IMAGINE EXPLORING SOUTH AFRICA ON A BOUTIQUE CRUISE

For years, a dream of mine has been to travel to South Africa, not only to experience and photograph the stunning landscapes of the region, but above all, to have the opportunity to see wild animals in their natural habitat. That dream has not yet been realized, as planning such a trip has been a bit intimidating…..until now.

My husband and I are great cruise aficionados and, if you follow our site, have seen much of the world thanks to our experiences onboard boutique ships. As we always say, on a cruise you unpack once and the world of exploration, in luxurious comfort, awaits you. We would never had been able to visit and photograph so many destinations on our own, as we have in all the ports of call around the world we were able to visit as part of a boutique cruise itinerary.

Imagine experiencing the wonders of South Africa on this boutique, luxury ship!

Photo credit: Azamara Cruises

So it was with great interest I learned of Azamara’s return to South Africa this winter, with sailings from Capetown from January to March 2022, which include visits to several South African ports as well a safari adventure at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, home to Africa's "big five" wild animals, and tours of traditional Zulu homesteads.

Pre-and post land explorations are available with leading luxury safari operator, Micato Safaris, an award-winning outfitter. Their land programs include a five-night itinerary in Greater Kruger National Park, where Azamara travelers will have the opportunity to explore the Kapama Game Reserve, home to more than 40 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo.

As an added bonus, you can raise a glass to your close encounter with nature in a world-class wine region. This tour takes you to the Western Cape, blessed with the perfect climate for making award-winning wines, to explore the country’s famous wine region, sip local vintages, and enjoy gourmet meals at renowed local restaurants.

Other pre-post cruise itineraries include visits to Victoria Falls and the Chobe Game Park Safari and Thula Thura, one of the oldest private game reserves in the African bushveld.

You’ll return from these exhilerating experiences, aka Amazara Destination Immersion experiences, to the comfort and luxury of your Amazara ship, where you will enjoy exceptional cuisine and top notch entertainment as you sail through the oceans of South Africa.

Amazara offers cruises in all seven continents of the world, and as an added plus, gratuities, select beverages, cultural events and more are included in the fare. For more information visit www.azamara.com.

AMAWATERWAYS ANNOUNCES A NEW RIVER CRUISE SHIP DESTINATION

Every since my husband and I experienced our first river cruise on AmaWaterways more than a decade ago, we’ve been loyal fans not only of river cruises in general, but of this exceptional cruise line. As for the cruise experience itself, the fact that you can unpack once in your luxurious suite and immediately begin to explore the culture and history of the destination you are visiting (both from your veranda—as splendid sights pass you by—as well as on well-organized land tours (including guided biking excursions) offered each day. Exquisite gourmet meals accompanied by fine wines, special lectures on the history of your destination, and local entertainment round out this perfectly-orchestrated luxury travel experience.

Colombia’s Magdalena river will set the scene for AmaWaterway’s newest cruise option, set to launch in December 2023

Photo courtesy: AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways already offers a wide selection of destinations, from the major waterways of Europe to the rivers of Africa and Asia. And starting December 2023, there will be another option available to adventurous travelers: a cruise on the Magdalena river which flows through Colombia, South America.

Locally known as “The River of a Thousand Rhythms,” the Magdalena River cruise will offer guests an up-close-and-personal tour into the vibrant cultural and natural heritage that lines the river’s banks. Guests will be able to choose between two seven-night itineraries, with pre- and post-cruise options available.

To learn more about this exciting new itinerary, visit AmaWaterways.com/Colombia. The company recently celebrated its 19-year anniversary providing exceptional cruise experiences to travelers from around the world.

For a taste of what you can enjoy on an AmaWaterways Cruise, we invite you to view this short video of our unforgettable experiences onboard an AmaWaterways cruise from Amsterdam to Basel down the Rhine river.

VIKING CRUISE LINES BEGINS ITS "WELCOME BACK" CRUISE AROUND ICELAND FOR THE 2021 SEASON

It’s no mystery that we are devoted fans of Viking Cruise lines, with whom we have traveled over the years on many amazing and memorable adventures.

We’re overjoyed to announce that Viking successfully launched its season just a few days ago (June 28) to begin its 2021 season. Here are the highlights:

The majestic Viking Sky sails past the town of Tromso, Norway on its Into the Midnight Sun voyage. Photos of the newly-launched Iceland itinerary will be posted shortly. Photo courtesy Viking Cruise Lines

Viking® (www.viking.com) celebrated the latest milestone in its return to service as guests were welcomed on board in Iceland. Over this past weekend, guests boarded the award-winning Viking Sky® in Reykjavík, where the ship will homeport this summer along with her sister ship Viking Jupiter®. Both ships will sail the new Iceland's Natural Beauty itinerary through early September 2021. Offered as part of Viking's Welcome Back collection, exclusively available for vaccinated guests, the voyage currently underway is the first of 19 round trip sailings from Reykjavík. The eight-day circumnavigation of Iceland calls upon the coastal towns of Akureyri, Seydisfjördur, Heimaey and more before returning to the capital city. 

