What did I expect from Poland? I’m not sure; I was just excited to go somewhere new and unexpected. What I brought home from Poland were stories of her extended history, images of her glories and pain, glimpses of her future. We easily could have spent several additional days in each city. With even more time we could have made side trips to Poland’s smaller cities, to the countryside, or to the Tatra Mountains. There was so much to see and learn that I had trouble deciding what to write about for this blog. Picturesque. Modern. Medieval. Poignant. Political. Pragmatic. This old, yet new, country left a deep impression. This newbie to Poland is now hoping to return to discover more about this resilient country.
We recently had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to travel with UnCruise Adventures, the small-ship expedition cruise line based out of Seattle, Washington. It was truly an all-encompassing way to see Hawaii and unlike any other cruise line we’ve traveled on before.
It’s always been a dream of ours to experience Machu Picchu and combine it with a visit to the Galapagos. Recently, this dream came to fruition. Sherri and I just returned from a two-week journey to Peru and Ecuador to visit these magical destinations. Some say it is the “journey” that counts, in our case, it is all about the destination!
Last month, Cruises & Beyond had the priviledge to attend an inaugural preview of the Norwegian Bliss. NCL gave travel agents and consultants alike an opportunity to experience their newest ship shortly before her first sailing to Alaska amidst a two night foray into international waters from Los Angeles. With such little time, it was nearly impossible to check out every corner of the ship, but we saw enough to give you our initial impressions of this unique vessel.
There’s a reason why we like to sell Crystal Cruises to our clients. That’s because we strongly believe Crystal is the top luxury cruise line of them all. You’ll pay a premium to sail on one of their ships, but that’s what helps make Crystal’s all-inclusive splendor happen. From 5-star culinary experiences to the unmatched personal service provided by all staff members aboard their ships, Crystal offers the best there can possibly be. It goes without saying that we love Crystal and our clients do too.
It’s amazing to reflect on how far cruising has come in the past 50 years. The shift in focus from transportation to destination cruising in the 1950s and 60s during the age of booming air travel symbolized the first major evolution. The second evolution came when cruise ships seemingly doubled in size every 10 years while packing even more amenities on board. And now it appears the industry is entering it’s third evolution.
Cruises & Beyond recently joined Visit Flanders on a 7-day Belgian le voyage, fitting in our schedule 5 of the regions major municipalities/attractions while immersing ourselves in the rich cultural legacy that Flanders has to offer. The following is an overview of all the cities/towns we visited, including hotels we stayed at and places we visited. Hopefully this inspires you to travel to Belgium and to follow our footsteps!
What did I expect from Poland? I’m not sure; I was just excited to go somewhere new and unexpected. What I brought home from Poland were stories of her extended history, images of her glories and pain, glimpses of her future. We easily could have spent several additional days in each city. With even more time we could have made side trips to Poland’s smaller cities, to the countryside, or to the Tatra Mountains. There was so much to see and learn that I had trouble deciding what to write about for this blog. Picturesque. Modern. Medieval. Poignant. Political. Pragmatic. This old, yet new, country left a deep impression. This newbie to Poland is now hoping to return to discover more about this resilient country.
Chris Barber from Cruises & Beyond had the chance to tour the Royal Princess of Princess Cruises when she was docked in San Francisco. The Royal Princess is the first of Princess Cruises' Royal Class cruise ships and is fully equipped with Princess Medallion technology. Join us as we take a quick peek inside! #PrincessCruises #ComeBackNew
Chris Barber from Cruises & Beyond had the chance to tour the Celebrity Eclipse of Celebrity Cruises when she was docked in San Francisco. Celebrity is known for modern luxury and a heightened premium cruising experience. Join us as we take a quick peek inside! #CelebrityCruises
And the title goes to…….Hurtigruton! Today, the leader in exploration travel revealed images of the world’s first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen. The ship features state-of-the-art green technology consisting of large battery packs that compensate for spinning reverse and aid in peak shaving. Extra electric power generated from these batteries will allow the engines to function at optimal levels and in turn reduce fuel usage and CO2 emissions exponentially. The ship can also run at full battery power for short periods of time, adding to its already minimal carbon footprint.
An OG of the travel industry with over 30 years invested in the business, Sherri Barber shares her thoughts on Airbnb's recent launch of "Airbnb Adventures" and what it means for the conventional travel agency. We're not throwing shade at Airbnb; we're just asking the logical questions that any of our clients might ask and we're comparing/contrasting the differences between what Airbnb offers vs. what we as a travel agency offer.
My initial plans for Vietnam only included Hoi An and Hue, to focus on central Vietnam during my short trip. When booking my flights, I found out I could fly direct from Guangzhou to Da Nang, but no direct flights were offered in the reverse direction. In order to return to Guangzhou to catch my flight home to SFO, I had to travel either south to Hoi Chi Minh or north to Hanoi from Hue. So that’s how I reluctantly wound up in Hanoi, the large, bustling, crowded capital city.
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