Reflections From 2024

houseboating in voyageurs National Park

Last Updated on 01/07/25 by Rose Palmer

I am very thankful for yet another banner year of travel. For a total of 153 days I experienced destinations in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the US.

This year, I shared my travels with more people than I usually do. I cruised solo, but also took vacations with my husband, with my kids and grandkids, with a girlfriend, and also had a special mother-daughter cruise. Each trip was very memorable in its own way.

My love affair with cruises continued to grow throughout the year as I took to the water in a variety of vessels all across the globe. I cruised on river boats in India, on two different ocean going ships in Japan, a houseboat in Minnesota, a coastal cruise in Norway, two cruises ships in the Caribbean, and a river boat on the Rhine River in Germany.

There were also plenty of car miles, train rides, and airplane flights (33  to be exact). Overall, the trips went as planned with only a couple of minor illnesses along the way. The biggest hassle continues to be flying – but since my husband has still not invented a transporter, there aren’t any other options. My biggest challenge is to pack lighter – my suitcase seems to get heavier with each trip.

I also added a few new countries and locations and a new US National Park to my growing list: Nepal, India, South Korea, Svalbard, Dominica, and Voyageurs National Park, plus a few new Caribbean islands. That gives me a total of 55 countries (UN recognized) and 41 US National Parks.

Once again I am reflecting on this wonderful travel year, sharing the many reflection photos I love to take.

January

Disney World

I was privileged to share my grandsons’ first Walt Disney World experience. I’ll never forget my youngest grandson’s awed expression as we went through the It’s a Small World ride. Or my older grandson’s thrill at riding his first (small) rollercoaster. These are memories I will cherish forever.

Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom
Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom
It's A Small World attraction
It’s A Small World attraction

February

Park City Utah, Moab Utah, and Telluride Colorado

My husband’s favorite trip is his annual ski trip to Park City, Utah. This year we also combined it with a few days of skiing in Telluride, Colorado. In between, we spent some time in Moab, Utah where we took time to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Winter is definitely my favorite time to see these beautiful parks – there are no crowds, accommodations are cheaper, it’s not hot, and the lighting for photography is beautiful.

Arches National Park
Arches National Park
In Arches National Park
In Arches National Park

March

After taking Pandaw river cruises in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, I knew that I also wanted to take their river cruises in India and that I wanted to do it during Holi festival. Visiting India has long been a bucket list trip for both my husband and I, and this was the year to do it.

Nepal

We started our trip with a few days in Kathmandu, Nepal. It turned out we were there during the country’s biggest religious holiday, Maha Shivaratri. With the help of a guide, we navigated the crush of human bodies throughout the large temple as thousands celebrated the holy day. One of the most interesting sights was the Pashupatinath Temple Cremation Complex on the banks of the Bagmati River which runs non-stop all year.

India

Our visit in India started with the typical Golden Triangle route: Delhi – Agra (for the Taj Mahal) – Jaipur. As beautiful as the Taj Mahal was, the real highlight was our overnight glamping stay at the Dera Amer Wilderness Camp, an elephant sanctuary outside Jaipur.

The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal

From Jaipur we flew to Kolkata to start the first of our Pandaw river cruises, this one on the Lower Ganges. For a week we cruised the river and saw authentic Indian village life up close.

We followed this with a second Pandaw cruise on the Brahmaputra River. The scenery here was less developed and more wild. The highlight was a visit to the Kaziranga National Park where we saw Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros and Indian elephants.

Life on the Brahmaputra River
Life on the Brahmaputra River
Performers coming on board our Pandaw boat to entertain us
Performers coming on board our Pandaw boat to entertain us

A short third Pandaw cruise took us into the Sundarbans regions in search of the elusive Indian tiger. We did get to see a tiger in the reserve (but sadly not in the wild).

Boating on the Kerala canals
Boating on the Kerala canals

We finished our tour of India with a 3 day houseboat trip along the canals and waterways in the southern Kerala region, a completely different experience than we had up north.

