As duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Doug Weatherford has no doubts who is boss. After trailing the fowl on their daily march to the elevator, Weatherford acknowledges the obvious.

“The ducks don’t actually follow me,” he admitted. “They lead me.” Read more...

The Ketchikan Visitors Bureau now has a beautiful new totem pole, courtesy of Princess Cruises. Crafted by local carver Kelly White, the specially created totem pole is to celebrate the cruise line’s golden anniversary in Alaska.

Inspired by strong and important sea creatures, the totem pole features a killer whale, a powerful hunter and navigator of the seas; an octopus, a mysterious, intelligent and complex creature of the seas; and halibut, a proven reliable food source throughout the year.   Read more...

Get ready for a holiday brew. Carnival Cruise Line has released its ParchedPig Pumpkin Ale. The new fleetwide seasonal beer is available in bottles and on draft.

Available for a limited time, ParchedPig Pumpkin Ale is a bold, full-bodied beer with a hint of spiciness and notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel and brown sugar. It is available in 22-ounce “bombers” and on draft in bars and lounges across the fleet, as well as at breweries aboard Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon. Read more...

Cruise ship passengers know that the mandatory safety drill is important and necessary. Maybe not fun but a procedure that must be done before the ship sets sail. Stateroom videos also help reinforce that safety message.

Taking its safety as seriously as it takes its fun, Carnival Cruise Line combined the two. And who better to spread that big message but the line’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal. The result? Carnival is unveiling an entertaining and creative new safety briefing video. Read more...

Visitors are heading to the Bahamas again after the islands took a major hit from Hurricane Dorian in early September. Carnival Cruise Line and other ships have already resumed port calls in Grand Bahama and the country’s tourism board says it expects flights between the island and Fort Lauderdale to resume in mid-November. Read more...

The large handmade doll sits in a locked plexiglass case at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida.

But is the secured case a protection for the one-of-a-kind doll? Or is it for the safety of visitors to this Key West attraction?

After all, this unusual figure dressed in a sailor suit is not an ordinary toy. Known as “Robert the Doll,” the century-old figure is said to be haunted and able to cast spells on those who cross his path. Read more...

My granddaughter Arianna just got half her Disney wish. When I told her that Disney Cruise line will be launching a new ship, I asked what she would suggest for a name.

“Wish,” she said without hesitation. “A Disney Wish, like ‘When you wish upon a star.’” Read more...

Legend says that pintxos began when an ailing Spanish king was forced to eat small amounts of food with wine to keep up his energy.

Folks thought that was a great idea and soon followed suit.

Since it is not uncommon in Spain to eat dinner very late, pintxos are a tasty appetizer and a chance to wind down and prepare for a leisurely late dinner. Read more...

My aim was terrible. Instead of flying into the far distance, the cherry pit I was trying to spit tumbled out of my mouth and rolled down to my feet.

So much for the cherry pit-spitting contest at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Hard to believe but the record for the best woman cherry pit spitter is 38 feet, 3 inches. For men, it’s 48 feet, 1 inch. Read more...

ABOARD THE GRAND CLASSICA: Will it be black pepper crusted ahi tuna or Atlantic salmon or stuffed chicken breast or boneless beef short ribs braised in Merlot?

Those who know me have no doubt what I chose.

Yep, it was the boneless beef short ribs braised in Merlot with creamy mascarpone polenta and root vegetables. Read more...