American World Traveler Summer 2019

Kyoto U S A Curacao Dubai China 

A M E R I C A N 

Traveler 

W O R L D 

Already 17 Years 

Summer 2019 

Sailing 

the 

World 

with 

Norwegian 

Cunard 

Viking 

AmaWaterways 

Victory 

Carnival 

C o m e W i t h U s & S e e T h e W o r l d !

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Publisher 

Michael Morcos 

Editor-in-chief 

Greg James 

Contributing Editor 

David J. Cox 

Graphic Department 

Al Cheong 

Advertising Department 

Leo Santini 

Marketing Department 

Tania Tassone 

Distribution 

Royce Dillon 

Senior Travel Writers: 

Susan Campbell 

Steve Gillick 

Regular Contributors: 

Habeeb Salloum 

Jennifer Merrick 

Olivia Balsinger 

Natalie Ayotte 

Johanna Read 

Jasmine Morcos 

Ilona Kauremszky 

Mike Cohen 

Mathieu Morcos 

Gregory Caltabanis 

Anne-Marie Macloughlin 

Daniel Smajovits 

Cherie DeLory 

Daniel Smajovits 

Contributors This Issue: 

Lisa TE Sonne 

In this issue, we focus on cruising 

many of the countless oceans and 

rivers of the world, starting this 

worldwide voyage in China’s Lijiang River 

from Guilin and finding out why it is called 

the ‘Pearl of Southern China’. We then hop 

onto another cruise, this time on the wonderful 

Cunard ocean liner the “Queen 

Elizabeth’ sailing some of China’s busiest 

and most popular ports. 

While still in Asia, we visit the many splendours 

of beautiful and historic Kyoto, Japan. 

After being in the Far East, we head way, 

way down to ‘Tasmania’s Wild & Untamed 

Freycinet Peninsula’. Then, travelling west, 

we find ourselves in Dubai - ‘Where the 

Middle East comes to life’. 

Close by, we jump on an amazing ‘Three 

Continents Cruise’ Adventure with Trafalgar, 

visiting points in Europe, Africa and Asia. At 

our next port of call, we climb on-board the 

AmaLyra in Paris and head through the 

beautiful countryside of Normandy. While 

still in Europe, we visit the amazing and 

‘Captivating Cascais’ in Portugal. 

Next, we jet off to the new world. First, ‘From 

Sea to Shining Sea’, we are ‘Rediscovering 

America’s Beauty ’ and also sail up the 

Great Lakes as we take ‘The Smooth Cruise 

on Victory 1’ before heading west to take in 

the best of Vernon, BC. We then cruise from 

Vancouver to L.A. on the magnificent 

Norwegian Joy and take full advantage the 

many dinning and entertainment options 

this beautiful ship has to offer. 

Back in the southeast, we take in some of 

the best dinner shows in Orlando. While still 

in Florida we celebrate a New Year’s on a 

Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas before we 

head off to explore the warm waters of the 

West Indies with Viking on a wonderful 

ocean cruise. 

In Mexico, we find that ‘Puerto Vallarta’s Got 

it All!’, and next, we visit the charming small 

town of El Tuito and then on to Curacao and 

‘Beyond the Handelskade’. Finally, we again 

find ourselves way down under, but this time 

to check out the loveable penguins in the 

remote Falkland Islands. 

Happy travels! 

Disclaimer: World Traveler has made every effort to 

verify that the information provided in this publication 

is as accurate as possible. However, we accept 

no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience 

sustained by anyone resulting from the information 

contained herein nor for any information 

provided by our advertisers.

Destinations 

Crusing section 

34 

Kyoto 8 Dubai 10 

Puerto Vallarta 12 Curacao 32 

Cruise News 

Norwegian 

AmaWaterwauys 

Viking 

Victory 

Cunard 

Carnival 

Best Time to Cruise? 

Trafalgar Cruise 

Lijiang River Cruise 

Stay & Play - 60 

Vernon, BC 70 America 72 

Around the World 14 

The Wild Hotel in Mykonos 

Falklands

8 

Kyoto in all 

its Splendour 

Article and photography by Michael Morcos 

If you want to understand Japan, go to 

Kyoto! I kept hearing that phrase before 

embarking on this tour of discovery. 

Although this was not my first trip to Japan, it 

would mark my introduction to this amazing 

city. 

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is much bigger 

than I thought; this was evident upon 

arrival at the massive train station. Kyoto station 

is a new structure and an engineering 

marvel of both art and architectural and an 

attraction on its own. Located in the dead 

centre of town, it links passengers to connections 

throughout Japan by commuter trains 

and the slick, iconic bullet train. 

Nijo Castle 

So little time and so much to see. I would 

concentrate on the most popular sites, and 

they do not get any more visited then the Nijo 

castle. At first glance, it seemed small. This is 

deceiving as the surrounding walls hide the 

enormous buildings and gardens found 

inside. 

The Castle, constructed in 1603, was a home 

for the first shogun of the Edo Period, and its 

palace buildings are some of the best surviving 

examples of castle palace architecture of 

Japan's feudal era. In 1994, it was designated 

a UNESCO world heritage site and walking 

around, it is easy to see why. Stone walls 

and moats surround the grounds, and a traditional 

Japanese landscape garden with a 

large pond, ornamental stones and manicured 

pine trees can also be explored 

The Castle’s Ninomaru Palace consists of 

multiple buildings connected to each other by 

corridors with nightingale floors, which 

squeak when stepped upon as a security 

measure against intruders! 

All the palace rooms are filled with tatami 

mats and elegantly decorated ceilings and 

sliding doors. Truly regal. 

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion 

When they called it the gold pavilion, they 

were bang on – a site where the main building 

is covered in gold leaf. Hard to believe 

and seeing is believing, I would stand there in 

awe as this historic and decadent Japanese 

building glistening in the sun with a magnificent 

pond beneath it and forest all around. 

Now a Zen temple, its top two floors overlook 

the large pond, and each floor has a different 

architectural style. The first floor has a 

Shinden style with natural wood pillars and 

white plaster walls that both contrasts and 

complements the gilded upper stories of the 

pavilion. Statues of the historical Buddha are 

stored here as well. Second floor Bukke style 

used in samurai residences and the third and 

uppermost floor is in the style of a Chinese 

Zen Hall, gilded inside and out, and capped 

with a golden phoenix. The sight is a site to 

behold, indeed! 

Kiyomizudera Temple 

Getting to this temple is time-consuming feat. 

Not because it is far, being located in the centre 

of Kyoto. It is the countless stores that line 

the street on the way that would draw my

attention. You can virtually buy anything 

Japanese on the way, and I would try to hold 

myself back from window-shopping but 

could not resist. This is obviously built for 

tourists, but then again, who was I? 

Once there, the Kiyomizudera Temple’s 

famous wooden stage offers visitors a wonderful 

view of the numerous cherry, maple 

and other trees as well as the Kyoto skyline in 

the distance. 

Visiting its main hall, I was greeted the temple's 

primary object of worship, a small statue 

of the eleven faced, thousand armed 

Kannon. Quite impressive. After that, lies the 

Jishu Shrine dedicated to the deity of love 

and matchmaking. There, you can bring 

yourself luck in love by successfully finding 

your way between two stones placed 18 

meters apart with your eyes closed. 

The Kiyomizudera has more purported powers 

in its Otowa Waterfall. Divided into three 

separate streams, visitors can drink from 

them for either longevity, success at school or 

being lucky in love. But don’t drink from all 

three, as that is seen as gluttonous! 

Fushimi Inari Shrine 

I purposely saved the best for last as this is 

one of the most visited sites in Japan and one 

of the items on my lifelong bucket list of 

places to see. For me, words could not 

describe this very important Shinto shrine 

famous for its hundreds of brilliantly painted 

Tori gates that wind their way up and down 

hills through a serene forest. Besides the 

many buildings and structures it was a pleasure 

watching the locals dressed in traditional 

garments enjoying their visit and taking 

never-ending selfies. 

The trails in the mountains are fun to explore, 

boasting a grand entranceway and a path 

filled with Torii gates, starting with parallel 

rows of gates called Senbon Torii. 

All the gates along the trail have been donated, 

and include some worth over one million 

yen. The 2 to 3 hour hike to the summit passes 

by multiple shrines with stacks of miniature 

Torii gates donated by visitors with smaller 

budgets. 

There are also some wonderful views of Kyoto 

to enjoy, and the trail splits into a circular 

route to the summit. Wonderful time spent in 

a magical space. 

Shopping Kyoto style 

The shopping area along Shijo Street, centered 

around the intersection of Shijo and 

Kawaramachi streets, rivals any of those 

found in the worlds big cities Two massive 

department stores named Takashimaya and 

Marui are located there. 

There are high-end fashion brands and if you 

continue along Shijo Street across the Kamo 

River toward Yasaka Shrine, the large stores 

give way to smaller boutiques selling fashion 

and Kyoto specialty foods and crafts. 

Eating Kyoto 

There are so many things to see and do – the 

Kyoto nightlife is something else, but the 

meals are what truly stands out! 

Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese meal, 

famous throughout Japan for its refined and 

delicate taste. We sampled some of the city’s 

main specialties including Shojin ryori 

(Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), Kyowagashi 

(Kyoto sweets) and Yudofu (tofu 

cooked in hot broth). 

Of course, I worked my way right through all 

the Japanese gastronomy including sushi, 

tempura, soba, udon, ramen, unagi and 

okonomiyaki. One of my favorites was 

Kagizen Yoshifusa is a traditional sweet shop 

in the heart of Gion with a serene tearoom 

where you can enjoy wonderful sweets with 

cups of thick matcha tea. 

All good things must come to an end, and so 

did my short visit to this Japanese gem. The 

time spent here was short but the memories 

will last a lifetime. Most memorable were not 

just the wonderful sites and great food but 

mostly the friendly, helpful, warm, and welcoming 

people. They made my visit complete! 

www.japan.travel 

9 

American World Traveler Summer 2019

10 

Dubai 

Where the Middle East comes to life 

Article and photography by Daniel Smajovits 

The sheer grandeur that is the 

Emirate of Dubai rushes through 

you during the 60 seconds it takes to 

climb to the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa, 

the world’s tallest building. In Dubai, everything 

is bigger, faster and more opulent than 

you could ever have imagined. 

The crown jewel of the Arabian Desert, 

Dubai has emerged as a bastion for wealth, 

capitalism and adventure. Recently, we had 

the opportunity to spend five incredible days 

in the United Arab Emirates, sampling some 

of the best the country had to offer. 

Many cities in one: where to stay? 

Dubai is massive. Accommodations range 

from the most pedestrian to the world’s most 

expensive hotel, so choosing where to stay 

depends entirely on both your interests and 

budget. As our trip was a mix of adventure 

and relaxation, we divided our time between 

Diera, the Palm Jumeirah and the serenity of 

the Arabian Desert. 

Diera 

The Diera district takes visitors back to a time 

when Dubai was a tiny fishing village on the 

Persian Gulf. A short walk from most hotels 

lies the Al Fahidi Historic District where its 

narrow streets gives visitors a taste of the city 

prior to the oil boom. The adventure continues 

across Dubai Creek where a quick dhow 

(boat) ride will bring you to the famous gold 

souk (market), which is the origin of the city’s 

wealth and its nickname, The City of Gold. 

We spent two nights at the Four Points by 

Sheraton Bur Dubai, a 15-minute walk from 

Al Fahidi and Dubai Creek. The modern, 

four-star hotel offers very spacious rooms, 

complete with modern amenities. The property 

boasts five restaurants, including a lavish 

international breakfast buffet, which is 

included in most rates. Complimentary valet

parking as well as a 24-hour concierge is 

also included. 

Nowadays, Diera is also the heart of Dubai’s 

growing Indian community, whom have settled 

in the Emirate due to the overwhelming 

demand for skilled labour. Overall, Indians 

represent more than 40 percent of the UAE 

population. 

Palm Jumeirah 

Considered one of the engineering wonders 

of the world and even visible from space, the 

Palm Jumeirah is an artificial archipelago that 

was built specifically to house some of the 

WT Library Photo 

city’s best beaches, hotels and most opulent 

properties. While the Palm itself features 

hotels such as the Atlantis, Waldorf Astoria 

and St. Regis, we chose to stay at the brand 

new Aloft Palm Jumeirah as it provided a perfect 

mix of luxury and contemporary style at 

an affordable rate. The property maintains a 

private beach, complimentary valet parking 

and most rooms include an ample buffet 

breakfast. The Aloft proved to be an affordable 

gem on the Persian Gulf. 

Arabian Desert 

Built in the heart of the Arabian Desert, the Al 

Maha Desert Resort & Spa can easily be considered 

one of the best hotels in the world. 

With only 42 guest rooms, each being a full 

suite which includes a private pool and deck, 

guests receive the royal treatment throughout 

their stay. Each night at the full-board hotel 

includes three five-star meals as well as two 

unique Arabian activities such as falconry, 

camel riding, a nature walk or a sunset drive 

in the desert. One night in the serenity of the 

desert will leave you relaxed, recharged and 

ready to continue your adventure. 

Dining 

Dubai’s food scene is arguably the world’s 

best and most diverse, featuring outposts of 

nearly all of the world’s most renowned chefs 

as well as every franchise from all corners of 

the globe. One of our favourites was Switch 

in the Dubai Mall as it offered a local spin on 

a traditional Mediterranean menu, including 

delicious dishes such as a Camel Burger and 

Halloumi Pasta. From Asian to French, Pier 7 

in the Dubai Marina boasts seven unique 

restaurants, each with incredible views of the 

man-made canal, the largest in the world. 

For a unique experience, visit the Local House 

Restaurant in the Al Fahidi district and order 

a date-infused camel milkshake. 

Desert Safari 

For first-timers, a Desert Safari is a must-do. 

We used Destination Insight for our adventure 

due to their stellar reputation online – 

and they did not disappoint. Each safari 

begins with a 30-minute dune bashing trek in 

the desert, which is broken up by an opportunity 

for pictures and sand boarding. Once 

your stomach settles down, guests then join 

other tours for an evening of traditional 

Arabian food, activities (shisha, 

camel riding and sandboarding) and 

entertainment. 

Abu Dhabi 

We carved out one day for a trip to the 

United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi. 

Only an hour drive south, Abu Dhabi is 

Dubai’s conservative counterpart and a 

must-visit. While the Emirate is home to the 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the 

largest mosques in the world, Abu Dhabi is 

also emerging as a go-to as well for excitement. 

If your visit does not coincide with the 

annual Formula 1 race, spend your afternoon 

at Ferrari World. Built in 2010, the 

theme park is perfect for families and thrill 

seekers, as among its 20+ rides is the 

world’s fastest roller coaster and a number of 

other stomach churning activities. For non- 

Ferrari buffs, across the street is Warner Bros. 

World, perfect for movie and television 

lovers. Both theme parks are located outside 

downtown Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, a destination 

in itself with hotels, shopping, golf 

courses and miles of beaches. 

Downtown Dubai 

All visitors must spend at least one evening in 

the downtown core, which is anchored by the 

Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Aside from 

being the world’s largest retail space, the 

mall features a full-sized dinosaur skeleton, a 

skating rink and the world’s largest indoor 

aquarium. With 65 million visits per year, the 

mall has become a destination in itself. 

Located between the mall and the Burj 

Khalifa are the Dubai Fountains, home to the 

world’s largest choreographed fountain 

show. Performances take place every 30 minutes 

in the evening. Set aside one hour at the 

Burj Khalifa, where from the world’s highest 

observatory, you can take in breathtaking 

views of Dubai and its surroundings. 

Like no other place else on earth, Dubai’s 

reputation precedes itself. After all, where 

else on earth could you spend your morning 

by the beach, go indoor skiing before lunch 

and spend your evening dining under the 

desert sky? 

www.visitdubai.com 

11 


12 

Puerto Vallarta’s Got it All! 

Article and photography by Steve Gillick 

Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon is a gathering 

place from dawn to dusk. As the 

sun starts to rise, joggers and walkers 

accompany the noisy Brown Pelicans 

and swooping Magnificent Frigatebirds 

along the oceanfront boardwalk. At dusk the 

crowds converge on the food stalls and 

gather in clusters around vendors selling 

snacks, souvenirs and colorful balloons, 

often to the accompaniment of pick-up 

musicians playing everything from traditional 

Mariachi to contemporary International. 

Statues come to life as buskers entertain 

locals and visitors who are searching for that 

perfect selfie: duelling with a Pancho Villa 

look-alike, sharing a glass of sand wine with 

the Sand People, or trying to escape the 

clutches of the creature from the movie 

‘Alien’. 

But the Malecon is also where visitors pose 

alongside the letters of the vibrant Puerto 

Vallarta sign and interact with the Malecon 

sculptures. On the Vallarta Art Walk, which 

covers the art scene from the celebrated art 

galleries, to street murals, to the intricate 

Huichol drawings embedded in the pavement 

on the Malecon, our guide Kevin 

Simpson, who also owns the art gallery 

Colectika, spoke about ‘Nostalgia’. The 

bronze sculpture by Ramiz Barquet features 

a man and a woman, sitting together, obviously 

in love, and looking out to the sea, the 

mountains and the city. However, unlike 

some of the fantasy sculptures, such as “The 

Boy on the Seahorse’ or “The Good Fortune 

Unicorn’, ‘Nostalgia’ is a true story! 

