I have had sort of a Love/Hate relationship with Oceania Cruises. I love the itineraries (some of the best around), the newer ships, the culinary focus, the overall quality of the cruise, and the country club casual approach.  In fact, one thing that has always baffled me is how, once the cruise starts, Oceania (NCLH’s

As the July 17, 2023, Maiden Voyage of Explora Journeys’ Explora I approaches, and she has passed her sea trials with flying colors, I thought now would be a great time to not only give an update on what Explora Journeys is doing to redefine “Luxury at Sea”, but to encourage those of you that

Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-based company that has two purpose-built expedition ships and has been around for quite a while, but without much of a U.S. presence until recently.  It consistently is highly rated both within the industry and by (mostly) Australian consumers. So when I was approached to consider Aurora I was interested.  However,

Hotels entering the cruise business has been a hot topic…but one without any real perspective. I had my concerns and thoughts before I attended Seatrade Cruise Global, but now have a better perspective after attending the “Will Hotel-Operated Cruise Lines Solve the Industry New-to-Cruise Conundrum?” session. One thing that stands out to me is that

I learned – and taught – over the years that the three most important words when starting a new position are: I Don’t Know!  By saying and utilizing these words the opportunities to learn, avoid mistakes, correct errors…basically improve…are omnipresent.  I have found those that are most likely to succeed rely far more on “I

Riverside Luxury Cruises is a European river cruise line that has, as its physical backbone, the former Crystal Cruise river cruise ships.  While there are some of the Crystal officers and staff onboard, the philosophy of, and guest profile for, Riverside is different…and I am excited to check it out! I previously wrote about the

The 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global provided a wealth of information, insights, and networking opportunities for the cruise industry; not travel agents. And Goldring Travel, as a journalist, was there, as we have been for well over a decade; and it was invaluable. One of the highlights for me was the focus on “sustainability”. I think

I just returned from yet another incredibly important and valuable Seatrade Cruise Global Conference. It is truly where the cruise industry (not travel agents) convenes and discusses trends, forecasts, weaknesses, and strengths.  It is also probably the most intensive and productive place for networking, exploring destinations, technology, equipment, food and beverage, and just about anything

I recently spent eight days in and around Bogota, Colombia, and found the people, culture, and cuisine to be fascinating.  In fact, I am looking forward to returning to Colombia to explore more of its six distinct regions. The one issue I discovered it that as an emerging destination, the logistics and standards are not always