Cruising Authority's Cruise Adventures

January 13th (at Sea aboard Brilliance of the Seas)

2012-01-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned how much I love sea days? I have tried to relax a little on this sea day, however; Mr. Diggle and I did a few video shoots today, and I’m planning to do more as the sun begins to go down. Today we past through the straight between Iran and UAE, a distance of only 34 miles separates the two countries. There is a lot of political unrest in recent days with Iran, so it’s somewhat fascinating to consider we are so close to this tension in the Middle East, enjoying all the fine dining and luxuries a cruise ship like the Brilliance of the Seas has to offer. Tomorrow morning we dock in Abu Dhabi and it looks like we will be participating in a city tour. The adventure continues when we get back to Dubai, and film the spectacular Burj Al Arab hotel, arguably considered the world’s most luxurious hotel. Then, tentatively we have plans to visit the QE2. Finally after disembarking from the cruise on the 16^th, we have reservations to stay in a two-bedroom suite at Burj Al Arab.

January 14^th (Abu Dhabi UAE)

This morning we arrived at Abu Dhabi, which was a very large city…I thought we were arriving back into Dubai. I’ve been told that Abu Dhabi has more money than Dubai, so the construction happening there is tremendous. It reminded me of China, where it seems there is also a massive phase of new buildings being built. Like China, the new large buildings are often very unique in design, pushing the boundaries of architectural and aesthetic genius. Today we participated in a shore excursion to see the incredible mosque, completed in 2007 and built entirely out of marble with inlaid mother of pearl. The massive interior structure includes one of the largest carpets in the world and the largest chandelier. It is a place of worship for Muslims from around the world, with rooms divided for men and women. Any female visitor or tourist must put on a black robe and cover their head in order to enter the mosque. No shoes are worn inside the structure. This mosque was the dream of a local sheikh ruler, who designed the structure, but died shortly before construction was complete. It took ten years to build the mosque and is larger than the Taj Mahal in India. This excursion was truly fascinating and our guide was very knowledgeable. The excursion also made a stop at the mall in Abu Dhabi and we saw the presidential palace and some other interesting sights. I enjoy going to the mall in Muscat Oman, and I must mention that it was fun for me to walk through the malls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which are very modern. One particular mall in Dubai for example is larger than the Mall of America back in my hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota.

We departed Abu Dhabi to another amazing sunset in the Arabian Desert. I was up on deck when the sun came up today, and then watched from the deck as the sun went down. The temperatures during the day on this cruise has averaged about 78-80 degrees and sunny, which is very comfortable, however; at night when the sun goes down it can get a little cool, relatively speaking, to about 65 degrees. I say “relatively speaking” because I come from Minnesota where in the winter months, temperatures can easily reach -30 to -50 degrees below zero, incredibly cold temperatures that many who live in places like Florida or Dubai can’t even imagine.

January 15^th, Dubai UAE

This morning we arrived again into Dubai. I was up early in the morning watching as we approached Dubai with the amazing city lights blazing. I could see in the distance the Burj Al Arab hotel where we will be staying the evening of the 16^th. Today, however; the Brilliance of the Seas is our floating hotel in Dubai, because we stay one more night aboard this beautiful Royal Caribbean ship before officially disembarking the ship in the morning on the 16^th. We have a very busy day planned today in Dubai. On the schedule is to visit Burj Al Arab and conduct our official tour of the hotel and produce our video content. Our appointment was at 8:30am however; our limo driver thought we just wanted to “see” the Burj Al Arab hotel, and he didn’t realize we had an official appointment to enter the hotel complex, which is gated and exclusively accessible to only hotel guests, so we were a little late and arrived at about 9am. Featuring the Burj Al Arab hotel in my video series was very challenging, because the hotel is very cautious and protective about any media content produced about their facility and require in advance our script and video shooting locations. Rather than try and “loosly” follow a script like I usually do, I had very limited time to get the shots done, so I tried something different and used my MacBook Pro as a teleprompter to make sure I get the shot done right with only one take. We shot video in the lobby, in one of the suites, and in the restaurant perched high up near the top of the building. I was instructed to not include any employees or guests from the hotel in any of my shots. The extravagance and opulence of Burj Al Arab is over the top and impressive. Doug and I were impressed with every detail this spectacular hotel, and our heads were spinning at the thought that tomorrow we will be checking-in as guests of this palatial and exclusive hotel. After a successful few hours of shooting video and taking pictures, our stretched, black, Chysler 300 limo was waiting for us at the entrance to the Burj Al Arab hotel, among a few other impressive vehicles like the latest Ferrari, several Rolls Royce Phantoms and a Seven-series BMW. Our next appointment was with the PR representative for the QE2 in an office at the Burj Kalifa which is the world’s tallest building down town Dubai. She had asked me to call when I was on my way, so I did, and when I reached her while we were enroute, she told me she couldn’t meet with me as planned, however; she would send our names to the QE2’s gangway so we could board the ship. With our sleight change of plans we had some time to meet with the owner of the Dubai Exotic Limo company at his request. We were thrilled to meet with Mr. Izzat Rustom, the owner of this fine limo company.

Our meeting with Mr. Rustom went well and we learned more about his company and his vision for futher development of not only a luxury limo service, but also yacht charters and luxury condominiums and escorted tours. As we talked with Mr. Rustom, we decided to take a few pictures of his stretched limos in front of the QE2. Mr. Rustom got on his iPhone and instructed all his drivers to meet at the QE2’s location for a photo shoot. As a photographer, I’ve specialized in professional portraits and of course love taking pictures of cruise ships, but this was a new one for me to take portraits of a fleet of eight stretched limos. We tried arranging the cars in a couple different positions, but capturing the length of all these cars together was a challenge. If I were to get the best possible shot, I was going to need a ladder to be positioned higher to capture the depth and length of this fleet of stretched vehicles. There was no ladder in sight, however; I did notice a few workers hanging out as we took pictures of these cars. I thought the workers were from the cargo ship docked nearby and talked with them briefly to discover they were actually responsible for a large truck with a crane built into it. I asked them, matter of fact, if we could use their truck to get a better picture, and they were thrilled to be able to help. So now I had something better than a ladder, I coordinated a crane to be moved into position to achieve the best possible photo of the limos with the famous QE2 as a backdrop. After sketching out on paper what I thought would be the perfect position for these limos, the work began to direct eight limo drivers to park their vehicles at the perfect angle to get the best portrait of this fleet of luxury cars. It was an epic event. All the drivers, the owner, Mr. Rustom and my colleague, Doug, were thrilled at this unique opportunity to produce such a great promotional photo, which I’m happy to say the picture turned out great!

Sadly, our appointment to board the QE2, even after many emails and phone calls, did not turn out as planned. I had planned to feature the QE2 on my talk show for my viewers and listeners, but without going into detail and because of a breakdown in communication, access to QE2 was not going to happen. You can imagine my disappointment after coming all this way around the world to re-visit this iconic ocean liner, and then not being able to board the ship. The last time I boarded the QE2 was in 1993 while she was in San Pedro, California, not too long after I had worked onboard the ship as Stage Manager. Regardless of my disappointment, however; I was thrilled at the chance to see the ship again, even if it was to gaze up at her from the dock.

It was a very successful day, packed with great memories, lots of photos and video, but now it was time to get back onboard our floating hotel for the evening, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and rest. I was tired after today, because I put so much energy into the videos and photos at the hotel and of the limos. After dinner onboard the Brilliance of the Seas, Mr. Izzat Rustom, invited us to meet with him downtown Dubai, and he sent our limo driver to pick us up. I was ready to call it a night, because I was very tired, but I thought it was important to meet with Mr. Rustom in a more casual and relaxed, unofficial visit. Izzat was a wonderful host! It was great to spend some time with him socially and see the city of Dubai at night. The nightlife in Dubai is very international and upscale with residents and tourists from all over the world. The scene near the base of the tallest building in the world has a large man-made lake, with a spectacular dancing water show that rivals Las Vegas, and a giant mall with upscale restaurants and a delightful promenade, with palm trees light-up with twinkling lights….it reminded me of Fashion Island in Newport Beach or Rodeo Drive in California.

January 16^th Dubai UAE

This morning we packed our bags and had a little breakfast before disembarking the Brilliance of the Seas. We were among the last passengers to leave the ship, made our way to the pier and waited out front for our beautiful, black, stretched limo to pick us up and transport us to the dreamy Burj Al Arab hotel, arguably, the world’s most luxurious hotel. We had a taste of what to expect yesterday during our video shoot, but this time we arrived as guests of the hotel. Special doormen who opened our limo doors, assembled our luggage and escorted us to the front revolving door of the hotel. We said goodbye to our limo driver and entered the hotel. There was a line of hosts waiting for us in the lobby, one offered us a cool scented towel, the next offered us a delicious and sweet date, and finally we were given a sample of Arabian hot coffee. A young woman greeted us, and escorted us to our suite on the 12th floor. It was as if we were the only guests arriving that day with servants scrambling to carry our bags and practically carry us to our suite in a cloud of luxury. Both Doug and I just looked at each other in amazement upon entering our two-bedroom suite which was nearly identical to the one we photographed yesterday. After the young woman Concierge showed us our suite and how to use some of the electronic features, she introduced us to our private butler who was there to take care of any further needs we may have during our stay.

It was at this moment I wish my wife, Terri, could be there with me. Without question, this was the most luxurious, extravagant hotel room I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. The 335 square metres two-bedroom, two floor suite was made for royalty, and for the day, we lived like royalty. The lower-level of our suite had a large lounge area, dining table for six, a smaller lounge, a kitchen with a separate entrance for the butler. There was a small office, which included a computer, printer, stationary and everything you would need in an office. The upper-level of our suite had two bedrooms, one with a large twin bed and a master bedroom with a king-size bed. Each bedroom had it’s own separate bathroom facility that was equally luxurious, and stocked with full-size Hermes bathroom products. The large floor to ceiling windows looked out at the famous Palm Island. Doug and I sat in the living room and just started to laugh in amazement at how fortunate we were to be there in such luxurious accommodations. Doug had never experienced what it was like to have a butler at our service, and wasn’t sure what a butler did, so I gave him a demonstration and asked the butler to draw me a hot bath in the master bedroom’s bathroom. It’s a large tub with jets to soothe the muscles, which I needed after the past week of scrambling to get photos and video. Doug went to the pool and explored the hotel, while I slipped into the hot bath with sea-salts added to the churning water. After my hot bath, I put on a luxurious cloth rope and slippers, opened-up my laptop and went online to check my emails. I wanted to take a nap, but how could I justify wasting the time sleeping when I have such a short stay in this luxurious suite. Unfortunately, my flight out of Dubai was at 1:45am that night, so I had to leave the hotel at about 11pm to get to the airport. What a shame I couldn’t experience the comfort of sleeping in that king-size bed with a mirror on the ceiling. I did, however; take the time to visit the spa in the hotel, which had an awesome steam room and sauna and a spa attendant to give us cold bottled water or a cool scented towel.

Our brief stay at Burj Al Arab was a treat that will be difficult to top. I look forward to editing my video footage of the hotel and the whole Dubai cruise experience. We certainly experienced the rich life on a luxury cruise with Royal Caribbean, stretched limo transportation throughout our visit to Dubai and accommodations at the world’s most luxurious hotel, Burj Al Arab. I take back with me on the long journey home, fantastic memories of the cruise aboard the Brilliance of the Seas, lots of video and photos and Burj Al Arab. It was a successful trip, and I think my travel colleague, Doug, also thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Muscat, Oman Visit

2012-01-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

January 12^th Muscat Oman

Sorry, in my previous posts I have been mis-spelling the city calling it Muskat, when it is actually spelled Muscat. Today we had two interviews, one with the ship’s doctor and the other with the Food & Beverage Manager. The interviews went well and I captured a unique perspective of the medical facilities available onboard the Brilliance of the Seas. This is such a unique itinerary for a cruise ship. This little town of Muscat doesn’t see many cruise ships or tourists visit, so it’s one of those rare opportunities to see a culture unique to this region. There are a lot of Indians living here and doing business in Muscat, which is fascinating, but one thing I have learned over the years is that people from India are not open to bartering, and they are very strict with the pricing they set in-place. There’s very little negotiating because of the shrude business style if the Indians. Also, much of the trinkets and product for sale is from India, England, or Germany, and you really have to search for items made in Muscat Oman. It was amazing to see this mall or market in Muscat which was filled with shops that carried the same stuff…lots of useless trinkets, jewelry and silk made in India. As a foreigner, wanting to buy something for my wife and my son back home, it was really tough to find something unique to Muscat. There were many vendors that sold the same items, and a massive volume of trinkets, the big challenge was to find something that represented the area and region.

I must comment on this region and culture. We explored this town of Muscat and walked the streets with many who live here. It seems like such an ancient culture here, and yet most of the locals have the latest cell phones and technology. I’m not sure how the Indians co-exist here and what faith they follow, but this is a society deeply connected to the Muslim faith. The Muslim prayers are broadcast on giant speakers throughout the city just as I heard in Dubai. The only people running the businesses in Muscat are men. Very few women are seen in public areas, but those women that are visible in public are covered in the usual black garments, and all you see is the face. I saw some women who even covered their face except for their eyes. And one woman had her face completely covered with a black veil. I’m not sure I understand the intricacies of the Muslim faith and reasoning behind the suppression of women in this culture, but I have gained a respect for the dedication to follow their faith-principles to such an extreme level. This is what sets this culture apart from other’s world-wide, which is their strict adherence to the rules of their faith.

Today we went into the town again to shop in the fascinating mall or market we discovered yesterday. Then, we made our way back to the Brilliance of the Seas to rest-up for dinner in the specialty restaurant onboard called Portofinos, the Italian restaurant.

Muskat Oman

2012-01-11T22:52:00.000-08:00

January 10^th, 2012 (Fujairah)

Today we were docked in Fujairah, however; we didn’t go ashore in this port, rather, we stayed onboard and brainstormed, and planned out our schedule for producing videos. We were still adjusting to the time difference and I wasn’t feeling 100% so it was a relaxing day. At one point we did go out on the pier to take a couple of pictures to also do some commentary, but I noticed the battery in my audio device was dead, so we couldn’t proceed until I put new batteries in my audio device. Both Doug and I sat up in the Windjammer and also the Viking Crown Lounge area to discuss our plans for this trip, to maximize the time we have onboard. We also talked about some future ideas about how we can collaborate together once we return from the cruise. We were originally set up for late seating at dinner, but it was too late for us to eat, so we asked to be switched to early seating. Tonight, on January 10^th, we went to our new dinner seating time of 6:30pm. We discovered the passenger mix on this cruise is primarily, British, many from Russia, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, and some other European countries, but there are only 149 Americans onboard. I always enjoy being out on deck as the ship departs. I’m usually scrambling top-side to get the best views and pictures, but this time Doug and I sat at an out door café to watch as the Brilliance of the Seas left the port of Fujairah.

January 11^th, 2012 (Muskat Oman)

I got out of bed at 7am to watch as our ship, the Brilliance of the Seas made its arrival into the next port of Muskat Oman. I stood out on the bow of the ship and enjoyed the subtle breeze, the weather was perfect and I was intrigued by the fascinating jagged, mountainous shoreline. Much like in Fujairah, there were many tanker ships anchored out at sea awaiting their turn to dock. As we continued to approach the port, I noticed some fascinating structures. After we docked, Doug and I again spent some time on video work, then had lunch before heading off the ship to see what Muskat has to offer. There was a massive yacht docked not far from us, in fact I think this is one of the largest yachts in the world, owned by a Sultan. We took a shuttle bus from the ship to the entrance of the port and began our walk. We must have walked six miles exploring the shops, an ancient castle fortress on top of a hill, and another strange structure that looked like a giant birdbath. The city’s waterfront walkway is very nice , with granite walls and tiled walkway with intricate designs. The street lights were black with gold trim, the grassy areas were immaculately cared for like a fine golf course, and the views were fascinating. One element to the design of the buildings here in Muskat, even the homes, seemed to have no windows and the design was more inward-focused. Late in our walk around town we discovered a marketplace or Muskat version of a mall, and found this to be extraordinary. There were hundreds of vendors and little shops selling mostly products made in India or Germany. I was surprised at how many Indians were here selling products. What was truly fascinating about this mall was that it was seemed to go on and on with no end, and there were alleys and corridors that split off from the main mall area to more shops. It felt like an underground labyrinth, and I could possibly get lost in there. Back home I love going to the mall, but this particular marketplace was exotic and ancient; it’s like this mall has been here for hundreds of years. There were shops selling herbs, incense, frankincense, and ancient spices. We also saw many vendors selling the typical Muslim, Omanian clothing and exotic linens. If you like antiques and nick knacks, you’d absolutely love to walk through this labyrinth of shops.

After our adventure in Muskat, we headed back to our ship the Brilliance of the Seas, so have dinner. We made our way up into the spa area to steam and clean up after our adventure and exhaustive walking around town. Tonight was an interesting event onboard called the Arabian White Party where a few passengers, including us, wore the Arabian headdress that we purchased in Muskat. It was a wild party with the band playing some great dance tunes and an obscene buffet of chocolates, desserts and ice sculptures. After this very busy and full day, I called it a night at about 11pm, went to my stateroom and went to bed.

Arrival into Dubai

2012-01-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

Arrival into Dubai Sunday, January 8^th, 2012 8:00pm

The flight from Washnigton DC to Dubai was about 17 hours. I was lucky enough to get a window seat, however the guy in the middle seat was a big guy like me, so it was a little cramped. I was thrilled to get a chance to ride in a Boeing 777, which has the largest most powerful twin engines on any other intercontinental jetliner. I watched at least four in-flight movies but after the first hours, I slept for about 8 hours. I had to excuse myself only once during the long flight to get out of my seat in the corner. Actually I was in the very last seat in the back of the plane. Overall, considering the cramped conditions, the flight went very well. It was exciting as we began to land in Dubai, especially when I got my first glimpse of the tallest building in the world, which is the centerpiece of downtown Dubai.

Upon exiting the aircraft, it was a long walk to the baggage-claim area and the way out of the airport. Customs was simple, not a word was spoken. Dubai Exotic Limo was suppose to pick me up at the airport and transport me to my hotel, the Royal Falcon Hotel. I saw al the limo guys with signs up and walked through the line several times, but didn’t see my name of the Dubai Exotic Limo company. I waited about a half hour and found someone willing to make a call phone call to the limo company. I was told that the big stretched limos are not allowed into the same area where the other guys were, so I walked across the street and saw a black stretched limo with the name DubaiExoticLimo on the back. I knew I was getting a ride but wasn’t exactly expecting a stretched limo. I’m getting spoiled now as nearly every time I travel a stretched limo picks us up. The Royal Falcon Hotel was not too far from the airport, and I arrived at about 9:00pm. I checked in and was escorted to my room. The room was decent but no Hilton, or Comfort Inn for sure. After that ling flight, I needed to try and adjust to the ten hour time difference, so I took my sleeping pill and went to bed. I forgot my travel alarm clock, so I powered up my cell phone which has a travel alarm ap. I’m getting personal here, I guess, but I sleep every night with a C-Pap machine for spleep apnia, but I didn’t use it tonight because A….I didn’t want to unpack it, and B….I the power outlet is different here. I did just fine, however, and slept comfortably.

The air conditioning didn’t seem to work in the room, so I slept with the window open all night which was fine, however; I was awakened by a strange noise outside. I got out of bed and when to the window and discovered it was morning prayers being broadcast throughout the city from several different directions. I cleaned-up a bit, and wandered down to the lobby to see if there was any breakfast. This hotel does not offer a breakfast, which is fine. I may take a little walk when the sun comes up to see if I can get a light snack for breakfast. My limo driver is showing up here at 11:30am to bring me back to the airport, where I will meet up with my travel colleague, Doug, who’s flight gets in at about 12:20pm. I’ll pick him up in the limo, then we are off to the cruise terminal where our ship, the Brilliance of the Seas awaits us. It will be nice to check-in aboard the ship and get settled in. Then I will unpack my suit and hang it up, along with my other clothes. I’m proud of myself for the compact packing I did. I’m traveling around the world for ten days with only one carry-on piece, my brief case, and a narrow bag for my tripod. I just don’t like the idea of checking my bags with the airlines. I’m always afraid they will lose my luggage, and feel much more comfortable with everything in the overhead compartment. I’m sure Doug will get a kick out of being shuttled around in a stretched limo. Hey, it’s the only way to get around when in a strange and exciting place like Dubai. So now I have a couple of hours here at the hotel, before we head to the airport again to pick up Doug, so I may venture to an eatery somewhere to get a morning snack. I’m feeling good, and plenty rested. My throat has that slight sore-throat feel, but I think it’s mostly because I probably snored heavily much of the night, since I didn’t use my C-pap machine. It’s Monday morning here in Dubai right now, and 8:45pm Sunday evening in Minneapolis, so I’m wondering if Terri and Jacob made it to our LifeGroup meeting which we attend every other Sunday night. Our LifeGroup are friends from our church, and every other Sunday we meet at someone’s home for great conversation and fellowship.

If you haven’t “Followed” this blog, I hope you click on that option so you don’t miss any of my updates. This is going to be an adventurous and I want to share with you. That’s all I have for now…stayed tuned.

