Seems like the Blounts of Rhode Island had always been in the oyster business. The family oyster beds flourished. Workers were busy. Eager buyers lined up for the quality shellfish. Life was good.

Then came the 1938 hurricane. By the time the winds quit roaring  and the seas stopped churning, E.B. Blount & Sons Oyster Company was devastated. Read more...

Holland America’s Half Moon Cay turns 15 this year. This private Bahamanian island is widely considered to be among the best private beach islands that cruise lines use today, and this year Holland America is upping their game by offering guests the biggest private island upgrade yet, a beach villa. Read more...

With acupuncture needles sticking out of her body, my daughter Kelly began to think she must be nuts.

Why did she choose this spa treatment? She could be pampered with a soothing aromatherapy massage or a relaxing seaweed facial. Why was she letting a woman stick needles in her? Read more...

Royal Caribbean is finally cutting steel for its latest class of ships, previously known as Project Sunshine, and they are promising the ship to be a quantum leap forward, as they’ve named the new ship to be the Quantum of the Seas.

Here comes the American Queen Steamcoach rolling down the road. The road?

Yep, the popular riverboat now has three personalized steamcoaches decorated to look like their namesake. And they sure are getting second looks whenever they pass by.

The colorful motorcoaches are painted to closely resemble the exterior of the American Queen, complete with the big red paddlewheel and “passengers” waving from the decks. Read more...

It seems that like every new ship that comes out adds another bell or whistle to the on board experience these days. There’s always something unique about a new ship. A new experience, a new feature – but sometimes it just rings hollow. Sometimes there’s a lot of flash, but no fireworks. The Norwegian Breakaway, which premieres in May of this year will have the flash and the bang, literally. Read more...

Once upon a time back in 1953, a famous British sea captain by the name of Capt. George Soule sailed from his native island of Barbados on a quest to find the ultimate Caribbean cocktail.

He searched Guadeloupe for Guava Gimlets, Saba for Sour Sop Sodas and Martinique for Mango Margaritas. His quest ended on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands at a place called Mountain Top. Read more...

I’ve loved libraries since before I could read. So I am always pleased when I encounter a new library – especially in a place I never expected to find one.

I knew that the Eurodam cruise ship would be beautiful. All of the Holland America Cruise Line ships are lovely. But I never knew the Eurodam would have such a large library. Read more...

With all the activity on the Wilderness Explorer and the healthy dining options, I am hoping to lose weight on my eight-day cruise. It isn’t happening. Don’t know how chef Bob Ward and his culinary team prepare all that yummy food in such a small kitchen but they certainly do. Read more...

Cruising into Jamaica has always been a bit of a challenge. Getting into Ocho Rios gives guests a great opportunity to visit Dunns River Falls, and Montego Bay has amazing beaches and a lot of fun places to visit. But until recently, guests have often had to choose doing one or the other. Now, though, Royal Caribbean has opened its new port – Falmouth, Jamaica – located between the two traditional port cities and offering a great option to experience more of the best that Jamaica has to offer. Read more...