The Avid Cruiser Articles
Today, Wednesday, January 07, 2009
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Linz, Austria: European Cultural Capital 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Austria’s third largest city, Linz is a charming town where river cruisers dock alongside the Danube’s banks within walking distance of the city center. Most tourists head for the Hauptplatz, reputed to be Europe’s largest baroque square, where you can take a seat in a cafe to try the famous “Linzer Torte,” a cake comprised [...]
Exploring Venerable Vienna, Austria
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
How do you make the most of a few hours in Vienna?
First, know that Vienna holds many hidden treasures. There’s a lot more to the city than tourists see on the surface.
“The soul of Vienna is behind doors that you don’t easily find and in hidden cellars that aren’t so apparent,” says Wade [...]
Bratislava, Slovakia
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
River cruisers typically do not overnight in Bratislava. But even a few hours is sufficient to appreciate Slovakia’s capital.
The Old Town is within walking distance of vessels that dock on the city side of the Danube. From the river, make your way to the Old Town Hall and the Main Square.
On the Main [...]
Beautiful, Bountiful Budapest
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Regarded as one of Europe’s most attractive cities, Budapest is beautiful no matter what time of year. Those on river cruises departing Budapest will find the Hungarian capital easy to get around and exciting to visit.
River cruisers typically dock on the hilly Buda side, within walking distance of Castle Hill. If you prefer, there is [...]
Take A Cruise, Learn Life Lessons
Monday, December 29, 2008
One of the great advantages of cruise ships is that experts frequently travel with you to help explain what you are seeing and visiting. When cruising in culturally significant places like Europe or in natural wonderlands like Alaska, the cruise lines will schedule sessions with experts who can add meaning and understanding to the visit. [...]
River Cruising From Budapest, Hungary
Sunday, December 28, 2008
AMA Waterways’ Amacello departs Budapest tonight at 10 p.m. for a seven-night cruise that ends in Nuremberg, Germany.
Posted are links to photos of Budapest taken on December 28. Click here to launch a Flickr slideshow or click on the thumbnails below to view individual photos.
AMA Waterways Danube River Cruise Photos Posted
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
New photos posted from early December’s Danube river cruise on AMA Waterways. Amalegro is currently sailing Christmas Market cruises. Click AMA Waterways Danube river cruise or select from the thumbnails below.
Celebrity Solstice Photos
Thursday, December 18, 2008
New Celebrity Solstice photographs posted. Click on the Celebrity Solstice slideshow or click photos below.
explore, dream, discover
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain
If you believe in buying low and selling [...]
Sushi At Sea
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Spend an evening at Matsuhisa Restaurant in Beverly Hills, and you can easily rack up a tab totaling a few hundred dollars. Sushi of this quality does not come cheap. But at the famed chef’s restaurants on the two ships operated by Crystal Cruises, you’ll need to pony up only $7 per person after you’ve [...]
Danube River Cruises: Living The Suite Life On AMA Waterways
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Junior suites are spacious on AMA Waterways, which boasts Europe’s youngest fleet of river cruise vessels.
I’m currently cruising the Danube River on Amalegro in Junior Suite 303, which measures a generous 255 square feet. The queen-sized bed is oh-so-cozy, and the bathroom has a deep tub and separate shower, with lots of storage space.
Among my [...]
Ship Report: Celebrity Millennium
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sister ships: Infinity, Summit, Constellation
Ship capacity: 1,950 based on double occupancy
On our sailing: 1,890 passengers. A summary of nationalities from the passenger manifest looked like the roll call for a United Nations’ meeting. We met Russians, Danes, Swedes, South Americans, Greeks, Chinese, Brits, Irish and Dutch.
Announcements came in four languages: English, French, Spanish and German. Each day, we saw Asians playing [...]
The Many Faces Of John Heald
Monday, November 24, 2008
Following is Ralph Grizzle’s 2005 interview with Heald:
Carnival Cruise Lines’ John Heald may be regarded as the funniest cruise director at sea, but it was a serious event that launched his career of making people laugh. Born in Essex, England, the political science major worked as a marine insurance broker for Lloyd’s of London.
That changed one [...]
Celebrity Solstice: Celebrity’s Newest Ship Breaks The Mold
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The elegant and spacious Solstice defines a new class of ship for Celebrity Cruises. While Solstice retains the class and character of Celebrity's popular Millennium-class, the new ship adds a many nice touches to create Celebrity’s largest ship.
Celebrity Solstice: A Ship To Celebrate
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Celebrity Solstice simply is a stunning ship, or as one travel agent who has cruised on countless vessels told me, "five-star-plus-wow!"
Carnival Cruise Lines’ Joe Farcus: ‘Farchitect’
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The creative force behind the interior design on all of Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships for the past quarter century, Joe Farcus employs a phrase he coined, “entertainment architecture,” when designing ships.
“When I am designing a ship, essentially I am designing the ship that I would like to be on,” Joe says, sitting at his drawing [...]
Port of Call: Berlin
Sunday, November 09, 2008
On a Baltic cruise? You can get to Berlin from the German port cities of Rostock and Warnemunde. You'll need to prepare yourself to hit the ground running, however, as Berlin is nearly a three-hour journey each way. Here's how to make the most of one day in Berlin.
