A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
Peninsula, located about a 45-minute drive south of downtown Cleveland, is one of our favorite Northeast Ohio communities. The village is situated at the center of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, where residents and visitors alike enjoy the scenic town with its charming historic district.
One of the most delightful parts of summer in Toledo and Northwest Ohio is the number of sandy beaches that dot the Lake Erie shore, stretching from Monroe, Mich., to Sandusky. Facilities vary at each location, providing diverse experiences for beachgoers.
Burke Lakefront Airport, situated along Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, serves as Northeast Ohio’s primary general aviation airport. Covering 450 acres, the facility commenced operations in 1948, featuring two runways and managing over 90,000 air operations each year. Additionally, Burke is renowned for hosting the Cleveland National Air Show every Labor Day weekend.
Australia may be a continent, but it is also an island, making it an excellent cruise destination for those seeking longer and more exotic trips. Moreover, if you are planning to visit Australia, don’t miss the opportunity to explore New Zealand. This smaller island nation, also located in the South Pacific, showcases stunning natural beauty and some of the friendliest people on earth. Consequently, many cruises often visit both Australia and New Zealand, but it is important to remember that both countries certainly deserve more time than just a few days!
The island of St. Maarten and St. Martin is the smallest territory in the world shared by two sovereign states. Covering just 37 square miles, it is divided between the Dutch side, known as St. Maarten, and the French side, St. Martin. Visitors can easily traverse between the two regions. Major cruise ships typically dock at Philipsburg in St. Maarten, while smaller vessels may head to Marigot, the capital of St. Martin. The island is famous for its shopping, gambling, and stunning beaches, offering ample activities for those opting out of shore excursions.
Finding a good travel agent who will assist you in planning the ideal cruise can be as challenging as locating a dependable doctor or dentist. The quest to find the right agent for your cruise is indeed comparable.
Every minute that children spend in the youth programs on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship is carefully supervised by a staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations. Prior to coming aboard, they attend a special training course on team-building, communication skills, safety, and working with children who have special needs. Consequently, they have developed a fantastic array of activities for kids.
Spending only one day inFlorence, or Firenze, as it is called in Italy, is almost overwhelming. Florence is one of the most beautiful, fascinating, and popular cities in Europe for travelers. Because of this popularity, many cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean include Livorno, the nearest port to Florence, as a stopover. Even very small cruise ships cannot sail up the Arno River to Florence; thus, after docking in Livorno, you will need to take a bus for a 1-1/2 hour journey into Florence for a full day shore excursion.
Rome is a marvelous city and deserves a visit of several days, weeks, or even months. Those of us who love cruising are lucky to get a few days in Rome, either as a port of call or as a pre-cruise or post-cruise extension. Rome is not actually on the Mediterranean Sea; it is situated on the Tiber River, which is too small for cruise ships to navigate. Ancient legends report that Rome was founded on the seven hills flanking the Tiber by the two brothers Romulus and Remus. Cruise ships port at Civitavecchia, and passengers can visit the city with a one-hour ride by bus or train. Consequently, visiting Rome by cruise ship is similar to visiting Florence—it’s not that easy to get from the sea to the city, but it’s well worth the trip.
The cruise ship spa on the Celebrity Reflection is called the AquaSpa and features Elemis products, ensuring a premium spa experience. Operated by Steiner Leisure, AquaSpa is expansive, presenting a variety of services.
The Celebrity Silhouette cabins and suites are designed for comfort and luxury, resembling the configurations found in other Solstice class ships. Passengers can expect a high level of service and a range of accommodations to suit various preferences and needs.
Celestyal Cruises focuses on maximizing its time in port to allow guests to see some of the best parts of Greece and Turkey on the Aegean Sea. Its ships often stay late into the evening so that those who want to dine ashore can do so. Moreover, the ships sometimes visit two islands in one day, giving their passengers exposure to more of these amazing islands.
The Celestyal Crystal is a 1000-passenger cruise ship and one of the vessels in the Celestyal Cruises’ fleet. While two of the ships are leased to Thomson Cruises, Celestyal operates both the Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia. Recently, Celestyal Cruises has invested 12 million euros to refurbish these ships.
The Casino Bar on the Nieuw Amsterdam is located on deck 2, adjacent to the casino. This venue serves as the ship’s sports bar, equipped with several flat-screen televisions showcasing ESPN and other sports networks.
The 2100-guest Nieuw Amsterdam of Holland America features numerous outdoor deck areas designed for relaxation and enjoyment. The ship boasts two swimming pools: the main Lido pool, located mid-ship on the Lido Deck, and the Sea View pool, which is an adults-only retreat situated aft on the same deck. Comfortable sun lounge chairs are available around both pools and on the uppermost decks, ensuring plentiful options for sunbathing and leisure. Importantly, the Lido pool has a cover that can be utilized during inclement weather.
The Norwegian Breakaway is a modern mega-cruise ship, carrying over 4,000 passengers from its New York City home port on cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Launched in May 2013, it features a myriad of dining options, some complimentary while others come with a la carte pricing or additional surcharges. All complimentary dining venues promote open seating, although guests can utilize interactive screens throughout the ship to check reservation statuses or view open tables. It is advisable to secure reservations at restaurants with surcharges. With a New York theme, many dining choices reflect the city’s vibrant culture.
Princess Cruises launched the Regal Princess in May 2014 in Venice. The ship spent her first summer in Europe before crossing the Atlantic for the first time in late October. Those familiar with the Regal Princess’s sister ship, the Royal Princess, will notice that while they share a similar aesthetic, a few modifications have been made to enhance enjoyment.
The 930-passenger Viking Star of Viking Cruises features five distinct main dining venues that offer a variety of styles and atmospheres. This mid-sized ship is unique in that it does not have formal nights, creating an atmosphere of elegant casualness in the dining rooms each evening. Although the ship boasts two specialty restaurants, guests can enjoy them without incurring any additional surcharges. Furthermore, the ship caters to most dietary restrictions, so it is advisable for guests to inform their travel agents of any dietary allergies or special requests during planning.
Do you love small ship cruising and educational trips to Europe? If so, you might enjoy the Aegean Odyssey, a 378-passenger ship owned by Voyages to Antiquity. This cruise line specializes in cruises emphasizing archaeology, history, and culture. It’s an excellent destination-oriented cruise ship with almost all-inclusive fare.
A small ship Alaska cruise allows you an even closer look at the beautiful scenery and exotic wildlife than most large or mid-sized Alaska cruises. Several cruise lines with ships that carry from a dozen up to 500 passengers sail Alaska cruises. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the advantages of fewer cruisers exploring Alaska, enjoying excursions, or even just going ashore in the small Alaska towns like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Two or three thousand visitors from one ship really make a difference in a small town!
