I read somewhere that the Orkney Islands were the Holy Grail for travellers to Scotland. They are located in the far north and not easily reached by most common modes of transportation. We were lucky to have the city of Kirkwall as a port of call on a British Isles cruise, giving us the opportunity…
Planning Your Shore Excursions
Planning Your Shore Excursions Since a European cruise is really all about the port destinations it is important to plan a day ashore that meets all your travel requirements. Although the cruise line would prefer you use their excursions this is really just one alternative. Doing a little research will ensure that you find the…
Port of Call – St. Petersburg
Many Northern European cruises include a stop in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. We were lucky to have it as an overnight, a great opportunity to spend time in this exciting city and explore its often tragic past. One thing I would recommend before you go is to learn a little bit about the…
Mediterranean Cruise: A Sample of Europe (Part 3)
Part 3 – Everything Else Breakfast and dinner will be part of the cruise experience but consider trying the local cuisine while ashore. If you are not sure ask your tour guide or a local where to eat. Many cities have markets where you can pick up the makings for a picnic, or check out…
Mediterranean Cruise: A Sample of Europe (Part 2)
Part 2 – Getting Around Once you have decided what you want to do in each port, determining how to go about it can also be challenging. All cruise lines offer shore excursions, usually serviced by local tour companies and guides. The benefits of booking excursions through the cruise line is the ease of getting…
10 Tips for Travelling With Another Couple
Ask anyone about travelling with friends and they will have as many horror stories as they have successful ones. We have all spent time with the “bicker about everything” couple, the “never on time” couple, and the “we don’t care, it’s up to you” couple. The same things happen when you travel with family, it’s…
Our Top 5 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the starting point for a Baltic cruise, and why we originally had this on our itinerary. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed this friendly city with its medieval sites and modern developments. The northern countries are more expensive than southern European destinations, but good planning can help to defray the cost. …
Port of Call – Athens
Whether you have been to Athens before, or this is your first trip, you can see the best of this ancient city in one day. Before you arrive I would recommend you bone up on your Greek mythology and the rich and extensive history of Greece. Even though we have all seen pictures of the…
Five Reasons Why You Still Need a Good Guide Book
Our philosophy when we travel focuses on finding the significance in what we see and do from an historical and cultural perspective. We want to appreciate the art we see and the historical icons we visit as much as the food that we eat. We toured the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg as part of…