Ramiz met Nelly when they were both in 

their teens. They wanted to marry each other 

but as the expression goes, “it was not 

meant to be”. Each went their own way, got 

married and had children. Twenty-seven 

years later, they re-met by chance, and rekindled 

their love. Ramiz declared that if 

Nelly would marry him, he would build a 

monument to ‘what it would have been like 

living together for all those lost years’. 

‘Nostalgia’ is located on the actual spot 

where Ramiz and Nelly used to sit together 

and gaze out at Banderas Bay. 

Puerto Vallarta is one of those destinations 

where age is a state of mind. While there 

are 45,000 American and Canadian mostly 

Baby-Boomer ex-pats who call the city 

‘home’, the destination is a magnet for fun 

seekers, foodies, adventurers, birders, 

beachers, shoppers and those who want 

what they consider to be a meaningful getaway. 

In a meeting with Luis Villaseñor, the 

Promotion and Public Relations Director for 

Puerto Vallarta, he suggested that the millennials 

(those born after 1980) tend to look 

for things on their holidays that make a difference, 

and they find it here. Some still 

cling to the old travel acronym FOMO— 

Fear of Missing Out, but many are also 

adopting the newly-coined acronym, JOMO

– The Joy of Missing Out, that involves being 

disconnected from cell phones, computers 

and your usual daily routine. Either way, 

Puerto Vallarta’s got it all. 

For visitors who find their comfort zone in 

adventure, companies such as Canopy River 

offer hiking, zip lines, rappelling, Tarzan 

lines, ATV tours, horseback riding, mule 

back riding and more. Cruises on Banderas 

Bay, with companies such as Vallarta 

Adventures, range from leisurely sunset and 

cocktail excursions, to role-playing on a 

Pirate Ship, to scuba, snorkeling and whale 

watching. Many of the secluded beaches just 

south of the city are only accessible by boat 

and once you arrive, the rewards include 

delicious local foods and cultural events. In 

Las Caletas, we watched the evening performance 

of Rhythms of the Night, a dazzling 

spectacle created by Gilles St. Croix, 

the co-creator of Cirque du Soleil. 

WT Library Photo 

And the theme of culinary bliss is driven 

home in Puerto Vallarta’s eclectic mix of 

restaurants. At Barcelona Tapas, the owner, 

William Carballo, told us about the natural 

fresh ingredients prepared in the open 

kitchen where there is no ‘chef’; only a team 

who have worked together for the past 18 

years. The restaurant, displaying the work of 

local artists and commanding a panoramic 

view of the city, served a delectable fusion of 

Spanish and internationally inspired dishes: 

potato and beet salads, luscious grilled 

shrimp, delicate mushrooms with goat 

cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, beef skewers 

with peppers, and all united through sips of 

refreshing Sangria. 

But there are a host of foodie stars in Puerto 

Vallarta. At La Cerveceria Union, the 

Guacamole is yummy, the Octopus is tender 

and succulent and the grilled Blue Shrimp 

are addictive. In the Zona Hotelera, about a 

20 minute walk away, no lunch can compete 

with the smoked Marlin Tacos at Tacon de 

Marlin, an unassuming corner establishment 

where, if you prefer something other 

than soft drinks, you first visit the OXXO convenience 

store down the street to pick up 

some cold Dos Equis beer to accompany 

your meal. 

In the Versailles area, the idea of local street 

food with an added dash of international 

inspiration creatively prepared by young 

chefs in open kitchens, explains the line-ups 

outside many of the restaurants. Amanda, 

our guide with Vallarta Food Tours pampered 

our taste buds at some choice places 

that included the Barbacoa tacos at Hidalgo 

Restaurant, Birria tacos at Maritiera, the 

Bahia Tostada at Lamara, Octopus tacos at 

Bocachica Ceviches, Shrimp Al Pastor at 

Abulon and the Short Rib tacos at Ajo 

Negro. We finished the tour at La Lulu 

Raicilleria where we sampled Raicilla, similar 

to Tequila but nicknamed “Mexican 

Moonshine” for its 50% to 80% alcohol content. 

The recommended snack kind of 

jumped out at us: crunchy, dried crickets! 

(and they were hopping good!) 

Puerto Vallarta’s variety of hotels cater to just 

about every vacation style. In the Zona 

Hotelera, the Sheraton Buganvilias is a 

large, comfortable property with easy 

13 

access to the Old Town by foot or taxi. 

For those who prefer to be ‘where the 

action is’ (the FOMO crowd), the Hotel 

Rosita is a friendly, traditional property, 

located where the Malecon begins. And for 

the JOMO group, the hotels in the area 

known as South Side offer a bit more seclusion 

from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

The 5-star Hotel Mousai, in the Garza 

Blanca Resort offers amazing jungle and 

beach views from The Rooftop as well as a 

host of nature-focussed activities. The petfriendly 

Westin in the Marina area promotes 

the wellness brand where morning yoga, 

Pilates and meditation combine with healthy 

foods and stunning views of the Bay. 

And when it comes to nature, Puerto Vallarta 

is the hub for ‘outdoor appreciation’. 

Humpback whales and Bottlenose Dolphins 

are frequent visitors to Banderas Bay. Nature 

lovers and birders flock to the area to view 

and photograph endemic and migratory 

species, as well as appreciate the flowers, 

trees, marshes, lagoons, and the beauty of 

the caves and arches at Los Arcos National 

Marine Park. While the incredible Botanical 

Gardens are about 45 minutes south of the 

city, you can spot colorful birds, Iguanas and 

even American crocodiles near the south 

end of the Malecon. 

It’s nice to know that from most hotel rooms 

around the Bay, you can gently fall asleep to 

the cadence of the crashing waves and wake 

up to the onomatopoeic songs of “Great 

Kiskadees”. 

Bill, a retired Ophthalmologist from the 

Philadelphia area, lives in Puerto Vallarta 

most of the year. He suggested that in the 

United States, a familiar expression is “Time 

is Money”, but here in Puerto Vallarta, the 

expression is “Time is Life”. It’s a more 

relaxed atmosphere in a wonderfully warm 

climate that rates high on the Global 

Happiness scale. Whether you are FOMO or 

JOMO, active or passive or seeking a creative 

combination of vacation experiences, 

Puerto Vallarta’s got it all! 

www.visitpuertovallarta.com 


14 

Around The World 

(in 18 pages) 

Captivating Cascais Portugal 

by Olivia Balsinger 

A stones throw to the west of Lisbon, Cascais defines that laid 

back, coastal Portuguese way of life. The sea salt smell lingers in 

your nostrils as you ride your bike through the winding cliff 

paths. You are treading the most western land of Europe, once 

believed to be the “Edge of the World.” Cascais is known in history 

for having housed the summer residence of the Portuguese 

Royal Family in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The city 

is alive with historic buildings, castles and remnants of the past. 

A haven for adventure junkies. Cascais is one of those rare natural 

playgrounds with diverse offerings. Surf the waves of The 

Atlantic on the Estoril coastline, known worldwide for its waves. 

Climb in the valleys, bike along the majestic cliffs and, of course, 

hike to Cabo da Roca, the “Nose of Europe.” 

And when its time to relax after all the adventure, check into 

Martinhal Lisbon Cascais Family Hotel, which provides that delicate 

balance of practicality and leisure. The location couldn’t be 

better—it rests right in the middle of two championship golf 

courses, is a five-minute bike ride to the sea and 15 minutes into 

the town of Cascais: secluded yet accessible. The property 

boasts 72 rooms, four of which are suites, as well as twelve villas. 

www.cascais-portugal.com/index.html 

www.martinhal.com/cascais 

China Tourism Introduces 

New Brand Logo 

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has made 

“Beautiful China” the tag line of its tourism and introduced a 

new global brand logo. With an overall look as a stamp, the 

new logo integrates modern messaging with the ancient 

Chinese art form of calligraphy. The hieroglyph in the background 

means “travel” in ancient Chinese language, which shows a flag guiding a couple around. 

The blue color represents the sky, delivering China tourism’s concepts - vitality, harmony and 

green travel. The red color gives tribute to the Chinese civilization that has been going on for 

thousands of years. Illustrating an international vision, the “Beautiful China” logo represents 

China’s promising and welcoming tourism industry. 

Exploring Tasmania’s Wild & 

Untamed Freycinet Peninsula 


When I first announced my next adventure would lead me to the 

barren east coast of Tasmania, even well-travelled friends had 

the same reaction: “You’re going to Africa now, Olivia?!” I 

couldn’t blame them for their ignorance--an isolated island state 

off Australia’s south coast, known for its vast, rugged wilderness 

areas and protected parks and reserves, Tasmania is certainly off 

the beaten path. And I had the opportunity to taste a bit of 

Tassie’s (as the locals call it) wildest side through a tour with The 

Great Walks of Australia company called The Freycinet 

Experience Walk. The trip began in Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, 

for a brief orientation before leaving society (and Wi-Fi!) for four 

days, experiencing nature each day and returning to our secluded 

lodge, Friendly Beaches Lodge—an archtitechtral marvel of 

both simplicity and sophistication—every evening. Long but fulfilling 

days would center around exploring the same ancient 

tracks of the bushmen some 30,000 years’ prior, discovering 

Tasmanian nature at it’s most intense. Hiking about 37 kilometers 

in total, we were led by two engaging guides, exploring the 

rare and remote corners of the National Park—from the pink 

granite Hazard Mountain to the forests with panoramic views of 

the coastline. Along the way we witnessed incredible vistas, discovered 

nesting lagoons and unique fauna, and were immersed 

in the history of a population that has kept eastern Tasmania 

entirely unspoiled and undeveloped. The ethos of The Freycinet 

Experience is to serve up the best that nature has to offer. On the 

eastern peninsula of the wild and untamed Tasmania, nature 

certainly exhibits its force. 

www.greatwalksofaustralia.com.au 


16 

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Photos: Intrepid 

Rapid growth in North American bookings on Intrepid Travel’s cycling tours prompts world’s largest 

adventure travel company to launch 12 new trips, for all fitness levels

IIntrepid Travel - the world’s largest 

adventure travel company— 

launched 12 new cycling tours in 

2019, bringing the total number of tours to 

over 40, as two-wheel travel becomes 

increasingly popular, regardless of fitness 

level and experience. 

Since launching its range of cycling tours in 

2016, Americans and Canadians have 

continued to drive bookings; in 2018 

alone, Intrepid’s North American bookings 

on its cycling tours increased 30 percent. 

According to the Adventure Travel Trade 

Association’s Adventure Travel Trends 

Snapshot report published in 2018, cycling 

is in demand with travellers globally and is 

increasing in popularity. 

Intrepid Travel attributes the rising trend to 

the fact cycling tours have become more 

affordable and the design of cycling itineraries 

has allowed various fitness levels to 

participate. For instance, most of the company’s 

cycling tours have a support vehicle 

that cyclists can use to rest for an hour or a 

day, while some even have an e-bike 

option for anyone who may not be able to 

ride for the duration of the trip. 

“The strong interest we’re seeing in this 

style of travel proves that cycling tourism is 

no longer for hard-core cyclists, but for 

travellers who want to better connect with 

the sites, smells and sounds of the destinations 

they pass through,” said Darshika 

Jones, regional director of North America 

for Intrepid Travel. “What we’re noticing is 

that our North American customers are 

eager to experience the world in unique 

ways, relying on their own energy and 

power to see the destinations they’re visiting.” 

The expanded range of cycling trips 

includes tours throughout Europe, Central 

and South America, Asia, and New 

Zealand, ensuring a diverse collection of 

locations for all tastes and budgets. 

The 12 new tours – each led by a local 

leader -- will explore the Camino de 

Santiago in Spain; Colombia; Costa Rica & 

Panama; Nicaragua & Costa Rica; 

Northern Vietnam; New Zealand; the 

Balkans; Croatia & the Balkans; Northern 

Sri Lanka; India’s Kerala region; and Cuba 

and Eastern Cuba (not available to U.S. 

travellers). 

Priced from $810 USD per person, travellers 

can cycle through Colombia's famed 

coffee region, learning how to roast the 

perfect blend, ride through the deep rainforests 

of Central America to the Panama 

Canal, and bike down roads between the 

lush forests of India’s Western Ghats and 

the golden sands of the Arabian Sea. 

Ensuring that Intrepid stays true to its sustainable 

principles, the entire range, like all 

Intrepid tours, is 100% carbon offset. 

Additionally, The Intrepid Foundation 

donates a portion of each trip cost to 

Bicycles For Humanity on behalf of every 

cycling tour booked. Using its business as a 

force for good, the partnership helps alleviate 

poverty in Namibia through sustainable 

transportation and employment. 

For more information on the cycling tours 

please visit: 

www.intrepidtravel.com/us/theme/cycling 

19 

About Intrepid Travel 

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company 

that has been taking travellers off the beaten 

track to discover the world's most amazing places 

for 30 years. The company offers more than 1,500 

trips in more than 120 countries and on every continent. 

Every trip is designed to truly experience 

local culture - to meet local people, try local food, 

take local transport and stay in local accommodation. 

A world leader in responsible travel, 

Intrepid’s award-winning tour leaders, small 

group sizes and included activities mean they offer 

travellers great value for money. 

www.intrepidtravel.com/ca 


El Tuito, Jalisco, Mexico 


Venturing out to explore the State of 

Jalisco’s smaller towns is a great way 

to enhance a holiday experience 

while in the Puerto Vallarta area. About one 

hour south is El Tuito, a name that means 

“beautiful small valley”. We were drawn to 

the town primarily because of its reputation as 

a mecca for birding enthusiasts, particularly 

at Rancho Primavera, located 3 kilometers 

(1.8 miles) from the town square. 

After the one-hour ride from Puerto Vallarta, 

we barely got out of the taxi before the unofficial 

Rancho Primavera welcome committee 

was upon us. Iñaki, the resident Military 

McCaw immediately landed on the taxi roof 

to nibble on the rubber stripping. Meanwhile, 

Nimodo and Bella, both rescue dogs, affectionately 

pressed their noses and bodies 

against us in a competition for our attention. 

It was then that we met Bonnie Jauregui, the 

co-owner, who told us about this amazing 

200 acre property. 

The family purchased the mango and cattle 

ranch in 1996 and completely transformed it 

by planting over 5000 native trees. Pat, 

Bonnie’s late mom, was a birder. She contacted 

the Audubon Society who began to study 

some of the 256+ bird species on the property. 

Birding companies soon learned about 

this paradise that now includes three rental 

houses, hiking trails, nature appreciation, and 

row-boating on the pond where Real, the 

horse, sometimes stands shoulder deep to 

cool off. On our visit we spent some time by 

the bird feeder and walking on several of the 

birding trails. We were rewarded with sightings 

of Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers, 

Magpie Jays, Cinnamon Hummingbirds and 

many more colorful birds! 

Later on near El Tuito’s town square, we spent 

some time in Galeria Coppelia. Maria 

Santander, the owner, described how the 130 

year old Adobe building, with its thick walls 

and cool interior, was the perfect venue for 

showcasing the multi-media works of 26 local 

artists. 

Then after a stroll that included the colorful 

murals in El Tuito’s Cultural Centre and the 

200 year old San Pedro Apostal Parish, we 

headed to ‘el Patio de Mario’ to enjoy the cool 

shade, cold beer, deliciously-thick 

Guacamole, and tasty Enchiladas with cheese 

and chile. Mario Humberto Rodriguez 

Romero, the friendly owner, greeted us and 

proudly noted that the town people were very 

kind (we discovered that on our own!) and 

that this was a very safe community: “You can 

leave your computer next to an open window 

and it will still be there when you return”. 

Some people visit El Tuito to see the folkloric 

dances and presentations in the town square. 

Others come to taste the local cheeses 

(Panela and Oaxaca) or to sample Raicilla 

(similar to Tequila but a tad stronger). And for 

hundreds of bird watchers and photographers 

this is pretty much the gold standard. 

El Tuito is ideal for travelers who are looking 

to connect with a bit more local Mexican 

atmosphere than some of the big cities are 

able to offer. It’s definitely worth a visit. 

www.vallartainfo.com/el-tuito

22 

ing group of king penguins as well as large 

colonies of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. 

Located roughly two-hours northeast 

of the port (Stanley), the trek to Volunteer 

Point will encompass the majority of your 

day, but it will be the excursion of a lifetime. 

For the complete Falkland Island experience, 

we recommend reserving your tour 

with Jimmy and Tanya Curtis, the dynamic 

husband and wife duo who own and operate 

Volunteer Point Tours (curtis@volunteerpointtours.com). 

Jimmy, Tanya and their 

team of drivers will pick you up directly 

from the port and zip you off to Volunteer 

Point in their fleet of 4x4s. Once at 

Volunteer Point, guests are free to walk 

amongst all the penguins and unlike in 

other reserves, no physical barriers exist 

between guests and the animals. For mutual 

protection, one must always be conscious 

not to get too close as not to disturb 

them either on land or in the sea. For conservation 

reasons, daily visitors to the 

reserve are limited and it is recommended 

to book your tour well in advance of arrival, 

especially if you are sailing on a large ship. 

The Falkland Islands 

An excursion of a lifetime 

Article and photography by Daniel Smajovits 

Yet, perhaps the most enjoyable part of 

your journey with Jimmy and Tanya will be 

the drive to and from Volunteer Point itself. 

As lifetime residents of the Falkland Islands, 

they love chatting about day-to-day life in 

such a unique and sought-after British 

Colony as well as will share some incredible 

stories from the infamous and deadly 

Falklands War. On route, they will also 

point out famous landmarks and relics 

from the war. Should time allow before the 

last tender of the day, make sure to join 

Jimmy and Tanya at their favourite pub, 

one of four in Stanley, for a delicious local 

pint. 