Princess Cruises: Ruby Princess
Friday, November 07, 2008
Trista & Ryan Sutter of the reality series The Bachelorette christened Ruby Princess in Fort Lauderdale on November 6 as Carnival Corporation Chairman and CEO Micky Arison looked on.
Third in a series of superships that have tweaked the innovations of Princess’ Grand class, Ruby Princess will be familiar to those who have already enjoyed the [...]
Norwegian Jade In The Eastern Mediterranean
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
On 12-day Norwegian Jade roundtrip itineraries from Barcelona, travelers will immerse themselves in the classics of civilization while enjoying a modern travel masterpiece. The Norwegian Jade is impressive, with many innovations, especially its onboard cuisine, but it’s the itinerary that’s the biggest draw here, tracing the Mediterranean haunts of the ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek [...]
Alaska Cruises: Shoulder Season Can Be Sweet
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The first cruise ships sail to Alaska in May and the last ones depart in September. And though the weather can be unpredictable during the months that mark the bookends of the Alaska cruise season, shoulder season is a good time to visit for a variety of reasons, according Tania Hancock, tourism sales manager with [...]
Here Is The Ship That Harri Built: Oasis of the Seas
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
In a Finnish shipyard, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is building the world’s largest cruise ship. Capable of carrying more than 6,000 passengers, Oasis of the Seas will be 40 percent larger than the company’s Freedom-class vessels, which currently reign as world’s largest cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean has repeatedly expressed confidence in its ability to build and [...]
Size Matters: Peter Deilmann’s Mozart
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Perhaps the biggest surprise for passengers on Peter Deilmann Cruises’ Mozart is that they will get to put their swimsuits to good use. Indeed, many of the passengers I spoke with on a September sailing along the Danube were astonished to learn that the five-star river cruiser offered a warm and welcoming watery respite, situated [...]
Cruising America’s Paradise
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
You’ll feel like you’ve paddled into paradise when cruising the Hawaiian islands.
Cruise ships weren’t the first vessels to bring ocean-going passengers to Hawaii. Outrigger canoes were. Polynesian settlers paddled to the islands more than 1,000 years ago. Their first glimpses of Hawaii revealed much of what cruise passengers today see: verdant volcanic peaks forming [...]
Paradise Found
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Thirty years ago, a 21-year-old boy from North Carolina ventured all the way to Los Angeles and hopped a flight to Tahiti. What possessed him to pursue such a notion? Coconuts. I know, because that boy was me. Months before my journey, I had seen a photograph of one of the Tahitian isles — a [...]
Disney To Cruise Northern Europe, Russia and The Med
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Beginning next week, you’ll be able to book Disney Cruise Line’s 2010 sailings in Europe. For the first time, Disney Cruise Line will offer a 12-night Northern European Capitals cruise, where guests can experience Scandinavian ports such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm, plus Warnemunde, Germany, gateway to Berlin; and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Departing from Dover, England, [...]
The Marble Road, Ephesus
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Shuffling my feet along a street made from marble slabs, I am following in the footsteps of the Virgin Mary, who, our guide tells us, lived near this ancient city, now part of Turkey, in the final years of her life.
The Marble Road cuts through the heart of what was the second largest city [...]
A Cruise To Remember: Top Ten Family Cruises
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
During my two decades of cruising, I’ve learned that family vacations can take one of two tacks: Either they are full-on disasters or they go down as one of the “best vacations ever.” Over the years, I’ve experienced both.
On the full-on disaster side, my wife and I had been a little too ambitious, hauling our daughter, not [...]
Read The Fall Issue of Avid Cruiser Magazine
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Read The Fall Issue of Avid Cruiser Magazine
Baltic Cruises
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
One of the most popular itinerary options in Europe, a Northern Europe cruise presents passengers with cultural diversity, historical attractions, and magnificent scenery. Cruises in Northern Europe typically combine visits to Copenhagen and other Scandinavian capitals and overnights (on the ship) in St. Petersburg.
From St. Petersburg’s opulent palaces of the Tsars to Stockholm’s [...]
Mexican Riviera Cruises
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Where Tecate and tequila meet whales and cactus.
Fifteen nautical miles off the coast of Baja California, Holland America Line’s Oosterdam is making 21 knots toward San Diego. For the more than 1,800 passengers on board, seven days of ocean cruising ends tomorrow. The excitement on the last full day at sea, however, is as palpable [...]
Disney’s Flying Dutchman
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Prominent at Disney’s private island since July 2006 is the Flying Dutchman, the pirate ship used in filming the first of two sequels to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
“It brings a piece of the film to the island,” Jason Lasecki, PR director for Disney Cruise Line, told us during one of two stops at Castaway [...]
An Act Of Freedom: Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Freedom begins in the Personal Karaoke Booth. At least it did for me. That’s where I was freed from my inhibitions to loudly belt out the lyrics being displayed on a screen in front of me. I had always wanted to perform karaoke but had never mustered the courage to do so in front [...]
Disney’s Flying Dutchman
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Prominent at Disney’s private island since July 2006 is the Flying Dutchman, the pirate ship used in filming the first of two sequels to Disney’s Pirates in the Caribbean.
“It brings a piece of the film to the island,” Jason Lasecki, PR director for Disney Cruise Line, told us during one of two stops at [...]
