The first question most people ask me (other than if they can be my assistant! LOL) is, “Where is your favorite place in the world?”  My answer is, without any hesitation: Antarctica. It has a majesty, a calmness, a brutality, a symphony of colors, a starkness, amazing wildlife, smells (good and really bad) that capture

Explora Journeys is the new luxury journey at sea (they don’t want to call it a “cruise”) that will actually meet – better exceed – what you know as a luxury cruise. And, No, this isn’t hype!  Heck, just as started writing this article, yet more great news from Explora Journeys arrived! But before I

My experience on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot was extraordinary in many ways. Was it perfect? Nothing is. Is Ponant working – literally as I write this – to elevate the expedition product it offers? Absolutely. Do I recommend taking an expedition on this ship? Definitely. I’ve talked a lot about the experience, cuisine, and service,

Silversea Cruises has just – finally – confirmed its acquisition of the former Crystal Endeavor; a truly world-class luxury expedition ship.  And it did so at the relative bargain price of $275 Million Dollars with no payments due for two years.  The Silver Endeavour is the most expensive ship per berth ever built. Now, I

So far I have been discussing the expedition aspects of Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, but how does it measure up as a luxury travel experience?  An International Experience While Ponant is focused on making its brand more international and with significant increases in North American guests, the product is unequivocally and unashamedly French; or, better,

My expedition on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot continued after we ended our icebreaking journey (which is still fresh in my mind and still thrilling me) to Andreenset – the very northern island of Kvitaya; known as the White Island.  NOTE: In case you missed my last article – there was an issue sending it out

Le Commandant Charcot awaits!  Our charter flight was from Paris to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway.  To clear up where I am going up, Longyearbyen is a town on the island of Spitsbergen, which is part of the archipelago known as Svalbard which, in turn, is part and off the coast of Norway.  The chaos in

Disaster-proofing Travel with Patience is Required Getting there used to be, at least for me, amusing for others as my various travel ordeals seem to entertain.  For many it was an exciting time to enjoy sipping champagne and lie-flat business class seats. But times are different and there is just nothing amusing or joyful about

I don’t have a lot to add to my reflections after my last article. But I do have to add this: I am truly impressed that Windstar – the (now not so) little cruise line that could – is succeeding and doing so in a big way.   With all of the issues in the cruise

Some people are excited about A&K Travel purchasing the old Crystal Cruise ships Some people are skeptical about it Some people are taking a Wait-and-See approach. I am more of the latter two. Let me explain why. (You knew that would be coming.) First, as I have so often repeated, “It is not about the