Dubai First Day, January 9^th

My limo transport arrived at the Royal Falcon Hotel on time at 11:30am. I was picked up and taken to the Dubai airport to meet up with my colleague and traveling companion during this trip, Mr. Douglas Diggle. After meeting up with Mr. Diggle upon his arrival into Dubai, we got into our stretched limo and headed to the ship. On our approach to the harbor where the Brilliance of the Seas was docked, my heart skipped a few beats when the QE2 came into view. What a sight! Having followed the history of the QE2, I did a crossing as a passengers and even worked on the ship as Stage Manager back in 1992. QE2 was retired from Cunard Line about three years ago. I called up to our limo driver and asked him to drive alongside the QE2 which was a treat to see this historic ship close-up again. She looked good after being static for three years. Obviously the current owners put a lot of care into maintaining the ship and keeping her cosmetically shipshape.

Boarding the Brilliance of the Seas was a breeze. It was nice to finally check-in to tour stateroom, which will be our home for the week. The weather and temperature was perfect, about 80 degrees and sunny. Brilliance of the Seas, in the usual Royal Caribbean fashion is spotless, even though she is one of the older ships in the fleet. Our stateroom is 4536, an ocean-view room with a large round window. There seems to be few Americans onboard this cruise. The passenger demographic is mostly European. Getting to Dubai from the U.S. is very tiring, and the time-difference is about ten hours from Minnesota, so there is certainly some adjustments your body goes through. It’s frustrating being so drained and tired, when you want to be more active. I had the benefit of sleeping one night in a hotel after arriving into Dubai so I was feeling ok, but Doug was very sleepy, and it was tough to stay awake and make it to late sitting dinner at 9:00pm. Boat drill was at 5:15pm and the Brilliance of the Seas departed Dubai at 6:00pm. It was truly a magical and surreal experience to see the amazing skyline of Dubai with it’s incredibly tall building as the focal point and the elegant QE2 resting quietly nearby. The moon was full, hanging over the city of Dubai and glistening over the ocean like a painting . It was at that moment, particularly, that I wish my wife, Terri, was with me to experience this incredible sight. Of course it’s tough to take pictures of this because the ship is moving and it’s a very low light condition. We gutted it out and stayed awake till 9pm to meet our table mates, then called it a night at about 10:30pm.

Dubai Adventure

2012-01-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

Check back here often or better yet, "Follow" this blog because I'm about to embark on an adventure to Dubai. At this moment I'm sitting in the airport in Minneapolis waiting for my flight to star boarding. I'm traveling for the next 23 hours or so and loose a day. From Minneapolis I fly to Washington DC then connect to a United flight to Dubai. I've never been to Dubai, but it has been on my bucket list for a long time now. On this trip I'm meeting with a colleague who will co-host this series of adventures in Dubai, including a cruise aboard the Brilliance of the Seas with Royal Caribbean, a visit aboard the QE2 which has been docked in Dubai the past few years, then finally, a stay at the "World's Most Luxurious Hotel" the Burj Al Arab. So this trip will fulfill several "bucket-list" experiences. Follow me here on this blog or on Facebook.

Poesia at Sea & Ft Lauderdale

2011-12-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Did I mention how much I love seas days? After our departure from Montego Bay, Jamaica at about 2:30pm, we enjoyed more "sea time" then the next day - all day was a "sea day". I have to admit that this trip was a great experience, and my son and I had some excellent father-son bonding time, however; I think I put too much of a work-load on myself with video and photos. My expectations are to produce the best possible content for my audience, and I did a few things different on this cruise. Usually I'll conduct many interviews withe the crew and staff, but on this trip I did only a few interviews. You'll just have to wait and see how it all comes together. I want to see how it all comes together, I never know exactly how the videos will turn out until I start editing. An example of something I have never done before was to produce a music video, which I'm happy to say....I got the video footage I was wanting and I think when it's all edited together it will put a smile on your face. To say the least, I wore myself out on this trip. I think my son Jacob had a great time! The kids program onboard is very good and they have plenty of activities for the kids. That was another fun video I made.....I had my son host a review of the kids program onboard the MSC Poesia.

Back to our "sea day", for some reason time seemed to slow down, which is a good thing. The weather was perfect and there was no wind on deck, it was the perfect conditions for making video. We arrived into Ft Lauderdale early in the morning, December 23rd. Disembarkation was simple. We had some breakfast then headed down to the gangway and out to Customs. We breezed through Customs and waiting outside was our Courier to pick up our large piece of luggage by a company called Lugless and Lugless.com The courier was even so kind as to drop us off at the airport. I hope you watch our videos, listen to our audio talk show segments and read our full review of this experience aboard the MSC Poesia. www.cruisetalkshow.com

Poesia At Sea and Montego Bay

2011-12-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

All day Tuesday we were at sea which is my favorite time to be on a cruise ship. It's when a ship is "at sea" when it is doing what it was built for. I love the subtle motion of the ship and the sea air, the nice breeze and all the activities happening around the ship. Poesia rides the sea well. I might have to take a vacation to rest from this trip, because I've been running full-steam, and have not taken much "ME" time. Of course my son is with me so I have to make sure he is having fun. Speaking of my son, he swam in the pools on deck from about 8:30am till 3:45pm. He got a little sun, but he's ok.

Today, Wednesday, we were in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I had pre-arranged to go on the ZipLine with Jamaica Zipline Adventure Tours. We were suppose to meet a representative at 9:00am but they didn't show up until about 10:00am, so Jacob got a little bored waiting in the terminal, but he was excited when we were on our way up into the hills for the Zipline Adventure. The road up into the hills was full of giant potholes, and part of the road was gravel and at times I was wondering where our driver was taking us. It was a very rough ride to the site. They treated us very well on this tour, once we arrived at the site. We went through orientation, signed a waiver, got fitted with our gear for zipping. Then we got into an army six-wheel-drive vehicle and made our way up the hill further. I thought the ride to the site was rough, but this ride was so rough we had to have a helmet. (it was an Adventure). This zipline has five courses, and they claim they have the longest zipline in the Caribbean, but I think Royal Caribbean's Labadee zip is longer. We had two guides assist us for the duration of our zipping. One of the guy's had a scary nickname...."Trouble"....but he was cool. I can't explain enough how much my son enjoyed this experience! He is going to be talking about this for years. I had fun too. About halfway through the tour, they offered us fresh coconut juice, pineapple and sugarcane. What was really interesting about this excursion was the ecological information our guides shared with us about the jungle and the plants. The rough roads aside, this was a very fun experience!

Upon returning to the MSC Poesia, My son and I had lunch in the dining room. I had an interesting sword fish appetizer that was very tasty and uniquely prepared, then I enjoyed a delicious, fresh salmon steak...wow. My hat goes off to MSC for excellent dining. I did find some time to rest after lunch, and then it was time for dinner. Tomorrow we are at sea again all day which I love, however; I'm going to be scrambling to get last-minute video shots.

Poesia Roatan

2011-12-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

My impressions of the MSC Poesia

I've read many passenger reviews of Poesia on Cruise Critic and various message boards, and there were many negative comments so I was very interested in experiencing first-hand what an MSC cruise was like and finally here I am cruising the MSC Poesia. I have enjoyed the ship and the crew onboard. The dining has been excellent, the crew work very hard and I wasn't sure about the spa, but I am now hooked. I spoke with a couple today at lunch who owned a popular cruise franchise - I knew which one because it was advertised on their shirts - and they had some negative things to say about the level of service. I asked them for specifics and I was given the same lame reasoning that I've read from other people offering their "glass half empty" response. The true is, many Americans just don't understand the international "European" way of service. When traveling in Europe, you can expect prompt, efficient service, yet in may appear to Americans to be abrupt and sometimes even rude. If these "glass half empty" Americans would be exposed to the world as it is, and not just the American "bubble" of expectations, they would appreciate some of the intricacies of world travel and perhaps the International, "European" culture. I'm trying not to say "small-minded", but oops there it is, I said it, many America travelers don't get it. Having traveled the world, I can appreciate the culture here aboard the MSC Poesia, which has deep roots in Italy and all over Europe. The MSC brand is like the Carnival Cruise Line of Europe, which is very recognizable, but not very well known here in the American market. Back to this couple I spoke with, I asked them about their complaints and found them to be very small-minded comments from people who really need to travel the world more, and the more I talked with them, the more they agreed their negative comments were not valid. MSC truly offers a fascinating product, yes it's mass-market, but I think they deliver a quality product that more Americans should experience.

On this cruise I have been impressed with the dining, the quality and taste of the food. Admittedly, I have not experienced the entertainment yet, because I get so tired in the evenings, but tonight I'm going to make an effort to see the show....at least part of the show. I've also been impressed with the ship's decor, the brass handrails, the artwork, and the use of glass and marble. The layout of the deck plan takes a little getting use to, but I think the passenger flow is very good. Our stateroom was a little smaller than I expected, but it is comfortable and quiet. I often hear about how slow the ship's internet is, but I have found it to be acceptable. The ship seems to ride the seas very smooth, and without question the crew keeps the ship spotless and well maintained.

Today in Roatan, my son and I met with a friend I have had since 1999 Dr. Glen Solomon. Glen is the founder of the Majken Broby Children's Home, an orphanage in here in Roatan since about 1981. In 1999, I lead a group of 225 passengers on a ship called the SeaBreeze which stopped in Roatan. We produced a big event here in Roatan where we offered a concert with musicians, singers and a speaker. A big tent was erected at the location of the orphanage, and the governor of the island let all the kids out of school that day to have a marching band and parade thru town. It was a big event here in Roatan and Glen Solomon was an instrumental part of making that event a success. What a pleasure it was to see Dr. Solomon again and to visit the sight of the orphanage. I gave Dr. Solomon a case of Kids Against Hunger food to distribute to some of the more needy families here in Roatan, and he said it will go to good use. The Administrator of the orphanage said that the KAH food will be very useful when they have their Christmas gathering of the very poor at the church. Many families will greatly appreciate the gift of KAH food. I was particularly interested in exposing my son Jacob to this orphanage where he can see first-had how there are kids who don't have a Mom and a Dad. Additionally, my son Jacob, saw what "real" poverty is like, and that he is blessed with a mom and a dad who love him and his life is pretty good, relatively speaking.

I didn't eat much for dinner tonight because there has been so much great food the last couple of days. My son Jacob has been plugging-in to the kids program onboard the MSC Poesia, and he has enjoyed the activities so far. I'm going to make a video of Jacob with his review of the kid's program onboard.

MSC Poesia Cozumel

2011-12-18T14:56:00.000-08:00

Docked in Cozumel today. The day couldn't have gone better! I met with the Cruise Director this morning and made arrangements for the many video shots I'll need. The big plan for today in Cozumel was to swim with the dolphins with a company called Dolphin Discovery. We had the Royal Swim package which was truly an amazing experience. I think my son was swimming in the water with the dolphins for at least an hours, they played and danced together, then Jacob hung onto the fins of two dolphins as they pulled him through the water. Two dolphins even pushed him by his feet and raised him out of the water like he was on a jetski...wow what an adventure! These dolphins were even able to push my mass out of the water. It is a beautiful day today in Cozumel with a temp of about 80 degrees. I'm looking forward to this evening and I'll try to make it to the show tonight.

Key West MSC Poesia

2011-12-18T05:57:00.000-08:00

Our first port is Key West. I think got off the ship for only about two hours to walk around and take few pictures. If you've seen some of my past videos, I have to say....it's not easy shooting those videos sometimes, lots retakes to get it right. You never know what people will do in the background. I had some woman do the rabbit ears thing behind me while I was conducting an intro....so I had to do it again. Maybe I'll run it anyways? I have very much enjoyed the dining and the cruise experience so far, however; my brain gets very tired and busy with all the video shooting I need to get and I also have to make sure my son is having fun either swimming or hooked up with the kids program. I haven't been as productive as I would like, but I still have five days or so. Last night after Key West was formal night, so my son, Jacob, put his sport coat and tie on....he looked nice. I still have not been to a show at night because I'm so tired by about 8,9,10pm. Currently we are enroute to Cozumel, it's a beautiful morning. I think we are going to steam, shower, then I have a meeting with the Cruise Director at 9:00am. More later.

Boarded the MSC Poesia

2011-12-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

December 16th - Ft Lauderdale Embarkation day.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Ft Lauderdale just off of 17th and had a very pleasant night. The suites was wonderful, on the 11th floor overlooking the port where the ships dock. We woke up to see our ship docked, and a few other ships including the Pacific Princess, the Seven Seas Mariner and the Zuiderdam. Embarkation process was simple and the process was only about 20 minutes. Soon we were crossing the gangway and boarding the MSC Poesia. Our stateroom was a little smaller than I expected, but the room, although compact, has everything we need to make it our home for the week. Onboard the MSC Poesia was familiar because I visited the ship about a year ago, so it wasn't difficult navigating the various lounges and restaurants. I'm traveling with my ten-year-old son, and he wanted to get plugged-in to the kids programs which started around 8pm. We had dinner first seating at 6pm, just after boat drill. Regarding the boat drill, I noticed that many passengers didn't take the drill seriously or follow directions. From my perspective, the crew manning our boat station didn't enforce too much structure, and many passengers in my area just stood around talking, or didn't bring their life jacket. Perhaps it was because many of the instruction over the PA system were in multiple languages. Back to dinner. I'm looking forward to experiencing the dining because of the strong Italian heritage of this family-owned cruise line. I love Italian cuisine, and after my first evening at dinner, I was not disappointed. My son and I were on deck as the ship left Ft Lauderdale. Maybe it was because we departed late at about 8pm, but I didn't hear the hoopla from the condominiums as we passed them on our way out to sea. Usually there are horns and whistles, but this time very little activity. As much as I wanted to see the production show tonight, I was too tired. My son had fun at his first kids meeting with games and dancing, I picked him up at 10pm, then time to wind-down in our stateroom. Tomorrow we are in Key West.

Ft Lauderdale

2011-12-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

December 15th, 10:30pm - had a very busy day which started out very early in the morning 3:30am. Flew to Milwaukee, the to Ft Lauderdale. I tried to sleep on the plane, but am not sure if I slept or not. My parents were waiting for us in Ft Lauderdale airport, and we took off to check in at our hotel the Embassy Suites on 17th, which, by the way, is the ultimate pre or post cruise hotel in Ft Lauderdale. We are on the 11th floor and have a view of the port, so it will be fun waking up tomorrow morning to see the ships. I made a stop to my favorite bookstore, Bluewater Books & Charts, which has tons of nautical and maritime books. I got the latest Douglas Ward Berlitz 2012 book.

Today I met with Phil Allen, the Executive Director of Port Everglades. I've had him on my show in the past, but only over the phone so it was nice to meet with him in-person and talk with him about this bustling port. Then I met with Uf Tukel, who is the President and owner of iCruise. I talked with Mr. Tukel about his iCruise App which is the best in the cruise industry.

Next we went to our hotel, Embassy Suites to freshen-up before meeting with some friends and family at "The Melting Pot", a restaurant that specializes in fondue. I had never heard of this restaurant, and I was very pleased to experience this fun, creative way to dine. We had great conversation, the food was tasty, fresh and plentiful. So for those looking for an interesting place to enjoy dinner before or after your cruise in and out of Ft Lauderdale, The Melting Pot is a great choice.

Looking forward to a busy day tomorrow as we have breakfast here in the Embassy Suites. I am meeting again with family and friends for breakfast then off to the port to board the MSC Poesia.

Pre-Cruise Travels

2011-12-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

December 15th, I'm heading to Ft Lauderdale with my son, Jacob. We are meeting with a few people in Ft Lauderdale to interview for Cruising Authority including the Director of Port Everglades and the owner of iCruise. I'm also happy to meet up with some friends and my parents will be picking us up at the airport and spending some time with us. At this very moment I'm in between flights in Milwaukee waiting for our flight to Ft Lauderdale. I can say enough how much I appreciate the services of a luggage shipping company called LugLess at Lugless.com wow, it is such a relief and a luxury to travel so light and not have to check our bags at the terminal. No need to go to baggage-claim either because Lugless is delivering our luggage directly to the hotel where we are staying in Ft Lauderdale. It's super convenient and offers peace-of-mind knowing that our luggage is cared for and delivered without all the hassle normally associated with lugging those larger pieces of luggage. Another peace-of-mind is knowing that we have travel insurance with Access America. You never know what could happen during a trip, and you might need special medical help, and with Access America, I don't have to worry about the costs of injury or any medical attention we might need, if some unforeseen accident occurs.

Ok, enough of the sales pitch....Tomorrow, December 16th my son and I embark on the MSC Poesia. MSC has said they put in for visitor passes for my parents, so that will be fun to show them around our ship before we leave. Here's some insider information for those who follow my talk show and videos....there is a HUGE-level of planning that goes into putting the content together for these shows. My head is buzzing with all the creative shots I'll need, and on this trip I'm trying some new ideas. We are planning our first Cruising Authority iCruise Treasure Hunt, where I will be hiding a special wooden magic wand somewhere in the western Caribbean, and I'll be creating a treasure map. The treasure map must be followed in order to locate the magic wand, and the first person to locate the wand, follow the directions and ship it back to me, will win a brand new Apple iPad, courtesy of iCruise......how cool is that? I'm also planning to produce a music video on this cruise which should be fun. I'll be conducting a special study during this cruise entitled "The Science of Romance at Sea". I'm a happily married man, so of course I am not a participant, rather I will be working with three couples during the cruise onboard the MSC Poesia....it should be a fun study. Additionally, I will be featuring a little history of entertainment at sea going back to the days of the trans-Atlantic liners. Maritime Historian and author John Maxtone-Graham will be offering some input as well as Douglas Ward, the Author of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.

I hope you'll continue to follow this blog as we cruise aboard the MSC Poesia.

Blog Posts from Pride of America to Hawaii

2011-11-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

I decided to post my notes that I wrote during our cruise aboard the Pride of America departing August 6th. Enjoy this opportunity to see behind the curtain - so to speak. I missed the last two days....I just got too busy to write in this journal. Please feel free to comment below. Also visit our main website at www.cruisetalkshow.com and see ALL the content we posted including videos and photos.

Day one Pride of America 08/06/2011

We flew out of Minneapolis at about 10pm and arrived into Las Vegas at 11:30pm and our departure (transfer) wasn’t until 6:45am the next morning so we decided to take a shuttle to the stip in Vegas to see what was going on and we were amazed to see that this town dos not shut down, its open and thriving all night long. We were very tired of course but gutted it out and walked around the strip until finally we just couldn’t take it anymore and called out shuttle to take us back to the airport at about 4:30am. Our flight departed at 6:45am so we had plenty of time to check in and get ready for our flight to Los Angeles. Once in LA we had a short layover then finally it at about 8:45 it was time to get on the plane to Honolulu. Five and a half hours later we arrived in Honolulu to perfect weather 83 degrees and sunny. The humidity wasn’t too bad at all so it was a very comfortable temperature. I had arranged for us to be picked up by Jay’s Limousine service in Honolulu and Jay himself was there to take us to our ship the Pride of America docked in Honolulu.

We were able to bypass a large number of passengers waiting to check in because we were Latitudes members with Norwegian Cruise Lines. (Latitudes members are people who have cruised with NCL in the past). Having cruised with Norwegian Cruise Lines several times in the past we were able to by-pass a large line of people trying to check-in. We were onboard the Pride of America within about 20 minutes, yet the staterooms were not ready for us so we ate in the Lido buffet for lunch. With Diamondhead off in the distance we had a nice buffet lunch until finally at about 2pm we were allowed to go to our stateroom. Our original room assignment was 8096 which was not bad, an average balcony stateroom. We unpacked and walked around the ship a little. In somewhat of a daze from a lack of sleep we started to really get tired at about 3pm, so we just hung out in our stateroom for a while. Our large piece of luggage, that we sent in advance with a company called Luggage Free, was delivered to our stateroom so we unpacked and relaxed in our room for a while. At 4:30 we had the usual boat drill and at 5:30pm we decided to have dinner in the Liberty Dining Room. I ordered the Lobster and Red Snapper while Terri had the beef. It was a pleasant dining experience, but I wanted to be out on deck when the Pride of America departed so we made sure we were finished with diner to experience the ship’s departure from Honolulu. The weather was perfect, the sunset was beautiful as the Pride of America moved away from the dock and headed out to sea past the beautiful Waikaki scene and the famous and Diamond Head backdrop. Upon our return to our stateroom, I noticed a phone message from the Hotel Manager. He wanted me to call him as soon as possible. I made the return call and he wanted to meet with me in the lobby. Ultimately he wanted to let me know that there was a cancelation in one of the suites and he ask me if I wanted to move into a suite so I accepted the opportunity to transfer into suite number 11006. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have Terri, my wife, experience a suite with butler service. We quickly threw our stuff together and moved into the suite. We were both extremely tired so we unpacked quickly so we could go to sleep. Tomorrow we are in Maui, and our plan is to have a very relaxed day and get the sleep we need to be rested and able to move ahead with the busy project of creating video content for Cruising Authority.