Tucked away in the South Atlantic 

Ocean, 300 miles east of 

Argentina and 750 miles north of 

Antarctica, the Falkland Islands are easy to 

miss, yet, if you’re adding places to that 

proverbial bucket list, this destination 

should be right at the top. 

American World Traveler Summer 2019 

Home to less than 4,000 residents of the 

human kind, the islands are undoubtedly 

most famous for its thousands of its tuxedo 

wearing natives: the multiple penguin 

breeds that call the Falklands home. 

Once a remote destination that was only 

accessible via one daily flight from 

Santiago, recently, major cruise lines such 

as Norwegian, Celebrity and Princess have 

begun to include the Islands as a port-ofcall. 

Itineraries allow visitors one full day on 

the island of East Falkland, which is just the 

perfect amount of time to indulge in the 

colony’s incredible wildlife as well as sample 

some of its unique culture. 

When planning your trip, the premiere 

sight is Volunteer Point, a private peninsula 

that is home to the island’s largest breed- 

Should you choose to spend your day in 

Stanley, the quiet town offers some nice 

shops, restaurants with local and British 

fare as well as a museum and a golf 

course. Due the Islands’ location, the average 

summer temperature in the is 14 

degrees (58 F), so dress in layers and 

expect a mix of rain and sun. 

www.falklandislands.com

24 

“Show” me Orlando 

by David J Cox 

When in Orlando, there are so 

many destinations to grab your 

attention with Disney, SeaWorld 

and Universal parks, but what if you want 

something on a smaller scale? The theatre is 

a great alternative and Orlando has something 

for every taste. 

A Mad Cow Christmas 

Tucked away on a second story of a building 

on the trendy West Church Street is the Mad 

Cow. What began in late 1997 as a simple 

two show project between a group of 

Floridian actor/directors has become a hub of 

local theatre. The productions have become 

renowned and popular for their featured 

works of consistent quality and simplicity. 

Our experience was in line with the philosophy. 

“It Was a Very Good Yule”, was filled with 

the Christmas cheer that the outside summerworld 

of sunny Orlando cannot really accomplish 

for visitors used to snow and cold. The 

four musicians were excellent singers, with the 

three young women channeling the Andrews 

Sisters and keyboard player offering up some 

fun with Sinatra and Elvis. Wonderfully choreographed, 

the hour-long show featured 26 

carols and Christmas songs and was wellpaced 

with small anecdotes from the 1940s 

and 50s mixed in as well. 

The Mad Cow, at 54 West Church Street 

1997, now produces 10 shows per season 

and produces a yearly Christmas show. 

Gangsters, gals, gags and grub! 

Capone’s is dubbed as a “Funtastic” Dinner 

Show, and it does deliver some good laughs 

and good lines. Reasonably priced, the 

evening starts with finding the ticket taker and 

the doorman in character as 1930s gangsters. 

After saying the code word, ‘four cherry 

cokes’, we were led to the bar by a flapper 

and awaited our seats. 

The wait staff and stage performers would 

interact throughout the evening with often 

hilarious jokes and double-entendres. Once 

seated, we enjoyed a hearty Italian food buffet 

with a salad bar, pizzas, meat carving station, 

and an array of Italian favorites like 

baked ziti, lasagna and garlic bread sticks. 

The highlight of the night was the show, with 

a core ensemble of actors and lots of group 

and individual interactions with the crowd. 

Sections of the restaurant were divided into 

“families” and each had their own sayings. 

Our section was “Get outta’ here!”, and we 

were called upon to say it several times during 

the show. The inclusion of the audience 

made the show that much better! 

For those who wish, there is an opportunity to 

purchase some personalized memorabilia 

during the show with a mug shot in a fake 

newspaper. 

Salsa, singing and sweet times 

At this beautiful multi floor pub, the evening is 

for famillies and the night belongs to singles. 

For us with kids, it was filled with dancing and 

a three course dinner with dessert. 

Although the meals at the Mango’s Tropical 

Cafe were standard fare and nothing too 

exotic, the dishes were presented well and 

service was quick and efficient. My dish, the 

mango salmon, was really well done and 

delicious. My companions tried the pasta and 

chicken, with one enjoying the magnificent 

surf and turf steak and shrimp dinner. Desert 

was a highlight, with a huge slice of creamy 

cheesecake and a rich chocolate lava cake. 

The exotic was saved for their amazing list of 

specialty cocktails, including enormous glasses 

of margaritas and other rum drinks. 

The music selection is diverse and the dancers 

were very good, it felt like the whole staff really 

want you to have a good time. The live 

musical set, complete with dancers, costumes 

and live band, included Cuban Conga, 

Bachata and a mix of dance music. A multilevel 

stage with light show and great sound 

offered a great atmosphere for the high energy 

dinner show which, at several points, 

included the wait staff. It was really entertaining. 

We especially appreciated the Michael 

Jackson dance impersonator who even nailed 

the Moonwalk! 


26 

Heading to my destination wedding 

in Mexico, my friends and 

I were looking forward to purchasing 

some new outfits and pieces for the 

trip. One of the main reasons why we love 

shopping on Lulus and consider it our online 

go-to store is because it is a fashionista’s paradise. 

You can find anything you are looking 

for from shoes to jewelry, bathing suits, dresses, 

purses (even vegan), bridal wear, and 

much more. Not only do they have a very 

wide variety of choices and brands, their website 

is well conceived to make your shopping 

experience easy and enjoyable. They provide 

high quality fashion for all budgets. 

One of the best features and easiest way to 

shop for various items is their “bestsellers” tab 

on the menu bar. Using this tab you can find 

products that are presently back in stock, top 

rated items, color trends, shop by brand, 

going fast, and coming soon. One of our 

favourite options in the menu bar is the 

“trending” and “shop” tab, which is based on 

upcoming holidays, seasons or events (for 

example 4th of July fashion, sundresses, wedding 

guests, music festival, two-piece sets, 

vacation, resort wear, bohemian clothing, 

honeymoon shop, etc.). Thankfully, Lulus 

makes online shopping worry free as the 

clothing is true to size and exactly how it is 

described. Another great feature is that clients 

can rate each item with stars, write reviews 

and post photos. This is very helpful especially 

since clothing doesn't fit the same on every 

body type. 

Most of the bathing suits we ordered were 

simple yet beautiful and original. We chose 

many different styles of bikinis and were very 

happy with all of them. Some of them had 

adjustable straps for maximum comfort and 

support. Strapless bikini tops were worn a lot 

during the trip to avoid unwanted tan lines! 

Most of them also had removable shoulder 

straps which were delicate and thin. These 

Lulus 

by Jasmine Morcos & Melissa Saveriano, photos: Lulus 

offered the flexibility of a strapless and the 

comfort of a regular suit. Most tops also came 

with removable cups to provide a little shape 

to the bust. The colours and patterns were all 

lovely and very trendy, not too bright, not too 

subtle. Some of the bikinis also had gold, silver 

or beaded accents which made the suit 

look way more expensive than the price! 

Many of the bottoms we ordered had a 

“cheeky” cut which was very complimentary 

without being too revealing. Certain suits hit 

higher on the waistline giving a very flattering 

shape to the hips. Most suits were also lined 

so there is no worry about transparency once 

it is wet. Throughout the week we went out 

snorkeling and none of the bathing suits 

stretched out. We also think it is important to

note that after several dunks in the chlorinated 

pool and ocean, the colour remained 

bright. 

We also stocked-up on a few bathing suit 

cover-ups. We bought various kimonos, button 

shirts, loose vests, dresses and wide 

legged pants. Even though these were meant 

to be worn on the beach, most of them looked 

and felt very luxurious. We were able to wear 

these cover-ups over our swimwear and still 

look put-together enough to go to lunch. 

As the bride, I wanted at least one special 

piece that really stood out however was still 

practical to re-wear throughout the trip. The 

sweet honey white kimono top was the perfect 

piece! It has beautiful white lace all the way 

down and around the kaftan sleeves. The side 

slits and waist tie made it easier to wear the 

kimono both on the beach or out for dinner, 

offering two completely different looks. I 

received so many compliments on this piece, 

people would never guess that this item was 

less than 75$! Another cover-up was the iIsle 

style mustard yellow floral kimono which 

looked and felt great! Perfect length and cut. 

It was flowy without looking too loose. The 

material was lightweight and dried very quickly. 

For those who like crochet and bright 

colours, we recommend the lemon drop white 

multi crochet swim cover-up, it is so beautiful 

and perfect for the beach! It had a cute 70’s 

bohemian look, which is very trendy! It was 

super easy to put on and looked great over all 

bathing suits! 

Apart from beach items, we needed a 

27 

dress for my bridesmaids. It can be difficult 

and stressful to order a dress for a 

wedding online, as you can’t truly see, touch 

or try the fit of the dress. Thankfully on top of 

offering beautiful pieces at reasonable prices, 

they have the greatest and friendliess team of 

customer service agents. The customer service 

team replied quickly to emails and were very 

responsive to my calls. Since I was ordering 

many items for my wedding, I was put in 

touch with a bridal customer service agent. 

She took great care of my order and personally 

ensured that I was satisfied with the order. 

I can honestly say I’ve never dealt with such 

pleasant customer service agents! Thanks to 

their help, we found the perfect lightweight 

peachy blush colour dress for my bridesmaids 

(Air of romance peach maxi dress). It had a 

modified halter neckline, with a sweeping skirt 

going from a banded waist and falling elegantly 

into a maxi dress. The quality and fit of 

the dress surpassed our expectations, especially 

since we paid less than 100$ for each of 

them. 

Overall, we greatly enjoyed our experience 

shopping at Lulus, we will continue to shop 

there and recommend that any fashionista 

checks it out! 

www.lulus.com 

on the go! 


28 

Going Further With 

Turkish Airlines 

Glowing reviews and exceptional 

food are the order of the day for 

this up-and-coming airline! 

Part of the Star Alliance network, Turkish 

airlines (THY) offers service to Canadians 

from Toronto and Montreal, and connections 

to destinations all over the world 

from their hub in Istanbul. 

Building on their international reputation, 

THY has been climbing the ranks as a top 

provider and doing very well in Canada. 


With 200 destinations, and adding new 

ones at a rapid pace, THY welcome travellers 

with smiles and a friendly hello, 

though often with a charming accent! 

To help them usher in this growth, THY 

has a massive, world-class training center 

in Istanbul with numerous simulators. 

Pilots, flight attends and support staff are 

all trained well and are ready to go after 

their courses are done. 

Their aircraft include A330s, A340s, 

B777s, B737-800s and B727-800s, all 

well maintained and laid-out with the customer 

in mind. Each section is designed 

with creature comforts taking front and 

centre. The seats throughout the plane are 

comfortable and the facilities are kept 

impeccably clean and organized. Most 

Business Class passengers can expect 

either fully lie-flat seats or angled lie-flat 

seats that brings relaxation to a higher 

level. 

Comfort Class is Turkish Airlines' premium 

economy section is highlighted by slightly 

larger seats configured in two-by-three-bytwo 

rows, a large video screen and entertainment 

system with an iPod outlet and a 

laptop power outlet for each seat. 

Even passengers traveling in Economy 

Class can enjoy an above average trip, as 

all passengers enjoy the famed THY complimentary 

meal. Though multi-course 

meals are provided in Business Class on 

extended range flights, all passengers are 

treated to the award winning food served 

on board. Considering that THY deals 

with one of the world’s biggest (maybe the 

biggest) catering service and are partners 

with Do & Co., there is no surprise in the 

quality THY can offer! 

www.turkishairlines.com

30 

Tropical Tidbits 

by Sue C Travel

There’s lots of new and cool in the 

Dutch Caribbean ABC Islands, and 

a great new family resort coming to 

Cancun, as well! Let’s have a 

look… 

New in Curacao 

A new Museum of Natural History has just 

opened on the grounds of the beautiful lush 

forests of ex-plantation Landhuis Bloemhof 

(bloemhof means garden of flowers,) just 

outside of downtown Willemstad. Now visitors 

of all ages can enjoy informational 

tours, wonderful interactive exhibits, and 

indoor and outdoor activities centering 

around the island’s fascinating geological 

past. Also, on the grounds is one of the most 

incredible art installations in the Caribbean 

called “The Cathedral of Thorns”. Local 

visionary Herman van Bergen is the creator; 

he has been painstakingly building this lifesized 

structure from locally sourced thorns 

that, when completed, will be an impressive 

shrine to religions from all over the world. 

It’s a must-see when on island. 

Visit: naturemuseumcuracao.com 

On the marine life front, the annual 

Curacao Dive Festival is returning this year 

(Sept.29-Oct.5th) and it will be bigger and 

better than ever. The week-long event features 

all kinds of underwater adventures, 

professional training, gala parties, and 

informative conferences, and many resorts 

are offering great stay and dive packages to 

promote it. 

Visit: scubadivingcuracao.vacations 

Photo: Stan Bysshe 

There’s also a new stand-alone private 

island stay owned by luxury resort Baoase 

called “Isla Kiniw”. Located off their property 

out in Spanish Waters with Table Mountain 

as the backdrop, the tiny island hosts one 

luxe Caribbean style villa that sleeps up to 8 

people with its own private beach, infinity 

pool, and access to a private boat, a putting 

green, a helicopter pad and watersports 

gear. It’s bound to be a visiting celebrity 

favorite, especially during the famous 

Curacao North Sea Jazz festival. 

Visit: baoase.com/villa-suites/isla-kiniw-private-island/ 

New in Bonaire 

Though well known as a diver’s paradise, 

Bonaire has not really been on the discerning 

diner’s radar… until now! Ever since the 

new upscale Delfins Beach Resort added 

divine seaside eatery Brass Boer to their 

offerings, foodies in the know have been 

flocking there in droves to sample the 

unique gourmet fare inspired by none other 

than Dutch Chef Jonnie Boer and his 

Michelin star restaurant De Librije in the 

Netherlands. Chef Jonnie and his wife 

Thérèse are big fans of Bonaire, so they 

decided to bring a taste of their favorite specialties 

to its shores. The menu is designed 

for sharing, the concept is to choose three or 

four small plates each and share them communal 

style, and there is also a selection of 

dishes specifically designed to be shared by 

two. You can also book a private pier dinner 

(Table 14) for up to six people, and their 

wine list is also top notch. 

Visit: www.brassboar.com 

New in Aruba 

Photo: Delfins Beach Resort 

Ever wanted to sleep in a luxury treehouse? 

At Aruba Ocean Villas, now you can! The 

latest creative stay to be added to their 

selection of South Pacific style overwater 

bungalows and chic beach villas is a splitlevel 

treehouse. The thatched palapa style 

abode has a living area, a deep soaking 

tub, and even a real piano inside so you can 

rock-a-bye your baby in the treetops all 

night long. This lovely little boutique resort in 

Savaneta now also offers guests complimentary 

reef-friendly sunscreen made by locally 

owned Aruba Aloe since the island has now 

legally banned sunscreen that contains 

coral-killing chemicals. See all their seriously 

special stay options here: 

www.arubaoceanvillas.com 

New in Cancun 

Opening December 2019, the new Now 

Natura Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa will be 

the latest AMResorts’ installation to grace 

the shores of Mexico’s most popular winter 

escape region. When complete, this new 

family-friendly all-inclusive resort complex 

will offer 556 rooms on its own beach along 

with their signature “Unlimited Luxury ®” 

program that includes scads of fine food 

and drink at numerous outlets as well as 

24/7 room service. The new resort will also 

have all kinds of cool things for families to 

enjoy like a lazy river, waterslides, and a 

‘rollglider’ ride, plus their signature supervised 

Explorer’s Club and Core Zone Teen 

Club will keep the kids busy with all kinds of 

fab activities so parents can slip away to 

enjoy the signature Spa by Pevonia fashioned 

after a tropical grotto. Keep your eye 

on their website this fall as there’s bound to 

be lots of great opening special packages. 

Visit: www.nowresorts.com/natura 

31 

Award-winning travel journalist 

Sue Campbell is based in Montreal but makes it 

her business to be on top of everything cool, hot, 

and new under the sun throughout the 

Caribbean and Latin America. 

World Traveler welcomes her as a 

regular columnist. 

Follow her on 

Instagram and Twitter @suectravel 

Photo: Ken Theysen 

Photo: AMResorts 


32 

Curacao - Beyond the Handelskade 

by Susan Campbell 

Even for those who’ve never visited 

this colorful little Dutch Southern 

Caribbean tropical gem, chances 

are good you’ve heard or tasted its famous 

neon blue liqueur or seen photos of its candycolored 

waterfront of colonial houses called 

the Handelskade. But there’s so much more 

to this island than that. However, some of its 

best attractions and most pleasurable pastimes 

are not so easy to find, some even hidden 

in plain sight like the incredible coral and 

resplendent marine life right beneath its 

shores! Thankfully there is an organization 

that helps you to find all the best dive sites 

and operators - DiveCuracao.info is the onestop 

portal for everything under the sea like 

how to explore the surreal Blue Room sea 

cave and the island’s fascinating shipwrecks. 

