Don’t get me wrong:  I love the Caribbean, especially in January.   But it’s a big planet and there are regions best visited by cruise ship.   While I prefer to visit most of Europe on my own (six hours in Florence or Rome?),  my most memorable cruises were in Hawaii, the Baltic and Greek [...]

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Cruising aboard a luxury ship is the sort of rarefied travel experience most of us can only fantasize about. There are only a few cruise lines – the priciest afloat – where one finds caviar and bubbly served before dinner by a white-glove butler or very seasoned room steward. Men in black tie and women in [...]

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Whenever I encounter a person who proclaims “I love to travel but I wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise ship!!”, my response is “boy, do I have a ship for you!” Then I steer them towards small ships where where they will encounter nary a typical cruise ship activity (formal nights, floor shows, discos, assigned [...]

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The Chilean Navy has rescued 122 passengers and crew from the leaking ship, Ushuaia, which ran aground last week off Antarctica.  The ship, built in 1970, ran aground last Thursday and suffered damage in its fuel tanks; according to reports, some fuel has leaked onto the water nearby although the ship doesn’t appear to be sinking.  
Last November, [...]

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In terms of cruising, you’ve been there, done that; roll your eyes at the mention of the Caribbean and have sailed to most ports  in the Mediterranean.  Royal Caribbean has just announced an itinerary with your name on it:  the Middle East!
From January through April, 2010, RCI’s Brilliance of the Seas will home port in Dubai [...]

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Royal Caribbean International Will position Brilliance of the Seas in the port of Dubai on a schedule of seven-night cruises from January to April, 2010.  The cruise line will announce specific itineraries later this week.
While Royal Caribbean has relied on European cruisers to bolster its bottom line during tough economic times, this recession is world-wide.  Brilliance [...]

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Orient Lines resumes service with the 650-passenger Marco Polo II, a new ship, 11 to 37-day 2009 itineraries and and mid-priced fares that include airfare, overnight stays in home ports and a complimentary shore excursion.
Long popular with cruisers seeking more in-depth itineraries aboard a small ship with single, open seating and guest lecturers, Orient Lines has announced that [...]

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***  Cruise West, which operates a fleet of small ships, has announced 12 Japan itineraries for the 2008/09 season.  The Spirit of Oceanus will sail on 12-day/11-night itineraries visiting Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, port towns, islands and holy shrines with short stops in South Korea.  Sailing round-trip from Kobe, the ship will make four departures in October 2008, [...]

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Cruise West Introduces “Family Friendly Fares” on Alaska Cruises. Cruise West, which operates a fleet of small cruise ships designed for people who want an upclose Alaska experience, offers special pricing for kids ages 18 and under on all 2008 Glacier Bay Highlights departures. Savings of up to 75% off adult fares in a AAA [...]

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If you take enough cruises, eventually you’ll run into a real dud.  Moreover, I think the chances of having a lousy vacation increase exponentially when traveling with a little-known company in a exotic location. 
My worst cruise experience was in China, a ten day Yangtze River cruise aboard a Victoria Cruises boat.   When I visited in 1999 Victoria Cruises was purported [...]

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