Mexico Robbery the Latest Blow

The cry that you hear from people who love cruising and who love Mexico — that would be us — is this: “Somebody do something!” News on the weekend that 22 Carnival passengers were robbed, at gunpoint, while on an organized shore excursion in Puerto Vallarta, has taken violence in Mexico to another level. Until… Continue reading Mexico Robbery the Latest Blow

When There's Shore Time in L.A.

This isn’t exactly a blog about cruising, but it is about a “shore excursion” that you could take when in Los Angeles, as we did this week. The Grammy Museum. Okay, first you have to be interested in music, of course. Right now, it also helps if you’re interested in The Beatles…or at least in… Continue reading When There's Shore Time in L.A.

Alaska, about that head tax…

In Venice, the locals are talking about charging cruise passengers a head tax for visiting Italy’s pretty and most unique city. We realize it’s on the other side of the world but…have they heard of Alaska? Here’s the problem…or the first one anyway: The astounding growth of cruise ships visiting Venice is becoming an environmental… Continue reading Alaska, about that head tax…

Vancouver Olympian as port city

When it comes to arriving in a port on a cruise ship, it’s hard to imagine a prettier one than Vancouver, the most recent North American city to become known world-wide after hosting the Olympics. We have spent a lot of time in Vancouver over the years. Even at that, when we sailed into the… Continue reading Vancouver Olympian as port city

Magic Meeting with Maroon 5

If you watched the singing of the National Anthem this week at the World Series, and if you’ve read or heard any of the National Anthem Pundits (who knew there were such things?), then you know the time has come to mess with Texas. While Ronnie Dunn — he’s from a different branch of this… Continue reading Magic Meeting with Maroon 5