Day Two – Pride of America - August 7^th, 2011 (Maui)

After our very tiring travels on Saturday, we decided to lay low all day on Sunday. We woke up leisurely and spent a lot of time in our suite. We ate breakfast in the Lazy J Steakhouse. I ordered my favorite breakfast, Eggs Benedict, and there was something new on top of the eggs…truffle, which added a sophisticated touch. We walked around the ship a little today, since most of the passengers were on shore excursions. I didn’t produce any content for Cruising Authority today because we were just relaxing. I did some work on the computer, loaded a few photos, and wrote out some of the questions I plan to ask the Captain, Cruise Director and a few other members of the crew. My initial walk around the ship these first two days, experiencing the dining and service onboard has impressed me. After having dinner the first night in the Liberty Dining Room, then the second night in the Skyline Dining Room, I noticed the soups were a bit on the salty side. The first night I ordered the Mushroom Soup and it was a little too salty, and then the second night I ordered the Black Bean soup and it too was salty. The food overall and the level of service, however; has been exceptionally good. I have enjoyed the décor in both the main dining rooms. The Liberty Dining Room has a very patriotic décor with red white and blue, the stars and stripes, paintings and statues of America’s great early Presidents. It was a very classy design to the room, and the staff were all very attentive and accommodating. The Skyline Dining Room had an art deco décor, depicting sky scrappers of New York in the 30’s and forties. Again a very classy design. As odd as it may sound, this Sunday evening while docked in Maui, my wife and I took a walk off the ship to a little mall area and we decided to go to a movie, just like we might do at home on a date night. It’s odd because here we are at this beautiful island of Maui, on a luxurious ship with a plethora of entertainment options onboard, and we end up going to a movie. We saw, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. After dinner my wife and I did go to the Aloha Polynesia Show and enjoyed it very much. Today we rested, but tomorrow I plan to get to work on producing video and audio content for Cruising Authority. The onboard Group Coordinator and the Hotel Director are working with me to arrange my interviews, which should begin in a day or so. Tomorrow, Monday the 8^th, we are planning to go into Maui and explore the sites a little more.

Day Three – Maui (August 8^th – Monday)

The Pride of America was docked in Maui all day today. I took some time this morning to steam in the steam room. I really like the steam room on the Pride of America, located up in the Spa on deck 12. We stayed onboard until about 11:30am then we decided to rent a car and explore a little of Maui. Thanks to a great local car rental broker at Discount Hawaii Car Rental, we drove off to a valley between a mountainous region and saw some beautiful rock formations that reminded Terri and I of our cruise on the Yangtze in China, and the rock formations in one of the gorges. We were told that it was a unique day because usually the top of the mountains are covered with clouds, but during the time we were there, the mountain top was visible. We then drove off to the other side of the island just for the drive and to see the sites. We returned to the Pride of America about 3:30pm. Tonight we experienced the Italian restaurant called Little Italy. I had the Salmon and Terri had the Chicken Parmesan. After dinner I set up my video gear for two interviews, one with the Hotel Director and the other with the Shore Excursions Manager. Both were excellent interviews. At 9:00pm we went to the Illusionist show, and finally retired for the evening at 10:45pm.

Day 4 Hilo

Today in Hilo, the Big Island of Hawaii, we stayed onboard the ship all day. Terri and I enjoyed a very pleasant hot tub on deck at 8:00am to wake up after a restful sleep. Next I made my way to the steam room in the spa while Terri headed back to the suite to shower, then we grabbed some breakfast at Lazy J’s. Today we explored the ship, I took some pictures and video. Terri had a Bamboo massage today at 12:45 and loved it because of the soothing oils and tension-relieving therapy for aching muscles. This evening, dinner was very special and romantic. Both Terri and I selected our favorite entrée’s from the menu and had our butler serve dinner on our verandah. It was a beautiful and perfect Hawaiian evening in Hilo as the Pride of America made it’s departure enroute to our next port of Kona. After an exquisite dining experience, we had more interviews scheduled in the Library with the Cruise Director, Hawaiian Ambassador and the Food and Beverage Director. After our interviews, which will be seen on our Cruising Authority talk show videos, Terri and I went to see a show with Second City, a comedy troop that does improv. Both of us were very tired after a full day on the beautiful Pride of America so we retired for the evening.

Day Five - Kona

I think it’s a great way to start the day by enjoying a good steam in the spa, which I indulged in again this morning, however; this time I convinced Terri to also hit the steam room. Lazy J’s has such a great breakfast menu, and this time I ordered the crabcake eggs benedict. I wasn’t too sure about the first bite then I added a little salt and pepper with a twist of lemon and ahhh, what a great taste! Terri had the scrambled eggs and bacon. Today in Kona the Pride of America was at anchor while passengers tendered into Kona. I did more video commentary on deck and met up with the Hotel Director and explained to him that I’d like to take some portraits or photos of the Pride of America from the tender before heading over to the port. When the ship is at anchor that’s a great time to get video and photos of the ship clear of any dock. The pictures I wanted to get required a sleight deviation from the usual tender route to port, so the Hotel Director made arrangements for a special tender ride to get the optimal position for photos. I did get some great pictures and then we headed to port for a little walk around town.

The Sweetness of Luxury aboard the Silver Spirit

2011-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Enter the world of Silversea and you are embraced by a refined, unobtrusive blend of modern design and a sophistication reserved for the affluent individuals who are accustomed to concierge and butler services, fine dining, exquisite wines and exotic destinations. Today the world often seems like it’s shaking with political and economic fallout all around us, yet when you board the Silver Spirit those cares of the world fall away, and it’s like entering an oasis of peace. I recently boarded the Silver Spirit for a seven night cruise through the Italian Riviera, however; I missed the first couple of days because of transportation and logistics. We boarded the Silver Spirit in Taormina, Italy on a beautiful day in May. The ship was anchored in the harbor perfectly contrasted with the ancient Italian culture, and beckoning us to open our imagination to the upscale experience awaiting us. As a Journalist, I usually travel with my wife, but this time my Father-in-law, Richard, assisted me with my video work. It’s interesting, Richard is a retired minister and now works in an executive position with Kids Against Hunger, so this level of luxury was very foreign to him. Can you imagine how thrilled I was to watch Richard experience the fine dining and exotic excursions?

The Silver Spirit is Silversea’s newest and largest vessel with luxury accommodations for 540 passengers. At 642 feet long and 36,000 tons, Silver Spirit is not a small vessel, however; compared to most of the newbuilds today, she is on the smaller more intimate size. With 376 European crew members serving the 540 passengers, the crew to guest ratio is higher than on most other cruise ships. It is this exclusivity that is so appealing to Silversea passengers, in a ship that offers amenities and services for a few hundred as opposed to a few thousand passengers. I didn’t see crowds of passengers nor did I wait in any lines for dinner. The feeling onboard the Silver Spirit was close to being at a private club or yacht, but the most distinguishing element was a relaxed, carefree, precise environment to indulge in the good life…whatever that may mean to you.

I enjoyed the dining experience, knowing that each meal was made-to-order, and a testament to the expertise of highly trained chefs, with the best possible ingredients. Every evening, complimentary fine wine is served and the wine glass is kept full throughout the meal. The attentive waiters made me feel like they enjoyed their job and were sincere when they often asked if I needed anything. The reason I mention this is because on the many cruises I’ve been on over the years it’s not uncommon to notice that many wait staff personnel are on automatic pilot, and work as if they are on an assembly line just doing their job. This was certainly not what I experienced onboard the Silver Spirit, the waiters and waitresses were genuinely focused on providing exceptional service. I counted at least six different restaurants onboard the Silver Spirit from the main Restaurant on Deck Four to the Italian La Terrazza on Deck Seven and the Pool Grill serves a wonderful “Hot Rock” dining experience on Deck Ten overlooking the pool. The Hot Rock dining gives the guest an opportunity to cook their own meat on a hot slab of rock served at your table, so you can have fun preparing your fresh fish or steak cooked exactly how you prefer. Rudi Scholdis, Silversea’s Culinary Director, was onboard our voyage preparing mussels using beer, at an exquisite poolside buffet. Setting the standards for Silversea’s cuisine fleet-wide, Chef Rudi has demonstrated his culinary expertise for Royalty including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Heads of State like Bill Clinton, King Kayd of Saudi Arabia, Israeli Prime Minister Netenayu, and numerous Hollywood stars. Since Chef Rudi has prepared fine dining for all these famous world-personalities, why not for me? On a Silversea voyage you can ask the same indulgent question, “why not you”?

Luxury does have a certain “feel”, a certain “taste”, and even a familiar “sound”, relative to the distinguishing senses of those who can afford it. During my experience aboard the Silver Spirit, I savored the aroma of luxury, even as a mere Journalist. For me, there were numerous and specific moments that caused me to be more than content, for example; I enjoyed the spa onboard, particularly the steam room and sauna that each had a large window looking out to the sea. I’m no elite, and I may have been pretending to be someone I was not, but it did feel good to have the ability and freedom to ask for a glass of champagne while in the relaxing thermal bath on deck by the pool. During our visit to Rome, my Father-in-law and I embarked on a special shore excursion lead by Rosalba Iocca, who was no ordinary tour guide. Yet another example of Silversea’s commitment to provide the very best for guests, Rosalba was an expert in Roman history, she studied archeology, but her greatest asset as an expert Roman guide was through her intimate contacts at Vatican City and the Coliseum. Rosalba lead our bus group ahead of the masses waiting for hours in lines to enter the museums and the coliseum, circumventing the system and quickly ushering our group immediately into the many museums, the coliseum and so much more as if we were VIP’s or someone special. It’s no coincidence, our tour guide to Rome was the best there is, and I’m certain the Shore Excursions people at Silversea go to great lengths to plan, coordinate, and capture the best guides, tour routes, buses, and VIP access for Silversea guests.

Whatever your definition of luxury is, the perks of being a Silversea passenger are obvious, but sometimes the perks are subtle. The beautifully appointed suites, the butler service, wide cooridors, fine dining, classy interior décor and the refined-level of service among the crew stand out as an obvious statement of luxury, however; I noticed a few small details and perks that might get overlooked. Mini news-of-the-day printouts from the country of your residence are placed in the slot just outside your suite each day. If you are from the U.S.A. you’ll receive news applicable to what’s happening in America, if you come from Britain, you will receive a news-flyer focused on news in Britain. I noticed the shape of the silverware in the restaurants, particularly the handles, had a unique feel that better conformed to your hands. For those passengers who were residents on the world cruise, there was a special engraved plaque just outside your suite with your name and the country you are from. Many cruise ships have the internet available, but through MTN Satellite Communications, there were more Wifi hotspots throughout the whole ship, so you could access the internet on your laptop or internet device from the pool if you choose. Security is tight on all the cruise ships throughout the industry, however; I did appreciate the precise, yet unobtrusive manner in which security was conducted at the gangway. I was delighted to see a set of quality binoculars in our suite so we could explore the horizon or get a close-up view of the port we were visiting right from our private veranda. The fresh flowers, over-sized fluffy towels and the personalized stationary in our suite was a nice perk. The scented oil sticks in our bathroom were not only nice to look at, but created a rich, subtle fragrance. Obviously the Silver Spirit scored high points from my perspective, and when you look at the popularity of Silversea among the affluent, it’s clear to see the expectations of luxury, are continuously met by a wide range of people from around the world.

I enjoyed the hardware of the Silver Spirit and appreciated the consistency of quality in the ship’s design, the artwork onboard, and the fittings that provide the atmosphere and ambience of luxury. I’ve said this many times and it is also true aboard the Silver Spirit, you can have a fabulously luxurious ship, yet it’s the crew and staff that make up the personality of a ship. A highly trained and fine-tuned crew, complete the element of luxury on any ship. The crowning jewel aboard the Silver Spirit is the crew and staff that contribute to the overall sweetness of luxury on this ship. I want to encourage you to indulge and savor the sweetness of luxury aboard the Silver Spirit or any of the ships in the Silversea fleet. Pick out an itinerary anywhere in the world and you should be able to find a Silversea ship that goes there.

Check out our videos and photos albums from this cruise on the Silver Spirit

Please feel free to leave a comment below. If you have cruised with Silversea, I'd like to hear from you.

Swedish Culture on the Gota Kanal

2011-07-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

For over 137 years the Gota Kanal Steamship Company has been in operation, cruising the canals, locks and lakes that cut across Sweden, and today provide a classic and cultural experience for passengers who embark on the journey between Gothenborg and Stockholm. The company’s prized vessel is the M/S Juno, first launched in 1874 and continues today as the world’s oldest passenger vessel with sleeping accommodations still in operation. M/S Wilhelm Tham is the next oldest vessel in the company’s fleet of three boats, launched in 1912. Finally, the youngest boat in the fleet is the M/S Diana, built in the Finnboda shipyard not far from Stockholm in 1931. Borton Overseas, in Minneapolis, Minnesota recently offered me an opportunity to experience this iconic journey with Gota Kanal, aboard the Diana’s first cruise of the season from Gothenborg to Stockholm. As an ocean liner and classic passenger ship enthusiast, cruising the canals of Sweden on an eighty-year-old vessel like the Diana had a certain romance to it.

Boarding the Diana in Gothenborg and being greeted by the staff pier-side on a red carpet, was a great introduction. Upon presenting a boarding pass, your name is checked to see if it is on the passenger manifest, then Kjerstin Lundwall, the Guide and Tour Manager, welcomes travelers and vacationers aboard, while a crew member carries your luggage and escorts you across the gangway. The moment I stepped aboard the Diana, I felt as

if I were stepping back in time to a simpler era. With 28 cabins on three decks and a passenger capacity of about fifty, it was clear this journey would be an intimate, and exclusive experience. There were many notable passengers, according to Captain Ake Foghammar, who have experienced this Gota Kanal journey, including Hans Christian Andersen, the famous author and poet, the King of Sweden and Teresa Heinz the wife of U.S. Senator John Kerry, to name a few. On this particular voyage there were two governors from a couple of Swedish providences, a couple from Australia, and a good mix of people from Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, the U.S. and England. One couple purchased a new Volvo from the factory in Sweden, and chose to also see the country aboard the Diana with Gota Kanal. The CEO of the Gota Kanal Steamship Company, Hakan Gullberg, was also onboard, celebrating the first cruise of the season. Mr. Gullberg said his company is part of the Stromma Group, one of the largest tourism companies in Sweden.

The history of this steamship company is fascinating, and equally amazing are the locks and the canal that stretch across Sweden. The first lock was built in 1800 with very primitive technology, yet very ingenious techniques, and hard labor. The lock and canal system transformed Sweden’s commerce, allowing for more cost-effective transport of goods and materials from east to west and back again. Wooden log fenders line the sides of Diana, protecting the hull, as she occasionally glances against the lock. Passengers on the Gota Kanal vessels will experience these locks and canals, and gain an up-close appreciation for the rich history that envelops each little town along the journey.

From the comfort of a wicker chair, the teak deck of the Diana, the gentle hum of the motor and sounds of the water trickling by; all these elements will calm the senses and offer a relaxing, enchanting experience. The Diana still maintains her wooden railings with brass fittings and continues on like she has done for eighty years. Unique to a Gota Kanal journey is the intimacy and community that develops onboard among fellow passengers. With the absence of television, internet and modern-day electronics, the main focus is relaxing onboard, fine dining and a sense of community. At 268 tons and with only 28 cabins, Diana is not a large vessel, so gathering on deck, the main lounge, or at meal times are the perfect opportunity to engage in conversation with fellow passengers. The community onboard, the dining, and the culture of the locks and canals are the featured entertainment.

A fascinating element to the Diana is the extraordinarily small passenger cabins. Some of the old cruise director jokes on cruise ships about how small the passenger’s cabins are, comes to mind as I sit in my tiny little room A14, on the Diana. The sleeper cabin on a train is larger than the sleep compartments aboard the Diana. Don’t get me wrong, the beds in these compact cabins on the Diana, are very comfortable and the linens are wonderful, however; most passengers will only use these rooms to sleep and maybe freshen-up using the small wash basin. Reminiscent of the Victorian era, occupants will enjoy the classy wall-trimmings, hard wood framing, a cold and hot water washbasin with a wooden cover, and brass hooks for hanging a coat or bathrobe. There’s also a very shallow closet for hanging a suite or dress. With so little space to even stand in these cabins, a suggestion is to pack a smaller carry-on suite case and slip it under the bed for storage, because the larger bags will not fit. For the passenger accommodations on the Bridge and Sheltered Decks, cabin doors can be propped open with a hook allowing for fresh air to circulate, or the door can be opened completely offering a view of the passing scenery. For privacy the cabin doors can be closed or a curtain can be slid in-place while the door is open. Cabins have no toilet or shower, so passengers must use a community bathroom and shower located on each deck. These tiny bathroom facilities are also very compact, yet well maintained and cleaned throughout each day. A good perspective on these tiny cabins is that passengers will not spend much time other than freshening up or sleeping, rather; more time will be spent on deck socializing with fellow passengers and enjoying the sites of this historic lock and canal system.

Cruising the locks and canals aboard any of the Gota Kanal Steamship Company vessels is saturated in the Swedish culture, which includes traditional Swedish cuisine. The highlight of each day aboard the Diana, for example; was breakfast, lunch and dinner. A common element to Scandinavian dining is fish prepared in many ways including pickled, fried, baked, poached, and certain menus include specially prepared raw fish. Onboard the Diana we enjoyed a fixed menu, however; for those with special dietary requirements and made arrangements in advance, vegetarian entrées were available. Seating was assigned during lunch and dinner, yet for breakfast, which is buffet-style, passengers could sit wherever they wish. A classic tradition is the ringing of the dinner bell. The waiter or maitre d’ will walk the decks ringing a bell or gong to announce that it’s time for dinner. Some of the characteristic sounds onboard during lunch and dinner is the click-clacking of the dumb-waiter delivering the prepared meals from the galley below. Dining aboard the Diana was a first-class experience with crisp white table linens, fine tableware, and the wait-staff are dressed in white jackets with black and gold epaulets and gold buttons. Fine spirits, cognac and wine, were also available for an additional cost to enhance the dining experience. There was the occasional beef or poultry entrée, however; the majority of cuisine was fresh local fish. The Chef in the galley, one deck below, prepared each entree with artistic flare and included fresh cooked vegetables, potatoes and the perfect accompaniments for each main dish. The dinning room itself aboard these Gota Kanal vessels, has an intimate, friendly and classy ambiance, yet without exception, passengers will enjoy a delightful social experience, a highlight of this special Swedish journey.

The crew aboard the Diana were genuinely proud to serve each passenger. In Stockholm, at the conclusion of our cruise or journey across Sweden on this historic and charming vessel, with the red carpet rolled out just past the gangway, the entire crew of the Diana stood in line to shake our hands and hug us as if we were family. At the very beginning of the journey when we embarked on the Diana in Gothenborg, as I stepped aboard for the first time, I felt like we were about to experience something special, and upon disembarkation in Stockholm my premonition was clear and accurate. I think my fellow travelers also experienced a camaraderie unique to this journey, where the rich heritage and culture of Sweden came alive aboard the Diana. The Gota Kanal Steamship Company, and the crew of the Diana indeed offered somewhat of a time-travel experience reminiscent of a simpler era. It was clear that the folks who live in the small towns along the canal passage saw the Diana as a gleaming and proud representation of their rich culture and heritage, and consequently, our fellow passengers clearly experienced that sense of exclusivity and pride of participating in the journey.

Check out our photo albums from our Gota Kanal Journey:

Continued Gota Kanal Diary

2011-05-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Day four Gota Kanal

May 2^nd, 2011

Today we had somewhat of an adventure because the Diana got stuck in a lock where there was some maintenance being done on the lock. Somehow a large piece of plastic got caught in the propeller so we were delayed for several hours while a diver went down to unwrap the plastic from the propeller. Once the plastic was removed we were on our way once again across a lake. The Diana went through more locks and we came to a “step lock” where there were about five locks in a row, all stepping down to another lake. We were allowed again to disembark the Diana and watch as the boat made it’s way from one lock to another until finally reaching the lake. These are great moments to take pictures of our boat doing what it was built to do, which is to navigate from Gothenborg to Stockholm on this classic journey across Sweden. Today we passed more historic homes along the canal and ventured out into yet another lake. It began to get more and more cold as we progressed. I need to mention that one of the more endearing times spent onboard the Diana is the wonderful meals, particularly at diner where traditional and exquisite food is prepared. The Diana has such an interesting mix of passengers from all around the world. Today a passenger got the news on their iPhone that Osama BinLaden was killed, so I can say I was cruising the Gota Kanal when I heard this historic news, that many Americans have been waiting to hear for many years.

On our cruise we have people from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, England, America and as far away as Australia. The conversations and the lazy cruising is very relaxing and enjoyable. The Diana, even though she is the youngest boat in the Gota Kanal fleet at 80 years old, is like cruising in a time machine because it’s not difficult to imagine what it was like in the 30’s 40’s or 50’s navigating the exact same route onboard such a charming, classic vessel. The décor onboard hasn’t changes too much since the 60’s with beautiful wood finish and brass fittings in her interior spaces, teak decks, wicker chairs on deck, in fact these Gota Kanal boats have attracted famous passengers like the King of Sweden for example. The sunset was beautiful as we enjoyed our dinner. Near the end of dinner I had to stand up and stretch, so I walked out to the bow to enjoy the colorful sunset glimmer on the calm waters ahead of us. I took-in the fresh chilly air and finally went back to the dinning room for some hot tea and more delightful conversations with our fellow passengers. Tonight I got to go on the internet with my lap top. A fellow passenger let me use the Wifi from his iPhone. It was fun to talk to a friend on Sykpe and also talk with my wife Terri, who couldn’t make it on this particular trip. This evening, once again, went very late as we stayed up until about 1:00am to socialize. I was recruited to show some magic tricks so I entertained our little group of 25 people for about an hour. I usually don’t like to stay up so late, but the conversations were so fun.

Day 5 Gota Kanal

May 3^rd, 2011

This is our last day aboard the Diana with Gota Kanal. I woke-up at about 7am and made my way to breakfast . I still have more commentary to do for my talk show and a little video to make. I’ll be glad when I return home and all my video, and photos have made it safely. Some observations I’ve made about the type of people who would consider a Gota Kanal journey like this. I’m in my forties and there were some younger people on this cruise who were mostly tour agents from travel companies taking a familiarization cruise with Gota Kanal, so it was not the typical passenger complement. The younger generation may not appreciate a trip like this because there’s not much to do onboard, but watch the scenery go by, rest, relax, and enjoy the fine dining. The usual age of passengers on a journey like this tends to be more elderly, those who enjoy the more restful pace, and a nostalgic, classic, and historical journey. Those who are naturalists, who enjoy the beauty of the country, can experience what the more rural interior of Sweden is like, and go deep into the Swedish culture. Today during breakfast it snowed and it was quite cold outside. This is not the typical time of year that Gota Kanal operates, so the weather is a bit colder than usual. The normal season for Kota Kanal cruises start the end of May and go through the summer months when it’s warmer.