Pocket Neighborhoods 

Curacao can be a complicated puzzle of 

stand-alone communities scattered all about 

the island. But let’s start with downtown 

Willemstad that’s divided into two by Sint 

Anna Bay. The two sides- Punda (The Point) 

and Otrobanda (The Other Side) can be 

explored on foot- they are connected by the 

pedestrian floating pontoon bridge called the 

Queen Emma. But if you really want to get a 

taste of local color and culture, head to 

Punda on a Thursday night for “Punda Vibes” 

– an outdoor festival of local food, dance, 

and music. The neighborhood shops also stay 

open late that night and it ends in a fabulous 

firework display. 

Pietermaai Pleasures 

Right beside Punda, you’ll find this amazing 

colorful little neighborhood which has 

become a trendy, foodie, and entertainment 

epicentre. It’s a very compact grid of side-byside 

venues and I recommend you stay at 

Dive Curacao by Stan Bysshe

Pietermaai78 Urban Oasis- a family run 

three-storey house with unqiue apartments 

and its own manmade little beach and pool 

that’s steps away from all the fun. Or, if 

you’re more luxury inclined, the Avila Beach 

Hotel on the far edge of Pietermaai is the 

place. Though this historic Grande Dame 

landmark celebrated it’s 50th anniversary this 

year, it’s thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan 

and they’ve recently dedicated their 

romantic “Blues” wing to adult-only stays. 

Their two-cove beach is also a beautiful snorkeling 

and swimming escape, and their pier 

bar “Blues” is the most legendary live jazz 

music venue on the island. 

Mambo Beach Blvd. 

Another self-contained region with something 

for everyone is Mambo Beach Blvd., also 

close to town. This multi-level entertainment/dining/shopping 

beach stretch is party 

central almost every night with its scads of 

dining and bars. It’s also the home to the 

island’s original dive operator and hotel- 

Lions’ Dive Resort, and right next door is the 

famous Curacao Sea Aquarium. This massive 

complex has all kinds of animal encounterssea 

lions, dolphins, sea turtles… and even 

hand-feeding sharks is an option! And their 

new underwater observatory allows you to 

see marine life up close without even getting 

wet! Families seeking a great affordable allinclusive 

should flock to Sunscape Curacao 

Resort on the other side of Mambo beach. 

The manmade breakwaters make the beach 

ultra kid-friendly, and they also have an 

excellent Kid’s Club. (And adults will appreciate 

their on-site casino!) 

Santa Barbara 

Another stand-alone region begins about 

nine miles southeast of Willemstad. Santa 

Barbara Beach and Golf Resort is a sprawling 

estate style chic stay on an ex-plantation on 

the sea backed by picturesque Table 

Mountain (Tafelberg).It’s like its own 

destination with a multitude of first-rate 

33 

rooms and suites, a luxe spa, a comprehensive 

water circuit, excellent dining 

options (all-inclusive also available), pro tennis 

courts, a beautiful beach, and all surrounded 

by a word class Pete Dye designed 

golf course. They also have a dive operator 

and watersports and offer ATV tours of the 

wild countryside. But this location is also an 

excellent base from which to explore many 

other east end attractions like Serena’s Art 

Factory where you can make your own 

Chichi® doll- the island’s most iconic souvenir, 

the Ostrich Farm and Amazonia - a 

manmade replica of a rain forest replete with 

live creatures that would live there. 

West End Wonders 

Locals often head west on weekends to enjoy 

some of the island’s best beaches like Cas 

Abou, and to hike the rugged national parks 

around Mt. Christoffel. If you’re seeking a 

super ‘natural’ place to stay, head to Mondi 

Lodge- an enchanting collection of five 

thatched-palapa cottages in a lush forest full 

of blooms with its own pool. Eco-friendly and 

affordable is the mantra there, and they’re 

very close to where a wild flamingo colony 

lives, and not far from Kokomo Beachfamous 

for its full moon parties. Much further 

west, you’ll find a very upscale gated community 

called Coral Estates perched cliffside over 

stunning aqua seas. Though mostly private 

residences, there’s a new tourist-focused stay 

there now called Oasis Coral Estate- a hotel 

type complex with a luxe spa, pool, wellness 

centre, beach bar and a dining room on its 

own little beach. It also has a dive operator. 

But if you’d prefer to rent your own private 

fabulous space there, I highly recommend 

Villa Seashell right next door-- a three-storey 

fully-equipped four-bedroom luxury home 

with views to die for - ideal for small groups. 

As you can see there’s a lot more to this 

island than pretty colored buildings. See 

more about what’s new and cool on Curacao 

in my Tropical Tidbits column page 32. 

www.curacao.com 

Villa Seashell 


Arctic North Atlantic South Atlantic North 

Amazon Danube Mekong Nile Rhine Rhône Moselle Seine Yangtze 

C r u i s i n g w i t h 

W O R L D 

Traveler 

Come With Us &

Pacific South Pacific Indian Southern Ocean 

CRUISING SECTION 

Cruise News - pages 36-37 

Norwegian Joy - page 40 

The Gems of the Seine River aboard the AmaLyra - page 42 

Exploring the West Indies with Viking - page 44 

The Smooth Cruise on Victory 1 - page 46 

China & The Queen Elizabeth - page 48 

Cruising in the New Year with Carnival - page 50 

When is the Best Time to Cruise? - page 52 

Trafalgar’s 10-day ‘3 Continents Cruise’ Adventure - page 54 

Cruise Up the Lijiang River from Guilin - page 56 

This Photo: Cunard Queen Victoria in Norway 

Sail The World! 


Adriatic Aegean Mediterranean Caribbean Baltic Black South-China Sea

36 

AmaWaterways Avalon Azamara Carnival Celebrit 

C r u i s e N e w s 

Norwegian Joy's Debut In 

North America During 

Teacher Appreciation Week 

Norwegian Cruise Line has recently 

awarded cruises to 30 educators as well 

as thousands of dollars to their schools 

as part of its Giving Joy campaign, an 

effort to reward teachers who inspire students 

and bring joy into the classroom. 

The month-long campaign, which recognized the powerful connection between travel 

and education, launched in advance of the newly revitalized Norwegian Joy's North 

American inaugural sailing during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6- 10, 2019). The 

30 teachers with the most votes won a seven-day cruise for two and the three grand 

prize finalists were awarded with $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 for their schools. 

www.ncl.com 

Cunard Unveils 

First Full Season of 

Alaska Voyages in 2020 

Luxury cruise line Cunard today 

announced that it will spend a full 

season in Alaska from June 

through September in 2020 on 

newly-refit Queen Elizabeth. 

Cunard is making its grand return 

to Alaska in May 2019 – and due 

to high demand, the line will double their program in 2020. 

This expanded program will offer ten roundtrip voyages out of Vancouver ranging from 

nine to twelve nights and one getaway cruise to San Francisco for an overnight stay on 

Independence Day. Guests will have the opportunity to take in the breathtaking beauty 

of Alaska with the iconic experience of sailing on a Cunard ship. 

www.cunard.com 

Celebrity Cruises 

Takes Delivery of the 

First Expedition Mega 

Yacht Designed 

Specifically for the 

Galapagos Islands 

The first ship designed specifically 

for the beautiful 

Galapagos Islands – Celebrity 

Cruises’ revolutionary 

Celebrity Flora – is preparing to 

embark on her transatlantic journey to her new home in the diverse archipelago following 

an intimate delivery ceremony. 

Celebrity Flora will have the highest ratio of Certified Naturalists per guest (1:9) in the 

Galapagos, who will offer travelers an in-depth experience with certification by the 

Galapagos National Park, recognizing their extensive educational training and commitment 

to maintaining the pristine nature of these islands. 

www.celebritycruises.com 

John Cannon 

Viking Announces New Egypt 

Ship and Privileged Access 

Experiences for 2020 

Viking has recently announced an 

expansion of its Egypt program for the 

2020 season, which will include the 

launch of a new ship. Inspired by the 

design of the award-winning Viking 

Longships and built specifically for the 

Nile River, Viking Osiris is currently 

under construction and will double the 

company’s owned capacity in Egypt 

when it debuts in September 2020. Also 

launching in the next year are two new 

Pre-Cruise Extensions designed to 

enhance guests’ base knowledge of 

Egyptology prior to arriving in Cairo. 

These five-day extensions to Viking’s 

Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary will provide 

guests with Privileged Access to 

archives and exhibits in London and 

Oxford that are not normally accessible 

to the public. This announcement comes 

as Viking guests continue to express 

strong interest in Egypt – and just one 

year after the company launched Viking 

Ra, a completely renovated vessel and 

Viking’s first owned and operated ship 

on the Nile. 

Viking Osiris 

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, 

Viking Osiris will be a state-of-the art 

ship with the clean, elegant 

Scandinavian design for which Viking is 

known – and will join the company’s 

other ship on the Nile, Viking Ra, which 

launched in 2018. Viking is the first and 

only Western company to build, own and 

operate ships on the Nile. 

www.vikingcruises.com 

Royal-Caribbean Scenic Seabourn SeaDream Si

y Costa Crystal Cunard Disney Holland America 

Silversea Unveils the Most Elegant Ship 

ever to Sail the Galapagos 

Italian whispered luxury combined with amazing 

expedition experience will redefine luxury in the destination 

Silversea unveils new details of Silver Origin, the cruise line’s first ever destinationspecific 

ship, which will unlock deep travel experiences for guests in the Galapagos 

Islands from the summer of 2020. One of the most environmentally friendly cruise 

ships ever and designed entirely with these unique islands in mind, Silver Origin will 

combine Silversea’s local destination expertise with the cruise line’s trademark level of 

luxury to offer guests the ultimate destination experience. 

From summer 2020, the 100-passenger, all-suite Silver Origin will build on Silversea’s accrued know-how in the Galapagos Islands to form 

deeper connections between guests and the destination. In addition to the ship’s pioneering 

design and guests’ unique experiences ashore – which will be led by Silversea’s 

Expedition Team, who are certified by the National Park of the Galapagos – this immersive 

concept will see guests enjoy Ecuadorian culture on board, through insightful content, 

including daily briefings, lectures, videos, and scientific information; authentic local 

cuisine, prepared by expert Ecuadorian chefs; and various other luxurious enhancements. 

Offering the highest Zodiac-to-guest ratio in the region, at 1:12.5, Silver Origin 

will be a luxurious outpost from which guests will enjoy personalized experiences 

throughout the Galapagos Islands. Every aspect of guests’ cruise experiences will be tailored 

to take them closer to the authentic beauty of the Galapagos Islands in luxury. 

www.silversea.com 

Aqua Expeditions Unveils New Fleet Additions 

Aqua Blu to sail three coastal destinations in Indonesia 

Aqua Nera to redefine Amazon luxury river cruising 

Aqua Expeditions, one of the world's most respected boutique luxury cruise line, officially 

announces two new additions to its fleet: Aqua Blu and Aqua Nera. Aqua Blu is Aqua 

Expeditions' first coastal ship, and the first-ever long-range expedition-class yacht to be permanently 

based in the east Indonesian archipelago. Aqua Blu will offer year-round departures 

and will begin service on November 16, 2019. The state-of-the-art Aqua Nera, which 

will begin service in the Peruvian Amazon on August 1, 2020, will redefine luxury river cruising 

in the region. 

Aqua Blu: Giving unprecedented access to Earth's most intriguing destinations 

Aqua Blu cruises in the heart of the Coral Triangle and traverses the fabled global spice trade route. Itineraries will cover tropical islands 

where wildlife, culture and age-old traditions reside, in addition to the world's best diving and 

snorkeling sites. The high-performance vessel also features technologically advanced stabilizers 

for ultimate guest comfort while navigating or at rest. 

Aqua Nera: Setting a new standard of luxury in the Peruvian Amazon 

Designed and built as the most state-of-the-art river boat to sail the Amazon, Aqua Nera 

will feature luxuriously appointed interiors inspired by her surroundings: the blackwater 

lagoons and tributaries of the Amazon River and Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The 

design also incorporates intricate accents from the Rubber Boom era and the colorful cultures 

of Portugal, Spain and Peru. 

www.aquaexpeditions.com 

37 

Hurtigruten MSC Norwegian Oceania Ponant Princess Regent 

versea Star-Clippers Uniworld Viking Windstar

40 

Joyous Occasion with Norwegian 

by Michael Morcos, photos: NCL 

How could anything go wrong on a 

ship called the ‘Joy”? 

And true to the name, our cruise was a real 

joy. Not sure when to stop the puns but they 

come so easily and joyously! 

The Norwegian Joy is now home to North 

Americans after originally being for the 

Chinese market. It has been refurbished for 

American tastes and pleasures and is ready to 

take on the best of Alaska this summer and 

onwards to the east coast of the USA. 

This is easily the biggest ship I have ever 

sailed on and being used to much smaller 

ships, including riverboats, the ‘Joy’ is humongous. 

But comparing large and small does 

not mean better or worse, just different, and 

in this sailing, large was good. With so much 

to see, there was very little down time and I 

wanted to experience it all. 

Our sailing was considered a re-launch. We 

would board in Vancouver and depart in Los 

Angeles with no port days, only sea days. This 

was a good thing as port days would have 

taken away from the full “Joy” experience. 

With a capacity of 3,800 people, it is placed 

in the large ship category with mega everything, 

like a large theatre, multitude of dining 

options, plenty of public spaces on many levels, 

a casino, spa center, amusement centres, 

golf-putting area, multiple swimming areas, 

slides and the most unimaginable, a two level 

go-kart race track. 

Dinning and bars 

You will never starve on the “Joy”. Better put, 

you will feast like a king with a multitude of 

choices that range from self-serves to sit down 

serves at many different restaurants that 

include amazing steak houses to Asian cuisine. 

My favourites were the Manhattan, Cagney’s 

and Fusion for their delicious and fresh sushi. 

There were restaurants for everyday eating 

and some really special spots. 

To explain why I loved the Manhattan Room 

the most, I would just say the extra care taken 

to accommodate the guest’s specific taste was 

a wonderful experience. It offers modern and 

classic dishes and is a great choice for variety.

Cagney's Steakhouse is upon reservation for a 

good reason. Though steak is the standard, 

you can sit on the side and can take a pick 

from premium cuts. It is mouth watering, and 

you can also order some jumbo crab cakes 

and a side of their truffle fries. 

The Local was another great spot, and they 

offer great and simple classic pub fare in 

relaxed atmosphere 24-hours a day. With fish 

and chips or burgers, you can also enjoy a 

few beers and enjoy a game on a two-story TV 

screen. 

Extraordinary activities 

The cruise liner was built for all tastes when it 

comes to pleasurable activities. There was 

never a dull moment. 

Imagine that you are on a cruise that offers 

you a Race Track! Passengers can zoom 

around twists and turns in high-powered, 

quick go-carts. For imaginative folks, there is 

a great arena for Laser Tag. Other familyfriendly 

choices include Mini Golf, an Aqua 

Park with slides and pools and the Galaxy 

Pavilion, an ‘imaginarium’ with immersive 

visuals and a larger than-life 3D animated, 

interactive video screen. 

For adults, there is a fully stocked Casino 

offering a wide range of thrilling games for 

every level of player. Added to that is the gym, 

fitness area, multiple pools, a spa and a 

salon. 

What a show, (times two) 

What a show and what a delight to have had 

the chance to view to magnificent live performances, 

with the Broadway style presentation 

of Footloose and a magical experience 

viewing Elements. 

Great shows are part and parcel on 

Norwegian Cruise Line, and we were lucky to 

see their version of the musical Footloose. The 

show is based on the popular movie where a 

Chicago teen with a love of dancing moves to 

small town that has banned Rock n' Roll and 

dancing. Fighting the town adults and the 

rules, he gets the ban lifted. 

The musical is added to their classic show, 

Elements, an aerial acrobatics show. This 

Norwegian Cruise Line favorite involves the 

four elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire 

and features mesmerizing magic, high-flying 

feats and exciting music and dance. 

As part of Norwegian's specialty dining performances, 

Wine Lovers: The Musical, known 

as the world's first wine tasting musical production, 

provides guests the opportunity to 

taste a variety of wines at a lunch club-style 

experience while enjoying a hilarious musical 

comedy about the joys of wine and love. The 

show will be performed at the Social Comedy 

and Night Club with wine served to guests 21 

and older. 

Norwegian Joy is set to reposition to North 

America in late April following an over $50 

million renovation that will make her nearly 

identical to sister ship, Norwegian Bliss, with 

an extended go-kart race track and new dining 

and bar concepts. Her first seven-day, 

round-trip Alaska sailing from Seattle, 

Washington will be on May 4, 2019, and she 

will call to both Glacier Bay and Icy Strait Point 

during her inaugural season. Norwegian Joy 

continues with Panama Canal sailings in 

October before offering weekly sailings to the 

Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles in 

November. 

La piece des resistance 

It is heaven on earth and on the “Joy” it is 

called the Haven. This is a section of the ship 

that is reserved for those who are looking for 

the small ship feeling but want the many features 

found on much larger ships. Very attractively 

priced, they rival the smaller ships with 

capacities of 1000 or less passengers. 

In the Haven, there are concierge serves and 

a privet elevator to get you to your suit without 

waiting with the crowds. This is especially 

helpful when getting to ports and back again 

on ship in a limited shore times. Additionally, 

the Haven guests have their own private pool 

and sunning area and still have the whole 

ship at their disposal. 

The Joy is a versatile ship tailoring to a multigenerational 

family. Mom, Dad the kids and 

ever the grand parents will all have something 

to experience and enjoy on this beautiful ship 

the “Joy”! 

www.ncl.com 

41 

Photo: M. Morcos 

Photo: M. Morcos 


42 

The Gems of the Seine River aboard the AmaLyra 

Seeing France through a Mother's Eyes 

by Ilona Kauremszky 

Losing a loved-one is always difficult. 