Choosing An Alaska Cruisetour
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Click to Play
Selecting an Alaska cruisetour can be daunting for the uninitiated. With more that 50 cruisetours offered by the major players, how do you sift through the options to find an Alaska cruisetour that’s right for you? To find out, we sat down with Paul Allen, vice president of sales for Holland America Line.
Q. [...]
Sensational San Diego: Cruise & Stay A Few Days
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
On a Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego, my family and I spent one week after our cruise to discover all that this sunny Southern California city has to offer cruise passengers. True, most cruise passengers add only two nights before or after their cruises from San Diego, but friends who had been here told [...]
San Diego: Perfect Port For Families
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
For families, there is no better cruise port than San Diego. Only a few minutes from the cruise terminal is Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Encompassing 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is second only to the Smithsonian in size and is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West.” The Park is [...]
Day Trips From San Diego
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
For pre- and post-cruise vacationers, San Diego offers a variety of day trips, all within San Diego County. The seaside resort of La Jolla is only 15 minutes north of the city center. Borrego Springs, a tiny desert town that is home to the largest state park in the contiguous United States (Anza-Borrego Desert State [...]
A Day In The Big Bay
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
San Diego’s biggest attraction is the harbor itself, known as The Big Bay. You could design a pre- and post-cruise vacation around the Big Bay itself and have a perfectly satisfying experience — with no need to rent a car. If you’re staying a few days or more, you’ll have a good choice of hotels: [...]
Rolling Through San Diego
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
We were on a quest. Not to see and experience all of the wonderful attractions that were the reasons I chose to bring my family to San Diego for the kids’ spring break vacation. No, the Grizzles and the Grizzlettes had something much more important in mind. We were on a quest to find — [...]
Port of San Diego Soars
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
San Diego is the West Coast’s fastest-growing cruise port.
Why? First, San Diego is possibly the West Coast port with the most varied cruise itineraries. From September through May, more than 100 cruises set sail from the downtown cruise terminal. Among the regular offerings: Mexico (from five days to 15 days); Sea of Cortez cruises; 14-day [...]
An Act Of Freedom: Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Freedom begins in the Personal Karaoke Booth. At least it did for me. That’s where I was freed from my inhibitions to loudly belt out the lyrics being displayed on a screen in front of me. I had always wanted to perform karaoke but had never mustered the courage to do so in front [...]
Celebrity’s Newest Ships to Cruise Europe
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Five ships, including the new Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, will offer more itineraries in Europe than ever before for Celebrity Cruises.
Book ‘Em Danno
Monday, September 01, 2008
When is the best time to book your cruise? The answer depends on where you’re going.
The only part of your cruise where you can’t relax is in booking it. Planning on cruising Europe’s rivers in the summer of 2009? Better hurry, or you’ll miss the boat.
You’re somewhat better off if planning an ocean cruise in [...]
Cruise People
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Some of my most rewarding cruise experiences have been not about the places I’ve visited by ships but about the people I’ve met on ships. Ramelan Lidan has worked on ships for 14 years. I caught up him on Holland America Line’s Oosterdam, where he told me that his love of the sea started [...]
First-Timer Cruiser? 10 Things To Love About A Day at Sea
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A small but loud group of people still tell us they “just aren’t the type” to enjoy a cruise vacation, as though it would be too boring or too confining. Of course, they’re almost always singing another tune when they get off the ship and want to book another cruise as soon as possible.
For the [...]
Brothers in Arms
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The cheerful steward who attended daily to stateroom 620 on Maasdam was Hery Afandy. He hails from central Java, is father to a boy and girl, and confides that he likes to stay busy so that he doesn’t have time to think about his family. After all, thinking of them would only make him homesick.
And [...]
Oasis: New Features Announced
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Royal Caribbean has announced two new “neighborhoods” to be featured on Oasis of the Seas: a Pool and Sports Zone and a Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center. Stretching the length of the ship, the Pool and Sports Zone features private cabanas, four types of pools, and two FlowRider surf simulators – each larger [...]
Read A Special Report Featuring World Cruises
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Read A Special Report Featuring World Cruises
Port Of Call: Gdnyia, Poland
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated in north-central Poland, Gdnyia grew from a small fishing village in 1924 to the largest Baltic Sea port in 1938. Known as the “White City,” for its 1920s and 1930s architecture that drew largely on ship elements, Gdnyia is one of few examples of a port giving rise to a city.
Excursions include the Teutonic [...]
Rostock, Resort Port Meets Old Town
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in 1218, the Hanseatic city Rostock is approached at the seaside resort Warnemunde, where most cruise ships dock. Warnemunde was famed for its baths and spas in the 20th century. Ships pass a lighthouse and wide, sandy beaches to reach the port, where in 1860, the Baltic’s largest fleet of sailing ships was based. [...]
Helsinki, Where East Meets West
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in 1550 by Sweden’s King Gustav, Helsinki was developed as a harbor town to compete for Baltic trade with Tallinn. The Finnish capital developed around the port.
Situated in the city center, South Harbor is the central cruise passenger traffic hub. Cruise ships dock at Katajanokka or other quays within walking distance of the city [...]
Kalmar, Hanseatic Homestead
Saturday, August 23, 2008
One of Sweden’s oldest cities, Kalmar’s port activities date back more than 1,000 years. In the Middle Ages, the port played an important role with its strategic location on the Kalmarsund trade route. Trade with the Hanseatic League was robust, imbuing Kalmar with Germanic atmosphere.