The Kindat Pandaw on the Brahmaputra River
The Kindat Pandaw on the Brahmaputra River
Sunset on the Kalaw Pandaw in the Sunderbans
Sunset on the Kalaw Pandaw in the Sunderbans
Sandbank BBQ's were a highlight on each of the Pandaw river cruises in India
Sandbank BBQ’s were a highlight on each of the Pandaw river cruises in India

As before, the Pandaw river cruises were wonderful in every way. But, of the many places I have travelled, India took me most outside my comfort zone. The disregard for personal space, the trash everywhere, the constant noise and horn honking, the lack of respect for the rules of the road, these were all very different than the western lifestyle I was used to. It was an assault on all my senses and I was very glad to have the quiet and comfort of the Pandaw boats to retreat to. Still, I am glad I had a chance to experience this unique culture – once.

April

Home

I always make it a point to be home for as much of the month of April as possible. I Love to see all the flowers and trees spring up in my yard and in the many historic public gardens near me.

May and June

Japan and South Korea

I never tire of visiting Japan – it is one of my favorite destinations. In contrast to India, the Japanese culture emphasizes cleanliness and order, and the people are polite and welcoming. I had already visited Japan three times and was very familiar with Tokyo and Kyoto. This time, I wanted to see more off the beaten path locations, and a cruise around Japan and South Korea was just the ticket.

I started with a 10 day cruise with small ship expedition experts Heritage Expeditions. The itinerary started in Osaka and took me to out of the way locations that were culturally and scenically unique. I wrote all about it in my story Japan Off the Beaten Path With Heritage Expeditions.

Korakuen Garden outside of Okayama, Japan
Korakuen Garden outside of Okayama, Japan
Akiyoshido caves near Hagi, Japan
Akiyoshido caves near Hagi, Japan
Yuushien Garden near Sakaiminato, Japan
Yuushien Garden near Sakaiminato, Japan
In the Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa, Japan
In the Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa, Japan

In between cruises around Japan, I had a week in Tokyo with plenty of time to explore more of this this city’s many unique attractions, including all the different TeamLab digital art and light installations.

Team Lab Planets in tokyo
One of the TeamLab Planets rooms in Tokyo

I continued my cruising explorations around Japan with two 10 day circumnavigation itineraries on the Diamond Princess. This time, a good friend joined me and we had a ball experiencing the country and the ship to their fullest.

The Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama
The Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama
Escalator on the Diamond Princess going up to Skywalker's nightclub
Escalator on the Diamond Princess going up to Skywalker’s nightclub
Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
Historic village of Shirakawa go
Historic village of Shirakawa go
Dale Chihuly glass art exhibit at the Toyama Art Museum
Dale Chihuly glass art exhibit at the Toyama Art Museum
Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center
Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center

Over the course of six weeks, I got to see locations in Japan that I would not have easily ventured to on my own. This trip continued to increase my already high admiration for this country and its people, and I would happily go back again.

July

Ocean City, NJ

It was a fun long weekend with my kids and grandkids at the beach in Ocean City, NJ. We used to go there with our kids when they were little. It’s a pleasure to now watch as my son and daughter-in-law continue those traditions.

Minnesota

My husband and I planned a last minute trip to “the shores of Gitchee Gumee” (Lake Superior) and the north woods in Minnesota to try and escape the heat and humidity of eastern Pennsylvania.

I had always wanted to try houseboating in Voyageurs National Park, and this seemed like the perfect time to give this a try. After spending a few days at a cabin on Lake Superior, we rented a small houseboat for 5 days and meandered our way through the lakes in Voyageurs.