We lost Dad five years ago. He 

never saw Paris and only saw the 

waterfront of Le Havre as he made his flight 

to Canada in 1957, leaving behind his 

war-ravaged homeland of Hungary that 

was pitted in fresh bullets from the 1956 

Hungarian Revolution. 

My mum had never seen Paris either. 

But I have been blessed with many visits to 

the City of Light. For me, each trip has been 

filled with magical discoveries. Now it was 

time to kick-start Mum's Paris journey and 

to explore France through her eyes. 

This past spring we embarked on a river 

cruise that took us from the Haussmannbuilt 

Paris streets north to the Gothic shrines 

of Normandy. I researched a variety of river 

cruises but kept circling back to AmaLyra's 

itinerary, amenities and included excursions 

provided by a top river cruise line company, 

AmaWaterways. 

Known for its unforgettable river cruise 

experiences, the award-winning cruise line 

has made spring-time river cruising a special 

occasion for all its guests. We know. We 

were among them. Mornings began with 

cappuccinos, our favourite coffee always 

promptly provided by the attentive restaurant 

staff. Daily tours were led by knowledgeable 

guides and the evenings turned 

into festive events thanks to the talented 

pianist Mike who tickled the ivories, playing 

a dueling harmonica and guitar simultaneously 

even singing pop songs. 

I confess as a birthday girl whose bonne 

fete happened during our trip my sweet 

tooth was deeply satisfied with two birthday 

cakes presented in fine cruise fashion on 

separate occasions. One night during supper 

at The Chef's Table specialty restaurant 

I shared my cake with other dinner guests. 

Another evening around our circle of dining 

friends, the plumpest chocolate mousse 

cake made its grand entrance ushered in 

by a singing cast of crew. 

As avid gardeners and lovers of joie de 

vivre (Mum and I anticipate each dining 

affair with eager eyes and empty tummies), 

we reserved the all-inclusive tours best suited 

to our interests. On board the AmaLyra 

our affable cruise manager Melissa assisted 

guest inquiries. I pre-booked our excursions 

and was pleased to have done this. 

On boarding day, there was more free time

to settle into our cabin and spend quality 

girl time aboard the ship as we later beelined 

to the lounge for afternoon coffee 

and cakes. 

At the outset I hoped the trip would help 

Mum and I deal with the 5 year hump in 

our loss. Dad was her Fred Astaire. “I'll 

never dance again,” she once remarked 

soon after his death. She also leaned on 

him for everything. 

But in this remarkable cruise I feel those 

sentiments have changed. I saw a gal in 

her golden years blossom. We laughed 

together, sang songs together, and even left 

our lounge seats to dance the night away. 

The first ones to arrive to the lounge and 

yes, on one evening, among the last to 

leave. That was the night our unstoppable 

group won the “Name That Tune” contest. 

On our cruise, we saw guests who arrived 

as strangers leaving as friends. A couple 

from California befriended Mum soon after 

we boarded. On our first excursion in Les 

Andelys, a cruise guest took her arm on the 

snaky hilltop path by the Chateau Gaillard, 

a 12th century castle built by Richard the 

Lion-Heart. She soldiered on atop the hill's 

spine confident with each stride. These 

thoughtful moments from cruise passengers 

recurred throughout our sail. 

In Le Havre, we awoke to a misty morning, 

hallmarks of a bristle-speckled canvas only 

Monet could master. The Impressionist 

artist whose childhood was spent in Le 

Havre was renowned for his paintings of 

the region including Rouen's Cathedral of 

Notre Dame and Honfleur. His most 

renowned paintings are of the idyllic water 

lilies in Giverny. We eagerly awaited for our 

excursions to all these extraordinary places. 

Our ship sailed into Vernon, the port of call 

on day six on a sun dappled mid-morning. 

We hopped inside a spacious motor coach 

to explore countrysides of spire-like columnar 

trees and bucolic vistas dotted with 

cows in meadows worthy of Impressionist 

art. 

In Giverny, we were overjoyed to finally 

explore Monet's world. Beneath an overpass 

we passed a bumbling brook to stroll 

along a footpath that announced, “Monet's 

House and Garden.” With our green 

thumbs itching we plunged into the 

“Garden of Gardens” immersed in a bouquet 

of springtime perennials. The darling 

buds of late March popped their fragrant 

heads atop Monet's apple trees. Rows upon 

rows of other green shoots sprouted by the 

footpaths. 

“Smell this – look at these, how beautiful,” 

said Mum in no particular order at each 

turn. The eternal natural beauty left by 

Monet has been lovingly preserved by a 

crew of gardeners, all of whom were busy 

on scene. 

Uninterrupted we skimmed our hands over 

the Japanese footbridge at the water lily 

pond immortalized by Monet. We posed for 

photos. We smiled and hugged some 

more. 

The historic estate, which was Monet's 

home for 43 years is open for tours and is 

a must-see. Mum and I headed inside without 

the crowds to discover rooms that 

appeared as if the great painter had just 

stepped outside to inspect his garden. Early 

spring is a fine time to immerse in the world 

of Monet – no shoulder-to-shoulder 

crowds. 

In Vernon we toured the Chateau de Bizy, a 

French chateau, saw rare furniture pieces 

from dining table chairs to accent chairs 

ironically familiar to us. “We have these 

styles at home,” relayed Mum, noting her 

own exquisite taste in fine furniture. 

In Rouen we took our foodie senses on a 

culinary walking tour and scoured the 

medieval streets in search of chocolate 

making, Norman cheeses and cider which 

are among the region's gastronomic specialties. 

The area is renowned for creamy 

cheeses and apple orchards. 

Back on board, during our entire week, 

husband and wife Paul and Merrill 

43 

Bonarrigo of Messina Hof Winery led 

various wine seminars. We poked our 

noses inside glasses, smelled the fruity aromas 

and rich bouquets of his winery's 

award-winners and toasted some more. 

The couple happily encouraged us to enjoy 

the pairings with assorted cheeses and 

dark chocolates. We did. 

In Paris, the City of Light strengthened our 

soul. By day we were off to the Notre Dame 

de Paris Cathedral. The scope of this 

Christian landmark captivated us. Its 

ancient doors were open to everyone as the 

masses poured into this sanctuary. Mum 

gasped in sheer wonder over her. We both 

kneeled and said a prayer for Dad. Sadly, 

we are among the last visitors who were 

fortunate to see the heart of Paris,a 

UNESCO World Heritage site, before the 

devastating inferno wiped out the cultural 

symbol. 

By night, Paris invigorated our senses even 

more. After our farewell dinner and 

evening entertainment, our captain 

announced a surprise best viewed on the 

sun deck. We sailed up the River Seine as 

an indigo sky splashed soft colours over the 

city. By the Grenelle Bridge on the Île aux 

Cygnes, the AmaLyra stood still like a musical 

conductor anticipating the next orchestral 

note. Suddenly on cue, the Eiffel Tower 

instantly transformed into a glittering golden 

jewel box of gems. 

Seeing the shimmering sight of Paris' 

beloved tower like so many other moments 

during our cruise left us breathless. Mum 

was mesmerized in the City of Light. “This 

Paris...is so beautiful,” she softly murmured 

watching the dazzling display. 

The AmaLyra had worked her magic. 

AmaWaterways features 7-night 

Paris-Normandy river cruises including 

optional wine cruises onboard the AmaLyra. 

www.amawaterways.com 


44 

Exploring the West Indies with Viking 

by Johanna Read, TravelEater.net 

There’s something irresistible about 

the Caribbean. The air smells of the 

sea and sunshine. Palm trees sway 

next to white sand beaches and candycoloured 

buildings. But how to choose which 

island to visit? 

For those who are indecisive, or just want to 

see it all, Viking Ocean Cruises’ West Indies 

Explorer is an excellent choice. Their 11-day 

cruise visits nine different islands in the eastern 

Caribbean Sea, each with a different 

culture and microclimate. 

Viking’s 930-passenger ocean ships are 

more like luxury boutique hotels than crowded 

cruise ships. Initially known for its river 

cruises, Viking is growing to explore the 

world’s oceans too. 

Johanna Read 

Viking’s oldest ocean ship, the Viking Star, 

was built in 2015. By 2027, the company 

will have 16 vessels exploring the world’s 

oceans, in addition to their current count of 

72 river vessels. 

Eleven days, nine islands 

You can visit nine different islands on the 

West Indies Explorer, but up that count even 

higher if you book shore excursions to smaller 

islands like Nevis and Barbuda. 

The 11-day cruise begins and ends in San 

Juan, Puerto Rico. Repaired after 2017’s 

Hurricane Maria, San Juan’s colourful streets 

welcome visitors to shop, eat mofongo (a 

garlic plantain dish), and drink rum cocktails. 

Viking includes a free excursion in 

every port. In San Juan, it’s a walking tour to 

historic Fort San Cristobal and through Old 

San Juan’s blue stone streets. 

Another stop is the British Virgin Islands’ 

Tortola, where an optional excursion goes to 

The Baths on Virgin Gorda. You can climb, 

walk and swim between piles of immense 

boulders that create mysterious grottoes and 

turquoise pools. 

St. Kitts and Nevis is the western hemisphere’s 

smallest state and its two islands 

are ideal for sailing and snorkelling. Ride the 

only double-decker rail cars in the world and 

see the rainforest or, on Viking’s included 

tour, explore Basseterre’s botanical garden 

and Victorian architecture. 

The cruise also visits the Commonwealth 

countries of St. Lucia, Barbados, and 

Antigua. Excursions include a Caribbean 

cooking class, painting class, cave tour, 

cricket museum, sailing, snorkelling, and 

beach time. 

A lesser-visited island, Dominica, is also on 

the itinerary. This lush country is known as 

the Caribbean’s Nature Isle. Its nine volcanoes 

bring natural hot springs and even the

opportunity to snorkel through what seems 

like Champagne. Dominica also has whale 

watching, river tubing, waterfalls, and a rich 

indigenous culture to learn about. 

Viking docks on the Dutch side, in 

Philipsburg, of the two-country island of Sint 

Maarten and St. Martin. Popular with shoppers, 

you can also race on America’s Cup 

yachts, take a perfume class, or snorkel 

above a purposefully-sunk submarine and 

helicopter. 

Before returning to Puerto Rico, Viking’s last 

stop is St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. 

Explore Charlotte Amalie’s colourful buildings, 

duty-free shopping, and Blackbeard’s 

Castle, or go sailing, snorkelling, or kayaking. 

On board: Is a Viking Ocean Cruise right for 

you? 

Viking recently designated its sailings for 

adults only. The cruise line caters to people 

who are knowledgable about the world and 

often well-travelled. They’re friendly and it’s 

easy to have a conversation, if you choose, 

with the people sitting next to you at dinner. 

With 930 passengers, you’ll keep meeting 

new people but also run into familiar faces. 

The mood aboard Viking is the perfect combination 

of relaxed sophistication with attention 

to detail. There are no casinos, lineups, 

formal nights, pre-arranged dining companions 

or times, sales pressure, nickel and 

diming, or any of the other things you might 

associate with large mass-market cruise 

ships. Crew members are quick to smile and 

very good at anticipating your needs. 

The dress code aboard is casual -- there’s 

no need to pack an evening gown or suit 

jacket, though men should wear trousers 

and collared shirts in the evenings. 

Staterooms 

Each stateroom has a veranda (an ideal spot 

for breakfast, in your provided robe and 

slippers). Standard rooms have a king or two 

double beds, as you specify, with luxe linens. 

There’s also easy chairs, a desk, a stocked 

Johanna Read 

mini-fridge, plus a full closet. An interactive 

42-inch LCD television has on-demand 

movies, live TV, and cruise information. 

Bathrooms are surprisingly large with heated 

floors, a glassed-in shower, and lots of storage. 

Housekeeping comes twice daily. 

There’s free wifi throughout the ship. 

Dining 

Viking Ocean ships have several dining venues, 

including 24-hour room service. All are 

without additional charge. The Restaurant, 

open for breakfast and dinner, is à la carte. 

The dinner menu changes nightly, often with 

themes linked to the current port, with a 

handful of favourites always available. The 

World Café is a buffet restaurant with 

indoor-outdoor seating. Don’t miss the 

seafood feasts, with giant crab legs, ahi 

sashimi, and much more. The nearby Pool 

Grill has a small buffet and grilled-to-order 

meats and fish all afternoon. 

For snacks and smaller meals, passengers 

can visit the Viking Living Room, Mamsen’s 

(made-to-order waffles with fresh berries are 

a top breakfast draw), and, for afternoon 

tea, the elegant Wintergarden. Restaurants 

requiring dinner reservations are Manfredi’s 

for excellent Italian, and The Chef’s Table, 

which has a rotating tasting menu of international 

dishes. 

Viking takes food allergies seriously, but 

crew members go out of their way so passengers 

don’t have to worry about it. No 

request is too much trouble. Servers are very 

knowledgable about ingredients and consult 

chefs to be absolutely sure dishes are safe 

for each individual’s needs. Those with allergies 

receive a detailed dinner menu the 

night before from which they can make their 

next-day selections, with chefs adapting 

dishes as needed. The galley has special 

equipment, including a pasta maker, that is 

protected from gluten. 

Drinks 

Unlike many cruise ships, Viking includes 

many beverages in their regular fares. At 

lunch and dinner, beer, house wine, and soft 

drinks are all free, as are specialty coffees 

and teas throughout the day. 

For those who want to sample all of Viking’s 

great cocktails and wines, the Silver Spirits 

package is a great deal (the cost varies by 

cruise length). With the package, almost all 

drinks on board are free, including premium 

wines and alcohols, as well as the premium 

wine pairings for the Chef’s Table. Drinks 

are also available à la carte, with most beers 

at $5 and cocktails around $7.50 US. Don’t 

forget to pop into Torshavn after dinner for 

aquavit. 

Onboard activities 

Vacations are about relaxing and 

recharging, and Viking gives you plenty of 

opportunity in their large spa. Unlike with 

many other cruise lines, access to Viking’s 

Nordic spa is free (there is a charge for massages 

and other treatments). 

In each dressing room, you’ll find a Finnish 

sauna, plunge pool, plus areas to relax. In a 

central area, with access for both sexes, are 

heated lounges, a warm mineral pool 

framed by a fireplace, jetted hot tub, and a 

steam room. A bucket shower and even a 

Snow Grotto complete the Nordic hot-cold 

cycle. Next door is a large gym with sea 

views plus a beauty salon. 

There’s more exercise equipment on the top 

deck and even a putting green. Deck 2 has 

a jogging circuit. Though more for dipping 

than for exercise, there are two swimming 

pools, each with a hot tub. The main pool is 

under a glass retractable roof, so you can 

swim if it’s raining (or cruising the North Sea 

in winter). 

For those who want to sit back and relax, 

Viking shows movies (listen with headphones) 

under the stars at the main pool. 

Don’t want to miss an important sports 

game? It’ll likely be on the big screen too. 

Viking’s Chairman Torstein Hagen called 

Viking “the thinking person’s cruise” and the 

ships have regular enrichment discussions 

by Viking Resident Historians and guest lecturers. 

Topics range from turtle conservation 

to astronomy to pirates. Ted Talks are 

rebroadcast throughout most days in the cinema. 

Evenings often have a live performance in 

the main theatre; the ABBA and show tunes 

singalongs are especially popular. Some 

evenings have dancing. Live music -- piano, 

violin, cello, guitar -- is found in several 

locations afternoons and evenings. 

www.VikingCruises.com 

45 


46 

The Smooth Cruise on Victory 1 

Article and Photography by Steve Gillick 

Captain Gary Kerr of the Victory 1 

Cruise Ship, part of the fleet owned 

by the American Queen Steamboat 

Company, has an endearing quality about 

him. His distinct Sean Connery-esque, 

Scottish accent, along with his personable 

nature and sense of humour identify him as 

one of the key components of the Great 

Lakes Grand Discovery Cruise. 

Captain Gary joined me on the sundeck of 

the ship while I was taking photos one afternoon. 

When I asked about the attraction of 

this particular cruise, he began by saying 

that “on the big ships you would hardly ever 

get the meet the captain” and then he 

explained that the passengers, mostly ‘very 

experienced travelers’, like the idea of 

exploring their own backyard and that the 

simple shore excursions allow the passengers 

to learn, socialize and appreciate each 

destination. 

Later, just prior to our visit to the Niagara 

Region, Captain Gary congratulated the 

passengers in Cabin 311: “You’ve just won 

the draw. You get to go over Niagara Falls in 

a barrel”. He then thanked his multi-national 

staff in front of all the passengers, with 

pauses to allow for applause, mixed with 

‘bravos”. In fact, a hallmark of the Victory 

1’s charm is the friendly crew. I chatted with 

Lourdes the head bartender on several occasions 

about her home in the Philippines and 

the delicious foods that I enjoyed on a visit 

there several years ago. The Martinis that 

Lourdes concocted (shaken, not stirred) 

would have impressed any James Bond or 

Sean Connery! 

The Victory 1 began its journey in Chicago 

on Lake Michigan, headed north to Holland- 

Musekgon, then up to Mackinac Island 

before entering Lake Huron to explore Little 

Current on Manitoulin Island. A stop in 

Detroit followed, as well as another in 

Cleveland, before cruising to Port Colborne, 

Ontario for visits to Niagara Falls and 

Niagara-on-the-Lake. The ship then traveled 

through the Welland Canal locks from Lake 

Erie to Lake Ontario with disembarkation on 

the last morning in Toronto. 

