Cruise Vacations Archives – Page 43 of 70 – Crown Cruise Vacations
Viking looks to the stars for godmother of new ship Orion
November 15, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchThe godmother of Viking’s fifth ocean ship – the Orion – is appropriately a retired NASA astronaut. Dr. Anna Fisher will be honored as godmother for the Orion which will debut in July 2018.
“Vikings were the original long-distance explorers and the first to use the stars and constellations as a way to navigate uncharted territory,” Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said in a news release.
Shore excursion: Visiting Patmos cave where St. John wrote Book of Revelation
November 8, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchThe dreaded Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The terrifying Beast with Seven Heads. The scary opening of the Seven Seals. The Final Judgement with its brimstone vision of hell.
How could all these horrific things detailed in the Book of Revelation have been written in such a beautiful place?
Shore excursion: Saying hello to Dolly at National Museum of Scotland
November 1, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchHer frozen face seems to have a permanent perplexed look.
At the National Museum of Scotland, I saw the famous animal that captured my imagination. The museum itself – all Scottish museums have free admission – could well take a day to tour. It is huge and well organized.
Shore excursion: Visiting historic Footdee fishing village
October 25, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchIn olden days “fisherfolk” would live in these teeny houses in this tiny two-square village named Footdee, called “Fittee” by locals.
Today, it is mostly inhabited by people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Footdee is a little hidden gem in Aberdeen,” said local tour guide Darryl.
Shore Excursion: Learning about black pearls and rare flower that grows only on Raiatea
October 18, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchBy Jackie Sheckler Finch
The island of Raiatea is home to a five-petal flower so rare that it grows nowhere else on earth except here. Named Tiare Apetahi, the blossom rising out of a bed of dagger-shaped leaves has an equally lovely legend.
The story goes that a beautiful Tahitian woman named Apetahi fell in love with the son of a king. Devastated that as a commoner she could not marry him, Apetahi fled to Mount Temehani on Raiatea where she died of a broken heart.
Shore Excursion: How Bora Bora got its name, having a cold drink at Bloody Mary’s
October 11, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchBy Jackie Sheckler Finch
If Captain Cook hadn’t misunderstood what the French Polynesians were calling their home, the island of Bora Bora might have a different name today.
That’s a tidbit I learned from tour guide Sandra as we bounced around the popular island in our open-air “Le Truck” vehicle.
Shore Excursion: How ‘Holy Toledo’ got its nickname
October 4, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchBy Jackie Sheckler Finch
TOLEDO, Spain – About the closest my Aunt Minnie ever came to cursing was to mutter “Holy Toledo” whenever she had reached her “wit’s end,” another favorite Aunt Minnie saying.
I never knew what either of those meant when I was a kid. It took a trip to Toledo, Spain, to learn the origin of Aunt Minnie’s favorite exclamation.
Shore Excursion: Ali Center showcases more than history of boxing legend
September 27, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler Finch“Maybe I was great in the ring, but outside of boxing, I’m just a brother like other people. I want to live a good life, serve God, help everybody I can. And one more thing. I’m still gonna find out who stole my bike when I was 12 years old in Louisville and I’m gonna whup him. That was a good bike.”
Oceania Sirena restaurant Red Ginger is surprising and superb
September 20, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchBy Jackie Sheckler Finch
I don’t want to spoil the surprise but I’ve never seen this happen. Maybe I just haven’t eaten in the right restaurants.
Oceania Sirena has two specialty restaurants where reservations must be made. There is no extra charge – in fact, there are few extra charges at all on this cruise ship. Most passengers can expect to dine at least once in Red Ginger and once in Tuscan Steak. If the restaurants are not booked up, passengers may be able to reserve another dining adventure.
Shore Excursion: Man in Sea Museum showcases history of diving ocean’s depths
September 13, 2017 | Jackie Sheckler FinchBy Jackie Sheckler Finch
More than half a century ago, four Navy divers plunged 193 feet into the Atlantic Ocean for an experiment in living under the ocean’s surface. Named Sealab 1, their “home” submerged off the coast of Bermuda was a long cylinder resembling a gigantic tin can.
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