The Port of Kalmar is situated in a sheltered position, adjacent [...]
Klaipeda, Important Port
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Klaipeda was united with Lithuania only in 1923, and even then was closed to tourists during 50 years of Soviet rule following World War II. Today, as the only Lithuanian port, Klaipeda holds a position of great importance to Lithuania’s economics and its connection to the rest of the world.
Cruise ships coming to Klaipeda [...]
Tallinn, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Early settlers were in the region surrounding Tallinn more than 3,500 years ago, and in 1154, an Arabian geographer marked Tallinn on the world map. A member of the Hanseatic League from 1285, Tallinn was among the most important Hanseatic trading towns, along with Lübeck, Visby and Riga.
Luxury furs, wax and honey from Russia [...]
Visby, Medieval and Hanseatic town
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A Viking community once existed in the town that became Visby in 1203. The Swedish port is approached between two breakwaters. Cruise ships pass the ferry harbor and then the Inner Harbor, near the city center, as well as the town wall and its towers, old homes on a hillside, and the Cathedral of Visby. [...]
Port of Call: Karlskrona, Sweden
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated on Sweden’s southwest coast, Karlskrona has been home to the Royal Swedish Navy since the 17th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city features a well-preserved dockyard and fortification, as well as a town layout that dates back to the Baroque period.
Excursions from Karlskrona include archipelago cruises, featuring a stop at Kungsholm fortress; [...]
Port of Call: Klaipeda, Lithuania
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Lithuania’s oldest city, Klaipeda is situated at the mouth of the river Dane, in the country’s western part, a region famous for its summer resorts, sandy beaches and pine forests, especially along the Curonian Spit. The inland countryside is heavily wooded and green.
Excursions include Nida, a resort town in Neringa that features Europe’s highest sand [...]
Port of Call: Oslo, Norway
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Oslo is set at the head of the island-strewn Oslo fjord with an area of 96 square miles of forests, parks and recreational areas — including 343 inland lakes within the city limit. Oslo features a small and compact city center with most attractions within walking distance.
Visitors will find a wide selection of museums, [...]
St. Petersburg, Venice Of The North
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg is situated at the mouth of the Neva River. The city became one of Russia’s largest cruise ship ports and the country’s only gateway to the Baltic Sea, which is why St. Petersburg is called the Marine Capital of Russia. The city is characterized by so [...]
Malmo, Where Sweden Meets Denmark
Saturday, August 23, 2008
First mentioned around 1260, Malmo grew into a town in the 14th century and became wealthy due to the herring trade with Hanseatic cities. Now it trades primarily with its neighbor across the sound, Copenhagen, as well as internationally
The Copenhagen Malmö Port is a unique cross border alliance. For the first time in history, two [...]
Riga, Route Between The Seas
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Crusaders and German merchants sailed into the area that would become Riga in 1201. From that point on, trade flourished, and Riga became a major port. Dominating the skyline are church steeples and the high-rise building known as Sun Stone on the bank of the River Daugava, the oldest part of an international trade route [...]
Stockholm, Floating On Water
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in 1200, Stockholm started out as a port destination. Built on 14 islands, Sweden’s capital city often is called the “City That Floats On Water.” The Baltic Sea meets Lake Malaren in Stockholm’s Old Town, giving the city not only a reach into the Swedish countryside but also to the rest of the world [...]
Turku, Finland’s Former Capital And Oldest Town
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in 1229 (or at least that is the date that documents mention a marketplace in this part of Finland — Turku, in fact, translates to “market”). Turku is approached through an archipelago of 40,000 islands and islets before passing the Ruissalo nature park en route to the port.
Less than two miles from the [...]
Baltic Homeports/Turnaround Ports: Copenhagen
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in northern Europe between the North Sea and Baltic Sea, Denmark is the only Scandinavian country connected to the European mainland. The Jutland peninsula shares a border with Germany. Otherwise, Denmark is an island kingdom (more than 400 islands in all). The Danish capital Copenhagen is on the island of Sealand.
The beginning or [...]
Port Of Call: Gdynia, Poland
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated in north-central Poland, Gdnyia grew from a small fishing village in 1924 to the largest Baltic Sea port in 1938. Known as the “White City,” for its 1920s and 1930s architecture that drew largely on ship elements, Gdnyia is one of few examples of a port giving rise to a city.
Excursions include the Teutonic [...]
Port of Call: Hellsingborg, Sweden/Helsingor, Denmark
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated on the strait of Öresund (the Sound), Helsingborg, Sweden, and Elsinore, Denmark are separated by a mere 2.5-mile stretch of water and a 20-minute ferry ride. Each represents the 10th largest towns in their respective countries.
The similarities and differences of the two towns make visiting each worthwhile. “Round the sound” allows visitors, particularly [...]
Port of Call: Kalmar, Sweden
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Kalmar is situated in the county of Småland, in southeastern Sweden. One port, three destinations (Kalmar, Öland and Orrefors), Kalmar offers visitors a rich historical heritage as well as world-class art and design, including handmade Swedish crystal from Orrefors Glassworks. The southern part of Öland (pictured) is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Excursions [...]
Port of Call: Malmo, Sweden
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sweden’s third largest city, Malmo is situated in the country’s southernmost county, Skåne. Malmo’s proximity to Copenhagen makes quick travel to the Danish capital, about 35 minutes by train. The Öresund Bridge also connects Malmo and Copenhagen.
