This may be an easy one for some people. But on a recent cruise aboard the historic Astoria, I heard several fellow passengers question why the large dented Stockholm ship bell was in a place of honor aboard the Astoria.

By the end of the cruise, I hope they knew. If not, they should have attended the fascinating program given by ship historian Peter Knego in which he shared the haunting stories of the Stockholm and the Astoria. Read more...

Imagine soaring high above the sea in a zooming roller coaster. Carnival Cruise Line is building the first roller coaster at sea for its magnificent Mardi Gras, set to debut in August.

“Whether guests want to get an adrenaline rush or take it slow and enjoy the breathtaking views, BOLT will have it all,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. Read more...

As part of its longstanding support of military men and women, Carnival Cruise Line has debuted its “Heroes Tribute Bar,” a first-of-its-kind venue on the new Carnival Panorama. The special bar salutes America’s military heroes.

“The Heroes Tribute Bar is a project that is very near and dear to my heart and one that everyone at Carnival is extremely proud of,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. Read more...

I travel because …

As a child, travel meant one of two places – either we were heading to Cincinnati to look at the Christmas lights or we were going to Kentucky to visit my grandparents. Any other destinations outside of our small Ohio hometown were virtually impossible. Read more...

What better place for a wedding renewal ceremony than on Princess Cruises, the original Love Boat. And what better time than during the Valentine month of February when Princess Cruises will attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest multi-location vow renewal. Read more...

Two aluminum water bottles are lined up on the desk in my cabin. Cloth napkins on the dining table take the place of paper. No plastic straws. No Styrofoam or plastic cups are used on this vessel.

A daily menu is printed and attached to a frame in the dining room entryway. Daily itineraries are on a bulletin board and on a scrolling video screen so that paper use is minimized. Recycling efforts are everywhere. Read more...

We’re going to start off the New Year with a tough trivia question. At least it was tough for me. It has to do with a place that is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

I would never have noticed it if a tour guide hadn’t pointed it out when I was on my way to board the S.S. Legacy. As my bus turned the corner, the guide told the interesting tale of this small plot of land. Read more...

During the Spanish Civil War, three bombs fell on the Basilica del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain. Two bombs went through the ceiling. Another landed just outside the church. None exploded.

“It may have been a stroke of luck,” said local guide Benoit. “That is a plausible theory.” Read more...

Barbara Kensey thrusts one hand out, palm forward and launches into the words and moves of the well-known Supremes song, “Stop, In the Name of Love.”

From an old photograph hanging on the wall, singer Diana Ross seems to look over her shoulder at all the hullabaloo going on. A tour of the Motown Historical Museum  in Detroit includes music and lots of it. Read more...

She proudly struts down the street, her long slender legs clad in gold boots. Peacock feathers atop her head sway in the breeze as parade watchers cheer and clap when she passes by.

Accepting the adulation with calm poise, she seems to know she is top dog. Read more...