Of all the tour guides we have encountered over years of cruising — and all have been varying degrees of good at their craft — no one was better than Maria Nadina. For us, she is the First Lady of Barcelona. It's not just because she speaks six languages, all of them (as near as… Continue reading Barcelona And The Woman Who Knows It Best
Tag: Cruise ports
Battles Line Being Drawn in Great Britain
Most of us are too young — ah, isn't it nice to be called too young? — to remember the Battle of Britain. We read about it in history books, we may have even heard stories from family members who fought in World War II, maybe even seen a movie or something on the History… Continue reading Battles Line Being Drawn in Great Britain
Creeping Closer To Destination Ships?
If you want to see somebody in the cruise business shudder, just mention that it looks like ships are becoming destinations. That people in the future will cruise not to go places but to go on certain ships and, as long as the sun's shining, it doesn't matter where they are. Cruise people don't buy… Continue reading Creeping Closer To Destination Ships?
Wait-And-See Time If Your Cruise Includes Russia
Was it just a few weeks ago that the world was watching Russia because that's where the Winter Olympics were? Is that short a time all it takes for the world to be watching Russia for wintry reasons far more serious…wintry, as in Cold War? The world includes people who go on cruises because, since… Continue reading Wait-And-See Time If Your Cruise Includes Russia
Are these Olympics a little Jade-d?
The fun starts tomorrow, which on this side of the ocean may be today. The 17-day sports/political quadrennial known as the Olympic Games. People who go on cruise ships are surely among the assembled masses and there is at least one mass-market ship among the four "cruise ships" on the scene in Sochi, Russia:… Continue reading Are these Olympics a little Jade-d?