Venice Fatality Fuels Controversy

The controversy in Venice began when environmentalists claimed large cruise ships were causing erosion of the city's precious soil — and it is precious. This sounded like a story with some merit. The criticism escalated when the same committee claimed large cruise ships were traveling dangerously close to small vessels in the lagoon while going… Continue reading Venice Fatality Fuels Controversy

Parlez-vous…an app to help

One time, it happened on a street corner in Paris, in the dark. We were trying to find our way around a city we were visiting for the first time and we encountered a couple of locals whom we hoped would help. They spoke no English. We had three kids and six words of French… Continue reading Parlez-vous…an app to help

Norwegian Charters Mean Changes

There was a story on Cruise Critic yesterday that puts all those feel-good testimonials and events that cruise lines shower on their passengers into proper perspective. "Passengers, you're the best…unless we get a better deal." The story is about canceling cruises to accommodate private charters on two Norwegian ships and if you choose to think… Continue reading Norwegian Charters Mean Changes

Does Nobody Love The Love Boat?

By today's grandiose standards for cruise ships, the old "Love Boat" of TV fame might well be called a bucket of bolts. But the fact it's being reduced to that is, well, kind of sad. This year, she is bound for Turkey. Her final hours will take place in a shipyard not far from the… Continue reading Does Nobody Love The Love Boat?

Ports a World Apart Shaping Up

We've been to San Juan, Puerto Rico twice. We've been to Liverpool, England once. At the risk of sounding like glass-half-full tourists, we enjoyed both places and, despite that, we haven't been in either as often as we'd like. These days, a lot of our travel involves cruising. Duh! Anything that by whatever means returned… Continue reading Ports a World Apart Shaping Up