My husband really enjoyed fishing in the early morning on the lakes in Voyageurs National Park
My husband really enjoyed fishing in the early morning on the lakes in Voyageurs National Park
Enjoying a campfire on our houseboating tour of Voyageurs National Park
Enjoying a campfire on our houseboating tour of Voyageurs National Park

This turned out to be one of the most relaxing and pleasant vacations we’ve ever had. My husband fished, we cruised the lake, went swimming, and had campfires with s’mores at secluded campsites. Mostly, we just enjoyed the scenery which was pristine and totally unspoiled. It was like going backpacking deep in the woods but a lot more comfortable with beds, showers, and a kitchen.

August

Norway

At the end of August I flew to Oslo, Norway, and then on to the island of Svalbard to start an 8 day cruise with Hurtigruten. I was taking one of the Signature Journeys on the flagship MS Trollfjord that took me from Svalbard down to Bergen with interesting coastal stops along the way.

With a maximum of only 500 passengers (though our cruise had about 350), I really enjoyed this medium sized vessel. The atmosphere on board was quiet and very low key, which really appealed to me. The scenery took center stage, but the food on board was also quite remarkable. I would gladly take more cruises with Hurtigruten in the future.

Classic fjord view
Classic fjord view
The harbor and the Ms Trollfjord in Seebo
The harbor and the Ms Trollfjord in Seebo

September

Norway

After my cruise, my husband met me in Oslo for the start of a month long road trip throughout Norway. We started in Oslo and worked our way west and north, exploring towns, fjords, mountain passes, and the coastline.

Photographically, Norway was a jackpot for reflection photos.

View from the scenic train ride from Oslo to Bergen
View from the scenic train ride from Oslo to Bergen
Cruising in Naeroyfjord
Cruising in Naeroyfjord
Beautiful Laerdal Old Town
Beautiful Laerdal Old Town
One of the lakes in Olden
One of the lakes in Olden
Stayed at a converted fishing cottage
Stayed at a converted fishing cottage
Lovely Alesund
Lovely Alesund
In Trondheim
In Trondheim

In Trondheim, we traded the car for a train as we made our way north past the Arctic Circle to Bodo, where we rented another car and headed to the Lofoten Islands and points further north.

in the town of A on the Lofoten Islands
In the town of A on the Lofoten Island
View of the Town of Reine in the Lofoten Islands
View of the Town of Reine in the Lofoten Islands
Stunning scenery at every turn
Stunning scenery at every turn
Nyssfjord village, Norway
Nusfjord village, Norway
Stayed in a glass cabin
Stayed in a glass cabin
In Henningsvaer, Norway
In Henningsvaer, Norway
On the beautiful island of Senja
On the beautiful island of Senja

We explored northern Norway, staying put in one location for a few nights at a time to increase our chances of seeing the Northern Lights. And see them we did, in all their glory at a couple of different locations.

Norway was truly a stunningly beautiful country (though very expensive) that I would be happy to go back to again.

The northern lights in the Tromso area of Norway
The northern lights in the Tromso area of Norway

October

Svalbard

From mainland Norway we flew on to Svalbard where we spent three days discovering the unique culture of the northernmost settlement in the world before heading back home.

In Longyearbyen, Svalbard
In Longyearbyen, Svalbard

November

Caribbean

In November I took some “me time” with a two week cruise on the Enchanted Princess. It was a repositioning cruise from New York to Fort Lauderdale, with a lot of the sea days that I love along with a few Caribbean port stops. It was a very relaxing two weeks with plenty of time to write, watch movies, read, and just get spoiled.

In Fort Lauderdale, my daughter joined me for a week on the brand new Sun Princess. 30 years after taking my first Princess cruise with my mother, I was doing a Princess cruise with my daughter. What a treat to share wonderful meals, musical performances, and beach time with my daughter before she moves 700 miles away.

Sunset reflection on the Sun Princess glass sphere
Sunset reflection on the Sun Princess glass sphere

December

I was thrilled to be invited on a media trip with Riverside Luxury Cruises to experience the Christmas markets along the Rhine River. I grew up with German Christmas traditions and have long wanted to experience the authentic German Christmas markets.

