Vroom! Grand Prix On The Diadema

  ON THE COSTA DIADEMA — Several years ago, we spent almost three weeks driving around Italy. From Tuscany to Turin and back. From Tuscany to Naples to Venice and back to Rome. About 3,000 kilometers in 19 days. By the time it ended, Bob had turned into Roberto. If you’ve ever driven a car in… Continue reading Vroom! Grand Prix On The Diadema

Costa’s ’Tiara’ Jewel Of The Fleet

ON THE COSTA DIADEMA — The first thing you should know about Costa Cruises, if you don’t already, is that this is not some obscure cruise line that nobody ever heard of before one of its ships — the Concordia — became a graveyard for 32 of its passengers. Costa is big. So big that… Continue reading Costa’s ’Tiara’ Jewel Of The Fleet

How To Enjoy Getting To Europe

NAPLES, Italy — Anybody who has flown to Europe or back knows there’s no such thing as the perfect day (or two), even if you fly business class. Our trip to this southern Italian city was as good as it gets. If you leave from the West Coast, as we did, figure on being in… Continue reading How To Enjoy Getting To Europe

A Lifetime Of Carnival Cruises

So what are the chances of entering a contest and winning the grand prize, a cruise every year for the rest of your life? Evidently, 1 in 115,000. That’s how many people entered a Carnival contest called the “World’s Leading Cruise Lines Marketing Challenge.” Consumers (who were cruisers, obviously) gave Carnival input on new TV advertising concepts.… Continue reading A Lifetime Of Carnival Cruises

Friday File: Searching For Margaritaville

One of us is obsessed with the tequila-based drinks called margaritas…not drinking them, finding where they are. Like, in Margaritaville, homeland of Jimmy Buffett. As a concession to her, and at the risk of alienating you, below are some of the fruits of her labor (and you can be sure there are more to come!)…… Continue reading Friday File: Searching For Margaritaville