Port Help for Cruise Passengers

We were in Bermuda. Standing on the dock waiting to catch a ferry from St. George's to Hamilton, we encountered Clarence Smith. He was wearing an orange jacket, which made him hard to miss, and since it said "Visitor Information" on the back and we were visitors… Clarence is an Ambassador — that's also on… Continue reading Port Help for Cruise Passengers

Norwegian Playing Its Belize Cards

There's a negotiation process underway between Norwegian Cruise Line and Belize right now and when you read through all the he-said, he-said, what it comes right down to is this: Democracy at work. Norwegian wants to help the Belize government built a new port, south of Belize City in a place where no cruise ship… Continue reading Norwegian Playing Its Belize Cards

Holland America: new plan for ports

Just when you think there can't be any more new twists on shore excursions, here's a new twist on shore excursions. Holland America is bringing them on board. It's being called the "On Location" program and it's being floated out over the 15-ship fleet from now until the end of the year. The idea is… Continue reading Holland America: new plan for ports

New Caribbean Port Coming in 2014

The first time we cruised to "Honduras" was about three years ago and the opportunity to do so was intriguing, since it was a country we had never visited…and it's always interesting to go somewhere new. Then we looked at a map. The ship — Norwegian's Epic — was visiting Roatan. Now technically, Roatan is… Continue reading New Caribbean Port Coming in 2014

A Flight Plan That Attracts Tourists

  PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — Go ahead. Call us crazy. Unless you think it's normal to go halfway around the world on planes and boats and taxis to see a jet fly over a beach? For hundreds of cruise passengers in St. Maarten, that's normal. The beach is Maho Bay, or near Maho Bay. The… Continue reading A Flight Plan That Attracts Tourists