What's Good (?) About Hurricanes

This is the week everyone knew was coming, but didn’t know when. Even with a calendar, I couldn’t have accurately predicted this week would arrive on August 29, as it did, because “this week” is the one that announces the arrival of the first serious hurricane. Along came Earl (below), and the hurricane season in… Continue reading What's Good (?) About Hurricanes

Options for Phoning Home from the Ship

Our lives have become so dependent on the cel phone that being on a cruise ship means either suffering cel-phone withdrawal or having deep pockets. Talking on your cel from the ship can be extremely expensive. International roaming, it’s called. Here’s a couple of options we discovered, although these are by no means the only… Continue reading Options for Phoning Home from the Ship

Notes on the Boats

THE RIGHT PRICE…………….$699 November 2, 2010: Fort Lauderdale (return) to Eastern Caribbean, 10 days Bonus: $150 shipboard credit Ship: Holland America Maasdam Contact: cruise.com * * * Have you ever wondered how much cruisers pay for the “theme” in theme cruise? The researchers at Cruise Critic came up with an interesting item this week about… Continue reading Notes on the Boats

Canal Cruising in Boat Built for Two

I remember our first “small ship” cruise. It was on the Midi Canal in France. It really was called “cruising” although anyone who has seen the Midi Canal knows not one cruise ship of any largesse that would fit. Toy cruise ships, perhaps. This was one of those special birthdays in our house, and I… Continue reading Canal Cruising in Boat Built for Two

Bargain Hunters, Take Aim at Cruises

Everybody loves a bargain, right? Cruisers just might be at the top of that list, but remember, it’s a jungle out there when it comes to finding them. There are as many cruise “bargains” as there are websites advertising them, so it makes sense to do some comparison shopping before booking your cruise. There is… Continue reading Bargain Hunters, Take Aim at Cruises