Reportage
A-Rosa Cruises: On the Danube Among Xmas Markets
Central Europe’s Christmas markets have become a true “cult” of winter tourism, attracting millions of visitors from all over the continent and even from other regions of the world. The charm of the colors, lights, culinary specialties, and Christmas decorations come together in a unique setting, with Europe’s most beautiful cities providing the perfect backdrop […] Read more
A Tour on Board the Mein Schiff 7
While TUI Cruises‘ attention is already focused on the new Mein Schiff Relax (2025) and Mein Schiff Flow (2026), it was the Mein Schiff 7 that strengthened the fleet this year. When TUI Cruises ordered the second sister ship of the Mein Schiff 1, delivered in the same year, in February 2018, plans for a […] Read more
Celebrity Equinox: My First Cruise with Celebrity
In October I took a cruise on Celebrity Equinox, my first Celebrity Cruise. The company claim to be a premium cruise line and over the years have produced some excellent and innovative vessels with features including restaurants furnished with fittings for old ocean liners such as White Star Line’s Olympic. They also created real grass […] Read more
Aboard Hanseatic Inspiration alles ist gut!
Hapag Lloyd’s expedition ship repositions from Boston to Panama Hapag-Lloyd has one of the most highly rated cruise ship fleets in the world. Their pioneering role in cruising began in 1891. That was the year that Albert Ballin, Director of the “Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft”, Hapag for short, offered its first pleasure cruise. It sailed from Hamburg […] Read more
Viking Glory: A Cruise Ferry for the 21st Century
The large ferry ships of the Baltic Sea meet the highest standards, often turning crossings into mini-cruises. Viking Glory, by Viking Line, is the largest and most modern among them. The shipping company describes it as “one of the most eco-friendly ships in the world” and promises “a world-class experience.” The specialized press calls it […] Read more
Birka Gotland: Mini cruise to Visby
In April 2024, the Birka Gotland returned to active cruise service following a lengthy Covid lay-up, a subsequent change in ownership and a thorough refurbishment. Now jointly owned by Rederi AB Gotland (Visby) and Viking Line (Mariehamn), the former Birka Paradise (2004 – 2013) and Birka Stockholm (2013 – 2019) in her third incarnation regularly […] Read more
Onboard the Queen Victoria for a Mediterranean Cruise
Here we are, ready to embark on a new journey to explore a legendary cruise line renowned for its expertise in transatlantic crossings. But this time, it’s a Mediterranean cruise, featuring a tour of Corsica, Sardinia, and the Italian coast! So begins our adventure with Cunard, a line not widely known to the French or […] Read more
Royal Clipper: A Sailing Experience and Beyond
Anyone who knows how to look beyond the usual clichés about cruising is well aware that this world offers an extremely wide range of products, tailored to different nationalities, vacation styles, budgets, and age groups. Many companies focus on exclusive experiences, while others prioritize onboard innovation. We recently discovered the world of Star Clippers, a […] Read more
On board Viva Two towards the Danube Delta
A river cruise to the east of Europe At kilometer 2,336 – one of the longest river cruises in Europe starts in Passau (Germany). Will we make it to kilometer “0” on the Danube at the Black Sea? That remains to be seen over the next 16 days. This majestic waterway, which flows right across […] Read more
Atlas Ocean Voyages: Intimate Yacht Style Cruises
There are cruise lines that are immediately associated with a specific characteristic—perhaps the size of their ships, the richness of their culinary offerings, or the allure of sailing. For Atlas Ocean Voyages, at least on a personal level, I didn’t have a strong and unique characteristic in mind to attribute to this relatively new brand […] Read more