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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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Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part III (“You Can’t Teach Five Star Service” and Bonafacio, Corsica)

 

 

Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part III (“You Can’t Teach Five Star Service” and Bonafacio, Corsica)

 
I was anxious to see what my first full day on SeaDream
Yacht Club would be like.  I was “up and
out” early, so I sat by the Top of the Yacht Bar with a table admiring a
fantastic view.  (We had been told that
the sail into Bonafacio, Corsica is beautiful so to be on deck by 8:45 a.m. to
see it.  Not a problem, as I had my spot
by 7:30 a.m.)
 
Breakfast Setting on SeaDream II sailing in Bonafacio, Corsica
My focus, however, was less on the island, but the
yacht.  What I observed was a ballet with
the staff working as a team (I was later corrected that they are a “family”)
providing different styles of service to each guest as they perceived the
guests wanted to be treated.  It was
interesting seeing how the felt out each guest as they arrived for
breakfast (especially so as to myself,
as they all knew that I was coming and were concerned about making a positive
impression.)  
 
Once I told some of the
staff to call me “Eric”; not “Mr. Goldring” I started to have a hand put on my
shoulder when asked “May I get you another vodka and tonic?”  It is amazing how much a light touch can draw
you in.
 
 
On the other hand, if someone does not like physical contact
it can be highly offensive, so how does the staff figure it out?  As one of the staff later said to me, “You can’t
teach five star service.  It has to be
intuitive.”
  I loved that for two
reasons:  (1) It means SeaDream makes
sure its staff is “intuitive”; and (2) SeaDream isn’t trying to hype its
product to be more or different than what it really is.  It puts you at ease quickly…regardless of
your preferences.
 
 
So, before I get into the details, the short version
is:  My first full day has given me the
impression that the staff on SeaDream Yacht Club “get it”.  They smile. They tailor their approach based
upon each guest’s desires.  They work as
a team.  They are focused on the
details.  They are very proud of what
they do.  And along those lines, I don’t
think I ever heard the staff using the word “I”, but “we”.  I could be wrong, but the message is very
clear:  SeaDream Yacht Club’s management
lets the staff nurture not only the guests, but each other.
 
Now, back to my day!
As I was sitting watching the world go by it struck me that “al fresco”
is an enormous aspect of SeaDream.  The
“yacht” is set up to easily handle all of the 114 guests (yes, the ship is as
full as it gets!) for al fresco dining with comfortable all-weather wicker chairs
and varnished wood tables (with white linen dependent on the meal) spread among
four interconnected areas; which keeps things intimate and more private.
 
 
Breakfast official starts at 8:00 a.m. (Early Riser coffee
and Danish is available from 7:00 a.m.)
I order two nicely cooked poached eggs and sausage with a bagel and
smoked salmon.  The nautical themed
coffee mugs are a nice touch. 
 
I see a truly beautiful Bonafacio come into sight and then we
docked at the entrance to a very busy yacht harbor with yachts and superyachts
lining the quay.  But my yachting
experience will have to wait because I have decided to be a “tourist” and take
a SeaDream excursion consisting of a boat trip around the island and then a
walk around to upper town (a tram ride away).
I was surprised at the limited number of guests taking the tour…and the
other tour was cancelled for lack of interest…but the folks that did go were
very nice and enthusiastic.
 
Bonafacio, Corsica’s Coastline
We are met by an energetic woman I can only describe as a
Corsican Julia Child.  She was, thus,
quite entertaining.  The tour was
entitled “train and boat”; we got the boat, but there was not train.  There was a short tourist tram pulled by a
faux engine/tractor up the very steep hill to the top of the old town.  The tour was worth taking, though honestly,
if I was a bit more responsible I could have read up on what she had to offer
in a few minutes.  
 
Solving the problem of laundry hanging above your cafe!
But the boat ride
showing off the spectacular coastline and her guiding us through the narrow
streets was appreciate; especially
because she told us to have a peak in a shop called Roba Nostra.  To her surprise she mentioned that there is a
typical Corsican chestnut beer, Pietra, and our group just ordered a
round.  (It wasn’t bad; much lighter in
body than I thought it would be.)
 
 
 
As the tour of the old town was finishing up she said we
would walk down the hill to the marina (where I planned on wandering
later).  So, not wanting to climb that
steep hill on foot, I asked if the tour was pretty much over; resulting in a
number of us ending it early and staying in the old town.  By the look on the faces of the folks walking
up the hill it was a very good idea!
 
One couple and I started chatting and took off on a
wander.  Having seen pretty much only
touristic restaurants, and really liking the looks of Roba Nostra, we walked in
– dozens of jamon and salami hanging from the ceiling:
 
 
The woman
recognizes me, looks me straight in the eye and says, “Charcuterie!” and walks
to the rear of the store where there are a mere four tables.  So I followed.  The menu had three items on it in
French:  Charcuterie, Fromage and
Combination.  We were told that they serve Black Pig, which is particular only to Corsica. 
 
You know we went for the
combination…along with a wonderful Corsican rose, Clos Canarelli.  I am not sure how long lunch lasted, but
every moment was enjoyable from the food to the wine to the company.
 
 
 
As we started our decent down the hill we saw a man, who could
have been either of us guys, sweating and looking like if he had to take
another step up the hill he would pass out.
He gave us the look like, “Why the hell did I do that?”  And we saw that look from others, both men
and women, as we sailed down the hill.
After a short stroll through the yacht basis (filled with touristic and
overpriced shops and restaurants) we knew we did it right. 
 
 
I also thought that those who thought just getting off the
ship for a quick wander would say Bonafacio is not worth a visit…but they
missed what the place is really all about.
(It is not a port I would work a cruise around, but I wouldn’t discourage
visiting it again.)
 
Back on SeaDream II I headed to the hot tub which is located
on the aft deck, under cover, next to the pool bar and with a great view
aft.  It was quite enjoyable, but more of
a warm tub than a hot tub.  A waiter came
around offering everyone a mango/mint drink that was very refreshing.  Nice touch!
 
SeaDream II’s hot tub by the pool.

After a bit of work and some relaxation it was time for
Dinner with the Captain.  On SeaDream the
dinner is not a formal affair.  In fact,
I don’t think that is even possible.  We
dined al fresco at the Top of the Yacht Restaurant.  

 
Beautiful al Fresco Dining on SeaDream II
Who needs wine when you can drink in this view on SeaDream II?
Captain Terje Willassen is charming, lively, always
smiling man who was a wonderful host and makes his love for SeaDream Yacht Club
more than evident. 
 
 
But the highlight of my dinner was the woman sitting to my
right.  She is Kuwaiti’s first female parliamentarian
and a dynamo.  Obviously I do not agree
with everything she said or her perceptions on various topics, but the key to
understanding the world is to respect and understand from where those positions
are coming from.  I, possibly not so
subtly, peppered the conversation and, to be sure, we both really enjoyed
it…as, it seems, did the entire table.
Captain Terje even commented that it was nice that he didn’t have to
worry about carrying the conversation.   (For those who assert cruising/yachting is
not “travel” – and you know who you are – I love travel!)
 
After dinner I retired to the Top of the Yacht Bar for a
couple of whiskeys and some fun conversation.
And the bar stays open as long as there are guests present; and this
night it was well past 2:00 a.m…and all I saw from the staff were smiles and
heard, “May I get you another…?”

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  • 2009 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit
  • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey – A Sea Day and Some Thoughts About The Dining Experiences
  • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey – Doing So Much and Doing Nothing
  • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey – Finding Pizza and What It Means to “Travel”
  • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey – Malta and Food for Thought