Norwegian's Irish Pub of the Sea

  Among the innovations when the Norwegian Epic arrived in 2010 was an Irish-style pub called O'Sheehan's. If it was a test for inclusion on future ships, O'Sheehan's passed with flying colors. It will be replicated when the Breakaway arrives in May, and it will surprise us if it's not on the Getaway when that… Continue reading Norwegian's Irish Pub of the Sea

Scaling the heights of St. Thomas

  A taxi driver in Miami asked where we were going on the Norwegian Epic. "St. Martin, St. Thomas and Nassau." "When you get to St. Thomas," he said, "go to the top of the mountain. You can see everything from there and they say they have the best banana daiquiris. Who knows if they're… Continue reading Scaling the heights of St. Thomas

Carnival to Mexico…er, Ensenada

Cruise ships were leaving Mexico with reckless abandon over the past couple of years, thanks mainly to growing criminal issues in the country, and now Carnival is going back. Well, sort of. Next month, the freshly-refurbished Carnival Imagination will begin sailing 3-and-4-day cruises from Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. This does not mean a return… Continue reading Carnival to Mexico…er, Ensenada

Upon Reflection, People are Special

Quite by accident — or by failure to follow directions — we enjoyed our most pleasant evening on the Celebrity Reflection in the company of a junior waiter, a waiter and a sommelier. This is typical for us. We make more friends among cruise ship staff than we do passengers, which means either we enjoy… Continue reading Upon Reflection, People are Special

Dancing With Holland America

Are we the only people on the seven seas — or the face of the planet — who have never seen Dancing With The Stars? Is it acronymious of us to admit that DWTS is not among our list of acronyms, which at various times has included MLB, AA, PVR, ATM, FAQ and hundreds of… Continue reading Dancing With Holland America