The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and its efforts to design, build, and actually complete – no less successfully operate – a single cruise ship has been nothing short of a total debacle.  Between its rotating door of executives – most with no cruise or shipbuilding experience – to choosing a shipyard

I was more than happily surprised at my Scenic Eclipse expedition.  I wasn’t really sure what my expectations were setting out; especially with Scenic Eclipse being a new product and Scenic Tours and Cruises being a company I had only limited dealings with. In the end, my expectations…even if they

Scenic Eclipse’s culinary approach, to a degree similar to its hotel vibe, offers an impressive variety of dining venues and cuisines within those venues; especially when you remember that there are only 200 guests and this is a true expedition ship. Corporate Chef Tom Goetter has brought his passion and

I have rewritten this article three – make that four – times…because Antarctica, the Scenic Eclipse, and the Expedition Team delivered some of the most amazing experiences. And remember this is my fourth – not first – expedition to “The Ice”. There were just too many truly epic moments. (Epic

First impressions can be tricky; especially when they are unexpected or different.  This is especially true with a relatively new cruise or expedition company.  So it is not surprising that my Scenic Eclipse’s first impressions are both.  The unexpected has been so comforting and exciting. The different takes a bit

I have said for many years that a cruise/excursion is like a sandwich: The meat of it may be in the middle but the bread( the ports of embarkation and disembarkation) can really add flavor and texture to your travel experience.  Buenos Aires, Argentina is most certainly at the top

It has been a bit crazy with all of my recent travel and, of course, having just returned from French Polynesia nine days ago, getting into the Antarctica vibe has been a bit “interesting”.  There are, actually, three overriding things that have kept my excitement a bit more reserved than

What can I say about my eleven – turned into eighteen-day cruise on Windstar’s Star Breeze in French Polynesia?  While I can say a lot (who’d a thunk that?!) the single word that keeps coming to me is: NICE.  I don’t mean that as “It was nice”, but the staff and

The Scenic Eclipse is a luxury expedition ship that has been on my radar, but until now it was not really of great interest for my clients.  That is until what I consider to be a big change happened this year.  (More on that later!) And it is, in large