Our Blog

Enjoy a drive through the charming Tuscan countryside in Italy. Then follow your well-informed Regent Seven Seas tour guide through the Duomo and across the Pontevecchio in Florence, and learn the story of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visit the Vatican in Rome including the Sistine Chapel. It’s Free! Explore the historic Summer Palace of Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg, Russia. Take a leisurely canal cruise; visit magnificent Peterhof, former home of Czar Peter... Read More →

Amsterdam is a place that seems to invoke the phrase “it could only happen here” more than most other world cities. Old meets modern, conservative meets free-thinking, happy-go-lucky meets reminders of sadder times. And of course, there are the… well… illegal pursuits that draw visitors as well, if not to indulge, then at least to gawk The city lies amid a series of concentric canals, planned and purposely built that way, although the actual reason... Read More →

Two American-based cruise lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, are going to try “interporting.” Interporting means there are two or more embarkation (and disembarkation) ports during a cruise, allowing passengers to choose where they want to begin and end their cruise. The practice is quite common on European-based cruise lines. Royal Caribbean International (RCCL) will experiment with interporting during the 2012-13 winter season on the Brilliance of the Seas’ two Southern Caribbean itineraries.... Read More →

Istanbul, Turkey has become quite the fashionable port of call on Aegean cruises, Mediterranean cruises and even Black Sea cruises. The city that “straddles two continents” (Europe and Asia) also seems to straddle two personalities. Istanbul combines ancient religious architecture with a modern financial metropolis, modest Islamic culture with wild, trendy nightlife. An embarkation point on many voyages, travelers should grab the opportunity to arrive at least a day before their cruise ship sails and... Read More →

Just the name Taj Mahal evokes images of marble grandeur, perfect symmetry, pristine beauty, and eternal love. The actual place is all that – and so much more. The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many visitors combine the Taj with other destinations in India. One of the safest and loveliest ways to go is on a cruise; ships call at ports such... Read More →

A highlight of any Baltic cruise is a stop in St. Petersburg, Russia. Home of the former czars, this city boasts magnificent churches, palatial residences, charming canals and one of the grandest and most important museums in the world. In fact, there is so much to see that most cruises spend two days in port in St. Petersburg! Cruise lines such as Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises offer comprehensive tours of... Read More →

Guests can personalize their shore experiences with new tours and packages from Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises is introducing more than 1,000 new tours and excursion packages that allow guests to custom design their destination experience and enjoy significant savings. This product enhancement is in addition to previously announced new beverage packages. Both constitute the third phase of the line’s ongoing Pillars of Distinction initiative. “These new packages provide guests the opportunity to take full advantage... Read More →

A cruise is quite possibly the most perfect of all vacations. Think of pampered relaxation, top-notch fun and entertainment and outstanding food. But don’t forget an equally important component that makes cruise vacations so memorable – shore excursions. The number and type of shore excursions are limited only by the cruise itinerary itself. But don’t let an overabundance of options paralyze you. Here are some tips to help you choose “a shore thing.” You probably... Read More →

Oceania Cruises has always been able to differentiate itself from other cruise lines. First of all, it’s literally in a category by itself – “Affordable Luxury.” Opulent ships, world-class dining, exciting itineraries and incomparable personal service go hand in hand with reasonable fares, many extras included, and country club casual attire. Now Oceania Cruises is introducing their “Signature Sailings” for 2012-2013. These are themed sailings that include guest speakers, special events and much more. There... Read More →

Cruising is probably the best way to get the most out of your vacation dollars. Along with enjoying the benefits of an all-inclusive luxury retreat, you can tour a variety of port cities and their important attractions, without the bother of having to pack and unpack. The best part is that you can often discover a place you didn’t even know you wanted to see. Sometimes it requires a gamble of time and money, but... Read More →

Italy is not a huge country, but the popular cities are spread out. Trying to get from here to there on your own can be frustrating. So for a trip to Italy, consider Tauck Tours: A Week In Venice, Florence & Rome. This tour highlights these essential Italian cities, along with some very enjoyable extras. Escorted tour companies like Tauck cater to discriminating travelers who appreciate luxurious 5-star accommodations, special exclusives, scrumptious meals at charming... Read More →

My once-in-a-lifetime Silversea Cruise from Dubai to the Seychelle Islands included stops in India. I was fortunate to take a mid-voyage land adventure to the Number One place on my bucket list: the Taj Mahal. We left the ship, the Silver Wind, in Mumbai and re-embarked three days later in Cochin, a surprisingly beautiful seaside city on the Arabian Sea. But what I was truly hoping to encounter was a snake-charmer. I had seen the... Read More →