Cruise Reviews, Ship Reviews by The Avid Cruiser

Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava was a “capital in exile” for Hungary’s kings and archbishops during Turkey’s occupation of Hungary and most of the middle Danube basin from 1526 to 1784.

River cruisers typically do not overnight in Bratislava. But even a few hours is sufficient to appreciate Slovakia’s capital. Continue Reading »

New photos posted from early December’s Danube river cruise on AMA Waterways. Amalegro is currently sailing Christmas Market cruises. Click AMA Waterways Danube river cruise or select from the thumbnails below.

New Celebrity Solstice photographs posted. Click on the Celebrity Solstice slideshow or click photos below.

I caught up with Juan Balbuena on the Carnival Liberty. It wasn’t easy to break Balbuena’s brisk pace as he served drinks, but he paused for a moment to talk. Employed 16 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, Juan hails from the Dominican Republic. He has a son, 25 years old, who works on the Carnival Fantasy, and a 23-year-old daughter back home. If Balbuena appears happy, that’s because he is, “I like to make people happy and to do anything I can do to help them enjoy their cruises, because when I see that they are happy, that gives me happiness in return.”

Crystal Symphony anchored off the coast of Taormina, on the island of Sicily, Italy.

Near sunset in the Mediterranean Sea on Crystal Symphony.