Magical Times for Gulf of Mexico Port

There’s really only one word for what’s going on in Galveston these days. Magic. Five months ago, when we sailed on the Carnival Ecstasy from the south Texas port, there were three cruise ships that called Galveston home, with combined space for 8,722 passengers. By next year, there will be five ships. Passenger total: 14,998.… Continue reading Magical Times for Gulf of Mexico Port

The Latest in Cruise Voluntourism

This weekend was a double whammy, of sorts. While catching up on some PVR-ed TV shows, we watched Sixty Minutes, a show we have not watched enough. One of the stories was about Elissa Montanti, a 57-year-old Staten Island woman who almost single handedly is trying to help kids who are physical victims of war… Continue reading The Latest in Cruise Voluntourism

No Time to Get Sick Cruising

The Right Price………………………………………………………….$471 Ship: Caribbean Princess, Southern Caribbean, 7 days Departure: April 10 or April 24, 2011, return from San Juan, Puerto Rico Ports: St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), Domenica, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba Contact: Princess Cruise Lines * * * Being sick on a cruise ship is always a problem. One or more of four… Continue reading No Time to Get Sick Cruising

Cruising Notes on the Boats

The Right Price………………………………………………………….$329 Ship: Carnival Fantasy, Eastern Caribbean, 6 nights Departure: December 3, 2011, from Charleston, SC Ports: Nassau, Freeport, Key West Contact: Carnival Cruise * * * Have you ever wondered why ships don’t spend more time in ports, as in overnight?…We always assumed it was an economic issue, that port taxes for doing… Continue reading Cruising Notes on the Boats

When Can a Cruise be Too Long?

A good friend of ours left home this week, to embark on his longest of seven cruises — 38 days. He was flying to Hong Kong, to board the Queen Mary 2 bound for Southampton and, eventually, New York. He has been on four Cunard cruises before, and has only one concern about this one… Continue reading When Can a Cruise be Too Long?