Excursions from Malmo include Copenhagen and Lund.
Port of Call: Rostock, Germany
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The large port of Rostock played an important role in the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages. The economic power from trade gave rise to culture and education. The city houses one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1419. The university gave Rostock the name “The Northern Light.”
Excursions from Rostock include Berlin.
Port of Call: St. Petersburg, Russia
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, in the estuary of the Neva River and on the islands of the Neva Delta, St. Petersburg is the world’s largest megapolis situated so far north.
One of the younger cities in the Baltic region, Russia’s second largest city is just over 300 years old (founded [...]
Cruising The Baltic
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Take your desktop globe for a spin or pull out your atlas and cast your eyes on Europe. Look north, not south, to find the cruising region known as the Baltics.
Even experienced travelers sometimes confuse the Baltic with the Balkans. The two regions could not be more different. The Balkans fought long and drawn-out [...]
Port of Call: Tallinn, Estonia
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The capital of Estonia, Tallinn is located in the Baltic Sea region across the Gulf of Finland less than 50 miles south of Helsinki. Tallinn has managed to preserve its thousand-year old beauty.
The Old Town has withstood a series of events ranging from Viking plundering and crusades to wars and occupations. With its miles [...]
Port of Call: Turku, Finland
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated in the southwest corner of Finland, where two gulfs of the Baltic sea meet - the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia - Turku is Finland’s oldest city.
Once the country’s capital city, Turku boasts a beautiful medieval castle, a fine cathedral and stylish boat restaurants. One of the most superb [...]
Port of Call: Visby, Sweden
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated on Gotland, the Baltic Sea’s largest island, Visby (also called “The Town of Roses and Ruins”) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. An impressive stonewall surrounds the well preserved Medieval town.
Visby was for a long time the natural meeting point for sailors and merchants from all over the Baltic region. [...]
Baltic Sea: Where In The World?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Baltic cruising region refers to the Baltic Sea, an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean that separates the Scandinavian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe. Stretching from southern Denmark to near the Arctic Circle and from eastern Denmark to southern Finland, the Baltic Sea is the world’s largest expanse of brackish water, fed [...]
Cruise Lines and Itineraries In The Baltic
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Nearly all of the major cruise lines offer Baltic itineraries. Most cruise itineraries span seven days or longer and visit several port destinations during a single sailing. Pre- and post-cruise stays are popular, particularly in the primary turnaround ports (where Baltic cruises begin or end) of Copenhagen and Stockholm. Some cruise lines overnight one or [...]
Cruising Climate
Saturday, August 23, 2008
During the cruise season, April through October, the Baltic Sea climate is similar to that of London or Amsterdam. While summers are short, they are comparatively warm. The climate is moderated by a section of the warm Gulf Stream. Average daytime temperatures during July and August are around 70°F. Spring and fall sees average daily [...]
Baltic Sea Brief History
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Baltic Sea and the landmasses surrounding it were exposed when the Scandinavian ice sheet retreated toward the Arctic roughly 10,000 years ago. Perhaps the best known of the early settlers were the Vikings, also called Norseman, seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide regions of Europe between the 9th and 11th centuries. The Vikings [...]
Baltic Sea Languages
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Though English as a second language is spoken throughout much of the Baltic Sea, particularly among the young and in tourist areas, the primary languages are Finnish, Swedish, Estonian, Latvian, Russian, Norwegian, Danish, Lithuanian and Polish.
Interesting facts about languages spoken in the Baltic Sea region:
The Lithuanian language is the oldest living Indo European language. [...]
Baltic Sea Standard of Living
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The standard of living varies greatly within the Baltic Sea region. The Scandinavian countries enjoy the world’s highest standards of living. Social systems feature subsidized (or government assisted) health care, generous unemployment benefits and retirement pensions.
The high standard of living benefits tourists, who find diverse dining, shopping and sight-seeing opportunities as well as well-developed [...]
How To Get There For Your Baltic Cruise
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Copenhagen and Stockholm are the primary ports of embarkation and disembarkation for all Baltic cruises. Nearly all cruises begin or end in one of these Scandinavian capitals. Both have excellent air connections with the rest of the world.
In 1998, Copenhagen Airport was extended with a new terminal. In 2002, 80,000 passengers voted Copenhagen Airport [...]
Castles and Kings
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Baltic Cruising Region is rich with castles and royal palaces. Visitors can still see the changing of the guard in Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace, residence of Queen (changing of the guard daily at noon); and in Stockholm, where the main guard has been at Kungliga Slottet since 1523. Today, military units and bands from all [...]
St. Petersburg Shopping
Saturday, August 23, 2008
During the past few decades the number of St. Petersburg shops, supermarkets and commercial centers increased dramatically. Shops tend to gravitate to Nevski Prospect, including Gostiny Dvor, a department store; Passage, across the street from Gostiny Dvor, for clothing, footwear, utensils, electronics and perfumes.
When in St. Petersburg, be sure to take time to [...]
Shop Till You Drop In Stockholm
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Stockholm has endless shopping possibilities with several areas in the city of interest to shoppers. Gamla Stan features gift shops, including the inviting Slottsboden in Kungliga Slottet, specializing in genuine handicrafts and antiques.
City center is the place to go for big department stores and shopping malls. NK and Gallerian are located on Hamngatan; Åhléns [...]
