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    • The Best of Goldring Travel’s Making Waves Blog
  • Cruise/Travel Reviews
      Seabourn
      Seabourn Quest – December 2019 (South Georgia Island and Antarctica III)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part I
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part II (Anticipation)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part III (South Georgia Island)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part IV (Hope Bay, Cuverville Island, Lemaire Channel and the Iceberg Graveyard)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part V (Paradise Bay, Torgersen Island & Half Moon Island)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part VI (Patagonia)
      Seabourn Quest – January 2019 (Antarctica II)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part I (Pre-Cruise Perspectives and Santiago) 
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part II (Desolation, Getting the Party Started and Perspective – Chilean Patagonia)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part III (Ushuaia and The Drake Passage – Are We There Yet?)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part IV (First Days in Antarctica: Revelations, Deception and Ansel Adams)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part V (Antarctica Weather, Wonder & WOW!)
      • Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part VI (The Falklands – It’s Ain’t Over Till Seabourn Says It Is Over!)
      Seabourn Quest – January 2018 (Antarctica)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part I
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part II (Falkland Island Penguins)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part III (Drake Passage and Greenwich Island-Yankee Harbour)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part IV (Torgersen Island/Neko Harbor – “The Lifting of the Fog!”)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part V (Peterman Island)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part VI (Captain Larsen and Class, Crossing the Southern Polar Circle & Breaking Records)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part VII (Waterboat Point, Kayaking…and Sadness)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part IX (Punta Arenas & Goldring Travel Goes Local and Culinary)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part X (El Brujo Glacier, Galley Market Lunch and Castro, Chile)
      • Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part XI (Reflections + Puerto Montt and Heading Home)
      Seabourn Sojourn – June 2018 (Alaska)
      • Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part 1 (Getting There)
      • Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part II (Calm Seas, Great Views, but a Rough Start)
      • Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part III (A Seabourn Moment and “Such a Hike. Oy!”)
      • Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part IV (Tourism, Tracy Arm, Kayaking and a Duck)
      • Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part V (Seabourn Ventures: Inian Islands, Icy Strait and College Fjord)
      Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Seabourn Ovation
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part I (Getting There…Oy Vey…and Copenhagen)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part II (Seabourn Signature Suite & Gothenburg, Sweden)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part III (Olso & Sandefjord, Norway…Getting Culinary – Norwegian, Sushi and Earth & Ocean…and Discussing Whaling!)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part IV (Newcastle upon Tyne, Thomas Keller and Complimentary Wines)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part V (Invergordon, Scotland – Glenfiddich Whisky!)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VI (Scrabster, Scotland and Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland – Who Knew?)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VII (Goldring Travel Grand – Scottish & English – Culinary Event, Galley Market Brunch & More)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VIII (Bremerhaven and The Kiel Canal, Germany)
      Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Seabourn Encore
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part I (Getting Ready and Looking Forward)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part II (Barcelona and Mahon, Menorca)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part III (Monaco and Portovenere, Italy)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part IV (Rome and Amalfi, Italy)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part V (Syracusa, Sicily and Crotone, Italy…and Chef David )
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part VI (Corfu, Greece – A Culinary & Cultural Day to Remember!)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part VII (The Seabourn Chefs Let Loose! and Katakalon, Greece)
      Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Seabourn Encore
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part I (Getting There and Getting On With It)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part II (Tangier, Morocco: Why It Is “Culinary & Cultural”; Not “Food & Wine”)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part III (Cadiz and Portimao : Sherry, Cocktails, Cheese…and a Mixology Competition!)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part IV (Incredible Private Cooking Demonstration and Fireworks in Gibraltar)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part VI (Tapas…And I Mean Tapas!) 
      • Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part VII (The Famous Food & Wine Event: Chef’s Nine Court Tasting)
      Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Seabourn Quest
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part I
