Poland
Florence Wan
A Trek Through Poland

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.

A Trek Through Poland
UnCruise Adventures
Chris Barber
How to “UnCruise” In Hawaii

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.

How to “UnCruise” In Hawaii
Jack & Sherri Barber
A Wild Bucket List Journey

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!

A Wild Bucket List Journey
Chris Barber
The Norwegian Bliss: Indulgence at Sea

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. 

The Norwegian Bliss: Indulgence at Sea
Crystal Cruises
Chris Barber
The Excellence That Is Crystal

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.   

The Excellence That Is Crystal

Scenic Eclipse Passes Important Milestone

Scenic Eclipse Passes Important Milestone

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.

Announcing UnCruise Adventures

Announcing UnCruise Adventures

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).

Virgin Voyages Announces First Captain Plus Itinerary Changes

Virgin Voyages Announces First Captain Plus Itinerary Changes

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.

Hawaii: O'ahu Snapshot

Hawaii: O'ahu Snapshot

As many of you travelers out there know, Southwest Airlines recently made waves in the domestic market by launching it’s multi-island service from the west coast to Hawaii. Their much-anticipated entry caused other carriers to slash prices, so much so that finding fares under $300 round-trip was commonplace for a solid two week period. Since we haven’t been to Hawaii in quite a while, and since our only attention to the islands came with our round-trip SF and LA cruise promotions, we decided to take advantage of the improbable airfare and booked ourselves a week-long stay. We would familiarize ourselves with the lay of the land and get to know Oahu in ways that you, our clients, would enjoy.

A Three Step Hop from Hoi An to Hanoi, Part One

A Three Step Hop from Hoi An to Hanoi, Part One

My plan of six whirlwind nights in Vietnam worked out to 36 hours to explore in each city: Hoi An, an UNESCO World Heritage Site; Hue, the former royal capital and another UNESCO Site; and finally Hanoi, the current capital of Vietnam.  I always look for a walking tour at new destinations and for this journey, I lined up a street food tour in each city. History, culture and food in one go!

United Airlines Boasts "Most Eco-Friendly Commercial Flight"

United Airlines Boasts "Most Eco-Friendly Commercial Flight"

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.

Discover the Unparalleled AmaWaterways Rhine River Experience

Discover the Unparalleled AmaWaterways Rhine River Experience

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.

Regent's Seven Seas Splendor Floated Out

Regent's Seven Seas Splendor Floated Out

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.

$500 Million Fleet Revamp Underway For Celebrity Cruises

$500 Million Fleet Revamp Underway For Celebrity Cruises

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.

Diamond Princess Gets Major Upgrades During Singapore Drydock

Diamond Princess Gets Major Upgrades During Singapore Drydock

The popular Diamond Princess of Princess Cruises, known for its summer season Japan itineraries, has undergone a considerable upgrade in its most recent drydock in Singapore.

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