Those who sail Welcome Back voyages will also experience Viking's industry-leading health and safety program. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health & Safety Program was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C. Bono, M.D., Viking's Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps—and most recently led Washington State's medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A complete overview of the Viking Health & Safety Program can be found at: www.viking.com/health-safety.

In addition to Iceland, Viking will also launch Welcome Back sailings in the Mediterranean with three ocean ships homeported in Valletta, Malta. It will also restart its European river operations with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine.

Booking Details

Let Viking welcome you back! Limited space is still available on 2021 summer sailings. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464), visit www.viking.com, or contact your travel advisor.

Never been on a magical Viking Cruise? Check out our USATODAY 10Best article and the video below highlighting our unforgettable “Into the Midnight Sun” itinerary on the Viking Sky® .

Enjoy a one-minute video, taken from our suite’s veranda, as we sailed past the Arctic Circle and soaked in the majesty of the midnight sun.

This itinerary, as well as the circumnavigation of Iceland sail and many other destinations, are awaiting you onboard Viking Cruise Lines.

BREAKING NEWS FOR SMALL SHIP CRUISE LOVERS

For those of us who love small ship cruising, we had some good news today!

American Cruise Lines announced that it is ready to operate the 2021 Alaska season as scheduled. The season includes 8-Day and 11-Day cruises on the Inside Passage that explore Southeast Alaska in depth, with excursions that bring you up-close-and-personal with this unforgettable landscape.

Cruises will operate exclusively in U.S. waters aboard the American Constellation, one of the newest ships in Alaska. The June to September season will consist of 8-Day Southeast Alaska cruises round-trip from Juneau, and brand new 11-Day Alaskan Explorer cruises which venture further into the Inside Passage, Clarence Straight, Tracy Arm, and Glacier Bay. The longer Alaskan Explorer cruises are offered round-trip from Juneau, as well as from Ketchikan to Juneau.

Glorious views over Juneau Alaska from Mt. Roberts Tramway © Joanne DiBona Photography

American’s 2021 cruises have voluntary capacity reductions and industry-leading COVID-19 mitigation practices, including pre-boarding testing and medical staff on board. American’s COVID-19 Operating Protocol is designed to keep communities safe, and these protocols  are  available on the company’s website here.

BREAKING NEWS: THE LUXURY EXPEDITION YACHT CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR WILL SAIL AROUND ICELAND IN JULY 2021

The 10-Night “Luxury Iceland Expedition” Itinerary will circumnavigate Iceland and cross the Arctic Circle

The Crystal Endeavor, Crystal Cruises new luxury expedition yacht, is positioned off of the Surtsey Island, Iceland in preparation for its inaugural voyage in July. Photo credit: Crystal Cruises

In news that resonated with expedition cruise lovers around the globe, Crystal Cruises announced the much-anticipated inaugural deployment of Crystal Endeavor, the first groundbreaking ship for Crystal Expedition Cruises. As the first and only true luxury expedition yacht to restart cruising in the Arctic and Northern Europe, Crystal Endeavor will sail five 10-night immersive voyages circumnavigating Iceland’s most dramatically beautiful and fascinating locales beginning July 17, 2021. The Luxury Iceland Expedition voyages will sail round-trip from the ship’s homeport of Reykjavík. Reservations for Crystal Endeavor’s Luxury Iceland Expedition journeys open April 13.

Built at a cost of more than half a billion U.S. dollars, Crystal Endeavor will be the most spacious, fastest and most powerful expedition ship in the industry, with a Polar Class 6 (PC6) classification that enables her to sail in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

View on one of the ports of call on the Crystal Endeavor, the beautiful city of Akureyri in Northern Iceland. Photo credit: Visit Island

Crystal Endeavor is designed to accommodate just 200 guests with a one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio. Her luxurious design features expansive personal and social spaces. This spaciousness will be further enhanced as she embarks on the Luxury Iceland Expedition Iceland voyages with reduced capacity.

Among the highlights of the itinerary are overnight stays in Reykjavík and Akureyri; a call to Grímsey Island and crossing the Arctic Circle; the unspoiled Arnarfjörður fjord, cascading Dynjandi Waterfall and famous geothermal springs of Vopnafjörđur and Seyđisfjörđur. The itinerary – which sails through peak whale migration in the region July through mid-September – also visits Patreksfjörđur, and pink- and red-sand Rauðasandur Beach; Iceland’s whale-watching capital of Húsavík; and Heimaey, home to a beluga whale sanctuary. Birder havens include “puffin paradise” Hafnarhólmi; Flatey Island, a floating nature preserve that is home to thousands of puffins, Eider ducks, Black Guillemots and Arctic Terns; Vigur and the Látrabjarg Cliffs, where thousands more puffins reside.

