Reflecting on the Solstice Class

  Cruising's nostalgia buffs will be tracking the path of the Celebrity Reflection over the next few weeks. It's ship No. 5 in the Solstice Class, which many consider the finest class of ships in the business. Joining the Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse and Silhouette — in that order — the Reflection was delivered to Celebrity… Continue reading Reflecting on the Solstice Class

Travel Awards in Homestretch

The World Travel Awards — the self-proclaimed "Oscars of the travel industry" — are given out every year….yes, just like the Oscars. They make for interesting reading, nodding or head-shaking and good advertising for the winners. Since cruising is travel, a few categories are devoted to this popular and expanding niche of the travel business.… Continue reading Travel Awards in Homestretch

Friday: The Love Boat's Captain

For people who remember the start of the cruise boom, there's really only one ship captain whose name will stand forever. Merrill Stubing is his name and he wasn't really a captain at all…just a man who played the role on The Love Boat, the 30-minute TV show that did something special for cruising. So… Continue reading Friday: The Love Boat's Captain

This Alaska Cruise Something Special

  During the weekend, we spent some time with a dear friend whose days of traveling by air are over. He had a leg amputated last month, will say good-bye to the toes on his other leg next week and has assorted other medical issues that wouldn't allow anyone to fly…even if he wasn't in… Continue reading This Alaska Cruise Something Special

Catalina Island and Queen Mary

  It happens that we have good friends who live in Rancho Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles. It also happens that many years ago we had close friends who lived in the same suburb, which is not far from Catalina Island and even closer to the Queen Mary, which you'd think would be… Continue reading Catalina Island and Queen Mary