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part II (British Wine Tour and More)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part III (Torquay, Pokémon Go and Little Things)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part IV (Stornoway, Scotland and Smoked Salmon)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part V (Kirkwall, Ullapool, Whiskey and the Kindness of a Stranger)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part VI (Oban, Greenock and Belfast – Seabourn Moments!)
      • Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part VII (Belfast, Liverpool – And Another Seabourn Moment!)
      Goldring Travel’s 2015 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise
      • Part I (A Look Back and A Look Forward)
      • Part II (Copenhagen & The First Day)
      • Part III (Flam & Alesund)
      • Part IV (Slovlaer and Tromso)
      • Part V (Honningsvag) – Ventures By Seabourn
      • Part VI (Sea Days & Private Culinary Events)
      • ​Part VI (Bergen, Stavanger & The Last Two Culinary Events: Shopping with the Seabourn Chef and A Cheese Tasting)
      Goldring Travel’s 2013 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise
      • Preparations and a Plan…Sort Of! 
      • Take Off…and A Fresh Perspective 
      • Air Travel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Meat! 
      • The First 24 Hours and Ihhabela, Brazil 
      • The Little Things (Paranagua and Porto Belo, Brazil) 
      • Seabourn Quest’s Chef Creates An Incredible Tasting Event 
      • The Event: Montevideo, Uruguay- Caviar, Caviar and Sturgeon ​
      Goldring Travel’s 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride
      • Part II (Perspective)
      • Part III (Storms A Brewing…And A Double Rainbow!)
      • Part IV (Fish & Chips…And A Great Beer)
      • Part V (Cork, Ireland and a Lucky Leprechaun Named Darina Allen)
      • ​Part VI (A Day at Sea with Special Events…And Then A Most Charming Port )
      • Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 1)
      • Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 2: Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages)
      • Part VIII (Relaxing and “Basque”ing)
      • Part IX (Shopping With The Chef)
      • Part X (The Goldring Travel Food & Wine Tasting)
      Goldring Travel’s 2011 Food & Wine Cruise – Seabourn Sojourn
      • Part I
      • Part II
      • Part III
      • Part IV
      • Part V
      • Part VI
      • Part VII
      • Part VIII
      • Part IX
      Goldring Travel’s 2010 Food & Wine Cruise – Seabourn Odyssey
      • The Beginning…Almost.
      • The Beginning…Leaving On A Jet Plane
      • Oy, Such Problems!
      • Doing So Much and Doing Nothing
      • A Sea Day and Some Thoughts About The Dining Experiences
      • Shopping with the Chef and Sicilian Seafood Experiences
      • Malta and Food for Thought
      • Pizza or the Wintergarden Suite’s Spa? Let’s Try Both!
      • The Food & Wine Tasting to Die For!
      • Finding Pizza and What It Means to “Travel”
      Goldring Travel’s 2009 Food & Wine Cruise – Seabourn Spirit
      • 2009 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit
      • Some Pre-Cruise Thoughts and My Plan
      • The Start: It’s All About The Clothes???
      • Walking With Wine In Venice
      • Finally Onboard…Err, I Mean, Home!
      • Split, Croatia: Shopping With the Chef & Chilling Out Seabourn Style
      • Its About The Fish!
      • Meeting Up With The Big Sister & Chef’s Surprises
      • Some Final Thoughts
      Goldring Travel’s 2008 Food & Wine Cruise
      • Travelogue Part I
      • Travelogue Part II
      • Travelogue Part III (The Food & Wine Tasting!)
      Goldring Travel’s 2007 Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise
      • Goldring Travel’s 2007 Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise
      Seabourn Quest Pre-Inaugural Cruise 2011
      • Part I
      • Part II
      • Part III
      • Part IV
      • Part V
      • Part VI – The Photos!
      Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural Cruise (2010)
      • The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue
      • The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue – Part II
      • The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue – Part III (The Seabourn Sojourn Has Been Delivered!)
      • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage – Part VI
      • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage – Part XII – Some Videos and Photos
      2009 Seabourn Odyssey Inaugural Cruise
      • The Ca’ Segredo Hotel Starts The Sojourn
      • First Impressions
      • Cuisine, Venues, People
      • The Standard Suites – Part I
      • The Standard Suites- Part II
      • The Upper Suites
      AmaWaterways River Cruises
      Goldring Travel’s 2014 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – AmaWaterways AmaCerto
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part I
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part II
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part III
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IV (Georg Breuer Riesling Tasting)
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VI
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VII (Bamberg Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting)
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VIII
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IX (Food & Wine Tasting on the AmaCerto)
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part X
      • (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part XI – The Tokaji Wine Tasting
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa – The Kindness of Strangers)
      AmaWaterways AmaLotus – Vietnam & Cambodia
      • AmaWaterways Mekong River Cruise – Radio Interview
      • Part I
      • Part II
      • Part III
      • Part IV
      • Part V (Getting There & Day 1: Hanoi)
      • Part VI (Let the Tour Begin!)
      • Part VII (Halong Bay…and A Monk)
      • Part VIII
      • Part IX (The Ship)
      • Part X (The Egg)
      • Part XI (Happy Pizza)
      • Part XII (The Killing Fields)
      • Part XIII (Our Last Days)
      • Review and Reflection of the 2012 AmaWaterways AmaLotus Vietnam and Cambodia Tour and Cruise
      Avalon Waterways

