My exploration of Iceland, Jan Mayen, and Svalbard continues on Aurora Expedition’s Sylvia Earle, now focused on the incredible Westfjords region. With sunlight pretty much 24 hours a day and a bit of excitement to get the expedition started, I headed to the 24/7 espresso machine for an Americano while I waited for the Rockhopper

My journey on Aurora Expedition’s Sylvia Earle is one that I have been looking forward to for quite some time. The combination of the awesome beauty of Iceland, polar bears, and walrus in Svalbard, and an intimate “sexy” expedition ship filled with an experienced expedition team is just about perfect.  But – don’t you hate

It has been a while, and a lot of travel, since I mentioned my checking out Aurora Expeditions, the Australian two expedition ship, line. I will be flying to Iceland, and boarding the Sylvia Earle, a new 132-guest expedition ship for an exploration of western Iceland, Jan Mayen (the northernmost active volcano), and Svalbard. Aurora

When I was invited to check out Riverside Luxury Cruises’ MS Mozart I was given a few options for itineraries. One jumped out at me as being both having more time on the river to check out all the ship offered and, selfishly, a truly unique itinerary visiting areas I have never been to and

I was invited by Riverside Luxury Cruises to experience not only their first ship, MS Mozart, but the Riverside experience itself. Bottom Line: I’m a fan!  (And you know I don’t toss words like that around lightly.) Before I get into my travel experiences so far on this unique and eye-opening itinerary (which will be

I’ve been enthusiastically looking forward to boarding the new Riverside Luxury Cruises MS Mozart in Budapest. But, of course, before I can do that I’ve got to get to Budapest! I know for many the flight to the destination is an important part of the experience. For me, it is more of, “What hassles will

Windstar Cruises is one of my favored cruise lines, offering what I call “casual luxury” on small, even intimate, ships and with two distinct and unique types of “yachts”: Power and Sail. Windstar, in fact has pretty much always been, “different”. It’s tag line is “180 Degrees from Ordinary“, but it is more than that. Windstar

The 2023 Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Journey on Explora Journey’s Explora I is quickly approaching and the excitement is building for this experience which is in combination with Explora I’s Maiden Voyage on July 17, 2023. From all reports everything in preparation for Explora I’s Naming Ceremony on July 8, 2023 (I will be

As you know, Silversea has converted me from being a skeptic to being a happy endorser.  There have been lots of positive changes from huge improvements in their ships, the amazing number of new ships (and offloading of a few really old ones), improved customer service, even better onboard service and, of course, elevated cuisine.

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