Gota Kanal Cruise Diary Post 2

2011-05-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

Day One Gota Kanal, Gothenborg Sweden

April 29^th, 2011

We arrived into Gothenborg around 11:30am and took a bus into the city. A cab ride was 450 Kronas yet the bus was only 80 Kr. Unfortunately we paid too much for a cab ride to the hotel. It was only about two miles, and the cab driver charged us 265Kr which is about fifty dollars. We stayed at the Comfort Hotel right along the waterfront on Gothenborg, however; when we went to check-in at the hotel, the front desk person said we were too early, and check-in was not until 3pm, so we had a few hours to walk the waterfront area with many interesting boats and a maritime museum. I was thrilled to see all three of the Gota Kanal company’s fleet of boats docked in a line, and I had the opportunity to go aboard each of them for a look around. I was particularly interested to visit the Juno, which is the oldest passenger vessel still in active service, first launched in 1874 as a steam ship. Of course she has been re-engined with diesels, but overall, the three Gota Kanal boats have retained their old-world charm and décor. The boat we were to embark on is the Diana built in 1931, and the crew was quickly getting her ready for the first voyage of the season on April 30^th. You have to wonder what it would be like to cruise the Gota Canal on a 80 year-old vessel, and I was about to find out the next day.

Day two Gota Kanal, Departure from Gothenborg

April 30^th, 2011

Departure from Gothenborg aboard the Diana was scheduled for 9:00am, so we made sure to be at the pier no later than 8am. We were greeted by the First Officer and the Activities Manager, along with several crewmembers, who were ready to carry our luggage to our stateroom. Departure day is always a very exciting time because we meet the crew, fellow passengers and board the vessel that we will call home for several days. I was asked for my cruise documents and then escorted to our stateroom number A14. I must say something about the “staterooms” aboard the Diana, which were the smallest accommodations I have ever seen. Our room had two bunks, there’s a washbasin with very little space to even stow our luggage. It’s a good thing we only traveled with small carry-on luggage, because there’s barely enough space for two people to even stand in this tiny room. These “staterooms” are merely for sleeping at night, not for lounging. I could make an old joke that I must leave my “cabin” to change my mind. I should add that our cabin does not have private toilet and shower facilities, so passengers on A Deck must walk out on deck to a dedicated public bathroom aft of the passenger accommodations.

Shortly after our departure from Gothenborg the crew gathered all passengers in the lounge for an introduction to the staff, a safety talk and an explanation of our itinerary. All passengers were on deck to watch as we arrived at our first lock. It was fascinating to watch the crew members prepare to pass through the lock system, as one crewmember would jump off the boat to assist with tying-up the boat.

Today we docked so we could visit several locks that are no longer in operation. One of these locks was like an archeological sight in ruins, having been built in 1800 and it operated for over one hundred years till 1916. What was truly amazing is how massive and challenging this structure was to build with such primitive tools in 1800. The lock is impressive even for 2011 standards. More about the amazing locks later.

Later in the afternoon, passengers were allowed to disembark the Diana to walk along-side and watch as the boat went through several locks. This was truly fascinating to watch the Diana rise up in the lock, then pass through to the next lock. We were also blessed with great weather and I got some nice pictures and video.

Dinner on our first evening was a wonderful occasion featuring a local fish and an elk roll. We were still trying to adjust to the time change from the U.S. to Sweden, so I thought I’d be going to bed rather early, but instead, I stayed up very late to socialize with a few passengers. We had a great time talking about our various languages, accents and dialects. We went to bed at midnight, and I must say it was rather challenging as we tried to figure out how the two of us will navigate around our luggage and get into our bunks…it was like a puzzle, but once we finally got into our bunks, it wasn’t long before we were sleeping.

Day three Gota Kanal

May 1^st, 2011

The day started very early, at 4:30am because we couldn’t sleep any longer. I cleaned up using the washbasin in our cabin, and in a few minutes I was ready for the day. I got some nice photos of the Diana early in the morning with a subtle mist or fog just above the water. We passed a quaint town where the local people come out to see the Gota Kanal boats like the Diana pass through the area. It’s a special occasion for these locals because the the Gota Kanal boats have such a rich history of passing through these locks and canals since 1874, and interestingly enough the exact same boats have been in operation since the beginning. When we reached this little town some of the locals came out to sing for us with an accordion and a guitar. The children were out to greet us to, they gave us flowers, and because most of these locals were church people, they spoke a blessing for us and our journey and finished with How Great Thou Art, and old Christian hymn. The weather was beautiful today and we passed through long stretches of canal with farmland and a few small rural towns with very nice homes that faced the canal. Today we went through more locks and a large lake, before arriving at an interesting excursion to visit a massive fort built in eighteen hundreds which became the gold depository for Sweden until about 1960. We walked through tunnels that went underground where the army would hide and store their weapons and artillery. What made the tour fun was the sounds of gunfire and cannons, it was kind of an adventure tour. This fort complex is massive and currently houses a compliment of the Swedish army. It was Sunday and May 1^st, so no stores were open that day. Finally, the Diana docked in a town for the evening, and a few of us went into town. Of course nothing was open except for the Seven Eleven, so I bought some chips and chocolate cause I wanted a snack. Upon returning to the boat, a few of stayed up till midnight in the lounge to talk and socialize.

Arrival in Goteborg

2011-04-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

Travel is exciting, but can be very tiresome, particularly when you are flying halfway around the world, in my case from Minnesota to Amsterdam, then to Goteborg, Sweden. Of course the flight was nearly eight hours, then a three hour layover in Amsterdam before flying to Goteborg, where I am tonight. The time change does a number on your body, not to mention the long hours of sitting and waiting. So it's great to finally get to our launching point for this next cruising adventure. Tomorrow morning we embark on a little vessel called the Diana with Gota Kanal, a company that has been operating three passenger ships since 1874. The company's oldest vessel, which is the oldest existing passenger vessel still in active service, is called the Juno, and I had a chance to visit this beauty today after we arrived in Goteborg.

The journey to Goteborg was uneventful, and as I had hoped, everything went smoothly, and now here we are at the Comfort Hotel within walking distance of our boat the Diana. I'm traveling on this whirlwind adventure with my father-in-law, Richard Sandbach, and I can see that he is going to enjoy this trip very much. After we arrived in Goteborg, at around 11:30am, we were told that check-in at our hotel was not until 3pm so we stowed our luggage and walked around the water front to see the three Gota Kanal boats tied up, among a few other interesting boats and ships. I'm looking forward to getting a good night sleep tonight so we can pack up and board our boat tomorrow for a 9am departure aboard the Diana.

From Sweden to Italy

2011-04-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll take he time to subscribe and follow me on this site so that you'll see the latest content I'm about to add in the next couple of weeks. April 28th, I leave for another trip starting out in Sweden with Gota Kanal. I didn't realize until recently, there was a canal cut across Sweden with locks for small vessels to make the transit from east to west or vice versa. On April 30th, I'll board the Diana with Gota Kanal in Gothenburg for a four night transit to Stockholm. According to the Gota Kanal website, the Diana will journey through one river, eight lakes, two seas and three canals with 66 locks. It sounds exhausting, but I am told at Borton Overseas, right here in my back yard, the journey is remarkable and one of the "must see" experiences in Sweden.

Upon our arrival in Stockholm, I'll have two nights to visit this charming city. I plan to explore the maritime museum where the massive Vasa, a royal warship that sank on it's maiden voyage in 1628 and salvaged in 1961 and currently preserved. I can't wait to see this huge wooden ship and the museum in Stockholm. I plan to produce a video and share my experience with our Cruising Authority audience. Again, please follow me on this blog so you'll be able to track my progress.

After a two-night visit to Stockholm, I fly to southern Italy where the Silver Spirit awaits. I'll be online throughout this voyage aboard the Silver Spirit posting updates to this blog, hopefully with photos, and I'll be using the internet service onboard provided by MTN Satellite Communications. I can't wait to board the Silver Spirit, explore her decks, and experience the fascinating excursions in this part of the world. The problem is that I'm traveling without my wife to these romantic, historical, Italian destinations, rather; I'll be traveling with my father-in-law who will help me with my videos and camera work. Sponsoring this cruise event is Luxury Only, one of the largest and most respected cruise-only companies that specializes in planning luxury cruises with Silversea.

During this whirlwind journey, you'll enjoy the usual excellent commentary and videos, but I'll also produce specialized content exclusively for our new Premium members at www.cruisingcollective.com so be sure to subscribe to get the exclusive additional content. I look forward to this trip and especially having you follow what I'm doing right here on this blog. Don't miss out on this Cruising Authority Adventure!

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Review

2011-02-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

There are many cruise products out there to choose from when it comes to planning a family vacation, and a few years ago a Holland America Line cruise might not be on the radar for parents to consider, however; within the last ten years more family amenities, features and programming have been integrated into their ships and is evident on the Nieuw Amsterdam. For nearly one hundred and forty years Holland America Line has established itself as a solid, reliable, classy company, starting out as a Dutch national passenger shipping line, operating trans-Atlantic crossings and world-wide itineraries mostly for transportation like most other shipping companies in the early nineteen hundreds through the fifties. Of course the passenger shipping industry faded as the jet aircraft took over the trans-Atlantic route, and a few of these “national” passenger shipping companies, like Britain’s Cunard Line, the United States Line and Holland America Line, shifted their services from transport roles to cruising. I recently took my family on a cruise aboard the fourth ship in Holland America Line’s history to bare the name Nieuw Amsterdam. Launched in July of 2010, the beautiful “vista-class” Nieuw Amsterdam is Holland America Line’s newest ship incorporating all of the “Signature of Excellence” amenities and features that first-time and return passengers have come to enjoy over the past several years. My wife Terri, and my nine-year-old son Jacob, accompanied me on the eastern Caribbean itinerary aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam with the great anticipation of enjoying a wonderful vacation together as a family.

As a Cruise Industry Journalist, I was very busy onboard throughout the whole cruise aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam gathering video and audio content for my Cruising Authority website at www.cruisetalkshow.com and admittedly, I didn’t relax as much as I should have. My wife helped me with getting the videos, so she worked extra hard on this “vacation” along with me. We did have our moments where we enjoyed time together as a family on shore excursions and some meal times. For us it was convenient to check our son into Club HAL while we worked on getting the video content together. Most passengers with children however; could use the “Club HAL time” away from their kids and enjoy the pool, the spa, or laying out on deck.

My son enjoyed Club HAL, which came as a surprise to me because they didn’t have the water slides and water parks like some other cruise ships. Club HAL has rooms onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam dedicated to certain age groups; there was a child care area for little kids then a “tween” room for kids up to about 12 years old then a teen area. The “tween” room is where my son hung out for various planned activities. This “Tween” room had an authentic New York Taxi Cab for the kids to play in and around. This cab allows for the kids to use their imagination and pretend to drive everywhere. These days, I guess if the kid’s facility has enough video games, that’s sufficient to entertain these younger passengers. I know Club HAL also had numerous other activities to keep the kids busy like Spy Night and Paper Airplane Night, and a Club HAL version of the Olympics as well as a pajama party. Even though there are no water slides, my son swam for hours in the Lido Pool area on Deck Nine midship. As a parent it made me happy that my son was having a good time on this cruise, and I could count on Club HAL to provide the activities for him to enjoy himself. Jacob is nine years old and was given the opportunity with our permission of course to check himself in and out of Club HAL. I think my son enjoyed that freedom and responsibility to be able to leave if he was bored and go to our stateroom. Boredom, however; was not in my son’s vocabulary during this cruise when he was engaged and plugged into Club HAL.

Dining onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam was a treat for all of us as a family. Since we were on vacation, if my son wanted pizza, we gave him the freedom to go for it, and on Deck Nine aft there is a little pizza place called “Slice” where pizza was available throughout the day. I enjoyed the mornings as a family because we usually ate together in the Lido, and of course there was a plethora of options including, eggs, omelets, sausage, bacon, breakfast rolls, cereal, and my breakfast of choice in recent months, oatmeal. There were fruits and juices and pancakes, nearly any breakfast you can imagine was available in the Lido each morning. We also ate from the Terrace Grill at the Lido Pool area for lunches. I was impressed to be able to have a turkey dog or a salmon burger rather than the usual beef hotdog or hamburger. Our first night onboard, as a family we had reservations in the Tamarind Restaurant, which was delightful! Even my son enjoyed some of the unique options and he was adventurous enough to try a little caviar. The service, presentation and quality of the food in Tamarind was excellent and worth making reservations in advance to eat in this place. There is a charge to eat here, and it’s worth the extra few dollars to experience this Asian fusion dining. To truly go over-the-top and indulge in fine dining at it’s best, without question the Chef’s Table eight-course meal in the Pinnacle dining room was exceptional. We dined on the best Versace tableware, had the best wine sampling for each course, and I ate things I normally wouldn’t care for, because it was prepared with exquisite culinary skill and craftsmanship. Particularly delicious was the Frappe of Lobster and Porcini Bisque, wow, that was such a delightful and smooth taste! This evening at the Chef’s table was the first time I had ever indulged in the delicacy of Goose Liver and I was surprised there was not a “liver” taste to it. We also had Sea Bass with Caviar, Veal and completing the evening with the “Dialogue of Chocolate Seduction” which was seductive!

For the Manhattan Dining room I would recommend either first or second seating rather than the new “As You Wish” dining, because chances are you’ll have a different wait staff each visit who will not have the opportunity to know you and your general preferences. We elected to dine in the Manhattan Dining room twice with As You Wish reservations and I wouldn’t recommend it. The reasoning is because the wait staff has numerous tables at different levels and times of their course which may be somewhat challenging for the wait staff to accommodate the varying schedules efficiently. We felt that our waiter rushed us through our dinner and even brought out two courses at the same time, like for example our salad and entrée arrived at the same time. This may have been an isolated incident, however; we noticed that both of our experiences in the Manhattan Dining room were similar. Additionally, although the wait staff was very efficient, I felt that our waiters acted with more of a robotic precision rather than the more personable and friendly manner you would expect when enjoying a fine-dinning experience. Again, I think if we had a regular wait staff each night, we would get to know them and they would get to know us, and there would be a more personable exchange, which we felt we missed in the “As You Wish” dinning experience. One more observation about the Manhattan Dinning Room was the level of noise when the room was full. Wow, it got loud and difficult to carry on a conversation with someone across the table. I think part of the noise is from the design of the room, which acoustically allowed for sound to bounce all over the place because of the smooth surfaces. I think that perhaps if you are able to get a table away from the center two-level-high section of the room, in a corner, you may have a better experience with regard to the basic dinning room volume and maybe enjoy your conversations with your tablemates easier.

This voyage aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam took us to the Eastern Caribbean ports of Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private island and beaches, St Maarten, San Juan and finally Grand Turk Island. I am convinced that Half Moon Cay is one of the top three private beaches owned by a cruise line with it’s soft, white, powdery beaches and beautifully colored water. Holland America Line has done a great job of building play areas for kids and families with a fun water park and now a new two-level high pirate ship bar. From the pirate ship’s top deck you can get a great view of the whole island. As a family we didn’t get off the ship in St Maarten and elected to hang out and swim in the Lido pool while most of the passengers took off for excursions. We did, however; go on the Rain Forest Drive while in San Juan. I had been to San Juan about fifty times but never visited the rain forest, so this was my opportunity to do something I had never experienced. I was a little concerned that my son would get bored, and in fact he didn’t want to go, but fortunately he found a friend his age on our bus and he had a great time exploring the observation tower and the lush trail through the forest. We stopped at a waterfall and climbed around together, which I think my son really enjoyed. The rain forest tour was a success! Finally, with our visit to Grand Turk, we decided to go on the horse back riding adventure and swim. This was my first time to Grand Turk and my son’s first time riding a horse. My son was so funny, as I tried to take video of him while he was riding the horse, and he kept telling me he cannot look back because he was concentrating on driving the horse. The tour was very organized and I got a kick out of the operators of the tour as we were all being assigned a horse to ride. I felt like I was in high school waiting to be chosen to play on a particular team, as the operator would size up the various people in our group and then select a horse they thought would be best for that person. I would guess that the children in our group were assigned horses that were more obedient and docile. I was told that these horses came from Jamaica and were retired race horses. After a ride along the beach to the lighthouse, we returned to the little coral so the saddles could be changed for riding in the ocean. The operators would take small groups to the beach on horseback, and into the ocean up to our knees. The horses would plow through the water and even run through the ocean which was quite exhilarating. If there was one moment during our cruise that I was glad we had travel insurance with Access America, this was it. You never know what could happen, and even though we were all safe and there were no accidents or injuries, I had peace of mind knowing that if there was a problem, we would have been taken care of.

While in Grand Turk, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was able to meet Winston Scott, who was one of the astronauts from the space shuttle program. We happened to be in Grand Turk during the grand opening of an exhibition celebrating the splash down of the John Glenn space capsule in 1962 just off the coast of Grand Turk Island. There was a mock-up of the John Glenn space capsule and some very informative placards explaining the history of the space program and how Grand Turk Island has been a pivotal place for NASA and the U.S Military.

Holland America Line has certainly evolved over the past ten years or so in order to gain a wider and more diverse demographic which includes a less elderly yield. The entertainment for example, appeals to more discerning passengers with a taste for higher quality and more professional entertainers. I think what Holland America Line has done with the entertainment is excellent. They are working with a shore-based entertainment company that provides top quality and talented musicians that have the flexibility to stand on their own as entertainers. As an example, there was a quartet of violinists that alone performed an entire concert in the Explorers Lounge, and their talent was also utilized in the bigger, combined shows with singers and dancers. The same can be said about the four-man group called Cantare, who were also utilized in a number of other shows during the cruise. I enjoyed the grand finale show where Sandy Patti’s “Love in Any Language” is sung as crew and staff from all over the ship come together to bid farewell.

Was I unhappy with any aspect of the cruise? Holland America Line creates such a comforting environment, it would truly be a challenge to find unhappy passengers, however; on our cruise there was a very small number of passengers who were experiencing gastro-intestinal issues or norovirus, so the crew had to work extra hard and longer hours to make sure the ship was sterilized and absolutely spotless. Hand sanitizer was used at the entrance to all the restaurant areas so it was mandatory for all passengers to sanitize their hands when entering the dining venues or entering the ship from shore. The buffet in the Lido was on lock-down so no passengers could help themselves to food, rather the food was served by the crew. No salt and pepper shakers were available on the tables, but individual packets were available upon request. The biggest disappointment for my wife and I was the fact that the spa with the thalassotherapy pool and the thermal beds and hot tubs were unavailable and closed throughout the duration of the cruise. This was a precautionary measure to minimize the risk of spreading this GI disease. I wouldn’t of course blame Holland America Line for this, because they were in fact taking extra stringent precautions to prevent further spreading of this highly contagious virus. After speaking with the Hotel Director, he informed me that their extra stringent measures were effective in preventing further issues, which overall, allows for more passengers to fully enjoy their cruise.

I think the new “Signature-Class” vessels, the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, both of which I have cruised on, are the maximum size of ship that Holland America Line should build. The cruise industry has plenty of larger ships, and Holland America Line maintains that “premium” standard, even with ships as large as the Nieuw Amsterdam. Both the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam are wonderful ships, well built, with classy interiors and with truly exceptional crew members. With ships of this size, however; there is a magnified “feeling” that this is a very large company and I think the more intimate, personalized, experience onboard is watered down a bit. Don’t get me wrong, the crew onboard do an excellent job and the ships never feel crowded, in fact I think Holland America Line has mastered the art of providing an excellent, comfortable, classy and “premium” vacation experience. It’s like the “feeling” you get when you live in a small town, compared to living in a larger metropolitan city. It’s that “small-town” feeling that causes passengers to become so loyal to Holland America Line. For the discerning vacationers, Holland America Line delivers. For families with children vacationing aboard any of the Holland America Line vessels, you can be assured that your kids will also enjoy a fun and memorable vacation.

Nieuw Amsterdam Family Cruise

2011-02-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

Introducing the release of Cruising Authority's latest movie featuring the Nieuw Amsterdam and Holland America Line.

This first video in a series of three movies was sponsored by Access America, Sea-Band, Victorinox, and The Cruise Web.

Cruising Authority is the most listened-to cruise-related talk show anywhere. Visit our website at: www.cruisetalkshow.com

Nieuw Amsterdam Continuing Blog

2011-01-29T17:57:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 28^th, 2011

We had some sea time this morning on our way to Grand Turk before arriving at 10:30am. I have never been to this little island of Grand Turk in the Caicos so I was looking forward to the visit. Again we chose an excursion that I thought my family would enjoy called the Horseback Riding and Swim Adventure. It almost seemed like the captain was taking the Nieuw Amsterdam right onto the beach, because the pier and the berth was so close to the beach. You could nearly see the whole island from the top decks of the massive Nieuw Amsterdam, in fact the ship was without question the largest man-made land-based structure within about a three hundred mile radius, except for other ships. Throughout this cruise we have been shadowed by another big cruise ship, the Ruby Princess, and she docked again next to us in Grand Turk.

