Canada's Northwest Passage: An Epic Arctic Journey with Adventure Canada
Following a route less traveled in the footsteps of intrepid explorers and today's First Nations in one of the last frontiers: the Arctic.Story and Photographs by travel and sailing journalist Elizabeth KerrKnowing that I was setting out on the same route that Franklin took in 1845 somewhat intimidated me. After all, he didn’t make it home. However, once aboard Adventure Canada’s Ocean Endeavor expedition ship surrounded by 110 like-minded adventurers, 30 experts in every field and a crew that went...
MSC's 'Wonder' at Sea
There's a new Wonder at Sea. The MSC Meraviglia. If your language skills are rusty, that's Italian for 'wonder', and this European cruise line's new flagship is a wondrous destination at sea for five thousand guests. The MSC Meraviglia is the biggest ship to be built by a European ship owner, and also the biggest cruise ship to come into service in 2017.The 13th addition to the MSC Cruises fleet brought wonder to the northern French port of Le Havre...
Paul Gauguin Cruises Named Top for Honeymooners
Small ship, South Pacific luxury cruise line specializes in romance.Brides magazine has named Paul Gauguin Cruises '#1 for Honeymooners'. The cruise line operates the longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific. The 'Paul Gauguin' is a 5+ star, 332-guest idyllic ship that sails to some of the most exotically romantic locations on any honeymoon couples' list: Tahiti, Fiji, French Polynesia, and other once-in-a-lifetime destinations in the South Pacific.Honeymooners receive a complimentary honeymoon package when sailing with Paul...
Carnival Vista 'Taps' into Home Port Flavors for American Craft Beer Week
The first brewery on board a North American-based ship introduces Miami Guava Wheat Beer.Carnival Vista's RedFrog Pub & Brewery gets into the spirit of American Craft Beer Week with a limited edition brew inspired by its home port.Miami Guava Wheat Beer is a uniquely local flavor inspired by tropical South Florida. The beer's light body and palate-pleasing notes of tangy pink guava are not only tropical and refreshing, but include the primary ingredient in Miami’s ever-popular guava pastries.Carnival Vista's brewmaster...
The Ship that's Changing River Cruising
How do you revolutionize river cruise ships?River cruise ships are limited in length by the navigational requirements of rivers... like the sizes of locks. While ships bear their company livery colors and a few unique design features, many river cruise ships appear much the same - at least on the outside.The design for the AmaMagna, launching in 2019, is game changing. It maintains navigational/ length limitations - but it's twice the width of traditional European river cruise ships.What makes a...
MSC Cruises, UNICEF Partnership Feeds 67,000 Needy Children and Their Families
We're already pretty passionate about travel. Then when the company we trust with our valuable vacation time and budget makes the effort to do good in our shared world, well, that makes us love travel even more. European cruise line MSC Cruises has recently reached an incredible milestone for its partnership with UNICEF, raising €6.5 million (that's about $6.9 million USD) through guest donations onboard to support UNICEF. Those funds have been put to good use. More than 2 million sachets of...
Can Cruise Travel have an Edge? Celebrity Cruises Thinks So.
We don't normally go gaga over ships that haven't launched yet… But this news we just had to share with you. At a cruise industry event last week, Celebrity Cruises announced the first of a new class of ship: The Edge. The first ship designed entirely in 3-D, in (parent company) Royal Caribbean's Miami Innovation Lab in the world's largest and highest resolution 3-D virtual reality simulator in the world, we think the billion (with a 'b') dollar Edge earns its...
Video: Meet the Wine Maker in the 'Tuscany of Austria' on the Danube
There's a magical stretch of the Danube river that some call the 'Tuscany of Austria'.Hills rise in the mist above the Wachau valley, and for 25 miles between fairy tale towns of ornate, pastel colored historic buildings, wineries line the river banks and hillsides.The 'Wachau Cultural Landscape' - its architectural and agricultural heritage - are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Abbey in the town of Melk, Durnstein, where English King Richard the Lion-Heart was held captive en route from...
Vegan meets Michelin-star Dining on Hapag-Lloyd Luxury Cruises
If you associate modern German culture with a focus on health and world-leading quality, it will be no surprise to learn that small-ship German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd now has a first-class vegetarian and vegan dining option. Its Europa 2 is the height of small-ship casual luxury (no ties!). Only 500 guests share a yachting / exclusive resort atmosphere that's been awarded 5+ stars by Berlitz' Cruise Guide 2017. With flexible mealtimes, no fixed seating plans and plenty of tables for two, gastronomy...
A New Viking on the High Seas
The Viking Sky has set sail on its maiden voyage. It's the 3rd ship for Viking Ocean Cruises and a sister ship to Viking Star and Viking Sea. The Viking Sky launched from Rome’s Civitavecchia port last week on her first cruise en route to Barcelona. Sister ship to the award-winning Viking Star and Viking Sea, Viking Sky begins her maiden season sailing itineraries throughout the Western and Eastern Mediterranean before heading north into Viking territory to sail Scandinavian and Baltic...