Oceania Bista in Valletta, Malta Formal christening performed, it is time to reveal the beauty and style of this vessel in more detail. As a general statement, I will go on record and call Vista an “elevation of Oceania’s style that modernizes for a new generation of cruisers without alienating loyal guests.” What follows below… Continue reading Christening of Oceania Vista – Part Two

Stormy waves from hurricane Philip We departed Quebec City a few minutes delayed due to strong winds of 40 knots whipping up the sea and the St.Laurent river. As you can see from the image above, the swells were 15 to 20 feet and yet, there is no motion felt aboard. This is due to… Continue reading Queen Mary 2 – The Only Ocean-liner

QM 2 in Quebec City It is always a good idea to “revisit a classic” the saying goes. That is what’s in store for the coming days as I return aboard Cunard for their World Forum sales and advisory meeting. Join me as we get ready to board on a beautiful fall day in Quebec… Continue reading Queen Mary 2 – Fall Foliage

Tastes tapas under the dome In the luxury arena, food has long been more than just nourishment, it is an art of living of its own with taste and visual creations that can be awe inspiring. Crystal cruises had shaped this category over the years from its Italian Prego to the only Nobu at sea… Continue reading Old vs New – Crystal Cruises culinary

You may have noticed my silence over the past two months as many of my readers, clients, and all of America (so it seems) were busy going places. There is a reason of course for that silence in that I lent my expertise and knowledge to travelers headed to Europe and many other places around… Continue reading Second Half of 2023 – buckle up for thrilling Adventures

Acropolis behind and Olympus temple to the left Our Crystal Symphony cruise ended in the sport of Piraeus early morning. We disembarked and made our way to the city center for an overnight in the Greek capital. It’s been 34 years exactly since my last stop here on a backpacking trip to the Greek isles.… Continue reading Athens in a day

Nothing is more rewarding than an early morning walk after a thunderstorm. This is what we did on our stop in the Dalmatian capital Dubrovnik after Crystal Symphony docked yesterday morning. Crisp air, blue skies and a nice breeze made for perfect climate to discover this walled city. Limestone cobbled streets Our guide Dennis took… Continue reading Old vs New – Crystal Cruises – Dubrovnik & Kataklon

Crystal Symphony in Korcula 24 hours at sea across the Adriatic from our Port of Fusina departure point, we arrived at the Croatian trade port of Korcula. Nestled on its own island’s southern tip, just 15 minutes across the straight from the Croatian mainland, this medieval gem happens to also be the documented place of… Continue reading Old vs New – Crystal Cruises – Korcula

All aboard and ship ahoy! Crystal Sumphony from tender boat Crystal Symphony left Korcula at 11pm last night for a short sailing to Dubrovnik but that is only half the story. A massive and thunderous storm whipped through the area during dinner hours that left us speechless. Mother Nature served up her own version of… Continue reading Old vs New – Crystal Cruises sails again

Boarding at Venice port for Crystal Symphony One of the casualties of the pandemic was the demise of a beloved 28 year love story between guests and the crew of Crystal Cruises. Late 2021, the parent company Genting Hong Kong folded in dramatic fashion leaving guests of three cruise brands globally stranded and ships seized… Continue reading Old vs New – Crystal Cruises

EuroCity 53 in Milan Every visit must come to an end eventually, so I packed my bags and boarded a Swiss railways train to Milan. For decades, this route was operated by Cisalpino dual-current trains which were replaced in 04 by new Alstom built Astoro high velocity sets. Luxurious and silent, these tilting trains provide… Continue reading Switzerland to Italy by High-Speed Train

Oceania Vista in Valletta, Malta Two days after boarding in Rome, our brand spanking new, sleek, and ultra-smooth ship arrived in historic Valletta, Malta for its formal christening. Full of anticipation, our Direct Travel team was met by Oceania’s sales team under Tricia Wolf’s leadership for an outdoor reception on the Spa Terracce on deck… Continue reading Christening of Oceania Vista – Part One

The world’s steepest cable train A few months after Pikes Peak, I was fortunate to ride another legendary train, this time to my house mountain called Niesen overlooking mighty lakes Thun and Brienz. It’s been at least 35 years since I last rode this fabulous train. Lots changed in my life to say the least,… Continue reading Swiss Alps by cable train

Due to a fuel pump issue on our United Boeing 777, the flight to Rome was two hours late on arrival at Roma Fiumicino airport. In smart travel advisor fashion, I had planned my train connections well in advance and with a three hour buffer. All of a sudden, given Italy’s reputation for delays and… Continue reading Trenitalia – high speed – high friction

Famed Bar at Luba Baglioni Venice has been the playground for the rich and famous for centuries, a fact reflected in it’s culinary and cocktail culture that is still alive today. From the famed Peach Bellini at Harry’s Bar to the godfather of Spritz drinks, the Select SPRITZ, this city carries more than it’s fair… Continue reading Venice in April – Gastronomia Venetiana