On this abbreviated trip, we would get a 

taste of the Great Lakes Discovery Cruise, 

joining the ship for the Detroit to Toronto 

portion. With thoughts of stormy lakes and 

howling winds, I prepared myself for the 

worst, with sea bands around my wrists and 

Photo: Victory

medication, just in case. But I needed none. 

The cruise was smooth as silk. 

The Victory 1 is a ‘small cruise ship’ with a 

capacity of only 202 passengers, so it was 

easier than expected to meet and chat with 

fellow travelers. The ship was launched in 

2001 and after few ownership and name 

changes it was introduced in June, 2016 as 

the first vessel of Victory Cruise Lines. While 

the ship can do 13 knots, John Waggoner, 

the President and CEO of American Queen 

Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise 

Lines, noted that they prefer to keep the 

speed around 10 knots to avoid any undue 

vibration from the engines and thereby maximize 

the comfort of the passengers. 

Photo: Victory Cruise Lines 

Waggoner mentioned that the average age 

of the guests was 70 years old, plus or minus 

10 years. “It’s an experience for people 

looking for enrichment and learning on our 

great shore excursions, and having a desire 

to spend time with other passengers. 

Overall, it’s for people who want to explore 

their own backyards”. Waggoner suggested 

five top benefits of small ship cruising: 1) As 

most customers are U.S. based (with some 

Canadians) there are no long transatlantic 

flights involved. 2) Passengers feel safe on 

board. It’s a small ship which means greater 

attention to detail—people get to know your 

name, and those with less cruise experience 

are not overwhelmed by the experience 3) 

There are no language barriers. “The extrafriendly 

crew speak English” 4) There is no 

need to exchange currency. All the shore 

excursions take American dollars (although 

some prefer to bring Canadian for the 

Ontario stops) and 5) there are many cruise 

opportunities to travel around the world— 

and many of the Victory 1 passengers have 

done so, but there are much fewer cruise 

opportunities that allow you to stay close to 

home. “This is one of them”. 

Peter and Margaret, passengers from 

California certainly backed up what 

Waggoner mentioned. “Margaret doesn’t 

like long flights so this was the ideal trip 

where we could fly into Chicago one day and 

board the ship the next morning. We like the 

idea of not having to unpack our suitcases 

all the time as well as the casual nature of 

the cruise (there are no formal dinners). But 

the best part is that we love traveling around 

the United States. It’s quite diverse and there 

are so many different regions to explore. The 

shore excursions on this cruise are very 

good. We’ve seen a lot”. Peter and Margaret 

smiled when they spoke about the crew as 

‘the unsung heroes’. “They’re from all over 

the world. They’re very attentive to our 

needs”. 

Each day of the cruise a copy of “The Daily 

Voyager” is delivered to the passengers to 

keep them informed about the next days’ 

events and shore excursions. 

In Detroit we visited ‘The Henry Ford’, which 

according to our tour guide, is the second 

most visited museum in the U.S. after 

47 

the Smithsonian. Displays of historic 

cars include a 1903 Ford Model A, a 

1931 Bugatti Convertible and an absolutely 

stunning deep purple 1949 Mercury convertible. 

In addition there is “The Sunshine 

Special”, the very first official Presidential car 

built for Franklin Roosevelt in 1939 and on a 

more sombre note, there is the 1961 Lincoln 

Continental in which President John F. 

Kennedy was assassinated. But aside from 

cars, the exhibits cover railroads, airplanes, 

American furniture, and even Star Trek! 

Trekkies can enter the “Khaaaaaan” Booth 

and after watching a scene where Captain 

Kirk reacts to a threat from the villainous 

Khan with a horrific yell, guests can imitate 

the scene on video, wait for the system to 

“amplify the Shatnerosity” of their performance, 

and then see themselves actually 

imbedded into the Star Trek experience. 

The Detroit Institute of the Arts was no less 

impressive with the iconic Diego Rivera 

murals and a magnificent art collection that 

covers the gamut of history from a 562 BCE 

tile painting of the Babylonian Mushushshudragon, 

to works by Picasso, Rauschenberg 

and Warhol. 

In Cleveland we visited the Wade Chapel in 

Lake View Cemetery, designed by the stain 

glass master, Louis Comfort Tiffany. Then, 

after viewing the amazing collection of the 

Cleveland Museum of Art, we explored the 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to interact with 

Robert Johnson, Elvis, The Beatles, David 

Bowie and other music icons. 

The shore excursion in Niagara Falls featured 

a good dousing from the Canadian 

Falls for passengers on The Hornblower 

cruise, and then a pleasant visit to the shops, 

flowers and historic homes in Niagara-onthe-Lake. 

The Great Lakes Grand Discovery adventure 

on Victory 1 is a relaxing, social experience 

with good food, comfortable cabins and a 

showcase of exciting close-to-home shore 

excursions, accomplished through the 

smooth, comfort of a small, friendly cruise 

ship. 

www.victorycruiselines.com 


48 

China & The Queen Elizabeth 

Part of A ’Round-the-World Cruise 

by Lisa TE Sonne 

Sipping coffee in the realm of teas, we 

sat on a balcony, cruising past little 

islands woven in morning mist. We 

were approaching the tall modern buildings 

of Hong Kong. Wooden fishing boats 

bobbed below and tugboats headed toward 

us, ready to guide the 12-deck high MS 

Queen Elizabeth to this thriving international 

metropolis. 

My husband and I were entering our final 

port while living out an “Around the World 

Cruise” fantasy – well, one leg of the trip, 

anyway. 

When Victor saw that Cunard line’s elegant 

MS Queen Elizabeth was offering balcony 

suite cabins for a five-day Shanghai to Hong 

Kong cruise, at very attractive pricing, we 

quickly booked. We may not have the time 

and funds right now to take one of the full 

“Around the World Cruises” offered by many 

lines, but we could happily fill a cabin for a 

trip segment. Often, globe cruisers choose 

different ports to begin and end their voyage, 

creating openings with some bargainpriced 

luxury. 

It was a trip of contrasts. We were short-term 

among passengers who were long-term, and 

we were making short visits to places with 

long histories. We were going from the 

white-gloved, art deco graces of the Queen 

Elizabeth -- a glamorous nod to an earlier 

era of travel -- into some of the most modern, 

densely-populated cities on the planet. 

Yet amidst a high-rise forest, there could be 

a temple six centuries old with monks chanting 

(and tourists taking selfies). 

We were entering Chinese harbours under a 

British flag, but the buildings on the horizon 

were taller than those of London, in contrast 

to past history. Our cadences also had contrasts: 

we would have a day onshore of wonderful 

sensory overload with throngs of people, 

followed by an unwinding day at sea, 

ordering room service and lounging alone 

on our balcony as scenery glided by. 

While “at sea,” we could have gone to lectures, 

classes, auctions, parties, played croquet, 

swum in pools, or been massaged at 

the spa. We elected to go to afternoon 

English tea in the ballroom with live classical 

music, and delectable teacakes -- a good 

contrast to the tea we had enjoyed with spicy 

rolls as the only Caucasians at a lively 

onshore Chinese shop.

Shanghai 

Shanghai was a vibrant place to start our trip 

-- a city of more than 26-million people. We 

arrived days early in the embarkation port in 

order to acclimate to time changes and 

weather, get our bearings, and ramp up at 

our own rhythm before the start of our cruise. 

Shanghai’s hop-on, hop-off bus system with 

English maps made it easy to pace ourselves 

and wing it, choosing from many parks, 

museums, shopping centers, as well as specific 

districts like the waterfront Bund with its 

colonial architecture. The buses are also 

good for watching the city’s pulses of traffic 

and pedestrians, as well as looking ever up - 

- especially at the futuristic Pudung skyline, 

including the pink-sphered Oriental Pearl TV 

Tower. 

Photos: Cunard 

We woke in our hotel with a view of people 

of all ages doing a kind of choreographed 

tai chi among trees and flowers in the 

famous People’s Park (formerly the British 

Race Club, in the 19th century). By contrast, 

a short night walk took us to a bustling area 

of shops that seemed to be trying to outdo 

Las Vegas in neon signage. 

Xiemen 

Cruising south through the Taiwan Strait took 

us to the island world of Xiemen. Few buildings 

in this city of several million people were 

tall, skinny rectangles. Highrises reached 

skyward teasing gravity with some swooping 

or angular creativity. 

For a sense of context, we signed up for the 

“Traditions of Xiemen” shore tour that included 

museums, temples, and parks including 

one with caves where religious figures were 

placed. (Diverse excursions were offered by 

the ship’s team - from private to group - but 

none were included in the price of the 

cruise.) This was one of those “wear a numbered-sticker,” 

follow-the-guide-with-a flag, 

bus and walking tours, but we were glad to 

see and to do what we could in a short period. 

For more personal interactions, we 

asked one of the local guides to lunch. We 

let him pick the restaurant and food, as we 

picked his brain to learn more about modern 

China. 

We learned that this city had once been the 

center of the British tea empire, until India 

provided cheaper teas. Now it was an international 

banking center with rapid growth of 

population, commerce, and imaginative 

buildings. 

Hong Kong 

What a great complex of geography and culture 

to enter by ship! After sipping our coffee 

on our balcony, we enjoyed a 360-degree 

walk around the lovely deck, with stimulating 

views in every direction. 

For our selected tour, we took a sky-tram to 

where a giant Buddha looked over the land. 

We ambled through a shopping promenade 

that seemed quite capitalistic and was literally 

bullish –horned cattle walked freely. 

We also enjoyed a several-course 

lunch in an area adjacent to an ancient temple 

- with incense, robed monks, and a sense 

of old mystery. 

When we look back at our trip, some of the 

images that stand out most were the moving 

ones projected on the skyscrapers at night as 

if to say ‘our buildings are our screens; the 

future is here now.’ 

Around the world again 

Until I can actually circumnavigate, I would 

go by segment again. It can be a travel bargain 

and the people you share meals with 

and take classes with can be fascinating, full 

of tips and tales. When we boarded in 

Shanghai, most of our fellow passengers 

had already shared Japan and Australia on 

this voyage. We spoke to one passenger who 

had been around the world five times on 

cruises. 

According to boat officials, there were several 

people onboard who had circled the 

globe by ocean twelve times. Such cruises 

appeal to travelers for a variety of advantages 

including the convenience of not needing 

to repack and wait in lines at airports, the 

assurances of a home-base that is clean, 

safe and well-organized, and the pleasures 

of being at sea in a personalized suite within 

a floating city of more than 2,000 passengers, 

with multiple amenities and entertainments. 

After seeing Shanghai, Xiemen, and Hong 

Kong a la MS Queen Elizabeth, Victor and I 

felt like we had consumed appetizer-size 

tastes of both around-the-world cruising and 

three fascinating urban ports of Asia. We 

took the contrasts of our trip home with a 

broader view of the world, and a deeper 

sense of life’s possibilities in our times. 

www.cunard.com 

49 


50 

Cruising in the 

New Year with Carnival 

by David J. Cox 

Years ago, our first cruise was a quick 

jaunt through the Florida Keys, our 

second was during Christmas…this 

time would be an extra-special one as we 

would be celebrating New Year’s Eve at sea 

in the Bahamas! 

Cruising cuisine 

The 4-day cruise included everything that the 

Carnival brand has become known for and 

our ship, the Liberty, is filled with crowd 

pleasers. 

The two main dining halls, the Silver and 

Golden Olympia rooms, are classy and lovely 

to look at with their rich decoration 

schemes. After a private tasting with the head 

waiter and sous-chef, we were able to 

choose from a second-to-none menu with 

meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian options for 

every dinner. They also presented a wonderful 

New Year’s brunch in the stately restaurants. 

For the informal diner, there was the attractive, 

well-stocked and ever-popular buffet for 

all three meals, as well as an ice cream station 

that kids flocked too about as much as I 

went to the free coffee machine. 

There were omelet and Mongolian Wok stations 

available, and extremely popular. Many 

other dining options could be had, including 

burgers and fries, a sushi stand, a taco and 

burrito bar as well as pizza, sandwiches and 

a delicious Seafood Shack. 

Our preferred palate pleaser was an evening 

meal at the Diamond Steakhouse. With a 

choice of delicious and sophisticated food 

choices and a vast wine list, this was an

WT Photo Library 

exceptional dining experience we fully 

enjoyed. We shared the smoked oysters, beef 

tartare, lobster bisque and a great French 

onion soup as appetizers. 

Luckily, our party each chose something different 

as an entree, and so we got to sample 

the restaurant’s lobster, filet mignon, 

shrimp and Dover sole and everything was 

fantastic. 

The dessert was presented by the chef himself, 

and was a collection of sweets placed 

artfully on a white plank and glazed with 

sauces and creamy delights. It was very 

unique! 

Floating fun 

For outdoor and physical fun, there are three 

pools, many hot-tubs (including several 

adults-only), a water slide, spa, gym, basketball 

court, jogging track and mini-putt. 

Inside, there is an arcade and games room 

for the young, full casino, dance club, theatre, 

comedy club, and multiple bars for 

adults. 

The entertainment ranged from a string trio, 

piano bar, karaoke and a solo guitarist to a 

full band. Nono, the Cruise Director, also 

provided fun evening testing couples in a 

great version of the newlywed game. Three 

couples, married 50 years, 3 years and 

recent newlyweds, were asked ten questions. 

The answers got the crowd laughing and giggling 

throughout the game. 

Most evenings we could also enjoy a pop 

and popcorn while watching movies on the 

giant LEDV TV on the main deck, but comedy 

and musical shows were the best options 

in my opinion. 

The two comedians on board had original 

material for multiple PG and 18+ shows, 

and the Venetian Palace theatre was turned 

into a shrine to American rock and roll with 

the last evening’s “America Rocks” music, 

dance and light hour-long tribute. 

Day tripping 

With two full sailing days, we needed to take 

advantage of the two days we were docked 

in Nassau and Freeport. 

In Nassau, we enjoyed the islander’s New 

Year’s Day parade which was a wonderful 

Kaleidoscope of color, feathers and music. 

Our group then split up, with two of us deciding 

to soak up the sun on the white sandy 

beach and enjoying a great afternoon in the 

clear blue waters and under the shadow of 

swaying palm trees with Margaritas in hand. 

The other two decided to head off to 

“Aquaventure”, at Atlantis Paradise Island 

with its high-speed water slides, long river 

ride with rolling rapids, 20 swimming 

areas, a kids water-play fort and 11 

swimming pools. 

Next day we stayed near the ship, as beach 

excursions were quite pricey and we were 

quite satiated with the Nassau beach. We 

instead went shopping in the bustling marketplace 

at the Freeport market, enjoying 

food and the local ambiance. 

New Year’s Party 

The New Year's Eve countdown party was all 

day long and was a highlight of our cruise. 

Throughout the day the ship was bursting 

with activities and music. Our morning started 

with a brunch in the Olympian dining 

rooms. After that we headed up to the 9th 

floor where guests could write their New 

Year’s wish and place it into a balloon that 

would later drop with hundreds of others at 

11pm onto the Lobby below. 

The evening offered a $3000 jackpot Bingo 

and one of the best ship-board musicals I 

have seen – “Flick”. Dance, video and song 

honored the silver screen and the power of 

motion pictures, wonderful choreography 

and the show was well produced and a lot of 

fun. 

Up on the main “Lido deck”, free 

Champagne flowed. As midnight 

approached, almost the entire ship’s contingent 

of passengers and crew were crowding 

the deck dancing and enjoying the vibe. It 

was a noisy, fun and great way to countdown 

and ring in 2019! 

When we returned to our cabin, we were 

greeted with complimentary chocolate 

dipped strawberries and a nice bottle of 

champagne. 

Final thoughts 

The main take away from our voyages on 

Carnival Cruises, this being our third, is how 

content the staff seems to be. From porters to 

kitchen cooks to help desk agents, all greet 

guests with a welcoming smile. 

www.carnival.com 

51 


52 

When is the Best Time to Cruise? 

by cruisecritic.com 

Photo: Crystal cruises 

It's one of the most common cruising questions: 

When is the best time to cruise 

Alaska (or the Caribbean, Canada/New 

England, Hawaii or Europe)? 

The answer depends on many variables. Fall 

foliage enthusiasts, for instance, will find 

September and October the best time to take 

that Canada/New England cruise, whereas 

water sports-lovers (and families) much prefer 

to sail the region in the summer when 

school is out and temperatures are warm for 

swimming. The best time to cruise to Alaska 

will vary depending on your preferences for 

viewing wildlife, fishing, bargain-shopping, 

sunshine, warm weather and catching the 

northern lights. 

The first step is to consider the factors that 

influence your timing. Do you need to schedule 

around school breaks -- or want to avoid 

kids? Is a holiday week the best time for your 

cruise? Is your main goal to escape frigid 

temperatures at home? Or maybe you have 

lots of flexibility (or a tight budget) and don't 

mind making a few trade-offs in timing for a 

steal on a cabin. Your answers will influence 

which sailing season is your best bet. 

For most cruise regions, there are periods of 

peak demand (high season), moderate 

demand (shoulder season) and low demand 

(low season). Not so long ago, high season 

tended to be when the weather was best in a 

particular area (and when all the Northerners 

flocked to the sun). But as more and more 

families take to cruising, the summer months 

have become a peak-demand period, 

regardless of the weather (at home or in the 

region). Families especially need to book 

high-season sailings as early as possible 

because some cruise lines limit the total number 

of children per sailing, and each ship has 

a limited number of cabins that can accommodate 

three or more people. 

