Tag Archives: travel

Birds, Bears, & Barnacles

Posted on August 3, 2018 by

Previously when visiting Sitka our ship anchored offshore and tendered passengers to town. On our last visit we were surprised when the Holland America Oosterdam pulled into a dock over 5 miles from town. Though this dock at the Halibut … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Holland America, Oosterdam, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marseilles, France

Posted on July 27, 2018 by

Marseilles, a port on the Mediterranean coast of France, has been a major commercial port and trading center since ancient Greek and Roman times. It’s second only to Paris for France’s largest city. It has a mild climate and is … Continue reading →

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Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Posted on July 6, 2018 by

When visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, we almost always end up at one of the historical forts there. Partly because it’s cheap to get in and there are 2 forts within walking distance of the ship, but also because we … Continue reading →

Posted in Caribbean, Carnival, Magic, Port Cities, Ports of Call | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What’s Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Posted on June 22, 2018 by

Probably the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Pisa is the iconic leaning tower. At Carnival Vista’s port stop in Liverno, Italy we decided to go to nearby Pisa to see it. Florence and Pisa are … Continue reading →

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Havana Cruise Ship Port

Posted on June 8, 2018 by

Sailing into Havana, ships negotiate a narrow channel with the guidance of a local pilot. Local pilots board the ship prior to entrance of most any port so that part is standard procedure. Coming into port is quite scenic with … Continue reading →

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Rome In A Day

Posted on May 18, 2018 by

They say you can’t see Rome in a day, but if a day is all you have you see what you can. Carnival Vista made a port stop in Civitavecchia, which is as close as a ship gets to Rome … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Europe, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions, Vista | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spaces and Places on Carnival Vista

Posted on April 6, 2018 by

Some places are standard on all major cruise ships. Besides passenger cabins they all have bars, a variety of places to eat, pools, hot tubs, outdoor decks, shops, a gym, a casino, and a spa. Most cruise lines have more similarities … Continue reading →

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Penrith, Australia

Posted on March 30, 2018 by

When embarking or disembarking a cruise in Sydney, if you have a few days to stay it’s nice to see some of the surrounding area. We took advantage of disembarking the P&O Arcadia there to visit with our daughter who … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Port City Side Trips | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Booking a Cruise By Category Guarantee

Posted on March 17, 2018 by

Most of the time when people book cruises they choose a specific cabin for their cruise. Choosing a cabin lets passengers find a cabin that meets their needs, whether it is a quiet location, close to an elevator, or in … Continue reading →

Posted in Randoms, Shipboard Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Amber Cove & Ocean World

Posted on January 26, 2018 by

Carnival Magic backed slowly into the dock at Amber Cove near Puerta Plata in the Dominican Republic under sunny skies, which were quite welcome on a day where the weather forecast included thundershowers. Although it rained some overnight, no thunder … Continue reading →

Posted in Caribbean, Carnival, Magic, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment