When riverboats dock in Nashville, they will be visiting one of only two destinations in the United States to be designated as a “Safe Travels” destination.

“From the beginning of the pandemic, Nashville has worked to be a safe city for residents and visitors alike,” Mayor John Cooper said in a news release. Read more...

After being closed for almost a year, the free-admission walk-up visits to the grave of Elvis Presley are now open again. Visitor walk-up times are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Although many people may not know it, fans can visit Meditation Garden at Graceland in Memphis without charge before the mansion opens for the day. The Garden was closed to walk-up times in March 2020 because of COVID-19. Read more...

Passengers who plan to cruise with the American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines (VCL) will need to have proof of a COVID-19 vaccination for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021.

In addition, the vaccination requirement will apply to shipboard crew members and non-shipboard employees across all seven vessels in both fleets. Read more...

With great ceremony and celebration, the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago is now open. And because of the global pandemic, the Vatican has announced a major exemption to allow the Holy Door in Spain to remain open for two years instead of the traditional one. Read more...

Perfect Days at CocoCay and the Caribbean calls you for that vacation in 2021 that you’ve been waiting for. And this is a great time to take advantage with Royal Caribbean offering 60% off the Second Guest with $150 in additional Instant Savings. PLUS – book your cruise with Crown Cruise Vacations and enjoy up to $500 Shipboard Credit on your next Cruise Vacation. Read more...

Some first-time cruisers asked if I could give them tips to help prepare them for their cruise and to help them know what to expect. Glad to do it.

Cruise ships do vary but these tips apply to most vessels and are not pandemic specific. Ships, of course, are now having to arrange important COVID-19 precautions and experiencing major delays in cruising. But, when you are heading to the high seas, these tips might be useful to peruse before walking up the gangway for that great adventure. Read more...

Do you like green eggs and ham? How about moose juice or goose juice? Maybe Fruit Loops French Toast?

Chances are your children like them. And now Carnival Cruise Lines is sharing one of those popular recipes so youngsters can enjoy the treat at home.

It’s not nearly as cool as sailing aboard a Carnival “Fun Ship” or enjoying the ship’s whimsical “Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast,” starring The Cat in the Hat and his friends. Read more...

Happy birthday to Carnival Cruise Line. Well, really, that is an early birthday greeting. Carnival will turn 50 years old in March 2022 and the cruise line is planning a big celebration.

In fact, Carnival Cruise Line’s new Excel-Class ship set to debut in 2022 is named the Celebration. A sister ship to the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration is scheduled to begin sailing from Miami in November 2022. Read more...

In 1916, while steering a Tin Lizzie over a bumpy road, a Chattanooga motorist took a sharp right when he shouldn’t have and helped create a major invention.

When the dust cleared, John Wiley and his son found themselves unhurt. Their car, however, was submerged in the Chickamauga Creek. Only one wheel poked above the water. Read more...

I remember the first time it happened to me. I had enjoyed clam chowder many times, particularly when I lived near Cape Cod and worked at a Massachusetts newspaper.

But on a long-ago cruise when I ordered clam chowder, I received a big white bowl with some chopped clams in the bottom. Mighty skimpy. Read more...