For optimal viewing, click the full screen icon. Back in September, videographer Chris Stanley and I spent seven days traveling in the south of France with cruise itinerary planners from Seabourn, SeaDream, Voyages of Discovery, MSC and NCL. The cruise line reps were there, as were we, to familiarize themselves with all that this fabulous region has… [Read More]
5 Reasons, Make That 6, Why We Love Cruising Provence
Certainly, Provence’s exquisite rosé wines, so soft on the palate and as refreshing as a sweet summer grape, are one reason that I love exploring the south of France. The French rosés, as many of you know, are nothing like the American rosés, which tend to be sticky and sweet. Provencal rosés, however, are about much… [Read More]
A New Series Of Videos Shot In Southern France
I was extremely fortunate to spend this past September in the south of France. Along with Vancouver-based videographer Chris Stanley, I visited a mix of destinations, some that are already on cruise itineraries — and some that deserve to be. Probably the best example of a shore excursion that should be on cruise line radar… [Read More]
Beautiful Medieval Village, Most Popular Shore Excursion: The Avid Cruiser Takes On Le Castellet
The most popular shore excursion for cruise passengers visiting Var Provence’s Toulon and Le Seyne Sur Mer, Le Castellet is a small feudal village perched on a cliff’s edge. It oozes charm, and we were lucky to spend a half-day exploring this historically interesting and beautiful town. Sit back and take a virtual tour in… [Read More]
In The South Of France, Again (Not That We’re Complaining)
This week, the Avid Cruiser is in Marseille, France attending Seatrade Med, a cruise industry event where destinations, ports, cruise lines — and virtually any company with an interest in cruising — get together to showcase their products and explore ways to continue innovating cruise vacations. I’m there, in part, to help launch two new… [Read More]
In My Viewfinder: Beautiful & Varied Var Provence. Where? Let Us Show You
We spent the past week filming in 14 locations in Var Provence. I’ve seldom visited a cruise destination with such a diverse range of memorable experiences. First, however, I should tell you that there is no such place as Var Provence. The official name of the region I am speaking of, and where I am sitting as I type these words, is Var, a department (roughly equivalent to a county) situated in the south of France — in Provence.
Morning Has Broken: Liberty of the Seas Coming Into Toulon (France)
It’s not often that you get a chance to snap a shot like this one, a mega-ship pulling into a port in the South of France, with the morning sun casting its golden rays across the sky and on the water. We were up early to watch Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas dock at… [Read More]
In My Viewfinder: One Week In France & A Lot More To Go
One week ago today, I was leaving Copenhagen, en route to Nice, France, via Frankfurt, Germany, where a strike by Lufthansa was full on. I made it through Frankfurt, landed in lovely Nice, where I met with Avid Cruiser’s star videographer, Chris Stanley, and thus began our one-month-plus project to film more than a dozen cruise… [Read More]
