From the minute we boarded Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas, we knew we were in for an extraordinary time. After our sailing I asked my shipmate 7-year-old son, Leo, what was his favorite part of our cruise. His answer? “Meeting Joey.” Yep, a humongous ship stocked with bumper cars, a climbing wall, swimming pools, […]
CRUISES
Marksburg Castle with Viking River Cruises
October 21, 2015 20 Comments
Marksburg Castle was the most fascinating castle have ever visited, and I’ve visited quite a few. It’s not because it was the most opulent or important castle I’ve ever seen. (It was neither.) It’s because our Viking River Cruises tour guide gave such an intriguing glimpse into what life was like during the time of castles, […]
German Romance, Education and Debauchery in Heidelberg with Viking River Cruises
September 10, 2015 24 Comments
Rich with history, Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university, the ruins of a romantic Renaissance castle, and the world’s largest wine barrel. Intrigued? Come along to explore the romance, education and debauchery of Heidelberg with Viking River Cruises. Heidelberg Castle Heidelberg Castle, with its impressive red sandstone buildings and stately position above the River Neckar, evokes romantic […]
Exploring Germany’s Fabled Black Forest with Viking River Cruises
June 11, 2015 12 Comments
Land of cuckoo clocks, fruit elixirs, and its namesake hams and cakes—the Black Forest sounds like a place dreamed up by the Brothers Grimm for their fairy tales. Unlike Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood, though, the Black Forest is very real. Grab your crimson cape and a basket of goodies for […]
Why Carnival Cruise with Teens
April 22, 2014 Leave a Comment
Our teenage son lobbied to choose our family’s vacation for this year’s spring break. He had two proposals: go on a cruise or visit the Caribbean. Since my husband and I loved our Alaskan cruise and we had always wanted to visit the Caribbean, our teen didn’t have to do too much convincing. Much to […]
Celebrity Alaska Cruise Ports
April 7, 2014 6 Comments
An Alaskan Celebrity Cruise wows travelers with nature’s beauty. Celebrity passengers can expect extras like an at sea glass-blowing show (you heard me), incredible dining, kids camp, and even in-room babysitting. Still, mother nature is the star of any Alaskan cruise, with stunning views from every angle while at sea and incredible adventures in ports. […]
Victoria’s Butchart Gardens and Empress Tea
February 7, 2014 8 Comments
Call me a girlie girl. I adore wandering through botanical gardens to gaze at nature’s prettiest petaled creations and breathe in the scent of sweet blooms. And I love little more in life than dining on delicate finger sandwiches and petit fours over a cup of hot tea (pinky finger pointed upwards). So when I saw […]
Summer Dog-sledding in Skagway, Alaska with Kids
November 4, 2013 2 Comments
Dog-sledding is one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done in my life. I led a pack of four dogs through the Canadian wilds a few years ago and I have wanted to share this experience with my kids ever since. When I signed up for our Alaskan Celebrity Cruise this past summer, […]
Searching for Bears Near Ketchikan, Alaska with Celebrity Cruise Line
September 18, 2013 15 Comments
When my parents returned from their trip to Alaska a few years ago, I was as green with envy as Alaska is green with trees. The main cause of this bout of travel jealousy? Their photos of wild bears scooping up spawning salmon from a rushing river. These photos became the catalyst for my family’s […]
What to Do When You Get Sick on a Cruise
August 30, 2013 18 Comments
Cruises enable travelers to experience new cultures, see interesting sights, taste new foods, and have a whole lot of fun. Cruising is a convenient way to travel to many destinations while unpacking just once. Plus, many cruise lines offer kid-friendly entertainment as well as free childcare. This makes cruising with kids an especially enticing option. […]
Is Disney Cruise Line for Teens and Tweens Too?
January 25, 2013 10 Comments
My family set sail for the first time seven years ago on a multi-generational Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic and fell in love with cruising. As of this past fall we had sailed on a total of five cruises on four different lines in the Caribbean, Alaska, the Baltics and the Mediterranean, but we had not […]
Save Your Travel Sanity with a Multigenerational Cruise
October 15, 2012 18 Comments
If you’d prefer getting a root canal to going on a holiday with your parents or in-laws, take heart. There is a way to vacation with the folks while minimizing family blow-ups. Booking a cruise with extended family is a fantastic way to be together, as much or as little as you’d like. And nobody […]
Remy Disney Cruise Line Review ~ Fancy Schmancy Dining At Sea
July 2, 2012 7 Comments
Disney Cruise Line and France are two of my favorite things in the world. So when I learned that Disney had added a French-themed dining option to its two newest ships, I knew sans doute I wanted to eat at Remy during my cruise aboard Fantasy. I’d previously dined at Disney’s other adult-only at-sea restaurant, Palo, which serves upscale Northern Italian cuisine. While […]