I took care of some video work and sound, then we got ready as a family to leave the ship and go on our horseback riding excursion that departed at 11:30am. It was a perfect day with lots of sunshine and not too hot or humid. We got on a large van that took us to the southern tip of the island where our horses awaited us. After a short training session of how to ride the horses, one-by-one the guides selected various people from our group of eighteen people to saddle-up onto their horse. They made it really easy with a ramp that the horses would walk up to and we simply threw our legs over the top of the saddle and we were mounted to our horse, rather than trying to mount from the ground which could be challenging for some people, particularly if they had never ridden a horse before.

We rode along the sandy beach area in single file with several guides making sure the horses behave themselves. It was fun to watch a couple of the ponies running and playing freely around us. This was the first time my son had ever ridden a horse so it was a thrill for him, and I know he enjoyed it immensely. He will be talking to his friends about his horseback adventure when he gets back to school. After about a twenty-five minute ride we went back to the corral and dismounted from our horses so the guides could change the saddle for phase two of our horseback riding adventure. In smaller groups, the guides took our horses and us onto the beach and into the ocean. The horses ran in the ocean up to our knees. It was so refreshing, and as the horses powered through the water everyone seemed to get caught-up in the thrill. I almost fell off the horse when he was running through the ocean up to my knees. I'm glad I stayed on the horse and it's reassuring to know that if I did fall off and hurt myself, or anyone in my family was injured in some way...we were covered by Access America. Just saying, I did feel a peace of mind, especially when my son was on that horse that we would be taken care of in the event of some unforeseen accident or injury. There were several families with kids and all the kids had a great time, so I would recommend this excursion for families with kids.

It was a very special day in Grand Turk and there were many dignitaries there, but I didn’t find out about these festivities until later in the day. In the sea, not far from Grand Turk Island is where John Glenn the astronaut splashed down in his capsule in 1962. Carnival Corporation hired Mr Art Perper, with Perper Design to create an exhibit honoring the 1962 splash-down of the space capsule. I saw the replica of the capsule and the signage and thought it was well done, and then I just happened to be in the right place at the right time because along with the dignitaries milling around was Winston Scott, an actual astronaut from the shuttle missions. Winston was there to commemorate the launch of this new exhibit. It was an honor to meet him and ask him a few questions.

After a very nice day in Grand Turk, the ship departed around 5:30pm. I also had the privilege to interview Catherine Quinn who was a passenger as a little girl aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam from 1938. What nostalgic opportunity to meet this woman and hear her stories from when she crossed the Atlantic in 1938 aboard the second Nieuw Amsterdam. This evening my wife and I ate in the Canaletto restaurant to enjoy some Italian cuisine. Before our dessert came out they brought us a plate of pink fluffy cotton candy. My wife and I had a relaxing walk around the ship. I did take some photos and video, but we finally went our stateroom and turned in for the rest of the evening. Jacob finally met us in the stateroom after Club Hal finished their activities. We were all in bed by about 11:00pm.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

My favorite days during a cruise is when we are at sea, and today, our last day aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, we have been at sea all day. Perfect weather and perfect temperatures have blessed us today during our last day of the cruise. Today we had a Q & A with the Captain and some senior staff onboard, and then we enjoyed a very privileged visit to the Bridge. Throughout this entire cruise I have tried to capture the audio of the ship’s whistle but was unable to be in the right place when the whistle was blown. While I was on the bridge I mentioned to the Captain my predicament and he ordered the Quarter Master to schedule a blast of the whistle precisely at 5:30pm. I waited on the highest deck forward just below the giant whistle, with my recorder in-hand, and sure enough, right at 5:30pm the whistle was blown and I captured the sound!

This evening we ate in the Manhattan Dinning Room as a family. I do have a couple observations about this dinning room. Both Terri and I agreed that it was very loud in the dinning room especially when it is full to capacity. I could hardly hear my wife speak across from me. We also feel that the service-level in the Manhattan Dinning Room was good but somewhat robotic and impersonal. We ate in the Manhattan Dinning Room twice and both times we had the same experience. Perhaps it was because we were registered for As You Wish Dinning and therefore didn’t have the same waiter consistently each evening. I think our level of service would have been different had we been in this dinning room each evening.

I’m not looking forward to getting off the ship tomorrow morning, because I feel like this trip was a lot of work and less play and relaxation. I have to apologize to my wife and thank her at the same time for truly being there for me when I needed her to help me with my video shoots. This week went by way too fast. Don’t get me wrong, although it was a lot of work and very busy, I was in my element and enjoyed every minute...I just wish I would have been able to set aside an entire day to do nothing. I am just so determined to produce quality video and content that I pushed myself throughout the entire cruise a little too hard. I do get a huge-level of satisfaction out of the final product when all the video is edited and the photos are posted and I can begin to pull together the multi-media package I have promised my sponsors and Holland America Line. Mission accomplished! My family had a nice time and some great experiences that will resonate in our memory for many years, and that is what counts the most to me.

Access America, Sea-Band, Victorinox Swiss Army, The Cruise Web

Aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam

2011-01-28T07:55:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 26^th, 2011

When I woke-up this morning, I looked out from our verandah windows and we were still at sea. I spotted a ship parallel to our position and determined it was the Ruby Princess. What fun it is to see other cruise ships at sea in their element, doing what they were built to do…cruising. Today we arrived into St Maarten. The sun was bright and the weather was clear. The Ruby Princess docked at about the same time the Nieuw Amsterdam was easing up to the dock, so I got some great pictures. Having been to St Maarten many times, as much as I wanted to go somewhere, my family decided they wanted a relaxing day on the ship so we did just that and stayed aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. I did go ashore to take some pictures and video, but for most of the day I worked on producing some video content and taking pictures. My son wanted to swim in the pool so we went to the midship pool on the Lido Deck and he swam for a couple of hours, while my wife and I enjoyed a relaxing time in the sun on a lounger.

I didn’t mention this but yesterday, Tuesday night my wife and I ate in the Pinnacle Grill. What a treat it is to dine is such an exquisite environment. My wife had the steak and I had the salmon. I like this Pinnacle Grill because it has chandeliers and a very classy décor. Of course for a steak house or grill restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill is comparable to some of the finest restaurants in a metropolitan city. My son would rather eat in the Lido every night if he could, so that’s what we did with him, he had Pizza and then checked into Club Hal while his mother and I had a date in the Pinnacle Grill.

This evening we somewhat repeated our routine from the previous night. My son ate at the Lido then checked into Club for an evening of fun activities, while my wife and I joined a small group of people for the Chef’s Table in the Pinnacle Grill. This was a three-hour plus event with eight different courses and a choice wine to go with each course. It was a set menu that was created by the famous Chef Rudi and prepared by Chef Biplab Mondal. I think everyone particularly enjoyed the Frappe of Lobster and Porcini Bisque…wow what an amazing taste! The Goose Liver, Mache, Avocado, Raspberry Kaffir Vinaigrette was interesting because I wouldn’t normally care for liver, but it didn’t have that liver taste. The liver had a rich and exquisite fatty texture that is considered a delicacy and is very expensive. The main course was veal, or more specifically, Duo of Veal “Maitre Cusinier de France” – Black Truffle, Pearl Onion and Puree Artichokes. We were served a fine wine for each course with an explanation from the head wine steward. The eight-course dinner event ended with super fine chocolates and a choice of coffee or tea. The tea options were brought out in a beautiful wood case that was illuminated from inside displaying the different raw tea flavors. Along with excellent conversation was exquisite dinning that made for a wonderful evening event.

I sat in on some of the big show tonight featuring the Garage Band singers and dancers. This show was pretty typical of what I have seen on just about every major cruise ship. It’s nice to sit and watch these beautiful women sing and dance and the guys of course look like they walked out of a fashion magazine.

Thursday, January 27^th, 2011

Today we arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and we have elected to go on a special shore excursion to see the rain forest. I have been to San Juan about fifty times, but I have never been to the rain forest so this was a special day. We brought our son on this excursion. My son didn’t want to go to the rain forest tour because he thought it would be boring. I made him go and he loved it. My wife and I enjoyed it too. It was about an hour drive to get to the rain forest and we made several stops, one at a nature center, another stop at a tower where you can get a great view above the trees and then we walked on a trail into the rain forest where the Red Trees were, and finally we made a quick stop to see a water fall. We learned a lot about the rain forest from our guide and even my son enjoyed himself, so this tour was a big success! I didn’t realize there were over 225 species of tress and thousands of species of plant vegetation. Because this is a rain forest, this area gets a lot of rain and produces a lot of water too as a result of the thick vegetation. It’s a complicated eco-system and I have acquired a deepened respect for the rain forest. I was so thrilled that my son enjoyed this tour. The last time we were in San Juan as a family we explored the forts and did a huge amount of walking, so this visit to the rain forest was a great family excursion option.

Today after our rain forest tour my wife and son boarded the Nieuw Amsterdam while I walked over to see the Club Med 2 which is the world’s largest sailing vessel. The “Bounty” was also in port today. This old vessel is a re-creation of the original Bounty used for movies like Mutiny on the Bounty and Pirates of the Caribbean.

The rest of the afternoon my son played in the pool and my wife enjoyed some lounging in the sun time. I have a tough time just sitting while I’m on a cruise like this because for me, this is a working trip and I have so much to do with interviews and capturing video and taking pictures, that it is really challenging for me to just sit and relax. As much as I’d like to just lay in the sun and do nothing, my brain is telling me to get this picture or that video or that audio clip. Don’t get me wrong, I am completely enjoying this cruise and it is particularly rewarding for me to get the video and pictures.

During our tour of the Rain Forest my son found a friend to play with so we went to dinner with this little boy and his parents. A cruise is also a great way to meet nice people and make new friends. So our kids can eat together we all decided to dine in the more casual environment of the Lido Café. After dinner we went to the show together. The show tonight was Andy James, a comedy magician. Having worked on the ships as a magician myself, it’s always fun to watch another magician perform. I happen to usually watch with a critical eye, however; I enjoyed the performance.

Access America, Sea-Band, Victorinox Swiss Army, The Cruise Web

At Sea aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam

2011-01-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, January 25^th, 2011

I can’t believe it’s already Tuesday, time sure does fly by. Let me update you on my video camera battery situation. I met a passenger who uses the same kind of camera and battery who has graciously agreed to let me charge my battery in his charger. Wow! Hopefully I won’t have any further issues. Oh, one more “issue” somehow the battery in my electric shaver is completely dead….I’m assuming it got turned on in the suit case at some point, because I have never seen this battery that dead. Oh well, I’ll have to figure out alternative ways to shave.

We are cruising from Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas to St Maarten, so we will be at sea all day today. I love “sea days” because this is when the ship truly comes alive and is in it’s element. At this very moment it’s rainy and foggy, and there’s a slight chop in the sea, so the ship is movin around a bit. My wife Terri, put on the Sea-Bands and tried some of the ginger gum we got from Sea-Band. Not that she really needs it, she is just trying it out for preventative measures. I enjoy the movement of the ship and it’s fun to see other passengers cope with the movement. We are taking it easy today while our son plays in the pool. I am walking around the ship filming short video clips and taking pictures. There is a lot going through my head as far as what interviews and what clips I’ll need. I do have it written down, but my head still spins as I try and determine locations for video shooting.

The ship is still in “lock-down” mode because there must have been some illness from passengers on the previous voyage. Hopefully this lock-down will be lifted soon. Well, I better get back to work producing video and audio content.

I had a great interview today with maritime historian, cruise industry specialist and journalist, Peter Knego. It’s so fun to talk face-to-face with others who are “into” cruise ships and ocean liners as I am. It’s a unique and rare passion, and before the internet I had no idea there were other cruise ship fanatics like me out there, and Peter is one of those who are passionate about the ships. Mr. Knego has actually made a living visiting the scrap yards on the beaches of India’s Alang. He goes aboard the old classic passenger ships that are ready for scrapping and he rescues bits and pieces of artwork, furniture, blue prints and navigational equipment before the ship is scrapped and lost forever.

This evening we ate in the fancy Pinnacle Grill, a special upscale restaurant extra special attention to fine dinning. Both my wife and I enjoyed the cuisine. My wife had the steak and I had the salmon.

Ok, another note to self….before I set off on another cruise like this, I must make a check list, because tonight I realized I forgot to pack a tie and black socks. What a nightmare. It was formal night and I had a nice suit, but no tie. I went to the purser’s desk to ask advice to see if I could rent or buy a tie somewhere and I saw the cruise director so I talked to him about my situation. I felt like an idiot, but I was also very fortunate because the Cruise Director loaned me a nice tie for the rest of the cruise. Us Cruise Directors and former Cruise Directors must stick together I guess. I ended the evening by walking through the ship to collect some sound for my show and now here I am about to go to bed.

Access America, Sea-Band, Victorinox Swiss Army, The Cruise Web

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise to Eastern Caribbean

2011-01-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Nieuw Amsterdam Blog

Sunday, January 23^rd, 2011

Embarkation day is often very busy with lots of scrambling, walking and waiting but oh so nice with the realization that the vacation is about to begin. Note to self (as a media person) make a check list of important items NOT to forget before going out the door. I’m kicking myself, because I forgot my video camera battery charger and spare battery plugged into the wall at home…Disaster! You should have seen my face when I realized I left it plugged in at home…the terror! You see, my job is producing video footage during the cruise and then I edit it all together when I get home. I use two video cameras, however; one is also my still photo camera (a Nikon D90) which also happens to take video. I schedule many interviews during these cruises and often do “two-camera” shooting so now I may be limited to using only my Nikon for photos and video. My first line of business was to check with the video guy onboard the ship to see if he has any equipment that might be compatible with mine, and I there is a possibility that my battery might work in his charger, so stay tuned as I will check with him later this evening. If my battery will fit in his charger then I might be lucky, but if it doesn’t fit, I’ll have to work something out with him to share equipment during specific shoots.

Ok, enough of the sob story. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy departing out of Ft Lauderdale on a cruise ship? Today in port were seven giant cruise ships including the Nieuw Amsterdam. After boat drill, which was at about 4:15, it wasn’t long before the lines were dropped and the Nieuw Amsterdam began to move away from the dock. The captain blew the ship’s whistle as we passed the condominiums and the residents of those apartments tooted their horns in return. This tradition was apparently started about 20 years ago and it makes our exit from Port Everglades that much more festive.

Holland America Line is truly a class-act, and it is such a wonderful feeling boarding the ship for the first time. The crew and staff are all so gracious and the ship’s interior design of course is very warm and classy with artwork everywhere. It’s like being enveloped into a utopian society where everyone is friendly and welcoming. So from a vacationer’s point of view, you can’t get much better than this. The latest CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) statistics for 2010 have indicated that the number of cruise vacationers is increasing and the projections for 2011 show even more increase during these challenging economic times. I have read that the cruise vacation industry is actually doing better than the hotel and resort industry and it won’t be long before the cruise industry will overtake the hotel and resort industry when it comes to numbers. A cruise is simply the best vacation value and more and more vacationers are discovering this.

Right now as I am writing this, I’m watching my son Jacob, playing in the pool on Deck 9 midship. The glass dome has been closed so it’s not as cool as the open air. My son is having a blast playing with the fountain and swimming in the pool. I thought I’d let him burn-off some energy before dinner. He had to put up with a lot of my video and picture taking today, and he has been bugging me since we boarded the ship to go swimming. When we left Minnesota yesterday, Saturday morning, it was fifteen below zero, so this is very nice to be able to stand out on deck without a coat and soak in the Florida sunshine. It was a little cooler today in Ft Lauderdale, however; at about 68 degrees. I’m a little achy right now because of all the walking today, so it’s nice to sit for a little bit and relax. Our home for the week aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam is stateroom 6036 on Deck six forward. I’ve always loved the beds on the Holland America Line ships, they are so comfortable and soft. I think I’m going to sleep well tonight.

Well that’s all I have for today. We’re onboard and ready to enjoy a week of bliss in the Caribbean aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. Tomorrow we will be at Holland America’s private island beach area, and having been there before I can tell you that it is a slice of heaven on earth with powder-white sandy beaches.

Monday, January 24, 2011

We ate in Tamarind last night which is an Asian Fusion type of cuisine. The experience was excellent! Only the Eurodam and the Nieuw Amsterdam share this fine restaurant within the Holland America Line fleet. There were some unique tastes and flavors combined that offered a truly exquisite fine-dinning experience. My nine-year-old son even enjoyed the food, and it was funny to see him try sushi and caviar for the first time. At 9:30pm was the introductory show hosted by the Cruise Director. All of the performers gave us a sample of what to expect from them during the cruise, including a quartet of men called Cantare that made a very positive impression on the audience. I’ve heard good reviews already of these singers, so I had high expectations, and without question Cantare was excellent. My wife says she wants to go to that show for sure tonight. I was surprised to see my son dance, clap and enjoy the show last night.

Today we arrived at Half Moon Cay and were off the ship at 8:30am. It was cloudy and not as warm as we would have preferred in the morning, but we grabbed our clam shell and got settled on the beach. At 9:30am we had an appointment to participate in the stingray adventure, a shore excursion offered by Holland America Line. This is a fun excursion to do as a family if only it wasn’t so cold. We gutted it out and enjoyed feeding squid to the stingrays, then went back to our clam shell base camp on the beach. I took a little detour and stopped at Captain Morgan’s Bar, a new bar shaped like an old pirate ship. This was very cool! If you climb up to the top deck, you can get a fantastic view of the whole island from up there. At around noon the sun came out and we had a nice time on the beach. My son played at one of the play areas with more pirate ships to climb on. For families, there are great facilities where the kids can play, including a water park with a fountain and floaty things in the water. I have been to this beach about ten years ago when the Zaandam first came out and I was excited to bring my wife and son this time. I’ve been to a number of cruise line-owned beaches and Half Moon Cay is my favorite because of the powder-white sand and the incredible beach.

Access America, Sea-Band, Victorinox Swiss Army, The Cruise Web

The Hurtigruten & SAS Experience

2010-11-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

At an art gallery in Eden Prairie, Minnesota about 1995, there was a painting that caught my eye, that would lead me to a magical place in Norway many years later. Passionate about the cruise industry, I have been on over 300 cruises around the world and have even worked on the ships as a Cruise Director and Entertainer. Today, as a Cruise Industry Journalist, I set out to find creative and fascinating cruises and itineraries that will be of interest to the listeners of my talk show and viewers of my videos. Back to the painting I saw back in 1995, at first glance this beautiful scene was of a mountain that rose out of the sea with a quaint fishing village at the base of this magnificent, magical, and mountainous rock. I thought it was a fictitious location, because the image was so powerful, so I inquired further only to see the gallery manager bring out the actual photo from which this painting was based on. I’ve travelled all around the world and had yet to ever see a sight as magnificent as this place and told myself one day I want to go there to see it first-hand. On a business card from the gallery, I wrote the name of this beautiful village with the intention to research more about this remote location in Norway called Reine Lofoten. And so finally in October of 2010 I saw an opportunity to possibly journey to Reine. I considered which cruise lines might visit Lofoten, and finally determined the best option was with Hurtigruten, which has operated passenger ships along the Norwegian coast for over one hundred years. I called this the Hurtigruten and SAS Experience because what better way to get to Norway than on a Scandinavian airline. Join me on this journey where we experience the “Most Beautiful Voyage” aboard the Hurtigruten ships and get to Norway in luxury with SAS.

From the U.S. it’s a full day and a half of travel to get to Kirkenes, our initial port of departure with Hurtigruten aboard the Nordlys. It certainly was a pleasant experience in Business Class aboard the SAS trans-Atlantic flight from Chicago to Copenhagen. The seats in this section have video and movies on demand, there’s a plug to charge your lap top if you so choose, and what I found to be truly fascinating was the electronically operated seat which reclines to a near horizontal position for sleeping at the touch of a button. Dinner was exquisite. This was the first time in my hundreds of flights all over the world where I could select my entrée from a menu of choices. I decided to have the Halibut and a fine wine. There’s also a special snack bar open to Business-class passengers where they have fruit, candy, chocolate, drinks and sandwiches available throughout the eight and a half hour flight. We enjoyed a nice dinner then decided to sleep through the flight since we were traveling eastbound. Flying on an SAS trans-Atlantic flight was the perfect way to prepare for a trip to Scandinavia.

After four different flights, we finally arrived at Kirkenes Norway in the Arctic Circle. After a long day of traveling it was a pleasure to stay one night at the Rica Arctic Hotel in Kirkenes. This hotel reminded me of an Ikea, in fact most of the items in the room seemed to be from Ikea. I liked the wood floors and the comfortable beds. Norwegians seem to like wood floors. Most of the airports we went through in Norway had wood floors. Speaking of floors, my wife enjoyed the “heated” floors in some of the bathrooms we encountered. The Rica Arctic Hotel had a very typical Norwegian buffet breakfast that included an assortment of fish, cheeses, breads, meats and some eggs. We could board the Nordlys at around noon, so we caught the bus at the front of the hotel around 11:00am. My wife has been on a number of cruises with me, but this “voyage” with Hurtigruten was an entirely different experience for her. I somewhat knew what to expect, because I read a lot about Hurtigruten prior to this trip, and I understand the concept of a multi-functional passenger vessel. I was looking forward to the experience of being on a “working” passenger ship because there is more of a “purpose” rather than simply a round-trip “bus tour” through the Caribbean like most cruise ships….not that there’s anything wrong with what cruise ships do.