               – Avalon Myanmar – Myanmar River Cruise – April 2017

      • Avalon Waterways Myanmar – Part I (March 2017
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part II (Getting Here & Getting It On)
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part III (Yangon – Day 2)
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part IV (Bhamo to Katha)
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part V (Katha to Tigyang)

      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VI (Kya Hnyat to Kyauk Myaung)

      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VII (Mingun to Mandalay)
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VIII (Sagaing to Bagan)
      • Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part IX (The Ship: Avalon Myanmar)

      •  

        Avalon Waterways – Myanmar (Burma) – Reflections: “Isn’t This Amazing!?”

      Azamara Club Cruises

         *Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey – Singapore to Dubai (April 8, 2018)

      • Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey – April 8, 2018 (Singapore to Dubai) – Revisiting the (Upgraded) Experience
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part I (Getting There and Getting Set)
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part II (Initial Impressions and Myanmar)
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part III (“Cruise Global, Go Local” in Sri Lanka)
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part IV (The Culinary Experience)
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part V (Cochin, Goa & Mumbai, India)
      • Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part VI – Reflections (Azamara Journey vs. Regent Seven Seas Voyager)

      * Azamara Quest – Southeast Asia and Japan (February 2015)

      •  Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part I
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part II
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part III (Bali and Komodo Island) 
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part IV (Upscale Meets ????)
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part V (Manila, Philippines – By Day and AzAmazing Evening) 
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part V (Perspectives on Experiencing Developing Ports)
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa – The Kindness of Strangers)
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VII (Doing It On Your Own – Part A – Dontonbori, Osaka)
      • Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VIII (Doing It On Your Own – Part B – Kyoto – Why You Can’t Rely Only On Guidebooks or TripAdvisor!)
       

       

       

       

      Celebrity Cruises
      Celebrity Xperience – Galapagos (2017)
      • Celebrity Xperience – The Galapagos- Part I
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part II (Getting There, Pre-Cruise, Baltra & Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part III (More Than You Expect)
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part IV (Sea Lions & Boobies & Penguins, Oh My!)
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part V (The Attack of the Flightless Cormorant…and Other Cool Stuff!)
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part VI (Incredible Birding, Baby Sea Lions and So Much More)
      • Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part VII (Reflections & Updates on the Ships – Including the new Celebrity Flora – and What to Consider.)
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
      Celebrity Century (2011)

      – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Part I
      – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part II
      – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part III
      – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part IV
      – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Some Final Observations and Thoughts

      Celebrity Equinox (2009)

