Breakaway's Breakout in Papenburg

  Cruise lines often count down the days until a new ship is launched. When the countdown starts is always subjective. For the Norwegian Breakaway, it started yesterday. That's when the people other than shipbuilders in Papenburg, Germany first had a look at the latest of cruise ships, to be the new flagship in a… Continue reading Breakaway's Breakout in Papenburg

Oceans to River in Belize

BELIZE CITY, Belize — What to do in this friendly country under the arm of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and bordered on one side by Guatemala and the other by the Caribbean Sea, yet 400 miles from the Gulf of Mexico… If you're a deep-sea diver, or even a snorkeler, there's no shortage of activity. If… Continue reading Oceans to River in Belize

Free Wireless in The Big Apple

It would be great to be in New York right now. Well, it would be great to be in New York anytime, wouldn't it? Right now would be appropriate because then we could try out the free WiFi that's sponsored by Norwegian's soon-to-be new ship, the Breakaway, which arrives in its permanent North American home… Continue reading Free Wireless in The Big Apple

Costa Concordia's Ongoing Legacy

Earlier this week, we regaled you — okay, informed you — with things about the Titanic that were new to us. One that we couldn't squeeze in was about the legendary ship's legacy: Its demise in 1914 led to the formation of the International Ice Patrol, and from that day to this, no lives have… Continue reading Costa Concordia's Ongoing Legacy

Scaling Back on the Food Issue

So you're worried about packing five extra pounds, are you, after a just-completed holiday season of over-eating? Relax. "So you're going on a one-week cruise?" said the dentist, his fingers and instruments making it impossible to answer. "I went on a cruise once and I wasn't worried about putting on weight. You know what the… Continue reading Scaling Back on the Food Issue