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!
Chris Barber from Cruises & Beyond had the chance to tour the Royal Princess of Princess Cruises when she was docked in San Francisco. The Royal Princess is the first of Princess Cruises' Royal Class cruise ships and is fully equipped with Princess Medallion technology. Join us as we take a quick peek inside! #PrincessCruises #ComeBackNew
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.
Azamara Club Crusies has officially established itself as the premiere destination immersion cruise line after announcing that it will be delivering more than 1,700 land programs. In the same manner, the cruise line has also officially rebranded itself Azamara, dropping the “Club Cruises” portion of its name. Azamara has said the rebranding will reflect the company’s focus on its passengers’ immersion within port destinations.
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.
Virgin Voyages recently announced the appointment of their first captain who will direct their new ship, the Scarlet Lady. Her name is Captain Wendy Williams and she will become the first Canadian woman to be captain of a ship for a major cruise line. Capt. Williams hails from the coastal city of Sept-Îles, Quebec on the northeastern coast of Canada and has more than 28 years of experience working on ships at sea.
This week, United Airlines has carried out a flight combining the use of aviation biofuel, cabin waste reduction, carbon offsetting and operational efficiencies. The “Flight for the Planet,” a Beoing 737-900ER based out of LAX, was powered by a 30/70 blend of low-carbon, sustainable aviation fuel, which achieves more than a 60% reduction in greenhouse-gas emisions on a lifecycle basis compared to traditional jet fuel. The fuel is developed by Boston-based World Energy. United recently renewed their contract with them with an agreement to purchase up to 10 million gallons, making them the only U.S. airline to use biofuel in its regular operations.
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.
Cruises & Beyond
745 Portola Drive, San Francisco, CA 94127
Phone Number: 415-753-2189 800-603-8838
hello@cruisesandbeyond.net
