Life is a patchwork of experiences
In this Rosa barge cruise review, I share all my expereinces with lots of details after a week of cruising on the Garonne Canal in southwestern France
After spending ten days exploring southern France by car with my husband, I was ready to let someone else do the driving, cooking, and guiding. A weeklong cruise on the Rosa barge on the Garonne Canal was the perfect way to end an extended holiday in southern France.
Continue reading “My Rosa Barge Cruise Review – A Perfect Week Discovering France’s Gascony Region”
In this month’s podcast, I share my experiences cruising the historic Canal du Midi on the lovely Athos barge.
Podcast link: Cruising France’s Canal du Midi With French Waterways
Continue reading “July 9, 2026 Podcast: Cruising France’s Canal du Midi with French Waterways”
In this detailed Athos barge cruise review I describe my wonderful experiences cruising on France’s Canal du Midi.
The Canal du Midi is the only one of France’s 3000 miles of canals that is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built in 1661, the canal connects to the Canal du Garonne and provides a continuous, controlled waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading “My Athos Barge Cruise Review – Exploring Southern France’s Canal du Midi in Style”
This month’s podcast is all about my small ship Windstar cruise to Alaska on the brand new Star Seeker ship.
Podcast link: Sailing Off the Beaten Path on a Windstar Cruise to Alaska
Continue reading “June 11, 2026 Podcast: Sailing Off the Beaten Path on a Windstar Cruise to Alaska”
I am sharing my expereinces in this detailed Windstar Star Seeker review after cruising on this beautiful ship to Alaska
My first experience on a Windstar ship truly spoiled me. I’ve wanted to do a Windstar cruise for a long time, and what better start than a cruise to Alaska on the brand new Star Seeker.
The Windstar Star Seeker is considered a mega yacht due to its small size. The company motto is “180 degrees from ordinary”, and that is exactly what I experienced.
Continue reading “A Detailed Windstar Star Seeker Review – Yachting “180 Degrees From Ordinary””
A Windstar cruise to Alaska took me to off the beaten path locations combined with soft adventure experiences in Misty Fjords National Monument and Endicott Arm
Southeast Alaska is an extremely popular cruise destination, and rightly so. The snow-capped mountains and glacier-carved fjords provide a stunning backdrop for small towns that can only be reached by ship.
After four big ship cruises to Alaska, I thought I had seen it all. But my recent Windstar cruise took me off Alaska’s beaten path and gave me experiences only possible on a small ship like the Star Seeker.
Continue reading “Sailing Off the Beaten Path on a Windstar Cruise to Alaska”
After many cruises to Alaska, these are my Alaska cruise planning tips.
There is no doubt that Alaska is a beautiful state. With glacier-studded mountain ranges, rugged coastlines, wildlife galore, and ancient native cultural traditions, it’s no surprise that it is a bucket list destination for many. Cruising southeast Alaska is an easy and (relatively) budget-friendly way to see one of the most scenic parts of this huge state.
I am sharing some of my favorite Ponant Antarctica cruise photos.
My Ponant cruise to Antarctica truly was a dream come true for me, especially as a photographer.
Continue reading “My Favorite Ponant Antarctica Cruise Photos – Penguins, Ice, and Dramatic Scenery”
Sharing my detailed Ponant L’Austral review after cruising for 18 days in Antarctica and South Georgia Island
My dream trip to Antarctica was on the beautiful Ponant L’Austral, a purpose-built French expedition ship designed to provide the highest levels of luxury while exploring the southern and northern polar regions.
Continue reading “My Ponant L’Austral Review – French Sophistication and Elegance at Sea”
These are the various things I did on the port stops on my cruise around South America
I’ve been fortunate to combine trips to South America and Antarctica twice. My first trip was on a Princess Itinerary that sailed around the southern tip of South America with 4 days in Antarctica. This was an easy way to visit many ports along South America’s coast, combined with some scenic cruising in Antarctica.
My second visit started with a three-week Patagonia exploration, followed by an 18-day sail on Ponant’s L’Austral from Ushuaia to Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands. The ship then headed north to Puerto Madryn, Argentina, and finished in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Continue reading “My South America Cruise Port Excursions – An Introduction to Wildlife and History”
