Gr-eight Day at Port Everglades

  Good friends of ours (also travel writers) — Harry and Joan Shattuck — stepped off Holland America's Eurodam and into history last weekend in Fort Lauderdale. Stepping into history is always memorable, if nothing else. The occasion was eight ships — including the mighty Oasis of the Seas — in a port at the… Continue reading Gr-eight Day at Port Everglades

This Time, Cruising Hit by Hurricane

Get ready for the hurricane. Not Sandy, the "hurricane" of stories that we're going to hear from cruisers who have been stranded while trying to reach their ship, tossed around on ships, left at sea, compensated by airlines/cruise lines, not compensated by airlines/cruise lines, missed ports, missed ships, had their cruise shortened, had their cruise… Continue reading This Time, Cruising Hit by Hurricane

Cruise Effect of Hurricane Isaac

  The swath that Hurricane Isaac is cutting through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico won't be hitting any cruise ships, but it has already affected some ship itineraries…with more to come. When the storm hits New Orleans today, whatever damage is left behind could affect two Carnival ships, the Conquest and the Elation.… Continue reading Cruise Effect of Hurricane Isaac

Captains of the Seas: Luca Manzi

Rod Stewart used to sing "Every Picture Tells A Story." We don't sing but for us "Every Captain Is A Story." Usually, all you have to do is ask. So while on Oceania's new Riviera, we asked Captain Luca Manzi. Like most captains we've met, he was initially reluctant and, also like most, he was… Continue reading Captains of the Seas: Luca Manzi

Viking River Cruise at least Ambitious

  Our colleague Phil Reimer, who writes Ports and Bows blogs and column for readers across Canada, recently made a long trip to see Longships, the moniker the rapidly-expanding Viking River Cruises gave its newest line of vessels. What Phil found, among other things, was the most ambitious river cruisers in the world. He witnessed… Continue reading Viking River Cruise at least Ambitious