Old Town Shopping
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tallinn’s Old Town is lined with dozens of souvenir, antique and specialty stores, not to mention clothing and footwear. Within Old Town, the main shopping streets are Viru, Müürivahe, Suur-Karja, Vaike-Karja and Kullassepa.
Kalmar’s picturesque 17th and 18th century stone buildings offer a wide range of shopping. Almost all streets in the shopping area are [...]
Baltic Antiques & Flea Markets
Saturday, August 23, 2008
While in Riga, take time to browse the antique shops that sell Latvian paintings ranging from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Also look for bronze, silver, furniture, books, coins and china, and a genuine old Russian icon or two.
In the heart of Copenhagen, on Amager Torv, visitors [...]
Cultural Offerings Aplenty
Saturday, August 23, 2008
In the Baltic Sea Region, visitors will find refined city lifestyles and rural country charm. From opera and ballet in St. Petersburg to open-air museums presenting farm and peasant life, the Baltics spans the gamut of cultural offerings.
Famed director Ingmar Bergman began his career as a director at Malmo’s opera house in Sweden. Today, [...]
Crafty Courtyards
Saturday, August 23, 2008
In Tallinn’s Old Town find St. Catherine’s Passage for craft workshops in a medieval atmosphere. Also, at Master’s Courtyard visitors can shop for jewelry and handicrafts, view art exhibitions, and sample confections made in the popular Café-Chocolaterie.
Finnish Shopping Yet?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Find it all at Finland’s Stockmann, the Nordic region’s largest department store. In Helsinki, shoppers will find Stockmann along the main shopping streets running north and south: Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi.
Stockmann also houses the Academic Bookstore, situated in a separate block and connected to the department store by a tunnel. Helsinki’s Design District offers a [...]
Must-See Museums
Saturday, August 23, 2008
With a history that dates back many millennia, the Baltic Sea Region is awash in museums. In fact, some of the cities, contained within well-preserved medieval town walls, could be considered to be museums themselves.
Museum-seekers will find no better place to begin than in Stockholm. With more than 100 museums, Stockholm boasts the world’s [...]
Open-Air Museums
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Within walking distance of Stockholm’s Vasa Museum is the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, featuring a zoo with wild and domestic Nordic animals, and 150 cultural and historic buildings from throughout Sweden. Skansen, more than 100 years old, is a large living heritage exhibit well worth a visit.
Open-air museums are common throughout the Baltic Region: [...]
Performing Arts In The Baltic Sea Region
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Enjoy live performances throughout the Baltic Cruising region. St. Petersburg may well be the most popular performance port. It is a city full of theaters. The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theater) is one of Russia’s largest and oldest music theaters, famous the world over for opera and ballet.
The great Swedish [...]
Gdynia, The Baltics‘ Youngest Port
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The young port of Gdynia, founded in 1922, was the Baltic Sea’s largest port until 1938. In those years, Gdynia was a mere village, but the port gave rise to a city, which is why the city blends so well with the port. The city center features a wide avenue that leads to the Gdansk [...]
Port of Call: Helsinki, Finland
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Situated on the southern coast of Finland, Helsinki is a gate between East and West.
Finland’s capital city embodies much of the Finnish spirit and its progressive hi-tech push but also is unlike any other Finnish city, due in part to the combination of Swedish and Russian influences.
Popular tours and excursions visit Sibelius’ [...]
Oslo, Fjords And Fortresses
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in the year 1000, Oslo always has been a sheltered port. Norway’s capital city lies in the heart of Scandinavia and at the head of the 61-mile long Oslo fjord. Ships takes approximately four hours from the entrance of the fjord to the city center, sailing through cultivated land dominated by green hills [...]
Helsingborg, Swedish Pearl
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A gift from Danish king Knut the Holy, Helsingborg was founded in 1085. Dominating the city skyline, Karnan Tower dates from the medieval ages. On the waterfront is the beautiful Dunker Culture Center (pictured). Large ships dock in the South Harbor, less than two miles from the city center, while small ships are able to [...]
Maritime Museums
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Maritime and ship museums are a part of the living history in the sea-faring nations of the Baltic Cruising Region. Visitors enthralled by Stockholm’s Vasa Museum (pictured) will also want to see Oslo’s ship museums: The Polarship Fram Museum, featuring the entire original Arctic exploration ship FRAM, built in 1892, exhibited with its original interior [...]
Baltic Shopping
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Countries bordering the Baltic Sea Region offer varied shopping venues. Many of the town and city shopping areas, for example, are for pedestrians only, and shoppers may browse at their leisure while strolling along wide streets free of traffic. Other cities offer shopping within well-preserved medieval walls and along charming cobblestone streets in the old [...]
Street Smart: Pedestrian Only Shopping Areas
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Shop without having to worry about getting mowed down by passing vehicles on pedestrian shopping streets that are closed to vehicular traffic. In Copenhagen, shop Strøget, the world’s longest pedestrian shopping street. Popular shops include Illums Bolighus featuring Danish design, and the flagship stores of Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and Georg Jensen silver.
In Helsingborg, stroll [...]
Crystal Clear
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Kalmar is well known for Swedish crystal, handmade in one of the 15 glassworks in the Kingdom of Crystal, among which Orrefors and Kosta Boda are the most prominent. In Orrefors factory shop, purchase (tax free) firsts and seconds from the Orrefors collection and watch master craftsmen in action as they create crystal masterpieces right [...]