      – The Prologue to the Travelogue
      – The Adventure Begins…With a Bump or Two
      – Settling In Made Easy
      – Luxury Touches Here, There and OK, Not, Everywhere…But There Are Lots of Them!
      – Asian Flair Onboard and On Shore
      – Private Tours, Israel and Conflicts in Perceptions and Perspective
      Celebrity Equinox 2009 – Egypt…Impressive and Depressing
      – Dining With the Captain and the Reidel Wine Seminar
      – The Last Dinner (Tuscan Grille) and Disembarkation
      – What Happens When A Class Act Meets Highly Discounted Cruise Fare

      Celebrity Silhouette (2013)

      – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part I
      – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part II
      – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? The Review – Part III

      Celebrity Solstice (2008)

      – Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part I
      – Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part II

      Celebrity Summit “Solticized” – A Ship Inspection (2012)

      Celebrity Summit “Solticized” – A Ship Inspection (2012)

      Crystal Cruises
      Crystal Serenity – November 2015

      – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part I
      – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part II
      – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part III
      – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part IV (Food & Wine!)

      Crystal Symphony – April 2011

      – Part I
      – Part II
      – Part III
      – Part IV
      – Part V
      – Part VI
      – Part VII
      – Part VIII
      – Part IX
      – Goldring Travel’s Pacific Exploration of Crystal Cruise’s Luxury Experience – “Reflections”

      Cunard

      – Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary

      Fathom Impact Travel

      – Immersing In fathom’s Social Impact Programs

      G Adventures - Amazon River Cruise

      – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part I
      – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part II
      – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part III
      – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part IV (What Group Travel Should Really Be About!)

      Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

      – Norwegian Gem – Budget Cruises Pitching Luxury: You Don’t Get What You Pay For, You Only Think You Do.

      Paul Gauguin

      – Paul Gauguin (2007)

      Princess

      – Princess Cruises Doesn’t Treat You Like Royalty; Celebrity Cruises Does! Which is a Better Value for the Upscale Cruise Guest? Part I
      – Celebrity Silhouette vs. -Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part II: The Standard Veranda Staterooms
      – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part III: Treating You Right From The Start
      – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part IV: The Wine Lists Speak Volumes (As Do The Beverage Packages)

      Regent Seven Seas

         Regent Seven Seas Voyager – August 2017

      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017)
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Getting There and First Impressions
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part III (Florence and Ajaccio: Starting to Drill Down on the Regent Experience)
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part IV (La Spezia and Monaco: Consistent Inconsistencies and Misses)
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part V (Antibes and Marseilles: The Ensemble Experience, Cultural Wine “Tasting” and Sette Mari – Luxury Experiences for Sure)
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part VI (Palamos, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca & Valencia: Culinary Bliss..and Consistent Inconsistencies)
      • Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: August 1, 2017) – Caveat Emptor! Consistently Inconsistent: Not a “Six Star Luxury” Cruise Experience
      Royal Caribbean

      – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – Prologue
      – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – My First 24 Hours
      – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – A Hurricane Runs Through It…Almost
      – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – The Last Days …

      SeaDream Yacht Club

      – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part I
      – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part II (Getting There, The Stateroom and First Impressions)
      – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part III (“You Can’t Teach Five Star Service” and Bonafacio, Corsica)
      – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part IV (Calvi, Monaco, Portofino, Porto Azzurro…and Stale Bread)
      – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part V (My Last Day…and How The Chef’s Team Makes It Happen)

      Silversea
      Silversea Expeditions – Silver Discoverer – November 2016 (Indonesia & Myanmar)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part I
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises –Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part II (Singapore & Raffles Hotel)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part III (Ship Happens: Singapore Day 2)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part IV (The Ship Arrives)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part V (The Expedition Begins – Orangutans & Jimmy Buffett)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VI (What is an Expedition Cruise? Why am I Here?)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VII (Myanmar – No Complaints!)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VIII (Myanmar – Developing Tourism & Finding Nemo Again)
      • Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part IX (Reflections)

         
         

         

      Silversea Silver Shadow – June 2013 (Alaska)
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part I
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part II
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part III
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part IV
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part V
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VI
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VII
      Taipei, Taiwan - Independent Travel

      – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part I
      – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part II
      – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part III (Spa, Beauty and Fashion)
      – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part IV (Cuisine: Street, Sublime & Surreal)

      Windstar
      Windstar Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise

      – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part I
      – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part II – The Transformation of A Cruise Line
      – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part III – The Windstar Experience 2.0

      Windstar Pride – Black Sea Cruise – September 2014

      – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part I
      – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part II
      – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part III

      Windstar’s Wind Surf – Caribbean – January 2014

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AmaWaterways’ AmaLotus – Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part IV

 

Two days to go and we are off to Vietnam and Cambodia…so finally the Itinerary, maybe. 

As I write this Typhoon Kai-Tak is pounding Vietnam with winds up to 133 kilometers per hour (83 miles per hour) and very heavy rains.  Ha Long Bay is closed to ships, 20,000 Vietnamese solders placed on standby, and there is an expectation of some serious damage.  This typhoon, whose center is expected to land north of  Vietnam, is big, having now closed Hong Kong Harbour and caused some serious damage in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong with an expectation of almost 300mm (over 11 inches) of rain.

For me it helps keep things in some perspective.  While I am concerned about flights, the quality of our tour and cruise and my family’s happiness, I first and foremost worry about the effects on the people and places we are so excited to see and understand. 

Not knowing about the typhoon until this morning, late yesterday I met with my rabbi to talk about how better talk with my kids about the Khmer Rouge genocide and how it relates to their feelings about the Holocaust. He said to just let it be and experience and to talk about it later.  Why?  He said when most people visit such places their first approach is to think that it is like Disneyland:  It was put there as a display for them to see.  It takes time for that initial process (what I will call a “defense mechanism”) to fade and reality to really come into play.

As much as part of me wants this to be a fun and idyllic family holiday, I just think it happenstance has set it up to be so much more. 

OK, then, let’s get to it!
 

One of the most frequent questions is, “How do you get there comfortably?”  The honest answer is, “You don’t.  But it is worth the effort.”  Being that there are four of us, we are flying economy, but with a little bit of advanced planning, it should not be terrible.  (Yes, business class may make things a bit more comfortable, but with 27 hours of travel of travel and an eleven hour time difference, the benefits of spending for business class for a family vacation diminish…because jet lag and lower oxygen levels are the same in the front of the plane as they are in the back.  Mindset and lots of water matter far more.)

We fly from Newark, New Jersey to London on United (bulkhead seats) and then have a five hour layover.  While in London I have arranged for two airside bedrooms at No. 1 Heathrow, Terminal 3 for two of those hours at a cost of a mere 30 GBP each.  A bit of breakfast then a couple of hours horizontal followed by a shower and change of clothes before our 11.5 hour flight to Bangkok on followed by a 2 hour flight to Hanoi would make a bit of a difference.

We have two two seat configured sets of seats on our Thai Airlines flight near the front of economy with a similar configuration on the flight to Hanoi. (If the person behind me kicks my seat I know I will be able to deal with it swiftly!)

We have already been pre-approved for our Vietnamese visas on arrival (www.myvietnamvisa.com).  After obtaining our visas and clearing Immigration and Customs we will hire an SUV taxi at the taxi counter for a fixed price of US$12.00 (190,000 Vietnamese Dong) for the 30 minute ride. (Dollars apparently are widely accepted, though discouraged the government.)

OK now that that is over (and don’t I wish it was that quick!), let’s get to the real Itinerary.  I have highlighted the hotels and any particularly interesting (to me) activities to make it a bit easier to follow.  As you read over the itinerary, you will notice one thing that I am quite impressed with:  The Balance. The theory (and we will see how it plays out in reality) is that there are busy days and resting days, museum days and activity days, tour days and independent days, included meals and independent meals.

August 21 – ARRIVE IN
HANOI, VIETNAM – Sofitel Legend Metropole. I have arranged for at least one of our two rooms to be available for our early morning arrival.  After a shower and a sleep we will venture out to sample a bit of Hanoi on our own.  

