Wednesday May 2, 2012
Isn't this small ship gorgeous? It's
Le Boreal, a 264-passenger ship owned by the only French cruise line--
Compagnie du Ponant.
Le Boreal's itineraries span the globe from north to south, with the small ship sailing expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic and visiting many fascinating ports along the way.
I cruised on the sleek, contemporary Le Boreal on a 10-day cruise from Boston to Montreal that stopped over in several places inaccessible to large cruise ships. In addition to enticing itineraries and wonderful onboard ambiance and furnishings, the ship provides a "French-style" cruise experience on its bilingual cruises that can't be found on any other cruise line.
More on Le Boreal and Compagnie du Ponant
Le Boreal (c) Linda Garrison
Tuesday May 1, 2012
Juneau is almost always included as a port of call on Alaska Inside Passage cruises.
Juneau is the only state capital in the USA that is inaccessible by car. The city of about 31,000 residents is perched on the southeast coast of Alaska, and you need a ship or a plane to get there. Since the mountains come down almost to the sea, Juneau hugs the coastline for several miles.
Juneau offers many good opportunities for excursions and activities, and its airport makes the city a good one for small cruise ship embarkation or disembarkation. I was in Juneau at the conclusion of my small ship cruise on the Wilderness Discoverer, stayed at the delightful Silverbow Inn, and managed to cram in as many activities as possible in just two days.
With several cruise ships visiting the city each day during the busy summer cruise season, the small town seems to burst at the seams, with tourists roaming from shop to shop, buying all sorts of souvenirs and Alaskan crafts.
Juneau, Alaska Photo Gallery
Juneau Photo (c) Linda Garrison
Monday April 30, 2012
Disney Cruises has four cruise ships, each with its own special features.
All of the ships have marvelous outdoor areas. The
Disney Dream has many fun things for kids (of all ages) to do
outdoors on the ship.
First, miniature golf enthusiasts will enjoy the "golf course" on Goofy's Sports Deck. Like all miniature golf courses, it provides family fun, but with a few Disney additions. Goofy's Sports Deck also includes two digital sports simulators with a variety of virtual game experiences such as soccer, tennis, basketball, and golf. Small children will enjoy Max's Courts, two mini-sized sports courts for little ones to enjoy soccer, basketball or group play.
The most exciting area on the outdoor decks of the Disney Dream is the AquaDuck, a water coaster that provides a fun ride without being scary. It's not like you'd find at a theme park ashore, but it's a great ride. And, it's on a ship!
Read More...
Sunday April 29, 2012
While sailing through the
Columbia River Gorge,
passengers were treated to an impromptu
kiteboarding and windsurfing show twice--both going upriver and then back downriver a few days later. The acrobatic and aerobatic tricks were amazing, and the kiteboarders and windsurfers loved to demonstrate their tricks and try and outdo each other.
Columbia River Kiteboarders (c) Linda Garrison
