Two years ago this week, while covering a golf themed cruise on Crystal Cruise Line, I had the pleasure of meeting and spending two full weeks with golf and golf broadcasting legend, Ken Venturi, and his lovely wife Kathleen; an amazing couple. When meeting Ken and Kathleen they exuded gentleness, class, and genuine warmth, making it impossible not [...]

It amazes me how so many people can tell you exactly how many cruises they’ve been on.   While they may not be able to tell you the birth-dates of their children, they can tell you how many cruises, which ships, and what type of cabin they had on each – sometimes, even recite the [...]

One of quickest means to ruining a good relationship can be disagreements over money.   And it just doesn’t take much for one person or another to feel like they are being taken advantage of financially.   On land, when going out to dinner with friends, whether singles or couples, how do you handle the [...]

Cruise anticipation is a very unique feeling. It’s unusual because while “it’s only” a vacation, its affects are physical as well as psychological. I just recently met a couple of tourists from South Africa in the United States, where I too was visiting. They are in the midst of a 3 month vacation away from their home country; travelling through [...]

“Ship happens”, but there are a few simple things you can do to avoid the most common blunders. # 1 – The most common mistake can occur at the moment you decide to book your cruise. DO NOT pay the deposit you make to book your cruise, or make your final payment, using cash or [...]

It’s likely that you’ve never tried on the underwear of a neighbor or friend (unless you’re a 12 or 13 year old girl). It’s also unlikely that you would think your friend’s favorite outfit would be perfect for you. But, it’s surprising just how many people will choose to cruise on a cruise line, or [...]

You have to be kidding me! … That was my reaction this past week when a gentleman I was golfing with in a tournament told me it’s easy to give cruise advice now. He said: “Just tell them they shouldn’t cruise”. As one would no doubt expect, I nearly fell out of my golf cart.  But [...]

For first time cruisers there are many things which are going to surprise you. Whether you arrive at the port by bus, shuttle, or private vehicle, when you first arrive dockside, to see your ship, the first surprise is just how big that ship looks. And it doesn’t matter if you’re sailing on a smaller vessel, [...]

River cruising is “THE hot thing” in cruising right now, and I don’t expect that trend to be short lived. So, I thought I should look at what may be the reasons for the trend. I must start by saying that I have never been on a river cruise, and to date, for my tastes, I [...]

Next month is the beginning of the “repositioning season”; it is also the time when some of the best per Diem rates of the year appear for those who have the time for lengthier cruises. The cruise lines begin moving many of their ships from the Caribbeean, where they have spent the winter months. Some ships [...]