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.
Cruises & Beyond recently joined Visit Flanders on a 7-day Belgian le voyage, fitting in our schedule 5 of the regions major municipalities/attractions while immersing ourselves in the rich cultural legacy that Flanders has to offer. The following is an overview of all the cities/towns we visited, including hotels we stayed at and places we visited. Hopefully this inspires you to travel to Belgium and to follow our footsteps!
What does it take to get a dedicated independent traveler to join an organized group tour? I have avoided organized tours after a mediocre Chinese-speaking tour of the US East Coast that my parents put me and brothers through; that tour was obviously not a good fit for us English-speaking teenagers. While assisting our clients with their travel plans, I have been on the lookout for tours that would be a better fit for my own travel. Could I find a tour company whose philosophy and touring style would entice me reconsider my reluctance of joining a group tour?
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.
Oceans take travelers to destinations, but AmaWaterways' Rhine River cruises take them through the most iconic landscapes of Germany, France and the Netherlands with privileged access to destinations only a river cruise can provide. Phenomenal local guides lead guests to storybook castles, noteworthy vineyards and medieval villages untouched by time, making an AmaWaterways Rhine River cruise nothing short of a spectacular experience.
The Seven Seas Splendor of Regent Seven Seas has officially entered its final construction phase after being floated out from drydock at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. For the final stage of her development, workers will focus on her interior spaces, which includes 375 luxury suites, lounges and gourmet restaurants. When the Seven Seas Splendor sets sail in February 2020, she will bring about an impressive take on the modern definition of luxury cruising.
On February 9, 2019, Celebrity Cruises began its monumental revamp to its fleet of Millennium and Solstice Class ships. This revamp will bring the entire Celebrity fleet into the design and experiential standard of its new Edge class vessels, with an emphasis on modernization and innovative, outward-facing design that connects you to the sea like never before.
The rather little-known river cruise division of Adventures by Disney is going all in in the European river market as it plans to expand its river cruise offering to southern France on the Rhone River in 2020. The family focused escorted tour unit already includes departures on the Danube, Rhine and Seine rivers and offers active sightseeing adventures as well as immersive culinary experiences along its itineraries.
Cruises & Beyond
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