Life is a patchwork of experiences
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”
This month’s podcast is all about my experience sailing on the beautiful Star Clipper in the Mediterranean.
Podcast link: Sailing the Seas: A Journey on the Star Clipper
Continue reading “February 12, 2026 podcast: Sailing the Seas, A Journey on the Star Clipper”
Sailing on the Star Clipper from Athens to Malta was a unique cruise experience that took me to less visited ports in the Mediterranean
“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open, and the world is full of beauty,” Rumi
I have always wished that I had learned to sail a boat. But since I never did, a Star Clipper cruise indulged my inner sailor without all the hard work that goes into sailing a masted ship.
Continue reading “Sailing Into the Sunset in the Med – A Detailed Star Clipper Review”
After two cruising the Ruby Princess through the Panama Canal and also To Alaska, I share the many Ruby Princess dining experiences on this ship
I’ve been fortunate to cruise on the Ruby Princess twice. The first time was a full transit through the Panama Canal, which was an amazing experience. The second time was a recent three-week cruise to Alaska, which was equally amazing.
I can honestly say I enjoyed all the food on the Ruby Princess on both cruises, and I took advantage of just about all of the dining options that were available to me.
In this Ruby Princess review I share detailed information with lots of photos from my recent cruise including a review of my cabin, public spaces and food options.
Some days, I wish I had a maid. And a cook. And since I am dreaming, let’s add a chauffeur and a gardener to the list. I’ve probably watched Downton Abbey one too many times and read too many books set in Britain’s golden age, where the hired help does all the work and the Lord and Lady of the manor get to have fun.
On a recent cruise, I tried as many of the Discovery Princess dining choices as I could reasonably fit in one week, including the exciting new 360 experience.
As Princess Cruises’ newest Royal Class ship, the Discovery Princess is a popular choice for cruisers, and it offers itineraries to many of the cruise line’s most popular destinations.
On my recent sailing on this beautiful ship, I tried to fit in as many of the Discovery Princess’ dining options as I reasonably could in one week. This was quite the challenge for my waistline, but my taste buds certainly appreciated it.
