Cruising the Mediterranean is a great way to get a taste of Italy, France, the Adriatic Coast. But what to do when there’s that one spot that you really loved? How do you head back and really get the full flavor of a destination, rather than just a taste? Our friends at G Adventures seem to have found a great way to make this happen. It’s called Local Living and its a great way to let the essence of a destination seep in. Read more...

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for New Orleans pralines. Whenever I visit the Crescent City to board a cruise ship, I always find time to buy some pralines.

On my last trip, however, I also learned how to make the tasty treat. That could be dangerous because I usually have all the ingredients to make a batch at home and I’m sure I would eat them all. Read more...

It’s Valentines Day and our thoughts turn to love, of course. So on this Valentine’s Day, there’s only one cruise line we think about. Princess Cruises, home of the Love Boat. And Princess has pioneered a lot of things when it comes to cruises, not the least of which is expressing love by tying the knot at sea. Read more...

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...