Slow and shoulder seasons yield the most 

bargain opportunities in year-round destinations. 

In places like Alaska and Bermuda, 

where you have a five- or six-month sailing 

season, the off-season is a few weeks after 

cruises begin and before they end. For 

regions like the Panama Canal and Northern 

Europe, almost all sailings are priced "in season." 

The following is a partial list of cruising 

regions and the best time to cruise them. 

Alaska 

High Season: June through August 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in Season: 

Temperatures are at their warmest (highs: 

50s to 70s Fahrenheit), plus the further into 

the summer you are, the better your chances 

of seeing wildlife on the various expeditions. 

The downside: Demand is so strong, you 

need to book months (better yet, a year) in 

advance to get the best land and tour packages. 

Keep in mind, with so many ships sailing 

Alaska now, there can be a tremendous 

amount of congestion in small-town ports. To 

minimize joining the masses, select a ship 

that sails during the week. For a pricing 

advantage, northbound glacier routes tend to 

be cheaper than southbound. 

Low Season: May and September 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in the Off Season: 

Shoulder-season perks include smaller 

crowds and cheaper prices as a result of the 

weather gamble (highs: 50s to 60s) and the 

possibility of snow. May sailings typically 

encounter less rain than summer cruises, and 

the scenery is arguably more beautiful with 

more snow-capped mountains; September 

cruisers benefit from end-of-season souvenir 

bargains and a possibility of catching the 

northern lights. A few caveats: Shore excursions 

have a greater chance of being canceled 

than in high season, especially boat

call and a challenge getting to ports of 

embarkation as the ship alters course to 

avoid the storm. Even if your cruise isn't 

impacted, you can still experience rain and 

rough seas. 

53 

and helicopter tours. In addition, Denali 

National Park has been known to close in 

September due to snow. 

Caribbean 

High Season: Late June through August; 

Christmas and New Year's weeks; February to 

mid-April 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in Season: The two 

main groups of cruisers sailing in the peak 

season are families off from school and 

Northerners seeking a respite from the cold. 

School holidays are a great time to sail with 

kids -- children's programs are in full swing 

and they're available even on lines that don't 

normally cater to kids. Plus, it's easy for children 

to make friends onboard. 

Keep in mind that prices are higher, especially 

when you add winter flight delays that can 

be time-consuming and costly (though fourseason 

cruising to the Caribbean from multiple 

homeports in the Northeast, Southeast 

and Gulf Coast means residents of those 

areas can save money by driving to their 

departure ports). Plus, the summer cruise 

season coincides with hurricane season, 

though the storms don't start to peak, usually, 

until mid-August. 

During spring break, when thousands of people 

are flocking to Florida resorts and cruise 

ports, you will have to think about booking 

your airline tickets almost farther out than 

your cruise; prices can be high. People looking 

for peace and quiet away from kids will 

want to avoid break weeks like the plague, as 

ships are at their highest capacity, which 

means crowded ports and mega-ships run 

amuck with rowdy kids and teens. 

Low Season: Late April through May; 

September to early January (excluding holiday 

weeks) 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in the Off Season: The 

biggest benefits are the great weather and 

smaller crowds, usually at hundreds less per 

person than you'd pay at peak times. The fall 

especially is a great time for last minute availability 

and bargains. Hurricane season (June 

through November) still poses a threat; if a 

storm is brewing somewhere in Florida or the 

Caribbean, it can mean a change in ports of 

Europe River Cruises 

High Season: April to October 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in Season: A flotilla 

of specially designed river ships and cruise 

barges offers a unique and port-intensive 

experience for travelers who want to see 

more of Europe's heartland, especially in 

spring and fall. Spring can mean flowers in 

glorious bloom (favorites are the spring Tulip 

Time cruises though the Netherlands and 

Belgium), but also keep in mind that heavy 

rains and early-spring flooding can make the 

rivers swell and the locks impassable. 

Conversely, summer temperatures can cause 

the rivers to dry up, making it impossible for 

boats to move. If these weather events happen, 

you'll be taken to the sights by motorcoach. 

While some cruises will tailor port itineraries 

to families, don't expect to see as 

many -- if any -- kids there as you do on the 

bigger ships, even during the summer. 

Low Season: March; Late November and 

December 


Most European river and canal ships operate 

seasonally and shut down in January and 

February. When operating, however, the 

cruise itineraries are not weather dependent, 

so a March sailing means you get to enjoy 

the castles, cathedrals and quaint shops without 

the summer crowds. Many river lines also 

offer Christmas market cruises in November 

and December to Germany, Austria and 

Eastern Europe. The weather can be bitterly 

cold, but for shoppers and Christmas-lovers 

it's a unique way to experience the charming 

seasonal markets along the riverside. 

Mediterranean 

High Season: May to September 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in Season: Both 

European and American families flock to 

many of the summer sailing dates (especially 

in August), making for a nice cultural mix of 

passengers and plenty of onboard, kidfriendly 

activities. The tradeoffs are bigger 

crowds, higher prices (both cruises and airfares) 

and steamy temperatures that may sap 

your sightseeing energy. You may find restaurants 

and other establishments closed in 

August, which is when much of Europe goes 

on holiday. September is an increasingly 

popular time to cruise the Western 

Mediterranean because you can avoid the 

school kids and still enjoy warm temperatures. 

Low/Shoulder Season: October through April 


Early-spring and late-fall sailings offer the 

advantage of more competitive fares and 

fewer crowds in port. Plus, the weather is 

often mild (though March and November can 

be rainy). A very few ships actually remain in 

the region year-round; look for lower fares 

and cruises to the warmer regions of the 

Mediterranean, such as Spain, Morocco and 

the Canary Islands. 

Northern Europe 

High Season: June through August 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in Season: Northern 

Europe is at its loveliest during the summer 

months, with ports that line the Baltic Sea and 

Norway's fjords. Temperatures are balmy 

(even occasionally steamy), skies are generally 

sunny, and the cities turn themselves 

inside out -- life is lived out of doors, whether 

it's getting out on the water or sipping beers 

at sidewalk cafes. On the flipside, summer 

cruises to the Baltic are often among the most 

expensive Europe cruises out there. 

Low/Shoulder Season: May and September 

Quirks & Perks of Sailing in the Off Season: Kids 

are back in school, ports are less frenetic, 

and the weather -- and foliage (whether 

spring-like or autumnal) -- can be lovely in 

late spring and fall. Temperatures might be a 

bit more brisk at those times, but you'll avoid 

summer crowds, and cruise fares tend to be 

lower. 

www.cruisecritic.com 


Trafalgar’s 10-day ‘3 Continents Cruise’ Adventure 

Travellers looking to bypass a 

European Summer escape in 

lieu of the magic of off-peak 

travel will be thrilled with the announcement 

of Trafalgar’s Autumn, Winter and 

Spring (AWS) trips. With 37 itineraries 

across 27 countries, the brand connects 

travellers with Europe’s best experiences, 

people, and destinations with these yearround 

and Winter specific itineraries. With 

a selection of tried and tested favourite 

trips on offer again for 2019/2020, 

Trafalgar is proud of announce five brand 

new trips in line with guests demand for 

more year-round Europe including the following 

cruise: 

Trafalgar’s new 10-days 3 Continents 

Cruise covering Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, 

Israel and Egypt, is sure to please the 

lovers of ruins, relics and sites. Combining 

passion for ancient history and culture 

with a relaxing sea voyage, guests will 

encounter timeless wonders, sophisticated 

seaside ports and the diversity of the 

Eastern Mediterranean. Arriving to the 

land of myths and legends, gods and 

goddesses, philosophers and politics, 

guests will take a step back in time, and 

join a ‘Local Specialist’ for a journey into 

antiquity. They will ‘Dive into Culture’ on a 

guided sightseeing tour of the Acropolis 

that will reveal the wonders of ancient 

Athens such as the Parthenon, the 

Acropolis and Agora and admire the 

march of the curiously clad Evzone guards 

at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

Crossing the Mediterranean, guests will 

sail on the calm waters of the Aegean 

towards the North African coastline. 

Guests can sit back, relax and stroll 

through the ship’s expansive promenade 

or enjoy a cocktail or two at one of the 

elegant bars and lounges during a full 

day at sea. Arriving at sun rise to 

Alexandria, the ancient capital of Egypt. 

Travellers will ‘Dive into Culture’ on a

guided excursion to the only remaining 

Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great 

Pyramid of Giza. Leaving the desert 

behind, guests will travel to the cacophony 

of Cairo, where they will see some of the 

most famous historic monuments such as 

the Cairo Citadel, Cairo Tower and 

Mosque of Muhammad Ali, before rejoining 

the cruise in Port Said. 

Journeying east, guests will arrive in 

Ashdod, the gateway to Jaffa, Tel Aviv, 

Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Exploring the 

holy landmarks in Jerusalem, including 

Temple Mountain, the Wailing Wall and 

the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and 

visit the birthplace of Jesus Christ, 

Bethlehem. Guests can embark on an 

‘Optional Experience’ to Israel’s most 

famous religious sights and cultural highlights, 

from trendy Tel Aviv to the ancient 

port city of Jaffa, before rejoining the 

cruise and travelling to Cyprus. 

The sophisticated seaside port of Limassol 

emerges on the horizon! Spend the afternoon 

exploring the medieval Old Town or 

stroll along the seafront of promenade 

and cobbled streets to the old fishing harbour. 

Guests can decide on visiting the 

Prokymea Sculpture Park to admire the 

works of Cypriot, Greek and international 

artists, or sit back at one of the seaside 

cafés and savour a Cypriot coffee before 

boarding the ship to continue on thier 

onward northern journey. 

Arriving in Rhodes, one of the most popular 

vacation destinations in Greece travellers 

will explore the beautiful beaches 

and centuries-old history! From the 

medieval Old Town of Rhodes, with its 

thick stone walls, ancient ruins and 

Crusade heritage to embarking on a 

medieval tour of the ancient Lindos 

Acropolis and Citadel of the Knights – the 

possibilities are endless. Travellers will 

rejoin the cruise in time for dinner and 

depart for Kusadasi. 

In Kusadasi, the gateway to the ancient 

Greek city of Ephesus, guests will join an 

included excursion to the UNESCO World 

Heritage Site, home to the Temple of 

Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the 

Ancient World. Strolling along the marble 

colonnades to Hadrian’s Temple and the 

Great Theatre, carved into the side of Mt. 

Pion and later consider spending time 

exploring the vibrant Turkish seaside setting 

with a stroll along its seafront promenade, 

before returning to the ship for an 

evening dinner. 

Returning to Athens, travellers will be 

transferred to a hotel, where they will have 

the full day to spend at leisure – to simply 

relax or explore. Stroll through the Plaka, 

spend time watching people go about 

their day in Syntagma Square or go in 

search for the city’s tastiest souvlaki, 

washed down with the local raki. During 

the evening, travellers will join fellow travel 

companions for a rousing celebration to 

toast to a fantastic three-continents journey! 

www.trafalgar.com 

55 


56 

Cruise Up the Lijiang River from Guilin, Pearl of Southern China 

by Habeeb Salloum, M.S.M. 

Located in the middle of one of the 

world’s most natural-stunning landscapes, 

Guilin has long laid claim 

to having the most beautiful scenery in 

China. The city with a population of close 

to one million, a small city by Chinese standards, 

is encircled by a countryside of 

weirdly shaped Karsts - bizarre stone 

forests with many formations appearing 

like camels, elephants, horses, lions and 

upside-down ice cream cones. It is a fairytale 

world of strange-looking hills, tra- 

versed by clear and sparkling waterways, 

several of which meander through the city, 

as well as spectacular caverns of stalagmites 

and stalactites in endless shapes and 

forms. 

This landscape of unusual limestone hill 

formations was created over millions of 

years ago when the region emerged from 

a seabed. The spectacular Karst tableau 

was formed by erosion from wind and rain, 

resulting in the unique landscape one sees 

today. It is an eerie appearing countryside, 

captivating all who travel to this part of 

China. 

Since 1973, when the area was opened to 

visitors, the tourist industry has grown until 

today it has become second to agricultural 

products as the mainstay in Guilin’s economy. 

What the Chinese call the ‘most beautiful 

attraction on the face of the globe’ or 

‘heaven on earth’ is drawing thousands of 

tourists from both inside and outside 

China.

For centuries, artists and poets have been 

fascinated by the sheer splendour of the 

panorama, giving them the inspiration to 

produce excellent works of art therefore 

transforming Guilin into a cultural city. 

According to a Chinese saying, Guilin’s 

atmosphere and scenery are the ‘first 

under heaven’. 

One gentle autumn day I found myself in 

the midst of this amazing landscape when 

the Sweet Osmanthus were in bloom and 

their fragrance saturated the air. It seemed 

that these perfume-defusing shrubs were 

everywhere. They were so numerous that 

they have given their name to the city 

(Guilin mean forest of Sweet Osmanthus). 

After an hour’s drive south of Guilin, our 


group of eleven climbed aboard a riverboat, 

docked with many others on the 437 

km (271 mi) Lijiang River, for a cruise. The 

usual cruise offered is usually for 83 km 

(52 mi), but we had come in late autumn 

and the water in the river was very shallow. 

Hence, we had to take a bus to Yang-Ti, a 

village overshadowed by the Karst-shaped 

hills. The spot is considered to be the most 

breathtaking sight on the Lijiang River - 

called by the Chinese a ‘blue ribbon of silk’ 

and the dominating hills ‘hair pins of jade’. 

Now as our boat began to move down 

stream through a natural art gallery, I 

looked around me. It was truly an awesome 

sight. The forest of green upsidedown 

cone-like shaped hills with their 

peaks hidden by mist created a magical 

landscape that had an eerie appeal. 

Between this forest of rocks, we made our 

way until we came to a wide section of the 

river beyond which a shallow part barred 

our way. We anchored in this pleasant spot, 

overshadowed by a sheer cliff rising 

abruptly above the water. On its face were 

extraordinary likenesses of horses in different 

positions: one bending to drink, another 

lying down, while still another one galloping. 

Soon, one after another, the cruise boats 

anchored around us until we were surrounded 

by some 60 boats, all serving 

lunch at the same time. Every spot on this 

section of the river appeared to be taken - 

the waters totally covered by tourist boats. 

Munching away on a dozen dishes of 

Chinese food prepared on the boat, I 

looked up, “Want snake wine? Very good! 

Very good for health!” I could not believe 

my eyes; the man had a gallon of wine with 

a snake inside filling up about half the bottle. 

“It’s horrible! Take it away!” One the 

women in our group seemed upset. 

The man left but, undaunted, returned a 

few moments later with another bottle. 

“Penis wine! Very tasty penis wine! Penis of 

animals in wine, very good for men!’ I 

almost choked on my food. Everyone 

appeared stunned. Seeing that there 

was no interest, the man departed. 

However, after he left, jokes were bantered 

around then two of our group followed the 

man and bought bottles. Sure enough, the 

labels indicated that penises of animals 

were among the ingredients. “This penis 

wine will make a great conversation piece 

at one of my parties”, the young lady who 

had bought one of the bottles grinned. 

Sailing upstream, as the sun began to slip 

on the horizon, the forest of stone hills, 

overshadowing us, began to appear like 

ghosts at times or as men, while at other 

times as beasts. It was a scene that kept us 

company until we disembarked at Yang-Ti. 

The next morning, after a 20-minute bus 

ride, we were walking through the Ludi 

(Reed Flute) Cave - one of the 3,000 caves 

in the region. An awesome cavern, made 

tourist-friendly, with a dazzling variety of 

stalagmites and stalactites, it is the most 

spectacular of the caves. 

We walked through this largest cave in the 

area along a zigzagging path through a 

fantastic world of rock formations bearing 

a striking resemblance to animals and 

other natural works of nature. Under 

coloured lighting, they appeared like a 

wonderful wonderland of gardens, 

orchards or whatever else one could imagine. 

At the end of a 500 m (1640 ft) manmade 

trail, as we walked out from a world 

of strange shapes and eerie shadows, a 

rock, formed by nature, in the shape of a 

lion, with even a white fang, bade us adieu. 

On the way back, reflecting on our river 

trip and the Ludi Cave, I thought of the 

wonderful few days that we had spent in 

Guilin amid its forests of stone. It was an 

incredible interlude during our trip to 

China. After our explorations, it became 

apparent to me that the travelers who had 

labelled Guilin, the ‘Pearl of Southern 

China’ had a point. 

www.tourismchina.org 

57 


60 

Luxury Hotels...Grand Resorts...Charming B&B...Opulent Villas...Quaint C 

Sweet Dreams Around the World 

Stay & Play Section 

The Wild Hotel in Mykonos 

A Property That Lives Up to It’s Name 


Some hotels live up to their name more accurately than others. The Wild Hotel on 

the Greek island of Mykonos is one that does just that—allowing the wild, strikingly 

stunning nature surrounding it to show her glory. Raw and pure, the hotel is situated 

in an area of the island that feels incredibly isolated—a rarity on an island that 

has had such a reputation for over tourism. 

Another reason the hotel’s name fits it so perfectly is because of the history of the 

area: the beachfront village that The Wild Hotel overlooks was once dubbed “the 

wild ones,” as it was inhabited by Mykonos’ bravest fisherman at one period, risking 

their lives in the fierce seas. 