 

August 22 – HANOI – A morning sightseeing
tour will take you to Hanoi’s most famous historical and cultural sites: Ho Chi
Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, One-pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature.
In the afternoon, experience an authentic rickshaw ride (known as “cyclo”) in
the Old Quarter, followed by a traditional water puppet show. (B)

 

August 23 – HANOI – HA LONG
BAY Overnight Junk After breakfast,
depart Hanoi for a scenic motor coach ride to one of Vietnam’s most renowned
locations, Ha Long Bay. Board a traditional wooden Junk that combines classic
beauty with modern conveniences, plus luxurious overnight accommodations. Set
sail to discover the Bay’s magnificent scenery set amidst stunning limestone
cliffs. That evening, you’ll enjoy dinner on board and overnight on the Junk.
(B,L,D)

 

August 24 – HA LONG BAY –
HANOI – SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Sofitel Royal Angkor – This morning, our Ha
Long Bay Junk continues its scenic cruising while a delightful breakfast is
served in the dining lounge. Late morning, disembark for a motor coach transfer
to Hanoi Airport. After a short flight, arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia, gateway
to Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer empire and one of the most renowned
archaeological sites in all of South East Asia.  The afternoon is ours to wander and take in the culture…and food.  (B,L,D)  

August 25 – SIEM REAP –
ANGKOR After breakfast,
begin a guided sightseeing tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Highlights include Angkor Thom, the newly restored Baphuon
Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King and the Bayon. This
afternoon, travel through the rural countryside to visit the pink sandstone
temple of Banteay Srei, known as the shrine of the women. Afterwards we will
visit the English-language school sponsored by AmaWaterways in the village of
Ta Toum
.  We have been asked to bring along school supplies if we desire as a donation.  We have two bags ready to go!  (B,D)

August 26 – SIEM REAP –
ANGKOR This morning we will
visit the most iconic of all Angkorian temples – Angkor Wat. The world’s
largest religious temple complex was built in the early 12th century by the
Khmer King Suryavarman II and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. We will also
visit Ta Prohm, the temple famous for its intertwined trees (showcased in the
film Tomb Raider). There is going to be some good free time to explore Siem Reap and I am truly looking forward to that. (B)

August 27 – SIEM REAP/PREK KDAM –  EMBARKATION – Normally this day is a bit different than what we will encounter.  The normal itinerary has a short transfer to the ship and a lovely cruise down Tonle Sap Lake.  However, this year it was unusually dry, so the waters that flow up from the Mekong River to fill the lake were insufficient so the water levels are too low for the ship.  (Last year there were some of the highest levels ever and severe flooding.) We will be taking a long bus ride to Prek Kdam, located on the Tonle Sap River.  I believe we will be stopping at what was to be our first cruise port  Kampong Chhnang located about an hour upriver from Pkek Kdam.  Once onboard in the early afternoon, we settle in and then have a Welcome Dinner. The
ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

August 28 – KAMPONG CHHNANG
– KAMPONG TRALACH- OUDONG – After breakfast, a
motor boat excursion takes you into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth
of the Tonle Sap River. Enjoy a stunning variety of bird life and see numerous
great fish traps some over a half-mile long. After your excursion, return to
your vessel and cast off towards Kampong Tralach. An afternoon tour includes an
oxcart ride from the river bank through the countryside to the beautiful Wat
Kampong Tralach Pleu
. Tour the pagodas, and then board a motor coach to Oudong,
the former capital of Cambodia, where you will tour the Buddhist monastery.
After the visit, you motor coach will take you to your vessel, which will
cruise towards the village of Chong Koh. (B,L,D)

August 29 – CHONG KOH –
PHNOM PENH – This morning, visit
the Chong Koh silk weaving village for a leisurely walk. Your vessel then
departs for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. An afternoon walking tour
provides an orientation to this spectacular city. Return to the vessel for
dinner followed by a special Khmer folk performance on board. The vessel moors
overnight in Phnom Penh. (B,L,D)

