You might have seen them – those powerful streams of water shooting straight up in the air. We know the natural features are caused when ground water is heated by geothermal forces and brought to the surface. But the sight still brings exclamations of oohs and aahs whenever they spurt towards the heavens. Read more...

HEIDELBERG, Germany – Love will find a way. On today’s shore excursion, I learned about the famous Heidelberg Student Kiss and even got to enjoy one.

The story goes that the Heidelberg Student Kiss is both a confection and a bit of fascinating history from the 1800s. Read more...

COLOGNE, Germany  – Napoleon Bonaparte loved Eau de Cologne so much that he ordered 50 bottles a month. The famous emperor used the fragrant water extravagantly and supposedly had special boots designed where he could stash an emergency bottle of cologne. Read more...

Imagine Iceland without horses, those beautiful short husky creatures that look so striking on the country’s landscape.

That’s the way it was until the Vikings came more than 1,000 years ago and brought Nordic horses with them. Although they are smaller than most horses, I learned shortly after arriving in Iceland not to call them ponies. Read more...

Princess Cruises will be traveling into the heart of Japanese culture in 2016. The top North American cruise line in Japan will offer an array of Japan voyages to circumnavigate the country, visiting top-rated ports of call.

“Japan is steeped in tradition and lore, with ancient sites, hallowed temples and natural wonders throughout the island chain, said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “The ideal way to explore this fascinating country is by sea and Princess offers travelers unmatched options for discovering its many jewels.” Read more...

Think you’ve got what it takes to be The Voice? Princess Cruises will be showcasing passenger talents in a new “The Voice of the Ocean” singing competition.

The wildly popular TV show will be brought to life on the high seas. Throughout the cruise, passengers can compete with auditions, mentor rehearsal sessions, the iconic “I Want You” chairs, three charismatic team coaches and ultimately a live finale performance where guests choose the winner. Read more...

MILOS, Greece – It gave me shivers just to be standing here. Tucked into a hillside on the Greek isle of Milos are the graves of early Christians. These catacombs are from the 1^st century AD. It is mind boggling to consider what took place here and how long ago it happened. Read more...

Tightly clutching her Bible, Narcissa Whitman tries to explain why she chose to embark on a path that eventually took her life in a horrible massacre. The slaughter also destroyed the very people she sought to help.

Of course, this isn’t the real Narcissa Whitman. She died Nov. 29, 1847. Read more...

If you’ve ever watched the television series Love Boat, you probably remember bartender extraordinaire Isaac. Now passengers on Princess Cruises can enjoy a special cocktail created by Isaac himself.

Fittingly, the sweet concoction is named “The Isaac.” Read more...

The movie musical The Sound of Music and Princess Cruises both commemorate their 50th birthday this year. As part of the celebration, Princess Cruises is making the seas come alive with the sound of music.

The cruise line is screening the movie on all 18 of its cruise ships, as well as featuring sing-alongs, trivia games and other movie-themed experiences throughout the year. Read more...