Boarding the Nordlys with Hurtigruten was a far different experience than boarding a cruise ship. There were no lines, no other passengers in sight, only the Nordlys’ fascinating fold-out gangway awaiting our arrival. Most of the Hurtigruten ships have a self-contained robotic gangway and huge cargo hatch that open up onto the pier. We stopped for a photo then climbed up the gangway into the lobby of the ship. The Hotel Manager and another staff person greeted us. It was an absolute requirement, apparently, for us to have our hands squirted with anti-bacterial hand sanitizer as we boarded. We checked in, were given our room keys, and headed off to our little sanctuary “cabin” for this first leg of our five-night Hurtigruten journey. Our itinerary included two nights on the Nordlys, then three nights in Lofoten, and finally another three nights aboard the Trollfjord where we would disembark in Bergen.

Cruise Ship, Ferry, Cargo or Passengers ship?

I set out on this Hurtigruten Experience to determine where these ships fit within the cruise industry. The Hurtigruten ships can be broken down into several classifications, and there certainly is an element that resembles a cruise ship, however, when you look at the full picture, these ships are very different than your typical cruise ship. The Hurtigruten ships also carry automobiles, but I wouldn’t say they are one hundred percent car ferries either. The same applies to cargo, mail and these ships act as a passenger transport as well, bringing local passengers on short hops between point A and point B along the coast of Norway. I have heard a number of explanations for these multifunctional ships and their true nature, which range from “Ro Ro Ships” to “Hybrids” and “Working Vessels”, however, I place these ships in the “Coastal Passenger Liner” category….oh wait that’s not an official category. In the days of the trans-Atlantic liners, the ships were “working” vessels that carried passengers, cargo and mail from point A to B, which is quite different from what the cruise ships do today, but very similar to what the Hurtigruten vessels do. The Hurtigruten ships often visit up to four or five ports a day. These are short visits that last between ten to fifteen minutes to an hour or so, but mostly these visits are comparatively shorter than what you would expect on a cruise ship. So a note to typical cruise ship passengers, the Hurtigruten ships are not in the ports for extended periods of time, and barely long enough to go a shore to see the sights. There are some exceptions to this where the ship will stay long enough for an excursion, but overall, a voyage should focus on the beautiful scenery as the ship cruises along the coast from port-to-port.

The ports and scenery

A Norwegian coastal voyage aboard a Hurtigruten ship is a very visual experience. I often saw passengers quietly cuddled up in a chair, reading a book, in the observation lounge, watching the scenery pass by. Photographers could often be seen on deck near the bow or on the aft decks adjusting their apertures and depth of field on the incredible panorama of peeks, mountains and seascapes. Sitting in a cozy chair on the main promenade, my wife would laugh at me, as I would suddenly jump out of my chair to head outside to snap a photo or two. The scenery is so amazing it’s like sensory overload at times, and I would often scramble to the open deck to capture the moment either on video, a still shot, or both. Because the ships are not in port long, it’s best to sign up for the excursions, but often there were not enough participants for the tours so they were canceled, leaving me to fend for myself using a taxi to visit the sights. A few of the ports we visited stood out as being particularly memorable. We stayed one night in Kirkenes and had an opportunity to see the town a bit. Apparently the main industry in Kirkenes was iron mining, however, that industry has slowly shut down over the last few years leaving many without jobs. I was told a new tourism industry was rising up for that area, with tourists from Norway, Germany, England and France. In the winter season you could go dog sledding, or visit a hotel made of ice.

Hammerfest was a fascinating port that I enjoyed very much. As we approached the city aboard the Nordlys, we passed by a huge natural gas facility, which provided power and energy to the entire region. Hammerfest is also known to be the World’s most northernmost town at 70 degrees 39’ 48”N in the arctic region. There are ten thousand people who call Hammerfest home. This is the place where my wife and I experienced an amazingly rapid change in weather. It went from cold and clear to colder with near snowy and blizzard conditions in a matter on a couple of minutes or so. We watched as a wall of snow and wind hit us. In Hammerfest, I became a member of The Royal And Ancient Polar Bear Society. With only about 200,000 members this is a very exclusive club with members all around the world. The only way to become a member of this elite and exclusive club or society is to visit Hammerfest, and apply for your membership in-person. Elvis Presley wanted to become a member and sent one of his buddies to Hammerfest to acquire a membership for him, but he was declined because applicants must physically be there to apply for membership. This exclusive society seeks to preserve the polar bears and the unique and delicate ecology of this arctic region. It was fun to tell my wife that I was able to literally take her to the top of the World.

Before the Nordlys arrived at Svolvaer, Lofoten, we went on a special Sea Eagles Safari, an excursion that brought us up close to this mighty bird. We boarded a smaller boat that took us into the kjellfjord where these sea eagles nested and hunted for food. Our guide inflated the fish bait with air, then threw them out into the water near the boat so the Sea Eagles would swoop down, grab the fish out of sea and fly off to enjoy their meal. We were able to take pictures of this amazing bird as it buzzed right past our boat and nearly grabbed the fish out of the hand of our guide. The Seagulls were everywhere and they too were fun to watch.

The Nordlys stopped at the little town of Stokmarknes where my wife and I experienced a very interesting museum. The 1956 built Finnmarken was a Hurtigruten vessel that had been retired and turned into a museum. What was unique about this museum was the Finnmarken vessel was hoisted up onto land in a cradle so that you can actually walk under the hull of this ship. To me that was really cool to see a big ship like this on land and to walk under the hull, to be able to touch and see the propeller and rudder was a thrill. You can go aboard the Finnmarken and see her old staterooms and lounges. As a ship buff this was a highlight for me. I really enjoyed this museum!

A highlight of our Hurtigruten and SAS Experience was our three-night visit to Lofoten. After two nights cruising the coast of Norway aboard the Nordlys we disembarked in Stamsund, Lofoten at 10:30pm, rented a car and drove for about an hour south, in the dark and in the rain, to a quaint and amazingly picturesque town called Reine. Of course it was dark when we drove down to Reine, so we really couldn’t see much until the next day when we woke up in our little rorbuer and looked out the window. We checked into a rorbuer or boat house at about midnight in a wonderful place called Reine Rorbuer which is like a resort or bed and breakfast cottage in the middle of a fishing village that has been in operation since about 1785. The little rorbuer we stayed in could very well have been nearly two hundred years old, however it was rebuilt, refurbished and fitted with modern facilities, so it was very cozy. I have been all around the World and I am not exaggerating when I say Reine, Lofoten is perhaps the most beautiful and scenic place I have ever seen with my own eyes, and it was the fulfillment of a dream to visit this place. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it was a beautiful painting that inspired me to one day journey to this place of Reine, Lofoten, and finally that dream became a reality and I was not disappointed. It truly was a magical place and I felt like I was in a dream as I marveled at the scenery. I could almost sense that there was a spiritual echo among the amazingly picturesque mountains, where God was saying, “Look what I have made for you”! The Managers of Reine Rorbuer, Hans van Kampen and Daniella de Vreeze were gracious hosts, and one day Daniella, a chef, prepared a special Norwegian dinner for us in their little rustic restaurant called Gammelbua. We also toured the fascinating fishery next to Reine Rorbuer that has a long heritage of sending dried fish all around the world. We saw first-hand how the fish was prepared and processed. The Director of this fishery told us about the theory that God specially created the Reine Lofoten area as a perfectly balanced environment for the fish to flourish abundantly because of the warmer Caribbean waters coming from the south, that seem to blend with the arctic waters from the North. A delicate and perfectly balanced ecosystem that seems to indicate there was a great deal of intelligence and design to the environment, allowing fishermen for centuries to enjoy an abundance of quality fish to catch. I didn’t want to leave Reine after three days, but we had to catch the Hurtigruten ship, Trollfjord in Stamsund, to continue our journey along the coast of Norway.

Another highlight of our voyage with Hurtigruten was our visit to Trondheim, which is the third largest city in Norway. As I mentioned earlier, the Hurtigruten ships do not stay in the ports very long and this fact was evident when we embarked on our excursion or bus tour of Trondheim, which lasted about two hours. Our bus tour quickly took us through town and up onto a hill where we could look out over the city. Next we visited a cathedral that has been there for over one thousand years. Trondheim is a historical and friendly community with a large university and a number of cultural centers and museums. After about an hour of touring the cathedral we returned to our ship the Trollfjord and shortly thereafter we enjoyed a chilly departure.

As we came closer to our final destination of Bergen the Trollfjord went through some beautiful passages and fjords. Our ship crossed the Arctic Circle 66 degrees 33’ North, on October 19^th in the morning, and we were issued an official certificate indicating this accomplishment. Among the many rock formations and mountains, we came upon an interesting mountain that literally had a hole through it. I thought as we went further south the weather would improve and we would experience a little warmer climate, but this did not turned out to be true on our cruise because it was colder, with sleet and snow, which can be expected for this time of year. We were blessed to experience the first snow of the winter season when we arrived in Bergen. The hillsides near Bergen were covered in a fresh coat of beautiful white snow allowing for some nice photos. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, tucked in the hills along the coast. We met up with a third cousin of mine who lives in Voss, near Bergen, and had a delightful Chinese dinner and visit with her. We walked around town through some of the shops and a mall.

Our journey with Hurtigruten had ended and the next morning we were off to the airport to fly home via SAS. Flying on SAS was an enjoyable experience because of the care and service of the friendly flight crew. During our eight and half hour flight from Copenhagen to Chicago we watched a few movies and entertained ourselves to stay awake so we could have a good sleep when we finally arrived at home again in Minneapolis. What type of person embarks on a Hurtigruten voyage? I’m going to come out and say that your typical cruise passenger might be disappointed because of the more specialized elements to a Hurtigruten voyage. There are no casinos, there is no formal entertainment or show lounges, the port visits are short, and the onboard amenities are comfortable but minimal. The dining is Eurpoean-style which some Americans may not understand. Europeans dine at a more leisurely pace, and the menu each evening is fixed to a set course as opposed to multiple options. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style. Expect a lot of fish and cheese. A Hurtigruten voyage will appeal to those who enjoy the quiet, scenic, go-at-your-own-pace routine. Photographers and those who enjoy a rich Norwegian cultural experience will feel very comfortable on a Hurtigruten journey. For those who have a desire to visit an ecological and environmental wonderland, a Hurtigruten voyage will fulfill the quest for natural beauty, spectacular panoramas and abundant wildlife. As I compare our Hurtigruten voyage with our Alaska cruise we did in 2009, I can now say with complete confidence that while Alaska is very beautiful, a Norwegian coastal voyage with Hurtigruten is magnificent and the scenery pushes and exceeds my expectations to a higher level than I had anticipated. We have heard many people say, after we tell them of our trip to Norway, that a Norwegian coastal cruise is on their bucket list, and it should be, because I cannot imagine anyone visiting Norway like we did and not return feeling completely overwhelmed with the incredible scenery. Other cruise ships may visit Norway, but you can truly become entrenched with the culture when you embark on a Hurtigruten voyage. The Hurtigruten vessels have an all-Norwegian crew onboard and in fact, Hurtigruten is a Norwegian company with a genuine and rich Norwegian heritage and history. The artwork onboard all the ships reflect Norwegian artistry at it’s best. Cruising on any other cruise line along the coast of Norway would be like going to the grocery store and buying frozen fish for dinner, as opposed to going out with the fishermen on their boat to catch the fish, and preparing the fish dinner right there on the boat.

For those who have a Norwegian coastal cruise on your bucket list, do not delay, make your plans sooner than later to experience for yourself this incredible voyage, this beautiful journey with Hurtigruten. Your expectations will be fulfilled and you will come away with memories of Norway that will inspire you and fuel your imagination. Embark on a southbound or northbound itinerary or do what we did and custom-design your own itinerary so you can have an extended visit to a particular village or town of your choosing. Expect to be enriched by the culture and beautiful scenery.

Norwegian EPIC

2010-07-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

First impressions:

Seeing the Norwegian Epic tower over the pier in New York was impressive, in fact the Epic completely blocked the site of the Carnival Miracle docked in the next pier over. I knew the ship was going to be very big, and what seems to always be among the first comments when you talk to someone is “wow this ship is really big”. Having also been aboard the Oasis of the Seas with Royal Caribbean, in January, which is a much larger ship at 240,000 tons, it was interesting to compare the two. Oasis is the biggest, but you’d hardly know the difference when ships get this big. I think as ships get larger, the ocean seems smaller, because the focus onboard these giants revolves around numerous options, more amenities, more dining venues, more entertainment, more staterooms and suites, and of course more people. The key is to build a big ship with excellent attention to passenger flow, and I think for the most part, NCL has succeeded in developing spaces and lounges that flow together well.

Wavy staterooms

One of the big discussion points as the Norwegian Epic is revealed in all her glory, is her “wavy”, staterooms with curved walls and separate compartments for the toilet and the shower. My first impression when I arrived at my room 9248, a deluxe Balcony stateroom, was that it felt small and narrow. I liked the wood-like paneling, and the lighting. There’s a large domed-ceiling above the bed that offered a soothing glow, which reminded me of something from the future. I discovered plenty of storage space, and clever baskets in a couple of the compartments, which are perfect for storing the dirty clothes after a long day at the beach or exploring the Mayan Ruins. The bed linens were nice, but the beds, themselves, were a bit too firm for my taste. The balcony was a decent size, and from what I understand, the air conditioning for the room, is connected to the sliding balcony door, and the air shuts off when the door is opened so passengers aren’t wasting or blasting cool air into the hot and often humid Caribbean.

There has been much to say about the bathroom arrangement in the wavy staterooms, most of the comments being on the “uneasy” side. After speaking with seasoned cruise industry journalists who suggested that North Americans will have a problem with the bathroom arrangement, I came to the conclusion that maybe experienced cruisers might struggle with it a bit, but first-time cruisers won’t notice anything terribly unusual. I have noticed when first-time cruisers board a ship for their vacation, everything is “different” and takes a little “getting used to”, for example; the movement of the ship, the lips at the base of many doors, compact staterooms, even navigating around the ship. Because “things are different” on a cruise ship, many passengers won’t notice or care that the bathrooms are unusual onboard the Epic.

I think the staterooms are smallish, even the suites. This is most certainly a high-density ship, and I think it will be interesting to experience the ship when at full capacity. Additionally, I think even a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom would be a squeeze for three or four people. I enjoyed the stateroom décor, and after spending some time in the room, I was pleased with the overall “feel” of the room. At a press conference someone asked about the little sink outside of the shower and toilet area with the tallish spout. The answer was that it was decided and chosen, several years ago, by Colin Veitch, the previous CEO of NCL, to install these unique sinks, so that he could easily fill his tea kettle. It was suggested, in somewhat of a joking way, that perhaps this is why Colin is the “previous” CEO and not the current CEO.

Entertainment

The live bands around the ship are also a huge plus in my book. Many of the cruise lines still use piped-in music or tracks, but NCL is using live music. There are numerous live music venues around the ship including a “Blues” club. It will take a week just to experience all the unique entertainment onboard the Norwegian Epic. Another interesting thing I discovered onboard the Norwegian Epic is that the ship doesn’t just have a Cruise Director, but also an Entertainment Director, because of the magnitude of entertainment offered.Without question, Norwegian Cruise Lines has upped the ante industry-wide with their “branded” entertainment including Blue Man Group, Second City, Legends in Concert, Cirque Dreams, and Nickelodeon at sea. Entertainment on ships has certainly evolved over the last couple of years with full-scale broadway-style musicals, high-diving shows and now branded entertainment. I enjoyed Blue Man Group, it was so refreshing and cool to see on a ship this eclectic and wild show performed by these “Blue Guys”. I have a theory about who the Blue Men are trying to be…..they are aliens from another world experiencing simple human interaction, and it’s hilarious, particularly the scene with the twinkie and the volunteer (victim) from the audience. I found myself caught-up in the show, and that says a lot because I have seen the best of the best when it comes to big shows on cruise ships, having been a Cruise Director.

The Norwegian Epic will have wonderful entertainment options for families with children because of the Nickelodeon at sea experience and the spectacular water slides on the pool deck. The youth and the teens have their own spaces and rooms for hanging out and playing videos games and watching movies. There is a vast sports deck with bungee jumping, basketball, and NCL is even offering ice skating, which is a direct competitive move to compete with Royal Caribbean. Now NCL can say, “Hey we also have ice skating at sea”. The Epic is packed from stem to stern with entertainment options from the shows, the live music and the very active bars with darts, bowling, and you can even play a game of pool on two pool tables. Freeze your butt off in the Ice Bar, enjoy dancing on deck with a giant TV screen, or find a quiet spot somewhere on deck for a romantic rendezvous, there’s so many options. The key is that not only is there a multitude of options, but the quality of those options is excellent.

Dining

When I first experienced “Freestyle dining” on the Norwgian Pearl a couple years ago, I was skeptical, however, I was soon sold on the concept when I realized that I didn’t have to go eat at a certain time if I didn’t want to…I could eat later and have numerous choices of where to eat. The Norwegian Epic has truly taken Freestyle Dining to the level with a plethora of quality dining options throughout the ship. You can get pizza, fish & chips, a sizzling steak, sushi, Teppanyaki, Italian food, French food, you name it and they probably have it aboard the Epic. I think I heard there were 26 different restaurants onboard. During my short visit I didn’t really have an opportunity to enjoy the fine dining in the restaurants because I was scrambling to get all my scheduled interviews, take pictures and video and explore the ship, so I just stopped briefly to grab a quick something and then I was off to my next meeting. I did, however; have a wonderful mushroom soup in the Bistro that is burned into my memory and taste buds. I don’t think I heard any negative comments about the food onboard. I really enjoyed the Garden Café for breakfast on Deck Fifteen because of the vast options including: fruits, meats, eggs, cream of wheat, pancakes and waffles, cereals, breads, pastries, all divided into stations throughout the Garden Café, and you can’t beat the views high above the sea.

Décor around the ship

I found the décor to be very whimsical and modern, with some classically elegant rooms for dining and socializing. The ship is very colorful but tasteful from the carpets to the artwork on the bulkheads. I didn’t think the décor was over the top like you might see on a Carnival ship, rather I felt the tone around the ship to be fun, classy, and modern. I enjoyed the way the interior areas were broken-up into nooks and very usable spaces. There wasn’t much wasted space on this ship at all, in fact the Norwegian Epic was designed to truly maximize passenger-flow from one area to another. There’s even an escalator to assist with this passenger flow midship. I could see an evolution in cruise ship interior design onboard the Epic that I haven’t noticed on other ships. I could see that a tremendous-level of thought went into the passenger areas. Gone are the days of boxy lounges and specific rooms; on the Epic, one room flowed and transitioned into another. I almost felt like I was in a casino in Las Vegas the way the various areas seamlessly came together. There was also an excitement in the air, not because this was a brand new ship, but I think the décor and laughter, the music and general pulse of the activity onboard promoted a sense of relaxation, and fun.

Conclusion

When I first saw the artist rendering of the Norwegian Epic, I thought there must have been a mistake, the ship looked comically top heavy and odd with decks 15 and 16 above the bridge area. After visiting the ship, I had a sense that the ship was very solid, and someone cleverly pointed out to me that this ship was built from the inside out. It really is what’s on the inside that counts, and the Norwegian Epic is truly a ship that will make a big splash in a very positive way with singles, couples, and families. And speaking about single cruisers, The Epic has these very cool pod-like, staterooms for single passengers, and there’s no single occupancy supplement which is excellent news for single travelers. I met with Mr. Paul Priestman who designed these single occupancy staterooms, and he was very proud of his work on these compact rooms. These rooms are almost patterned after the pod-like spaces in Japan where someone can sleep and clean-up and not much else. Mr. Priestman made these single rooms very comfortable, with fun lighting and clever cubbies for storage and hanging clothes. There’s also a private shower and toilet, so there’s everything you need to basically spend the week on this ship in your own small stateroom pod. It will be very interesting to see how passengers receive the Norwegian Epic this year while she is cruising the Caribbean. The hardware is very interesting, there’s a lot to do, but more importantly, the crew and staff are all very excited about their new ship. I also heard that a majority of the crew onboard has their own room, which is a huge plus for those who work on the ship for months at a time. What makes an excellent cruise vacation experience is not just the fancy hardware, but the care and excellent service of the staff onboard, which I am confident the Norwegian Epic will deliver with style!

Queen Mary Review

2010-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

I've written so much about the Queen Mary which is now a hotel, museum and convention facility in Long Beach, California, but this time I'd like to offer a review of the ship as a hotel and attraction in southern California. This really does tie-in to the cruise industry too, because just aft of the Queen Mary is a cruise terminal where thousands of cruise passengers can depart from each week. While I was onboard the Queen Mary I often came across people wandering the ship that either just came off of a cruise or were just about to depart on their cruise from the Long Beach cruise terminal. Carnival Cruise Line's Paradise and the Carnival Splendor were docked at the cruise terminal throughout the weekend that I was visiting the Queen Mary. I need to remind my readers that I am passionate about the Queen Mary, her history and her future as an attraction in Long Beach. I know it sounds odd, but I had chosen a college in southern California because it was not far from Long Beach where the Queen Mary was. Since I was about 13 years old, I developed a unique interest in the Queen Mary, my friends in junior high school would tease me that I knew how many rivets and portholes were in the Queen Mary. I was fascinated by her size and engineering and history, then I discovered there were many other grand ocean liners during the trans-Atlantic era, when crossing the Atlantic by ship was the "only way to cross".

