There are some ports of call so special you never forget them. Sometimes it’s an extraordinary shore excursion, in other instances it’s breathtaking scenery, historic treasures or time spent exploring on your own. Picking out eight favorite ports isn’t easy, when there are incredible ones I’ve left off.
Kauai, Hawaii: Aptly name [...]
25 August
At the end of the cruise we invariably pick the “best port” of our voyage, the one where we had the most fun, a place that fulfilled our fantasies. And, there are some ports of call so special you never forget them. Sometimes it’s an extraordinary shore excursion, in other instances it’s breathtaking [...]
09 May
By Sam & Arline Bleecker
Compared to your cruise fare, the cost of quenching your thirst for soft drinks, coffee, juices, wines and spirits may not seem like much. But at two dollars a pop for soda or four to twelve for a glass of wine or twenty-five or more for a bottle of vino, the [...]
04 April
While lounging on deck in Fort Lauderdale waiting for my cruise to depart, I had the chance to chat with the mother of a woman who had been married aboard the ship an hour earlier. She reported that the wedding was simply wonderful and her only regret was that her other daughter insisted on a [...]
28 July
Until I stepped ashore in Costa Rica, my style of cruising consisted of sitting contentedly in a deck chair as the sea passed by, a trashy novel in one hand, a cool cocktail in the other. But then a shore excursion manager gently twisted my arm to join fellow passengers in an afternoon of white [...]
15 June
While I do recommend arranging your own shore excursions as a way to save money, there are times when the highlight of my cruise has been a cruise line’s shore excursions. For example, white water rafting in Costa Rica and a visit to Hawaii’s Na Pali coast on the island of Kauai by fast [...]
12 August
Two things happened last week: the news (Spitzer! Bear Sterns Nearly Collapses! Escalation of Hillary vs. Obama! More Foreclosures! Dollar Sinks Lower! Gasoline $110 per barrel!) and, at an annual cruise industry confab, Carnival and RCI CEO’s essentially said, ”Downturn? We don’t see that.”
HUH? In a rapidly tanking economy, when consumer confidence is low, people are still taking vacations?
According to Cruise [...]
15 March
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 [...]
20 February
Since Valentine’s Day is only a heart beat away, it’s time to explore the most romantic mode of travel, cruising. In the movies, ships have been the setting of romantic escapades and, in reality, getting married aboard ship, followed by a honeymoon at sea, is a very popular reasons to cruise. Each year thousands of people celebrate [...]
13 February
Over the years I’ve noticed we all have different priorities when narrowing the selection process between one cruise line and another. For example, when cruising in the Caribbean or Mexico, the ship itself is the destination so I’ll pay more attention to the vessel’s food, service, dining and staterooms. However when narrowing down the selection process [...]
11 February
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ShipCritic Blog is a labor of love by Anne Campbell, a journalist who has been covering the cruise industry since 1993. Why a blog? This newfangled technology is the best way of interacting with cruisers, both first timers and veterans, who also share a passion for seeing the world by ship.
