What did I expect from Poland? I’m not sure; I was just excited to go somewhere new and unexpected. What I brought home from Poland were stories of her extended history, images of her glories and pain, glimpses of her future. We easily could have spent several additional days in each city. With even more time we could have made side trips to Poland’s smaller cities, to the countryside, or to the Tatra Mountains. There was so much to see and learn that I had trouble deciding what to write about for this blog. Picturesque. Modern. Medieval. Poignant. Political. Pragmatic. This old, yet new, country left a deep impression. This newbie to Poland is now hoping to return to discover more about this resilient country.
We recently had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to travel with UnCruise Adventures, the small-ship expedition cruise line based out of Seattle, Washington. It was truly an all-encompassing way to see Hawaii and unlike any other cruise line we’ve traveled on before.
It’s always been a dream of ours to experience Machu Picchu and combine it with a visit to the Galapagos. Recently, this dream came to fruition. Sherri and I just returned from a two-week journey to Peru and Ecuador to visit these magical destinations. Some say it is the “journey” that counts, in our case, it is all about the destination!
Last month, Cruises & Beyond had the priviledge to attend an inaugural preview of the Norwegian Bliss. NCL gave travel agents and consultants alike an opportunity to experience their newest ship shortly before her first sailing to Alaska amidst a two night foray into international waters from Los Angeles. With such little time, it was nearly impossible to check out every corner of the ship, but we saw enough to give you our initial impressions of this unique vessel.
There’s a reason why we like to sell Crystal Cruises to our clients. That’s because we strongly believe Crystal is the top luxury cruise line of them all. You’ll pay a premium to sail on one of their ships, but that’s what helps make Crystal’s all-inclusive splendor happen. From 5-star culinary experiences to the unmatched personal service provided by all staff members aboard their ships, Crystal offers the best there can possibly be. It goes without saying that we love Crystal and our clients do too.
It’s amazing to reflect on how far cruising has come in the past 50 years. The shift in focus from transportation to destination cruising in the 1950s and 60s during the age of booming air travel symbolized the first major evolution. The second evolution came when cruise ships seemingly doubled in size every 10 years while packing even more amenities on board. And now it appears the industry is entering it’s third evolution.
Alaska is a very popular travel destination for families and explorers alike for obvious reasons. The Alaskan landscape is largely untouched and offers epic, fantasy-world vistas nearly unmatched in the world. Big cruise lines sail up to the Alaskan frontier every year when the snow melts and continue through the beginning of fall. One of the most exciting aspects of Alaska is watching the wildlife interact with its natural surroundings. While you may be able to catch glimpses of Alaskan wildlife on big cruise lines, whether from your cabin balcony or a shore excursion at an extra cost, it’s quite rare you’ll actually get an up close look. But there is one way you can.
We recently had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to travel with UnCruise Adventures, the small-ship expedition cruise line based out of Seattle, Washington. It was truly an all-encompassing way to see Hawaii and unlike any other cruise line we’ve traveled on before.
And the title goes to…….Hurtigruton! Today, the leader in exploration travel revealed images of the world’s first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen. The ship features state-of-the-art green technology consisting of large battery packs that compensate for spinning reverse and aid in peak shaving. Extra electric power generated from these batteries will allow the engines to function at optimal levels and in turn reduce fuel usage and CO2 emissions exponentially. The ship can also run at full battery power for short periods of time, adding to its already minimal carbon footprint.
After being hit with seemingly endless problems at the shipyard, Scenic Cruises can at last breathe a deep sigh of relief. Yesterday, the Scenic Eclipse, what the company calls the world’s first Discovery Yacht, completed its ever important sea trails with flying colors. This news comes amidst a year of setbacks, as construction delays and strikes at the Croatian shipyard where the Eclipse was being built forced Scenic to delay the ships launch date. Now, it appears the August 15, 2019 official launch date will become reality, which should please some disgruntled Scenic patrons.
Hi travelers! We have some very exciting news to share and it involves trying out something new. A big part of our job here at Cruises & Beyond is to understand the travel products that we share with you. In about one month’s time, we’ll be joining one of our newest travel partners, UnCruise Adventures, on a 7 day expedition style cruise to the Hawaiian islands of Molokai, Lana’i, Maui and Hawai’i (the Big Island).
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