I spent the weekend aboard the Queen Mary Hotel with my wife and my son. For me this was a huge weekend because I was returning to the place I asked my wife to marry me, and I was going to have an opportunity to show my 9 year-old son the ship that has inspired me for so many years. Additionally, I produced an event aboard the Queen Mary during this weekend where I invited the listeners of my talkshow in the southern California area to come watch me interview a few people in front of an audience. The event was a huge success and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. We were booked into the Eisenhower Suite which is the same room that President Eisenhower stayed in when he crossed the Atlantic aboard the Queen Mary. This is a key selling point for anyone looking for a hotel to stay at while visiting southern California..the fact that you can book yourself into an original first-class stateroom from the days when the Queen Mary was in her glory crossing the Atlantic on a regular basis. The who's who list of celebrities and movie stars, statesman and royalty that stayed in the suites aboard the Queen Mary when she was in active service is spectacular. To think that you could stay overnight or several nights in the same room that Bob Hope, Winston Churchill, Liz Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Billy Graham, or President Eisenhower stayed in while crossing the Atlantic is more than intriguing. The Queen Mary Hotel has a rather new management company so the rooms have new beds and linens which are very comfortable. New iPod docking stations have been placed in the rooms with flat-screen TV's and when you add the element of historical significance to your stay, it all adds-up to a memorable, comfortable visit.

The Queen Mary is a Historical Treasure and worth a visit. She's not just an old ship, the Queen Mary has an illustrious history that spans over 70 years. Most of her career has now been spent as a landmark in Long Beach, so she is a "place" where millions of people have visited, explored, and marveled at her size, her engines, her romance, and her history before she arrived in Long Beach. Ocean liners were mini cities or communities that had their own personality, and they were a microcosm of societal engineering. Today, Queen Mary is considered a building rather than a ship since she no longer separates herself from land, and she no longer becomes an island unto herself. The ship is still floating, however; which is nice, but gone are the days when passengers can feel the movement and energy of the ship as she pounds her way across the vast ocean. Queen Mary has been absorbed by the city of Long Beach as opposed to having the ability to escape to the sea, and yet if you squint, you can imagine what it was like when she was still an active ship.

What's there to do onboard the Queen Mary? Don't miss the opportunity to stay in the Queen Mary Hotel. You can also explore the museum and see the ship's last remaining propeller. There are plenty of great rooms and space for that special meeting, dance or banquet. You can take a self-guided tour or sign-up for an escorted behind-the-scenes tour. For those who want to experience a chill down their leg, you can try out the ghost tour experience. If you want a unique place to eat, the Queen Mary has many excellent dining venues, including the famous Sunday Brunch in the First-Class Dining Room or Sir Winstons with a great view of the Long Beach skyline. Or you might want to do what I did and find a deck chair to relax and just soak-in the southern California sunshine from the deck of the Queen Mary.

There is an ongoing effort to preserve and protect the Queen Mary's original areas, decks, rooms and lounges, and I know it is a daunting task for any management company to take on, because she's not a building but a ship, and ships have unique maintenance requirements. The maintenance onboard the Queen Mary is staggering, and for the most part, I think the current management company has done a fine job, however, her exterior desperately needs to be painted and cared for.

I'd like to thank the PR department aboard the Queen Mary for their generosity to host our Cruising Authority event in the Verandah Grill. I'd also like to thank a few of my sponsors for this trip to southern California which include: Advantage Rent A Car, AirTran, American Limousine and Disneyland. This trip to southern California would not have been possible without these great sponsors.

About the author: Barry Vaudrin is the host of the most listened-to cruise-related talkshow anywhere at www.cruisetalkshow.com. Each week hear from interesting people related to the cruise industry, like presidents of cruise lines, historians, authors, and travel professionals that contribute in some way to the cruise industry. We also feature shows occasionally about ocean liners and the trans-Atlantic era. Barry is a cruise industry journalist who travels the World and features all sorts of cruises from mass-market, premium, upscale to luxury cruises.

For anyone looking for the perfect cruise vacation at the best possible pricing, be sure to contact me for a referral to a great agent: cruisetalkshow@aol.com

Amazing Oasis!

2009-11-30T13:43:00.001-08:00

The Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest baby is stunning to say the least. I've been in the cruise industry for many years and use to work on some of the earlier Royal Caribbean ships like the Nordic Prince and the Song of America, neither of which are with the line anymore. These earlier ships, particularly the Nordic Prince shaped the very beginnings of the cruise industry, and never in my wildest imagination did I ever expect to see the day (in the future) where I would walk through a beautiful park with trees and plants and flowers, aboard a cruise ship. I never imagined back in the 80's, a ship that would come close to the magnitude of the Oasis of the Seas at 225,000 tons or literally five times larger than the Titanic. There's more to Oasis of the Seas, however; than simply her immense size, and I think what will truly stand out to the cruise consumer goes beyond her innovation, rather it will be the multitude of activities, distractions, luxuries, entertainment venues and dining options available onboard. She truly is an "oasis" at sea, a gleaming island of fun, romance, and indulgence waiting to be explored.

November 22nd, 2009 during the several travel agent and media mini-cruise outings prior to her actual revenue cruises starting in December, my wife and I spent two nights aboard the Oasis of the Seas in a balcony stateroom facing the Central Park area. As the Host of the most listened to cruise-related talkshow anywhere, I

was determined to capture some good interviews with key people at Royal Caribbean, get some good video footage and take some nice photos. I always strive to produce the best possible multi-media experience I can, and for the most part I felt comfortable with what I captured during the short two-night visit. I wish I had more time of course, because the ship is so big and there is so much to see. During this visit, we didn't have much time to relax and enjoy the ship, we were so busy scrambling from one interview to the next. Of course even though our visit was short, I think I was able to effectively absorb the general "feeling" onboard so that I can report to you here in this blog, my impressions of the ship. Now you have to remember, I love ships, I've studied ships, I'm passionate about the cruise industry, so my observations are a finely-tuned, expert analysis.

It's always a delight to visit a ship that is brand new right out of the shipyard, because everything is new, in fact we may have been the first to sleep in the stateroom we were in, which is somewhat exciting. Boarding the ship in the brand new cruise terminal, built especially for Oasis and the Allure of the Seas, was effortless and quick. The objective is to get new passengers onboard from the curb to registration, to the gangway and finally onboard the ship within about 15 minutes, and I think it will be possible with the numerous registration stations and the basic layout of the terminal. Once onboard, passengers will enter directly into the Royal Promenade, which is similar to walking into a huge resort, with two main elevator bays forward and aft. Our stateroom was on Deck 12 and we entered on Deck 5 so we took the elevator. Once we arrived on Deck 12 there was a nifty interactive computer monitor that had the deck plans. We punched-in our stateroom number and the computer showed us how to get to our stateroom. In fact these monitors were all over the ship and also had the daily program available on the touch-screen system....it was almost like on the starship Enterprise where you ask the computer a question and it answers you....how efficient and cool is that? Find where all the dining venues are, where the shows are and what time, this interactive system was state-of-the-art and really convenient. Our stateroom for this short two-night cruise was 12637 and we had a balcony looking out into Central Park. The stateroom was smallish, in Royal Caribbean fashion, but it was also very efficient and comfortable. I'm a big guy and I was very pleased with the shower compartment which was plenty of space for my mass. I also appreciate the optional hand-held shower head. The television was a flat-screen unit that pulled out from the wall somewhat, allowing you to watch TV from bed if you choose. There was a fridge and a small writing desk with a sofa. The closet and drawer space was decent and of course you can store luggage under the bed. Each stateroom is set up with Wifi and you can use your TV to explore the internet. I should also suggest that because of the size of Oasis of the Seas, there are a multitude of stateroom sizes to choose from all the way up to a massive luxury loft suite with all the luxuries of a five-star resort. So, no matter what your desire is with regard to accommodations, you'll find it aboard the Oasis.

One of the concerns with a ship the size of the Oasis was the cattle-call to dinner...would there be crowds and long lines? Our first night we ate in the main dining room and yes we encountered the masses crowding up to the entrance to the dining room. There seemed to be a bit of confusion among not only the passengers, but also the staff. I grabbed my wife's hand and we made our way through the crowds because all these people were supposedly lining up for assigned seating, while we were given the "my-time-dining" option. This basically meant that we didn't need a reservation, and didn't need to wait in the line as we were told. I made contact with a waiter who asked to see our card, and he said he would find a table for us. That waiter disappeared so we finally ended up just sitting down at a table with four others. It took about ten minutes for the masses to dissipate, and when they finally did, there was a sigh of relief from the wait staff and those at our table. I think this crowding was an anomaly because this was one of the first cruises, and I certainly didn't hold it against Royal Caribbean. My wife and I were both very hungry after a long day and an early morning of travel. My wife had a salad and the shrimp, while I ordered the chicken. The food was hot and presented very well. I later learned that the Oasis had brand new dishes and plates unique to the rest of the fleet. These new dishes had a deeper bowl-shape, allowing for a more decorative, taller display of the food, which I thought was a classy touch. The food not only looked tasty, but it WAS tasty. The waiter did a nice job, our water was filled, bread was replenished and our orders were taken in an orderly fashion. I was very impressed with the decor of the main dining room, and the efficient use of space. On the Freedom-class ships for example, I felt that the main dining room felt like an auditorium, because it was so big. On the Oasis the dining room is larger than the Freedom-class, and yet felt more intimate. There was still a grand middle area with a huge chandelier, but this area was not as large as on the Freedom-class ships because the area was filled-in with islands of dining spaces, and in my opinion a more efficient use of the space. Since we are onboard the Oasis for such a short period of time, I suddenly experienced a little ADD and told my wife we were skipping dessert so we can have more time to explore the ship.

I need to say something more about the dining on the Oasis of the Seas. There are numerous places to dine aboard the Oasis besides the main dining room. I think the sooner passengers begin to discover the many other dining venues around the ship, the pressure and crowding at the entrance to the main dining room will disappear. I think the statistic is 70% of the passengers will stick to eating in the main dining room whereas 30% will utilize the many other dinin

g options. I think the times have changed slightly when it comes to current trends in dining, and more people today like options, particularly trendy options. Oasis certainly offers trendy options with wonderful, trendy, chic restaurants like Chops Grill, or Giovanni's Table, the Park Cafe, Sorrentos, Cafe Promenade, and the amazing 150 Central Park with the young Chef Kerian Von Raesfeld. There are many other dining venues like the Windjammer high on top of the ship, the Seafood Shack and Johnny Rockets in the Boardwalk area...there's even an exclusive dining venue called the Chef's Table for only 14 lucky guests. You might even want to try the Solarium Bistro. One thing is certain, passengers will not go hungry, and they will enjoy their dining experience in style, no matter where they choose to eat.

While we were onboard for only two nights, unfortunately the big broadway-style production of Hairspray, was not ready to perform yet as the cast was still rehearsing. We didn't get to see the Aqua Theater shows either because the performers were still rehearsing. I can say, however, that Royal Caribbean has spared no expense in providing first-class, top-notch entertainment aboard the Oasis of the Seas. Again, this ship is so large, this allows for numerous options for entertainment whether you prefer big broadway-style production shows, or an intimate comedy act, there's more entertainment offered on this ship, enough to make your head spin. One of the most innovative spaces ever constructed aboard a cruise ship is the Aqua Theater and Boardwalk area. This area will indeed make most people say "wow". As a former cruise ship entertainer myself, I was blown away by the potential of the Aqua Theater and the state-of-the-art equipment and resources for producing an amazing show with acrobats, swimmers, high divers, and musicians. This area reminded me of a combination of an amusement park high-diving show and a Universal Studios-style show in the open-air. Then the Boardwalk area is an incredibly charming place where the smells and sounds will bring everyone back to their childhood days. For those who are planning to cruise aboard the Oasis of the Seas or the Allure of the Seas, you are in for a treat, and you'll experience a slice of heaven at sea.

Be sure to visit Cruising Authority at www.cruisetalkshow.com to see videos and photos of the Oasis of the Seas, and if you want to plan a cruise aboard the Oasis or any Royal Caribbean ship, I want to suggest a discount cruise broker that can not only get you the best possible rates but provide great service too. Visit www.dreamvacationscruise.com or dial 1-877-SHIPS-95 to plan your next cruise with Royal Caribbean. I want to also add that there are many who are determined to book their own cruise directly through the cruise line, and while they may get the satisfaction that they talked directly with the cruise line, they might not always get the best pricing. The cruise lines often offer special promotions to travel agents, cruise agents and cruise brokers that are better than if you went directly to the cruise line, and when you plan your cruise with a discount cruise broker it doesn't cost you more to use their services. You owe it to yourself to utilize the knowledge and expertise of a cruise discount broker.

Was I impressed with the Oasis of the Seas? As a cruise industry expert, and someone who has been following the development and construction of this ship for about six years, I can tell you that yes I was amazed and very excited about seeing the Oasis of the Seas in-person. The ship exceeded my expectations, and I am convinced this ship is the most innovative and exciting ship the cruise industry has ever seen. The Oasis of the Seas is about 1.4 BILLION dollars worth of hardware, but it's the talents, skills, and abilities of the crew and staff that truly make the ship come alive. What's truly amazing about this massive and technological floating wonder is that another one of equal size and splendor, called the Allure of the Seas, is nearing completion in the shipyard....that's a total of 450,000 tons and 12,000 people a week that will be able to experience and enjoy this magical Royal Caribbean vacation.

Oasis of the Seas

2009-11-23T04:32:00.000-08:00

We are currently aboard the Oasis of the Seas for a short introductory two-night cruise out of Ft Lauderdale. The ship is spectacular! It's tough to see the whole ship because it's so big. I would say without any question, this is the most innovative new ship ever to be constructed with the neighborhood concept and the Boardwalk with the Central Park feature...no other ship compares to the shear splendor of this ship. I wish we could spend a week on this ship...perhaps a later date.

Cruise / Tour with Viking River Cruises

2009-09-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Summary

On August 19^th, 2009 my wife and I flew from Minneapolis to Chicago, then to Beijing, China, to participate in a cruise / tour adventure with Viking River Cruises, and their Imperial Jewels of China 12-day excursion. This excursion included six nights in luxury hotels and five nights on their river vessel called the Viking Century Sun. We flew into Beijing and spent three nights in the Raffles Hotel, then we flew to Xian (pronounced ‘She Hon’) and stayed in the Shangri-La Hotel for one night. Next we flew to Chongqing (pronounced ‘Chong King’) and we boarded the Viking Century Sun. Once aboard the Viking Century Sun we visited Shibaozhai, then to Qutang to see the Lesser Three Gorges, next we cruised to Sandouping where we visited the fantastic Three Gorges Dam. Our next city was Jingzhou, a city that Viking River Cruises sponsors a school, where we had the opportunity to visit the children and see their classroom. Finally the Viking Century Sun arrived at Wuhan, and this is where we disembarked the vessel. From Wuhan we flew to Shanghai and spent two nights in the Westin Bund Hotel.

Food / Dinning

Viking River Cruises goes to great lengths to bring it’s passengers and tour-groups to the best restaurants in the area. In Beijing we dined at the same restaurant that Nixon ate, as well as President Bush when they were in Beijing. For those with a western palate, you might have to be somewhat adventurous because there are many unique flavors to experience. The dining however has been excellent. Especially breakfast in the hotels we have stayed at…the variety is amazing; of course the restaurant must accommodate many different tastes from all around the world. Americans will be happy with the eggs and bacon, or cereal of your choice, or you may want to eat what the Chinese eat for breakfast, like noodles and mushroom or some sort of fish. There have been some occasions when I personally didn’t care for the food served at lunch, however, dinner seems to be the meal of choice for the Chinese, with a great variety of meats prepared in unique ways. I like to have a soda for dinner and in

China on this tour, it seems the choice is limited to either water, Sprite, Coke, or local beer. Only a few restaurants offer diet, or Coke Lite, and on this tour the first drink is included but the second drink is usually not and you must pay extra for another glass or can of whatever. Many evenings dinner was served on a “lazy susan” a circular plate on the table that spins allowing people to eat family-style. We did eat a lot of Chinese food, and it only made sense since we were in China. It’s a good thing we like Chinese food, however, we noticed that the Chinese food in China is often a little different than what we eat at our local Chinese restaurant in America. We found the Peking Duck in Beijing to be very tasty, but we noticed it wasn’t like eating chicken, because the tradition is to put the duck meat on a tortia with some onion and a dark sauce.

Hotel stays during the tour portion of the trip:

Our first hotel experience on this tour arranged by Viking River Cruises is similar to the dinning experience where they put passengers in the best hotels in the area. Our first hotel was in Beijing. After a long 13 hour flight from Chicago to Beijing, we were very eager to get into our room to relax a bit. My wife and I thought we were put in the wrong room at first, because it was very spacious, the décor was exquisite and the amenities were first class. It was as if we were in the Presidential suite of a five star hotel, and in fact this was a five star hotel. The bed was a large king-size canopy bed, which was very nice with fine linens and comfy pillows. I think there is a difference in the packages offered…we happened to be in the premium land-package, so be sure to choose the premium option to really experience luxury accommodations, it really is worth it.

Our first Hotel was the Raffles Hotel in Beijing. This is the same hotel that accommodated many of the dignitaries during the Olympics, and many U.S. Presidents have stayed in the Raffles Hotel. Back to our room, we had a large wooden desk for writing letters or using the computer (I brought my own lap top) , a large flat-screen television, another small writing desk, and a cabinet for displaying interesting articles. The bathroom was very nice with a tub with water jets, two sinks, a large shower and of course a toilet with a bidet. Actually this suite had two bathrooms, one was in the entry corridor. Use of the internet was free, however, it seems as if the Chinese Government may be blocking certain social media sites like, Facebook, Blogs, Youtube and a few others. This was a problem for me since I had planned to blog about our trip so my listeners to my show could follow us in a virtual way. All of the staff in the hotel were very professional, very detail oriented and their hospitality skills were finely tuned. Score another high mark to Viking River Cruises for scoping out the best hotel in the area. The very first evening when we arrived we used the hot tub in the spa area to relax a bit after a long flight, which was very soothing. Then we went to our palatial room, changed for dinner. This first night we were on our own for dinner, so my wife and I walked around the corner from the hotel and were amazed at the thousands and thousands of people in the streets. We ended up trying out a Big Mac and a chocolate shake at McDonalds….and our basic impression was that it all tasted the same as back home. It was an interesting cultural experience to be among the Chinese people that first night.

Our accommodations in Xian were very nice, not as opulent as the Raffles in Beijing, but very comfortable. Finally, Westin Hotels operated the hotel in Shanghai and we found the bed to be the most comfortable bed we had experienced in China. The bathroom was very large with a huge tub right next to the window, which offered a nice view from 15 stories up. Internet was not free in this hotel but the price was reasonable. Again it was frustrating that the government of China had blocked certain social media websites and of course I could not contribute to my blog.

Our River Vessel, the Viking Century Sun

We arrived at our cruise-portion of the cruise / tour and boarded the Viking Century Sun in the evening. It was a long walk down to the pier and we had to walk across about four other barges to get to our vessel, that’s the way it is on the river. For me, being a cruise guy, it was a thrill to finally get aboard the Viking Century Sun. Actually, let me mention that I found it difficult to determine whether to call the Viking Century Sun a ‘ship’ or a ‘boat’. It’s on the Yangtze River and was not designed for the open sea, and most vessels on the river are considered boats or barges. The Viking Century Sun was certainly not a barge, and yet I struggled with calling it a ‘ship’. I asked the Hotel Director onboard, what he thought the designation should be and he suggested it should be considered not a boat, or a ship, rather a ‘vessel’. Anyways, back to our arrival to the Viking Century Sun. There were numerous crew members with smiles, who greeted us as we were navigating the various barges to finally get aboard the Viking Century Sun. What a thrill it was to finally get aboard the vessel knowing that we were going to be there for five nights as opposed to moving from hotel to hotel.

The Viking Century Sun has six passenger decks and carries about 300 passengers in 150 staterooms, all of which have a private balcony. Built in 2006, the vessel was still very new, and we noticed that the crew onboard were constantly cleaning every nook and cranny. Our stateroom was very nice, and in fact we were upgraded to one of the four suites onboard. Our room had ample desk and drawer space, and a special glass-top desk, which was perfect for setting up my mobile office, including my laptop and camera gear. The linens on the bed were very nice and soft, however, the beds themselves were very firm. I personally like a bed that is not too firm, however I can’t complain because we enjoyed the sanctuary of our stateroom. The bathroom was one of the largest we’ve had on a cruise. The toilet and the shower had a sliding panel to act as a door, and there were two sinks, a his and hers. Every couple of nights we would find a little treat or gift on our pillow, like a hat that says Viking River Cruises on it, or a cute little Chinese silk bag.

I’d like to offer some observations of the stateroom and perhaps a recommendation for the cruise line. There was no refrigerator in the stateroom, which is a common amenity on most cruise ships and hotels these days. I travel with medications that need to be refrigerated, which is why I thought this should be highlighted. Particularly on the Yangtze where it can be very hot and humid, I would suggest maybe a dehumidifier in the room, and a fan. The air conditioning on the Viking Century Sun was probably operating at it’s best, but on the really hot and humid days, that is when a dehumidifier and a fan would come in handy. Overall, I would definitely say the vessel was comfortable.

The dining onboard the Viking Century Sun was very good, and at par with many of the hotels we stayed at prior to embarking on the vessel. The waitresses and waiters in the dinning room were all very bubbly and went to great lengths to remember your name and what many of your preferences were. Service was very quick and efficient, and the staff truly cared about tending to your requests. There was only one evening when I ordered the fish, and I didn’t care for the taste, the sauce had a fishy taste to it and the fish tasted fishy which wasn’t normal for this type of mild white fish. Breakfast each morning was very good with a chef available to make you an omelet or scrambled eggs to order, or even pancakes. There was also cereal and breads and many of the usual western-style breakfast items. Two nights were dedicated to Chinese food, and the other evenings the choices were western-style or international entrées like beef and pasta and chicken. The chef was German, so there was somewhat of a German-style to the dining. The presentation was excellent and most people would definitely enjoy the dining aboard the Viking Century Sun.

