahamas has more benefits than you can count. Everyone loves the culture, non-stop sunlight, beautiful beaches, excursions, and food. This destination is known for having delicious spicy foods and exotic fruits. When you go to the Bahamas you won’t want to miss out on the followin
Dish It Up: Holland America’s Food Frontiers
Holland America Line, once known more for staying the course rather than progressive pursuits, has quietly and impressively transformed its brand image into a far more compelling package, especially when it comes to its gastronomic allures. And that, my friends, is where I get enthused. Read on to s
Feel the Mojo: a Guide to Cuban Food
Any cultural anthropologist worth their salt knows that to truly immerse yourself in another society, you have to break bread. For Miami’s Cuban community, a meal is a powerful thing capable of bringing people together in more ways than one. Any discussion of Cuban culture and society begins a
Grape Destinations: What is Port Wine?
Port, when used in the context of a cruise ship, usually refers to the left side of the vessel. However, when in the dining room of that very same cruise ship, port becomes something very different. In the Douro region of Northern Portugal, you’ll find thick bunches of touriga and tinta grapes cas
Grape Destinations: A Wine Glass Tutorial
The best (or maybe worst) part about living in our modern age is the sheer number of choices we have. For wine drinkers, not only are there numerous varieties of wine, but hundreds of labels which make them. A trip to the wine store can be an almost overwhelming experience because of how many differ
Sampling Sydney’s Cocktail Culture in the CBD
Next time your cruise ship docks in Sydney Harbour and you’d like to visit some of the city’s most unique cocktail lounges, here are three in the Central Business District that we highly recommend. Our American daughter, Ashley, lives and works in Sydney and we recently visited her to celebrate
Grape Destinations: Have You Heard of Anderson Valley?
Napa Valley is easily the most famous wine-making region in California and probably the United States as a whole. The region’s fame and considerable fortune in the winemaking industry are renowned, but it’s not the only place in California where grapes are pressed into Decanter Awards. Just 100
Celebrating National S’mores Day on a Cruise
There’s a fine line between perfectly toasted and blazing inferno, which do you prefer? The art of s’more making varies from person to person based on taste preference, but no matter what, the main idea stays the same; have fun! S’mores are sweet, gooey and make a big mess, how could you not l
Grape Destinations: What Does a Wine Decanter Do?
It’s probably hidden in a box somewhere in the attic or basement collecting dust with all your other wedding gifts, but a wine decanter is one of the best ways to get the most out of any bottle of vino. A decanter may seem unnecessary, but if you truly want to appreciate the subtleties of [&hellip
Is This the Best Cheeseburger at Sea?
Landlubbers rejoice, you can know get one of the best burgers at sea without setting foot on a cruise ship! Passengers aboard Princess Cruises are no doubt familiar with “The Ernesto,” a burger found in The Salty Dog Gastropub and Salty Dog Grill on board Princess ships. Previously, onboard the