August 30 – PHNOM PENH – A morning tour
explores the highlights of Cambodia’s capital city, famous for its French
colonial architecture, busy cafes, vibrant nightlife and renovated river
“corniche.” Visit the Royal Palace and the spectacular Silver Pagoda. The
National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer
crafts. After lunch onboard, another excursion leads to the infamous Killing
Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre
(Genocide
Museum)
situated in the suburbs of the city. An overnight on the waterfront
provides an opportunity to dine in one of many nearby restaurants and
experience Phnom Penh’s vibrant nightlife, should passengers so choose. (B,L,D)

August 31 – PHNOM PENH –
BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU, VIETNAM – Spend a day cruising
the Mekong River and crossing the border into Vietnam. Your vessel moors at the
small town of Tan Chau, Vietnam. I have every intention of spending a good part of this day in the ship’s swimming pool enjoying the scenery and life on the Mekong River. (B,L,D)

September 1 – TAN CHAU – SA
DEC – After breakfast,
transfer to small boats, which will navigate through narrow channels to visit
an evergreen island. You will also visit a catfish farm and a rattan mat and
slipper-making workshop.
Back ashore, a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) awaits
to transport you around Tan Chau
. In the afternoon, your vessel cruises
downstream to Sa Dec, where it will moor overnight. (B,L,D)

September 2 – SA DEC – XEO
QUYT – CAI BE – In the morning board
a local boat for Sa Dec. Once ashore, you will tour the town noteworthy as the
place where the French writer Marguerite Duras spent many years in her youth.
Visit a local market, Fujian Temple and the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’
Chinese paramour, which is now a small museum. Afterwards board a motor coach
for Xeo Quyt, used as a base during the French and U.S. wars and now an
important ecological site
, with its jungle overgrowth. After lunch on board, a
local boat will take you to Cai Be’s spectacular floating market; then you will
go ashore to see candy and rice paper workshops. This evening, enjoy a gourmet
Farewell Dinner on board. (B,L,D)

September 3 – HO CHI MINH
CITY
– DISEMBARKATION – Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers – The cruise comes to
an end as the ship docks at My Tho Port, followed by a transfer to Ho Chi Minh
City. As the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, Saigon was known as
“Paris of the Orient.”  Upon
arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you will enjoy a city tour that explores famous
landmarks, such as the former Presidential Palace, Central Post Office and
Notre Dame Cathedral; Cho Lon (China Town) and its famous Binh Tay market and
Thien Hau pagoda.  I have my eye on a particular restaurant for dinner!
(B,L) 
September 4 – HO CHI MINH
CITY Today is free to
explore Ho Chi Minh City on our own.  You know I will be hitting the markets and shops including the Thi Nghe Market and the famous Lunch Lady, Nguyen Thi Thanh. (B)

 

September 5 – DEPART HO CHI
MINH CITY – Transfer to the
airport for your homeward flight. Actually, we will miss sleeping in Ho Chi Minh City as our flight home departs on September 4 at 11:50 p.m.  Why?  We need to make it back in time for our children’s first day of school! Taking into account the crossing of the International Dateline, we will arrive back in New Jersey mid-day on September 5th. (B)

Speaking of getting home, I might as well set out our return which (and I have not mentioned this to the kid’s yet) creates a very cool experience:  We will have circumnavigated the globe!  Departing from Saigon on ANA Airlines (again with a two two seat configuration) we fly six hours to Tokyo’s Narita Airport.  With just under a 3 hour layover, not much time, but enough to stretch a bit before another 11.50 hour flight to Chicago. On that 777 there is a small forward section of only two rows.  Again, with a bit of pre-planning and Elite status we secured a 3 together + 1 (two aisle seats) configuration. So absent a crying baby (It is me flight so changes are pretty good there will be one) we should be able to get some rest.  After clearing Immigration and Customs and rechecking our baggage, a short (relatively speaking) flight to Newark brings us back home.

Now, all that is left is…The Entire Experience…and what still seems like forever for it to begin.

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