Cruise Reviews, Ship Reviews by The Avid Cruiser

One of the great advantages of cruise ships is that experts frequently travel with you to help explain what you are seeing and visiting. When cruising in culturally significant places like Europe or in natural wonderlands like Alaska, the cruise lines will schedule sessions with experts who can add meaning and understanding to the visit. Continue Reading »

Thirty years ago, a 21-year-old boy from North Carolina ventured all the way to Los Angeles and hopped a flight to Tahiti. What possessed him to pursue such a notion? Coconuts. I know, because that boy was me. Months before my journey, I had seen a photograph of one of the Tahitian isles — a island characterized by verdant volcanic peaks shrouded in wispy clouds, ocean as blue as Windex and thick groves of coconut palms. I wanted to be there, among the coconut groves, and so I charted a course for this picture-perfect paradise. Continue Reading »

A world cruise. At first, the idea seems viscerally decadent, conjuring images of bejeweled formal nights, exceedingly long sessions of bridge, day following day at sea, one gourmet meal blurring lazily into the other — and not to mention, super expensive for a luxurious journey of up to four months.

But as with so much about cruising, the image of world cruising is far removed from the reality.

For starters, world cruises are becoming much more affordable. For example: Book an inside cabin on Holland America Line’s 2009 world cruise for $24,508. Think of it: a full world cruise that circumnavigates the globe, visiting 39 ports on five continents, for less than $200 per day. You’d pay more than that for a stay at a resort — that doesn’t move.

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[Updated and archived on October 9, 2009] Across the luxury cruise segment, suppliers are ordering new ships, marshaling additional capacity for world cruises and gearing up their ships in ways that appeal to those who previously never had the time for extended luxury cruises. Continue Reading »

Straddling the seat of a motorbike, my driver and I weave in and out of traffic as we make our way to Ho Chi Minh City’s central market. Traveling at a slow pace, the ride is nonetheless invigorating, with few traffic lights and apparently no traffic laws to impose order. Intersections are chaotic, with motorbikes, cars, busses and pedicabs all competing to make their way through. My driver skillfully brakes, accelerates and toots his horn to glide with astounding finesse through the clutter. ‘You go to market,’ he says, looking over his shoulder at me. ‘I waiting for you.’

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Can the nearly all-inclusive, ultra-luxury Silversea Whisper satisfy your insatiable appetite for pampering?

Ship: Silversea Cruises Silver Whisper

Entered Service: 2001

Overview: Like its sister Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper boasts an ultra-luxury, ‘near all-inclusive’ experience. You won’t need to dole out extra cash for gratuities, alcohol, soft drinks, juices, specialty coffees or shuttle service between the ship and city centers. But your cruise fare won’t quite cover everything, either. There are charges for shore excursions, internet usage, spa services, cigars from The Humidor, and premium wines and liquors. Laundry service, but not dry cleaning or pressing, is included in many stateroom categories, and use launderettes is free of charge for all stateroom categories. Continue Reading »