The spectacular Goðafoss Waterfall in northern Iceland. Photo Credit: Crystal Cruises

Guests will have the rare opportunity to stand on the Bridge Between Two Continents, which spans the Mid-Atlantic rift and connects North America with Eurasia. Two of Iceland’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites are also featured: Þingvellir National Park and sailing around volcanic Surtsey Island.

Designed to take travelers far off the beaten path of traditional cruise routes, the Luxury Iceland Expedition voyages offer intensive exploration of massive glaciers, breathtaking wildlife and stunning landscapes of the region during the season of endless daylight. Expert-led expeditions may include zodiac landings to rarely explored coastlines and treks to remote hidden locales.

The charming city of Husavik, Island is a port of call on the Crystal Endeavors tour of Iceland. Photo Credit: Crystal Cruises

Crystal Endeavor’s accommodations will be elegantly appointed retreats for guests after days full of exploration, and among the largest, most spacious suites in expedition cruising. The 100 suites will include one Owner’s Suite (1,867 sq. ft.), one Expedition Penthouse (1,668.5 sq. ft.), eight Penthouse Suites (534.5 sq. ft.) and 90 Deluxe Suites (355.5 sq. ft.) – all with dramatic views of the destinations and private verandas. and privacy. Luxury touches in every suite include king-sized beds, walk-in closets; heated storage for drying parkas; spa-like bathrooms with adjustable heated floors, dual vanities, anti-fog mirrors and rain-shower heads. The stylish design is matched by state-of-the-art technological amenities that will enhance the experience with fine details, like ambient lighting, interactive streaming TVs and bedside iPads in every suite that offer voyage information and numerous international daily newspapers.

As Michelin-level, globally inspired culinary options are a hallmark of the Crystal Experience, Crystal Endeavor will feature eight distinct dining venues for guests to enjoy a world of exquisite cuisine. Waterside, the ship’s main restaurant, features ever evolving menus of classic and modern cuisine in a casually elegant space, while Crystal’s renowned specialty restaurants Prego and Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma & Sushi Bar offer international flavors. Wine aficionados can indulge in the Vintage Room, and guests seeking fresh light bites will favor the Marketplace’s two-story Solarium for breakfast and lunch, the Bistro’s European café setting and the Pantry’s 24/7 espresso, teas, wines and more. In-suite dining is also available from Waterside 24 hours a day, as well as from Prego and Umi Uma during their operating hours.

A view on the magnificent Goðafoss Waterfall falls in northern Iceland Photo credit: Crystal Cruises, © Jon Runar

Palm Court – a favorite hub for afternoon tea, cocktails, dancing and floor-to-ceiling views aboard Crystal’s ocean and river ships – will be on board Crystal Endeavor for entertainment, as well as enrichment presentations and classes. Other elegant social spaces will be the Connoisseur Club cigar lounge; Crystal Cove, the heart of the ship where guests will gather for expert guest speakers and entertainment; and the only casino on an expedition yacht. Enrichment venues will include the Captain’s Lounge, the Expedition Lounge, the Helicopter Lounge (two helicopters will be onboard in designated locations) and the Library.

Prepare to be awed by the incredible marine life you will experience onboard this amazing maritime adventure. Photo credit: Crystal Cruises

The Promenade will stretch from Crystal Cove to Waterside and be a more intimate space for guests to enjoy cocktails, conversation and spectacular views. The glass-covered, two-story Solarium – which houses the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi – provides panoramic views from sea to sky, perfect for stargazing and capturing stunning events like the Northern Lights and the surrounding scenery. The space also transforms for evening entertainment, with a stage and ample space for guests to dance. Crystal’s onboard boutiques, Apropos and Facets, will feature designer accessories and fine jewelry shopping. Wellness options will include a fully-equipped fitness center and Crystal Life Spa & Salon with three treatment rooms, separate men’s and women’s steam and sauna facilities and a relaxation room, as well as a wrap-around Promenade Deck, rare in the industry but a key Crystal design element.

Crystal Clean+ and Crystal Pristine

Crystal announced in February that guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship. This new requirement is in addition to existing, comprehensive Crystal Clean+ measures, including negative COVID-19 tests for both guests and crew, reduced capacity, social distancing, nimble mask policy, rigorous cleaning procedures, isolation rooms in case of illness and health screening questionnaires.

Crystal is enticing travelers with compelling savings, reduced deposits and an extended final payment date to 60 days prior to first date of service, as well as other incentives. Cruise fares for the Luxury Iceland Expeditions start at $13,999 per guest, including up to double Book Now Savings at $3,000 for a limited time only. Guests will receive a $300 per person As You Wish shipboard credit; Crystal Society Savings will double to five percent; new-to-Crystal guests will save 2.5 percent; and solo fares start at just 150 percent. Travelers with Future Cruise Credits and Future Cruise Payments may redeem them on these sailings.

Your unforgettable adventure begins and ends in Iceland’s beautiful capital, Reykjavik. Photo credit: Crystal Cruises