A cruise on the Viking Century Sun is unlike your usual cruise experience with big production shows, rather the entertainment onboard was structured more to learn about China and the Yangtze River. There was one night, however, where the crew put on a decent show that was fun to watch and very colorful. The lectures onboard were very informative, and helpful because most people who travel to China want to know and experience the culture. Viking River Cruises offers a wonderful cultural experience that turns out to be the highlight of the cruise for most passengers, and that is the visit to the elementary school in Jingzhou. In fact, Viking River Cruises sponsors the school, which is one opportunity for the company to give back to the community in a very positive way. I highly applaud Viking River Cruises for their sponsorship program with the local school. Everyone in our group completely enjoyed this day where we visited the school. The children put on a little show of music and dancing for us and then we broke-up into smaller groups and visited different classrooms. It was obvious that these children really look forward to meeting the “Westerners”, and the passengers enjoy the interaction with the kids. I performed a magic trick and the kids seemed to like that. There’s an opportunity to give donations to the school, and most passengers drop in a few bucks. My wife and I brought a big bag of story cubes to give to the children at the school, and they really liked this little gift. So do not expect the big production shows and entertainment like on most cruise ships, the location on the Yangtze river in itself is entertaining and enriching, and I don’t think the big production shows would be missed.

I noticed from a logistics point of view that operating a western-style cruisetour on the Viking Century Sun would be a huge project because of cultural differences, however, Viking River Cruises was able to pull it off with flying colors. I tried to understand how the operation of this vessel worked on the Yangtze in China, and discovered that the vessel, the Viking Century Sun, was actually leased by Viking River Cruises with a local Chinese businessman who owns the vessel under a company name, New Century Cruises. I think it’s a clever operation and a brilliant way to offer a cruise product in China. I don’t think the Chinese government would allow an American company or foreign company to set up shop on the Yangtze River, so what Viking River Cruises has done is quite the achievement. I took some time to explore another river boat on the Yangtze that has about eight boats and often promotes it’s product to westerners. The boat seemed nice from the inside, but on the outside they look a bit raw. I also happen to know that they utilize westerners as cruise directors so they can better serve their passengers. This company I am referring to looks like they do a fine job, and I discovered they are building a vessel that will become the largest cruise vessel on the Yangtze, out sizing the Viking Century Sun which is currently the largest passenger vessel. I can’t say anything for their cruisetour packages other than they probably offer a similar package to what Viking River Cruises offers, however, having been a cruise industry professional for many years, I did have an experience which has brought me to the conclusion that Viking River Cruises without question has the best cruisetour product available in China and on the Yangtze. Unlike the other cruise company I’m referencing; Viking River Cruises offers a consumer-friendly and travel agent-friendly system for booking your cruisetour to China. Let me give you an example. A few years ago, someone came into my office and said they wanted to book a cruise to China on the Yangtze. I was very excited to offer my expertise as a cruise industry professional, however, I ran into some challenges trying to get information and book my clients on a Yangtze cruise. I never was able to book these people because it was too obscure and complicated. This was before I knew about Viking River Cruises of course. The bottom line is that it was very complicated trying to decipher which tour operator to try and book with. What makes Viking River Cruises rise above as my choice for the best company to work with is that they offer an amazing product that is contained within one simple westernized company as opposed to numerous tour operators and sub-companies. I can book the entire cruisetour experience to China with one company, and have the confidence that everything is handled by one company with no surprises.

The Tours

Unique to Viking River Cruises are the tours they offer and the local guides who hold your hand throughout the whole trip from the first moment you arrive at the airport. The tours are carefully chosen to offer the best experiences, allowing passengers to see the most popular sites as comfortably as possible. The buses are all air conditioned and comfortable, the transfers are all taken care of by your guide, in fact the guide even checks you into your hotels, you simply receive your room key and you’re off to your room. The same is true for your intra-China flights, your guide checks you in and gets your boarding pass, so you can just board the plane without any hassles. It’s a smooth seamless process that the Viking River Cruises guides have perfected. Another unique element to the tours is the electronic “Vox” device that is given to each passenger. The “Vox” is basically a receiver that you put around your neck that has a comfortable earpiece, allowing each individual to hear what the guide is saying, so the guide does not have to speak loudly over the crowds. In fact you have the freedom to wander around while listening to your guide explain the history and details about the place or site you’re visiting. As long as you keep your guide in-sight as he holds up his Viking River Cruises flag, you’re never lost.

The Great Wall of China

Wow, the Great Wall is a spectacular sight to see first-hand. You can read about it and see pictures, but to actually walk on the Great Wall is truly a remarkable experience considering how old and how long this structure is. From the entrance to the best-preserved sections of the amazing Great Wall in the Badaling Hills, you have a choice to either walk up to the eastern direction (the right) or to the western direction (on the left) the latter direction being the most difficult. My wife and I chose to take the more challenging route on the left because we were told the views were better, and I could get better pictures. Both my wife and I carry a little more weight than we should so we were both concerned that this tough walk and climb was going to be too much for us. I think the adrenaline-rush we experienced as we were finally standing on such a monumental staple of China, and one of the wonders of the world, kept us going and we were victorious in reaching the top. It was no easy climb, that’s for sure, and both my wife and I were beat. It’s a good thing we brought oxygenated water and our favorite energy drink to give us the endurance and boost of energy we needed to make our way to the top. The views were indeed spectacular! The steps on the Great Wall are somewhat irregular, so it was a good thing they had solid handrails built in. If I were to offer any criticism of this particular tour that Viking River Cruises coordinated, I would suggest they allow more time to wander and enjoy the Great Wall. After our visit to the Great Wall we also stopped at the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs and the place where the 2008 Olympics were held, so needless to say, it was a long day of walking and climbing and sightseeing.

The Terra Cotta Army Museum

I was particularly fascinated by the Terra Cotta Army Museum in Xian, pronounced (She-Hon). Again, the tour seemed to move a lot faster than I would have liked. I was always way behind the group because I was taking pictures and video. It was a sobering experience entering the first giant building constructed over the archeological dig pits and seeing hundreds and hundreds of these Terra Cotta Warriors standing at attention for over 2,000 years! We learned how these clay warriors were created for Emperor Qin Shi Huang while he was still a boy. It’s overwhelming to think that this clay army and thousands of other items were buried in chambers to honor one man, this Emperor, and to imagine the many years men and women must have labored to create such a vast array of items. We also learned from new aerial photos that over 600 additional burial plots are now known to exist around this area with countless items yet to be dug up and discovered. I was surprised to learn that the actual Emperor’s tomb has not been dug-up, so there much be a vast collection of amazing riches still buried. The Chinese government has decided not to excavate the Emperor’s tomb, however; if tomb-robbers were to ever figure out a way in to the tomb, only then would the government step-in to protect the area. The Emperor’s tomb lays within a large man-made mountain, overlooking the area where the Terra Cotta Army was buried. Sounds like a job for Indiana Jones if you ask me.

The Three Gorges Dam

It truly is a monumental achievement for the Chinese government to construct the world’s largest dam, and we had the opportunity to not only see this massive dam but to actually pass through the locks aboard the Viking Century Sun. I was amazed to watch as we went into the locks and saw our vessel lowered down to the next lock chamber. Both my wife and I had to go to bed however, because we traversed the locks at around 10:30pm and we were very tired. We did stay up to watch us go through the first lock which was fascinating. The next day we got on the Dam bus to go on the Dam tour, but first we had to go through the Dam security which was very thorough. Our Dam guide explained how the Dam was constructed and the purpose of the Dam, which was actually to help prevent flooding on the Yangtze, to generate hydro-power and to simply offer a better life for the Chinese people. It would be pretty difficult for anyone to not be impressed by this gigantic human achievement. Furthermore, it was impressive to learn that the Chinese government relocated millions of Chinese people along the Yangtze River in order to allow for the Yangtze River-level to rise up to about 175 meters above sea-level. So there are whole cities now underwater, and the local people were given new condominiums to live in on higher ground. It was very evident to see the massive construction of new condominiums all along the river.

Massive bridges were also being constructed all along the Yangtze River. The planning, the infrastructure that went into all the construction related to the Three Gorges Dam and the efforts to relocate millions along the river is staggering to say the least. There is one thing I can say for certain, and that is the Chinese people are very industrious, in fact we discovered that the state bird is the crane, because there were massive cranes on building-sites everywhere. We also learned there are over 400 MILLION people who live along the Yangtze River alone in China! That population is more than the entire number of people in the United States. China has a population of over one Billion people, and this fact became clear to us when we saw the masses everywhere.

Operas and Museums

We were treated like important dignitaries everywhere we went, and our guides always secured the best seats in the house, whenever we attended an opera, concert, or special production. In Beijing we saw the famous Peking Opera. In Xian we enjoyed the Tang Dynasty Dinner & Show, which was very colorful and well produced. Finally in Shanghai we saw an incredible Acrobat show, and I am still amazed at the flexibility and balance these performers had. We also visited a number of temples, gardens and museums, one of which peaked my interest. In Wuhan we visited a museum that contained amazing artifacts from a wealthy man who lived over 2,400 years ago. This man had buried with him, a large, ancient, musical instrument that could still carry a tune. This device was built with many bells large and small, and it was incredible to learn that this ancient musical instrument survived being buried for thousands of years, and over a thousand years under water. I still struggle with the idea that this artifact did not corrode away, and yet it seemed to be in pristine condition. I thought it was amazing when I heard the whistle from the Titanic, having been at the bottom of the Atlantic for over 80 years, blown one time in St Paul, Minnesota. But to hear the sound from these ancient bells buried for over two thousand four hundred years…that was truly awe-inspiring.

Our Guide

If you embark on a trip to China be sure you go with a company that has a guide or tour escort that is there to watch over and take care of your every move. Our guide’s name was Daniel, and he was very nurturing for us foreigners, and as mentioned before, he checked us into our hotel rooms, he acquired our intra-China airline tickets, and took care of all our transfers flawlessly. We were in a completely foreign country, none of us spoke the language, so it would have been a huge challenge to navigate around China like we did without someone there to escort us everywhere we went. Our guide even knew which restrooms (happy rooms) was the best choice throughout our journeys. The Chinese refer to bathrooms or toilets as “Happy Rooms”, because after you use the bathroom you feel happy. This was a funny ongoing term to hear throughout the trip. The same guide who met us at the airport in Beijing when we first arrived, was also there for us when we finally departed back to the States out of Shanghai. Our guide also did his best to explain the culture of China, he was entertaining and informative, and being a local himself, he was able to express the intricacies of his culture in a way we could understand. I know some of the guides had to deal with passengers / individuals who were rather high-maintenance to put it as politically correct as I can. Thankfully, our group of 20 or so was not high-maintenance, and was a decent group of people. So my hat goes off to Viking River Cruises for selecting the best, most knowledgeable guides they could find.

Conclusion

For my wife and I, this amazing journey to China was a once-in-a-lifetime experience we will treasure, and thankfully, the entire trip went without any major issues or problems. On the flight from Chicago to Beijing, I did go through a little pain as I passed a kidney stone during the last three hours before arriving into Beijing, and my wife had a little stomach issue early in the trip, but for the most part, we stayed healthy, and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Of course we took extra precautions with supplementation, which I think was the reason we stayed healthy. We took the best possible vitamin supplementation, and Glucosamine for our joint health, as well as Echinacea and a special powdered supplement called IntestiFlora to boost our digestive immune system. We also took a potent and pure supplement called Omega 3, which gave us better blood circulation. While a few others experienced colds at the end of the trip, my wife and I stayed healthy.

Would I recommend a trip to China with Viking River Cruises? Absolutely! Let me give you some tips if you are considering a cruisetour of China. First, be sure to book your trip with Viking River Cruises or tell your travel agent to book you with Viking River Cruises. Secondly, be prepared to do some walking, you might even want to get on the treadmill or do some pre-trip exercises to get in shape. Bring a decent camera, and perhaps even take a photography class so that you can capture the best possible photos from your trip. Consider high-quality supplementation during your trip to avoid or prevent potential sickness. The last thing you want is to be sick while climbing the Great Wall of China or exploring the Forbidden City. Leave some room in your suitcase or bring an additional suitcase for souvenirs, because you’ll want to bring home some interesting treasures. Our trip was in August and the temperatures in China were hot and humid, however, if you want to avoid the heat and humidity, try booking your China trip for October or November. Be prepared to be wowed and amazed by the masses in China, and with the masses come an incredible level of traffic. Before we experienced China and Yangtze River, our initial expectations were that we would see a lot of rural areas with rice fields and farmers, but the complete opposite is what we saw. China has a massive build-up of infrastructure, with massive bridges and vast colonies of tall condominiums and high-rises everywhere. I guess the high-rises should be expected with over One Billion people living in China. One thing is for certain if you plan your trip to China with Viking River Cruises, you will come to appreciate the ancient and fascinating culture of China, and return home with a unique perspective of this great country.

To see hundreds of photos, some videos and audio, please visit www.AmazingChinaCruise.com

The adventure begins!

2009-08-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

We are in Chicago and about to board the plane to Beijing. This trip has been in the planning stages for about a year, and now here we are finally about to embark on this journey to the other side of the globe.

We Leave for China on Wednesday!

2009-08-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

There is so much to plan for when you go on an epic journey like we are about to take to China. We had to of course have our passports, we had to get visas for China, we had to get shots, and plan for someone to watch our son while we are gone. We also purchased travel insurance which is important especially when traveling to another country on the other side of the globe. As the Host of Cruising Authority, I made sure I had the latest cameras and audio / video equipment so I can produce the best possible photo and video reviews. Because Cruising Authority is primarily an audio program, I got the coolest digital audio recorder to record interviews and commentary. Check out this cool device I got for recording audio. We bought a new suitcase for this trip. I wanted one of those hard-shell suitcases, but my wife didn't think we should spend $260 bucks so I compromised with her and we did get a Samsonite that has a hard-shell bottom, but a soft cover. Couple things I still need to get are a hip-pack to keep my passport and money, so it's always with us, and a travel alarm clock.

We are bringing the best possible vitamins and supplementation to make sure we stay healthy and are feeling good during the trip. We're taking a great multi-vitamin called Double X, and a decent Omega 3 supplement, also a Glucosamine to keep our joints healthy and feeling good considering all the walking we will be doing. To keep our digestive tract healthy we are taking what's called IntestiFlora 7 which helps boost our immune system, considering the unique foods we may eat while in China. All of these supplements are manufactured by Nutrilite, a company that invented the multi-vitamin over 70 years ago and has perfected the formula over the years. All of these supplements that Nutrilite produces come from plant compounds that are grown in their own fields to strict & meticulous standards. Email me at cruisetalkshow@aol.com if you are interested in the Nutrilite products.

I'm going to purchase a special domain name for this trip to make it easier for people to follow us on this trip, during and after we return. The domain name is: www.amazingchinacruise.com

2009-07-22T09:08:00.001-07:00

Busy editing, running errands, getting stuff done today...also preparing for trip to China aboard the Viking Century Sun with Viking River Cruises...the Yangtze awaits us!
http://ping.fm/XlsQY

2009-07-21T20:45:00.001-07:00

I recently cruised to Alaska aboard the Seven Seas Mariner check out
http://ping.fm/rbp60 and see photos, videos and audio.

Dog Sledding in Alaska

2009-07-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

I screwed up and didn't blog every single day, in fact I got so busy during this cruise on the Seven Seas Mariner with interviews and excursions that I just didn't get in there to write in my blog. So for all those who have followed this blog, my deepest apologies. During our visit to Juneau, Alaska, I took my family on the helicopter and dogsledding adventure, and boy was it an adventure! Climbing into that helicopter and hovering over the top of mountains and glaciers was spectacular to say the least. Then after we landed on top of the mountain where the dog sled camp was, it was very exciting to meet our dog sled guide and see the dogs in action pulling our sleds. It's funny, when we were at the heliport in Juneau, they told us we had to put on these boots over our shoes, and since I live in Minnesota, and we are no strangers to snow, I thought, I didn't need these boots, cause in Minnesota, I walk around in my tennis shoes all the time in the snow. Well, it's a good thing I put on those boots, cause the snow up there was DEEP in some places and you would sink up to your knee. Of course we had a blast dog sledding, and my son will remember the dog sled adventure for many years to come. After our sledding, we had a chance to meet the dogs which was fun. Then we boarded the helicopter again, and flew over the mountains back to Juneau....wow. My wife and I were trying to figure out which excursion was more exciting, the dolphin encounter in Roatan, or the Dogsled adventure in Juneau. I think the dog sled adventure with the helicopter ride is the winner! You can listen to the dog sled adventure on my show here: Cruising Authority - Seven Seas Mariner Episode ONE

Ketchikan Adventure

2009-06-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today in Ketchikan we went on the Flight-Seeing and Crab Feast excursion where we took a bus to the George Inlet Lodge for some spectacular fresh crab and a delicious cheese cake. The crab was incredible! Then after lunch we flew back to Ketchikan in a float plane. The scenery was amazing of course and the whole experience was very memorable. I highly recommend this excursion for it’s great crab feast and the plane ride. After the excursion we walked around Ketchikan and some of the shops. We rented an electric car and tooled around town. As a ship buff the I was in my element as we watched the Westerdam depart and the Statendam took it’s place, then the Norwegian Pearl was docked just ahead of our ship the Seven Seas Mariner. After the Norwegian Pearl left, the Mercury with Celebrity Cruises docked. A great day for ship spotting.

A snapshot of the Inside Passage

2009-06-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today we are cruising the Inside Passage on our way to Ketchikan. The sea is calm today, and the temp is around 60 degrees. It was such a long day when we got up in Minneapolis at 6am and flew to Vancouver. It was a fun day, but we ended up going to bed at 9:30pm because we were beat. Of course because of the time different for us it was actually 11:30pm. Dinner last night in the Compass Rose Restaurant was excellent! The wait staff were perfect, as they greeted us, brought us to our table by the window, and gave us just the right amount of attention.

My wife and I both had the fish, which was Alaska Rock Fish, kind of like a cod. The breads were yummy…we must lay off the breads since we are watching our waistline during this cruise. Jacob had the pizza and enjoyed every bite. We decided to order breakfast in our suite this morning. We had scrambled eggs, juice and toast. Before the breakfast arrived, however, I took Jacob down to the spa and we steamed and sat in the sauna, then went

up to deck 11 to sit in the Jacuzzi and swim in the pool. I must say that the pool was very nice. I thought the pool would be cold, but it was a nice temp. After a little swim, Jacob and I went back to our suite and had our breakfast.

We introduced Jacob to the youth program this morning at 9:30. There are about 50 kids onboard that are between 6 and 8 years old, so Jacob should have fun making friends. Terri and I are participating in somewhat of a challenge during this cruise to see if we can maintain or lose weight, so we weighed-in at about 11:00am this morning with the fitness person.

As my wife and I were walking around the ship this morning we noticed something very strange…it was very quiet everywhere we went. There were very few planned activities. We did come across a cruise staff person hosting some sort of game with a handful of passengers, where they would throw some sort of dart at a net. The observation lounge had about 30 people just sitting around quietly talking. This morning the ship was buzzing, however with a lot of people exercising in the gym and walking around the decks.

It will really be interesting to experience this cruise to Alaska. All of the other cruises we have been on went to

warm-weather destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. I’ve cruised all over, but never to Alaska. Oh, I saw my first wale while cruising thru the Inside Passage...the scenery is absolutely beautiful!

It's Departure day!

2009-06-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

Here's our ship the Regent Seven Seas Mariner...It's departure Day! I went into the hotel on 8th level to take a picture of the Mariner. The Volendam with Holland America is also in the pier near us. I took some pictures of the Volendam too. Looks like a beautiful day to depart from Vancouver. Weather is not too cool, a little cloudy, but not bad. Embarkation was really simple. In fact we registered onboard in the main show lounge to get our room key. We had a little snack on deck 11 by the pool immediately upon boarding the ship. We didn't have access to our suite until about 2:30pm. First impressions are that the ship is very nice. There are indeed a lot of children onboard, so it will be interesting to see how much Jacob enjoys the children's programs. We just completed boat drill, and now we are about to depart...so I better get up on deck!

About Cruise Reality

2009-06-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

It is a challenge to continually come up with new ideas and ways to keep our listeners and fans of Cruising Authority engaged and interested in what we are doing. We have almost reached a milestone with the Cruising Authority talkshow with nearly one hundred shows! It's June 16th and tomorrow my family will fly to Vancouver to board the luxurious Regent Seven Seas Mariner to Alaska. It's going to be an adventure and I'll be sure to keep you posted here on the blog to let you know how the cruise is coming along AND how Terri and I are doing with our "CHALLENGE". If you don't know about the "Challenge", watch the preview video on our website at http://www.cruisereality.com/

This is the Seven Seas Mariner in Alaska, it looks like a beautiful ship, and I can't wait to see the glaciers and the beauty of Alaska! I also can't wait to board this ship, which I have heard and read that she is a a classy ship. My family will also be in a Penthouse Suite...of course the Mariner is an All Suite ship, one of the first ever built. Stay tuned here, subscribe to this blog and my wife's blog at: http://www.dreamvacationscruise.com/blog/ and follow us on this journey, this grand voyage aboard the luxurious Seven Seas Mariner! I'll try to post photos along the way. This is all going to be somewhat new to me as I will be recording bits for Cruising Authority, and creating video segments, I'll be blogging, maybe "Twittering" at: http://twitter.com/cruisetalkshow so I have a full plate as I also try and enjoy the cruise.