Copenhagen, City of Spires
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A visitor’s first view of Copenhagen will likely be not from the sea but from the air. That’s because Copenhagen is where most Baltic cruises begin. Founded in 1167 as a fortress to protect the important herring trade, Copenhagen features two main cruise terminals, Langelinie Pier, situated within walking distance of the city center, and [...]
Market Mania
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Spend a leisurely morning strolling the markets in many Baltic Sea destinations. Cruise passengers can hardly miss Helsinki’s famous Kauppatori, the Market Square, selling almost everything from fresh fish to handicrafts. The Old Market Hall next to the Market Square is worth a visit as well. The Old Market Hall offers historic charm and a [...]
Ample Amber
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Deeply rooted in regional folklore and tradition, amber is mined in Lithuania. Only ten minutes by foot from where cruise ships dock along the Danes river brings cruise passengers to the heart of Klaipeda’s Old Town, where visitors will find a great variety of amber jewelry.
Also, in neighboring Latvia, look for amber in Riga, [...]
Helsingor, Home Of Hamlet
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Helsingor (also known as Elsinore) is the Danish town that is home to Hamlet’s castle. Elsinore was founded during the reign of King Erik of Pomerania (1382-1459).
Cruise ships moor at Kings Quay at the beginning of the one of Denmark’s oldest pedestrian streets. Within walking distance are exquisite old churches, a medieval cloister and [...]
Karlskrona, Navy Town
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Founded in 1680 as Sweden’s primary naval base, Karlskrona is surrounded by islands. Ships transit a beautiful archipelago and a series of fortresses en route to the Karlskrona’s harbor.
Ships that dock at the city center put passengers within a five-minute walk of attractions. Most ships, however, must anchor, and cruise passengers enjoy a short [...]
Natural Beauty At The Parks
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Many of the port destinations in the Baltic Cruising region are walkable cities. Pedestrian streets and parks allow visitors to escape traffic.
Stockholm’s National City Park, for example, offers a unique mixture of nature and culture, including four Royal Palaces. A recreation area for city residents and visitors alike, it stretches right through the middle [...]
Stockholm Highlights
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Stockholm may just be the most beautiful city in the world to reach by water. The journey begins nearly 50 miles east, at the tip of a beautiful archipelago comprised of 30,000 islands, islets and rocks. Many of the islands are uninhabited, rocky outcrops that are homes only to birds. Other islands are dotted with quaint [...]
Stockholm: Frequently Asked Questions
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A few key points that you should keep in mind if you are cruising to or from Stockholm:
Most cruise passengers arrive in Stockholm at one of two places: Arlanda Airport (Stockholm serves as the initial port of departure for many cruises); or for those arriving by sea, the city center.
If your cruise is departing from [...]
Reserve Space On Oasis Of The Seas
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
As the company slowly divulges details about the new ship during the next several months, travel agents have already started taking reservations for 2009/2010 sailings.
Crystal Cruises’ Vintage Room
Friday, August 15, 2008
Crystal Cruises Vintage Room pairs some of the worlds best wines with specially prepared dishes. With a capacity for 12, the special dinners are served in a private dining room. Patrons, who pay on average $210 per person depending on the wines they have selected, are attended to by the ships head sommelier. Want to [...]
Read A Special Report On European River Cruises
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Read A Special Report On European River Cruises
Read A Special Report Featuring Azamara Cruises
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Read A Special Report Featuring Azamara Cruises
Read A Special Report Featuring Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Read A Special Report Featuring Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Read A Special Report Featuring Eurodam
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Read A Special Report Featuring Eurodam
The ‘Wow’ Factor of World Cruising
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
More than most travel experiences, a world cruise is an exposure to the exotic and the wondrous.
Even for those who call themselves seasoned travelers, world cruises invariably will open the window to new destinations, new cultures or a new way of looking at the world.
Consider the extended call that Holland America Line’s Rotterdam makes at [...]
Yes, You Can Afford A World Cruise
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A world cruise. At first, the idea seems viscerally decadent, conjuring images of bejeweled formal nights, exceedingly long sessions of bridge, day following day at sea, one gourmet meal blurring lazily into the other — and not to mention, super expensive for a luxurious journey of up to four months.
But as with so much about [...]
Read The Summer Issue of Avid Cruiser Magazine
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Read The Summer Issue of Avid Cruiser Magazine
Build A Ship: Regent Taps Guests
Sunday, August 03, 2008
To garner passenger input for its first newbuild ship order in eight years, Regent Seven Seas Cruises went beyond the typical comment card. The luxury cruise line offered customers a 10-night, Caribbean cruise on the Seven Seas Mariner with a “Build Your Ship” theme that included a town hall session with Regent’s top executive team [...]
Our Ship, Your Office
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Cruise lines keep cruisers connected
March 15, 2 p.m., Caribbean Sea — Clad in a purple swimsuit, broad-rimmed hat and polarized sunglasses, Raelyn Lucklow is enjoying yet another sunny day at sea. One of 700 passengers on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Mariner, the Dana Point, California, resident appears totally at ease. But something is amiss. Instead [...]
You’re Aboard Eurodam
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Set aside what you’re doing for a moment, and come with me. Together, we will board Holland America Line’s brand new Eurodam for a virtual cruise. I’ll give you a few minutes to pack. Let me know when you’re ready.