The cruise on the Riverside Debussy was wonderful and defined the word luxury in every sense. The ship was beautiful, the service was extremely attentive, and the food was fabulous.

The Riverside Debussy glows like a jewel at night
The Riverside Debussy glows like a jewel at night
Netherlands

The cruise started in Amsterdam, so my husband and I chose to spend a few days exploring the city before the departure. As pretty as the city of Rembrandt and Van Gogh is in the warmer months, this time of year it was drab and raining – every day.

A rainy Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam
A rainy Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam
Germany

Our Rhine River Christmas Market cruise took us to Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Rudesheim, Manheim, and Mainz, where we discovered some of each town’s highlights along with the local Christmas markets. We also enjoyed a day of cruising through the Rhine River Gorge with all its scenic castles and vineyards.

Dusseldorf Christmas market is reflected in one of the large globe decorating the central market's Christmas tree
The Dusseldorf Christmas market is reflected in one of the large globe decorating the central market’s Christmas tree
One of the rhine River Gorge castles is reflected in a glass of local Riesling wine
One of the Rhine River Gorge castles is reflected in a glass of local Riesling wine

Professional achievements

For the seventh year in a row, my content was recognised with 4 more awards by the North American Travel Journalists Association (1 silver, 2 bronzes, and an Honorable Mention).

Besides writing and updating content for this blog (not as much as I had hoped), I’ve also become a regular contributor to the website SheBuysTravel.com. All my stories for SheBuysTravel.com have been syndicated to 26+ McClatchy newspapers throughout the US, including major markets like Miami (Miami Herald), Fort Worth (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), and Kansas City (Kansas City Star).

With help from the ladies at BigBlendRadioandTV.com, in November I also started my own monthly podcast channel, Quiltripping Travel With Rose. Every second Thursday at 7 PM, my podcast will go live and will be available via Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Audible, and other major podcast sources. Each month I’ll be sharing stories from my travels and cruises to inspire others.

2024 was not a good year for quilting

Despite having 7 months at home this year, my sewing room has been rather lonely. I had many good intentions and started a few new projects, but only finished one quick and easy Christmas panel quilt and a Norwegian inspired table runner.

My "Snowy Christmas" quilt
My “Snowy Christmas” quilt
My Norwegian inspired holiday table runner
My Norwegian inspired holiday table runner

I did have fun taking a number of textile related workshops while I was in Japan. My favorite was learning how to make Temari balls, traditional Japanese embroidered balls. I also picked up a new hobby – sashiko embroidery. I like this because it is easy and very portable which means I can take it with me on flights, cruises, and car rides.

Learning Japanese sashiko embroidery
Learning Japanese sashiko embroidery

After many, many years, I found out that I still remember how to knit. The Hurtigruten cruise offered a knitting class to make a traditional Norwegian hat which was fun to work on while I was travelling throughout Norway.

My knitted Norwegian hat from the Hurtigruten cruise
My knitted Norwegian hat from the Hurtigruten cruise

Final thoughts

It amazes me how quickly another year has passed. With each year, the luggage seems to get just a little bit heavier, the long haul flights get a little harder, and the jet lag takes a little longer to get over. But, as long as my health holds out, I will continue to travel as much as I can – because there is no guarantee on what tomorrow will bring.

So what’s planned for 2025?  My husband and I have a few bucket list trips we are thinking about taking, and of course, I am hoping to do lots more cruising again. I have some ideas for part of the year and then I’ll see where the rest of the year takes me.

I want to end with a big thank you to the brands that worked with me this year and put their trust in my writing and photography: Heritage Expeditions, Hurtigruten, Princess Cruises, and Riverside Luxury Cruises. I enjoyed all my trips with each one and heartily recommend them all.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone that continues to read and enjoy my content.

 

Wishing you safe travels in the coming year.

Rose