Why You Should Cruise Azamara Now
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Given the skewed the valuation between the U.S. dollar and the Euro, it’s unusual to hear the words “Europe” and “good value” mentioned in the same sentence. But those words were in frequent use on a recent 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Azamara Quest.
The reason was twofold: First, a cruise represents a bargain proposition when [...]
Happy Ship, Happy Crew
Friday, August 01, 2008
I caught up with Juan Balbuena on the Carnival Liberty. It wasn’t easy to break Balbuena’s brisk pace as he served drinks, but he paused for a moment to talk. Employed 16 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, Juan hails from the Dominican Republic. He has a son, 25 years old, who works on the Carnival [...]
Finding Contentment In Quebec
Friday, August 01, 2008
I had traveled the world before traveling to Quebec, and if my foot could reach my behind, I would kick myself for doing so. Of all the places I have visited, Quebec surely ranks in my top ten. The irony is that I traveled halfway around the world to visit less-inspiring places when Quebec was [...]
Seductive Saguenay
Friday, August 01, 2008
It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Quebec City to the Saguenay region. We pointed our car toward La Baie, where we checked in to L’ Auberge des 21. Located on the shore of the Saguenay Fjord, the warm family inn also features fine regional (read: French) cuisine at a shockingly good restaurant for such a small [...]
Quintessential Quebec
Friday, August 01, 2008
Quebec City offers beauty, fine dining and delightful diversions. And that’s just in the train station. Our three-hour train journey from Montreal to Quebec ended in what has been called ‘the most beautiful train station in North America.’ Reminiscent of similar grand terminals in Europe, Quebec City’s train station attracts those who come here not [...]
Marvelous Montreal
Friday, August 01, 2008
If there is one phrase that characterizes Quebec, it is ‘et pourquoi pas?’ The phrase, which translates to ‘and why not?’ seems to be on the tip of every Quebecer’s tongue. It is a ready response of permissiveness and tolerance, a defender of an important concept — the joie de vivre or ‘joy of [...]
France Without The Jetlag: Pre- and Post-Cruise Vacations in Montreal, Quebec and Saguenay
Friday, August 01, 2008
A bartender at Quebec City’s fashionable L’EChaude restaurant expresses mock indignation when a visitor asks how Quebec’s capital compares with the province’s largest city, Montreal. ‘They are not truly French,’ the bartender says, conveniently overlooking the fact that as a Canadian, neither is he. ‘In Montreal, people speak French 50, maybe 55, percent of the [...]
Venice: Frequently Asked Questions
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Q: How do I get from the ship to St. Mark’s Square?
A: For 5 Euros you can hop on Alilaguna, a public water shuttle (www.alilaguna.it) that connects Marittima Cruise Terminals to St. Mark’s Square in about 15 minutes (operates every 20 minutes).
Q: How do I get from the airport to my ship?
A: The Venice Airport [...]
Genteel Galveston: Gateway to The Gulf of Mexico & Beyond
Thursday, July 31, 2008
YOU’VE GOT TO LIKE A TOWN WHOSE FIRST KNOWN EUROPEAN SETTLER WAS A PIRATE. Especially one who interrupted his illicit adventures to fight the heroically for the United States in the War of 1812.
That’s just what French privateer and smuggler Jean Lafitte did before returning to his old ways and setting up base camp in 1817 in [...]
Galveston, Block By Block
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Galveston’s downtown is compact by big-city standards, more than 36 square blocks. But within those blocks is more than 100 shops, antique stores, restaurants and art galleries.
Begin your exploration in The Strand National Historic Landmark District (pick up a map and other literature at the Downtown Visitors Center at 2215 Strand in the Old Galveston [...]
Grand Galveston, Dining & Diversions
Thursday, July 31, 2008
During the 1920s through the 1940s, Sam Maceo’s famous Galveston nightclubs, the Balinese Room and the Hollywood Dinner Club, were host to such performers as Phil Harris, Paul Whiteman, Guy Lombardo, Duke Ellington, Freddy Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Jimmy Dorsey. Galveston attracted people from all over the nation with great dining, big name [...]
Galveston, Frequently Asked Questions
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Q. How do I get from the airport to the port?
A. Many cruise passengers who fly to their Galveston cruises arrive at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, 65 miles from Galveston. Closer is the William P. Hobby Airport, about 45 miles away. Yet the journey is about an hour and a half from either airport. [...]
Grand Adventures In Venice, Italy
Thursday, July 31, 2008
If there is one city that should be on every avid cruiser’s list of must-see destinations, Venice is it. For starters, Venice is one world’s most unique cities — architecturally, historically and environmentally. Situated on a patchwork of more than 100 low-lying islands, Venice is sliced by canals. Thus, visitors see Venice in one of [...]
Cruise Combo: Buenos Aires & Santiago
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
From Buenos Aires, Argentina, around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, or in the reverse direction, “Round Cape Horn” cruises are South America’s most popular itineraries. You’ll typically spend two weeks on board ship, and some ships overnight in the embarkation/disembarkation ports. For a full taste of Buenos Aires or Santiago (about 90 minutes from the [...]
Buenos Aires: It Takes Two Days To Tango
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
In January, I flew to Buenos Aires for a cruise around legendary Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile. My schedule was to fly from the United States late one | 