Though there is much that is wild about the hotel, there are aspects of it that remain 

calm and relaxing. The spa, for instance, indulges guests with Greek Therapeutic 

methods, as well as a plethora of other holistic methods that are new to the treatment 

world. 

Another certainty of relaxation at the hotel is retreating to your suite or villa each 

evening, following a day of Mykonos exploration. With handmade woven floors, 

beds made of soft linen and a simple yet classic aesthetic, the rooms providing a 

calming contrast to the wild nature that guests view from their windows. The beachfront 

and the swimming pool overlooking the Aegean Sea area also a mecca of 

relaxation, where decompressing and rejuvenation are key. 

When energy levels need to be replenished, a meal at the hotel’s taverna, a traditional 

Greek restaurant that caters delicious dishes of the Cycladic islands, is a must 

stop. Menu favorites include stuffed tomatoes, vine leaves and fresh fish—all 

doused with a pure olive oil, of course. 

www.thewildhotel.com 

Athens’ Secret Gem 

The Foundry Urban Boutique Luxury Hotel 


Having spent much time in Athens, 

the bustling capital of Greece that is rich in 

history, hospitality and mouthwatering gyros, 

I have had my fair share of hotel experiences. 

But this visit, I decided to try something entirely 

different and stay at The Foundry Urban 

Boutique Luxury Hotel, a quaint gem composed 

of twelve different apartments, in the 

historic neighborhood of Psyrri. 

I quickly realized I had found myself 

an urban sanctuary in the heart of Athens, 

much more charming and cozy than the larger 

hotels I was accustomed to. The apartments 

truly defines sophistication, with high 

grade materials like steel, glass, wood, marble 

and stone - intricately woven together in 

a dually classy and charming aesthetic. Each 

of the twelve rooms boasts its unique charms 

- but all have the woven similarity of design 

elements - high ceilings and hardwood 

floors, dominated by calming earthy tones 

that brighten with a splash of color. While the 

interior’s aesthetic is effortlessly elegant, one 

of the real treasures of the property is found 

upstairs, on the roof. The sensational rooftop 

garden is the ideal place for a fresh (and 

crowd free!) perspective overlooking the city 

of Athens, in all her glory. 

Traveling with my boyfriend, I found 

the picnics that the hotels set up to be especially 

romantic, drinking wine in the evening 

and watching as the Parthenon lit up into its 

magnificent glory. The hotel also provides 

breakfast options—there truly is no better 

way to begin a day than by overlooking the 

sleepy city slowly wake. All apartments come 

with free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast 

(which can be enjoyed on the roof) and a 

best price guarantee. There is not a better 

spot in Athens to feel like a Greek God or 

Goddess than the Foundry Urban Boutique 

Hotel. 

www.thefoundryhotelathens.com 

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61 

top bar with pool was perched above the city 

with lounge chair views of this historic capital 

and the Sierra Mountains in the distance. 

Another oasis was the hotel’s spa, an 

authentic Asian wellness centre, where Thai 

masseuses expertly stretched and unknotted 

every muscle. 

Gran Melia Colon, Seville 

Location: Like its Madrid counterpart, the 5- 

star property was also right in the center of 

this captivating city in the south of Spain. At 

its doorsteps were churches, boutiques and 

the Mercado de Artesania (a large two-story 

craft market). And a 15-minute walk away 

was the Alcazar and the Seville Cathedral, a 

gothic behemoth that had us picking our jaw 

off the cobblestone streets. 

Artistry and Luxury Reign at These Two Flagship 

Gran Melia Hotels in Madrid and Seville 

Spanish art and culture are woven into 

the DNA of Gran Melia hotels 

throughout the world, but nowhere 

was it more evident than when staying in the 

birthplace of this discerning hotel group. 

Both the Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques 

in Madrid and the Gran Melia Colon in 

Seville reflected the essence of the cities 

themselves, welcoming us with 5-star luxury 

and modern comforts. 

Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques, Madrid 

Location: Situated in the center of the city on 

a quiet street, it was the ideal location to 

explore Spain’s capital. The Royal Palace, 

one of the city’s most impressive attractions 

at twice the size of Buckingham Palace, was 

a mere five-minute walk away. Also nearby 

by Jennifer Merrick 

Madrid 

was Peurta del Sol (the city’s main square), 

San Miguel Market and a slew of restaurants 

and shops. 

Ambiance: The theme of art was prominent 

throughout the hotel with reproductions of 

renowned Spanish artist, Velazquez, in every 

room and public areas. The décor in the 

160 rooms and 20 suites was also artistically 

styled but never at the expense of comfort. 

Especially notable were the plush, luscious 

beds with goose feather pillows. 

Bragging Rights: The hotel lived up to anything 

you could ask for in a 5-star property 

in terms of amenities, impeccable service 

and the dining experience in its restaurants. 

But there were a couple of areas in which the 

hotel raised the bar even higher. Their roof- 

Ambiance: Art was a focal point here as 

well, with each floor being dedicated to a 

different Spanish artist and famous paintings 

adorning the doors. The dramatic 

lobby stood out with reds and golds under a 

stained glass dome and crystal chandelier. 

This elegant aesthetic was also reflected in 

the 189 rooms and suites, but designed with 

warmth and comfort, including modern 

touches like USB outlets, HDMI sockets and 

a Nespresso machine. 

Bragging Rights: The views! When I opened 

the window from our bedroom, I was greeted 

with bright sunshine and a panoramic 

vista of the enchanting city of Seville. From 

the living area, the colourful Magdalena 

Church was a few feet away. Gran Melia 

RedLevel service went above and beyond 

with perks like a private buffet breakfast, 

snacks throughout the day and an open bar. 

As a landmark and a focal point, the hotel 

has attracted its fair share of famous guests. 

We were there during the Goya Awards, 

which is the Spanish equivalent of the 

Oscars, so we had the extra treat of gawking 

at the ultra-glamourous in all their finery. 

www.melia.com 

Madrid Seville Seville 

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Advertorial 

Accommodations 

Puntacana Resort & Club is the 

Caribbean’s leading resort community on 

the eastern shore of the Dominican 

Republic. Tortuga Bay is member of the 

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Puntacana Resort & Club offers a wide 

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The leading spa in the Caribbean, Six 

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Dining 

Puntacana Resort & Club is home to 6 

world class eateries with an indigenously 

delectable cuisine. Tucked inside Tortuga 

Bay, the AAA Four Diamond awarded 

Bamboo blends modern cuisine with 

Mediterranean influences. Specializing in 

local seafood, The AAA Three Diamond 

Award La Yola is located at the Marina. At 

La Cana Golf & Beach Club is The Grill, 

an American style grill offering views of 

the sea. The Westin Puntacana Resort & 

Club provides a variety or restaurants and 

bars from Ananí to Brassa Grill. Next door 

is Playa Blanca, a beachfront tropical 

restaurant. Our Dine Around Program 

offers the best sampling of our finest culinary 

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Punta Cana International airport 

Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), 

built, owned and operated by Grupo 

Puntacana, the resort’s developers, and 

located within Puntacana Resort & Club, is 

just minutes away from check-in at any of 

our hotels or private homes. Punta Cana 

International Airport (PUJ) has direct service 

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64 

Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel Spa 

by Ilona Kauremszky 

Tucked away on a leafy street between 

the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides in 

Paris lies this Haussmann-designed 

six-story building filled with Parisian charm 

and luxury. 

Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel Spa, part of the Small 

Luxury Hotels of the World collection, is one of 

the French capital's best kept hotel secrets. 

Like the romantic Left Bank on which it 

resides, the five-star boutique property's interior 

is inspired by a mysterious muse named 

Cléo de Mérode whose spirited ways as a 

Belle Epoque ballet dancer became the 20th 

century's first “It Girl.” 

Cléo captured the imagination of artists, writers 

and composers like Degas, Proust and 

composer Reynaldo Hahn who gave her the 

loving nickname, “Pretty Little Narcissus.” 

Now one of the newest hotels to open in the 

7th District, Le Narcisse Blanc is inspired by 

this beautiful muse. 

Immersed in floral motifs, the luxury hotel 

incorporates the energy, charm and the discreet 

hospitality that only the Parisian have 

perfected to a fine art. Experience fine service 

with a modern nod to the esoteric femme 

fatale. One of the finest places to imbibe in 

the Cléo theme is in the Petit Salon styled as a 

cozy sitting room. Flanked by fresh florals like 

blush pink tulips and other seasonal flowers, 

a demure female portrait overlooks patrons 

as attentive hotel staff ensure seamless service. 

The accommodations which are spacious by 

Parisian standards evoke a sophisticated timeless 

ambiance matched by the soaring ceiling 

and an exquisite window treatment framed by 

long lavish drapes as streams of sunlight 

reflect off the double beds. Guests enjoy 

bespoke ensuite amenities like the haute custom-made 

toiletries created by an expert parfumier 

and devilish chocolate petit fours upon 

arrival. Rooms are available in various categories. 

Dine in a sophisticated atmosphere at Cléo 

and sip on wines from Chateau Soucherie. 

The Loire Valley-based domaine owned by the 

hotelier stocks the upscale eatery with fresh 

light white, bold red and rose wines for dining 

guests. Other French vintages are available. 

The only boutique hotel in the area to house 

a pool and a hammam spa, robed hotel 

guests can arrive via a private elevator to the 

lower floor or use the spa's fully stocked 

change room. Relax in the hot tub, steam and 

dry saunas then take a dip in the pool and 

enjoy the Art-Deco inspired spa in gleaming 

white marble with furniture designed by Paris 

design firm, Laurent & Laurence. 

For sightseeing, veer off the side streets like 

the Rue Saint Dominique to enjoy local sumptuous 

fine dining and elegant boutiques. 

Cruise guests departing from Paris on a Seine 

River cruise will find the quais of the major 

cruises a short taxi drive away. 

For the ultimate Paris sleepover experience 

true Parisian sophistication and elegance in 

the heart of the capital, a night at Le Narcisse 

Blanc is a must. 

www.slh.com/hotels/le-narcisseblanc-hotel-and-spa 


65 

The Hotel Rosita, Puerto Vallarta 


It’s rare to have someone describe a hotel 

check-in as “magnificent” but that’s 

exactly how we felt when we arrived at the 

Hotel Rosita. A few people were ahead of us 

in line so the staff suggested that we relax in 

the lobby lounge for a few minutes. Having 

just arrived in the city, we opted to stand in the 

open section of the lobby under the deep 

blue, sunny sky. Overhead, several 

Magnificent Frigatebirds were floating, 

swooping and gawking at us as if they were 

checking out the newcomers. ‘Magnificent’ is 

actually part of the formal name of these 

huge seabirds, known for their characteristic 

tuning fork-shaped tails. It was a mesmerizing, 

almost surrealistic scene. 

Within minutes, Marcelo Alcaraz, the General 

Manager and Cezar Zepeda the Sales 

Manager came by to extend a personal welcome, 

and while standing in front of a painting 

that depicts the Hotel Rosita in 1948 when 

it became the very first hotel to be built in 

Puerto Vallarta, Marcelo noted that in those 

days, before the advent of indoor plumbing, 

each of the hotel’s eight rooms had a large 

container filled with water so that guests could 

take their showers. 

But a jump ahead to 2019 shows that the current 

115 room, three-star property has enthusiastically 

responded to the demand for comfortable, 

tastefully decorated accommodation. 

Attached to our large ocean view room 

was a balcony that overlooked the hotel pool 

area and allowed for us to watch beachfront 

activities, listen to the sounds of soothing 

ocean waves and view stunning sun rises and 

sun sets. 

And then there is the Malecon, the ocean side 

boardwalk that pretty well begins at the Hotel 

Rosita and stretches one kilometer (roughly 

3000 feet) south along Banderas Bay. Our 

greeting at the hotel included a personalized 

list of attractions and activities in the city, 

along with a guide to the famous sculptures 

that are part of the celebrated Art Walk along 

the Malecon. 

For travelers who love to immerse themselves 

in the energy of the city, the Hotel Rosita is 

perfectly located. Just outside the hotel 

entrance is, well…everything: souvenir shops, 

restaurants, bars, fast food, coffee shops, 

local art galleries and, not too far away, is the 

iconic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and 

the charm of Old Town. In the evening the 

crowds converge along the Malecon to stroll, 

eat at food stalls and pose with a host of colorful, 

creative buskers. 

But the hotel is also a short walk north around 

the curve of the Bay to Versailles, where delicious 

foods inspired by local street cuisine are 

a draw for locals and visitors. The Bahia 

Tostado at Lamara Seafood and the Shrimp al 

Pastor at Abulon are reason enough to 

explore the area. And in the nearby Zona 

Hotelera lies what is possibly the worst kept 

culinary secret in the city: the amazing 

smoked Marlin Tacos at Tacon de Marlin. 

The Hotel Rosita is a great place to stay with 

a relaxing ambiance that includes sunset 

bliss, Magnificent Frigatebird-amazement 

and very friendly staff who greet you as a 

friend. 

www.hotelrosita.com 


68 

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort 

St. Maarten’s Legendary Landmark Reborn 

by Susan Campbell, photos:Divi Resorts 

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort was one of the 

first to take the setback of Hurricane Irma 

as an opportunity to refresh, revitalize and 

reimagine their entire visitor experience. 

And there’s never been a better time to holiday 

there than now. 

Fresh New Vibe 

The unique location and layout of this resort 

on the Dutch side of St. Maarten give guests 

two different choices of views. Either perched 

on a peninsula cradling one side of Little Bay 

with rooms facing the lovely white sand 

beach, or out to Great Bay where you can 

watch the cruise ships come and go in the 

distance. All the units have been recently 

completely refreshed, top to bottom- but still 

bear the signature brightly colored tropical 

accents and art throughout that’s a Divi 

trademark at all their resorts. Some of the 

larger suites have state-of-the-art kitchens 

and large entertaining areas if you don’t 

want to opt for their all-inclusive plan, but 

the on-site dining is extensive and eclectic 

giving you lots of options should you prefer 

to dine on the property as well. 

Among the many recent improvements is the 

renovation of the Indulgence by the Sea Spa, 

a newly reopened Aqua Mania water sports 

center, a new gourmet coffee shop, a new 

kid’s space and game room, and an 

absolutely stunning new water circuit which 

will become the epicentre of enjoyment at 

this resort. The expansive circuit cascades 

down the hill to the sea encompassing three 

pools- one an awesome infinity design- and 

it’s crowned on top with an inviting bonfire 

nook for evening escapades. Personally, I 

could spend all day doing nothing but 

switching up spots to enjoy the multiple liquid 

luxury options- including dips in the seathen 

just rinse and repeat right up until dinner 

time. 

Exciting New Dining 

At all Divi Resorts, the “pure” cuisine concept 

means sourcing locally whenever possible 

and changing menus continually to offer up 

the very best fresh, seasonal ingredients 

available. There are now five restaurants 

and a café at Little Bay, their pureocean 

main dining room has been beautifully 

revamped, and there are two new spots for 

fun and casual dining. The first is The Shack 

featuring Caribbean BBQ, jerk, roti and the 

like, and a new interactive dining experience 

called pureroc where guests are invited to 

cook their own food on sizzling hot lava 

rocks. Incredible! 

Though much is new now at this legendary 

landmark St. Maarten resort, I’m happy to 

say that some things haven’t changed at all. 

There’s still crazy camaraderie and live 

music at Gizmo’s Beach Bar & Grill on the 

sea and the same warm and friendly staff I 

remembered well is still there ready to welcome 

you back. 

www.diviresorts.com/divi-little-baybeach-resort-st-maarten.htm 


69 

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa 

Victoria’s Best Kept Secret 

by Susan Campbell, photos: The Magnolia Hotel 

TTucked away on a quiet corner, and 

a very short walk to Victoria’s lovely 

Inner Harbour, is a stellar luxury 

boutique stay well worth seeking out. And it’s 

easy to miss. Though the structure is only 20- 

years-old, it was designed to blend in beautifully 

with the restored heritage buildings lining 

the streets, so it doesn’t jump out at you 

as being a modern hotel. But once inside, 

you’ll see why some folks might want to keep 

this spot a secret. With only 64 rooms, this 

award-winning hotel can book to capacity 

quickly. And I guarantee, once you stay there, 

you’ll want to return. I know I do. Here are 

few reasons why. 

Inviting Ambience 

The day I arrived, Victoria’s damp drizzle had 

me seeking warm refuge. So, I was delighted 

to discover the big cheery fireplace in the 

lobby, but even more excited to discover that 

my luxurious corner suite also had its own 

fireplace. And the deep soaking tub with topshelf 

bath amenities was also very welcome. 

Wrapped in their signature soft robe and 

slippers and cozy in an overstuffed arm chair 

after my soak, it was hard to leave. But, I’d 

heard that their brand-new restaurant had 

just won some prestigious mentions on “best 

of” lists, so I had to dine there. 

Outstanding Dining 

First, lets talk about the bar. The bottom floor 

of the new Courtney Room restaurant is 

dominated by a massive bar stocked with 

some killer good mixologists. You can 

instantly tell that these guys take their libations 

seriously since their work station looks 

more like an apothecary counter than a bar 

set-up- there’s even a spray bottle for misting 

absinthe! So, I asked then to surprise me with 

one of their signature cocktails. The result 

was an interesting shade of mauve due to the 

locally made Empress 1908 purple gin they 

used. 

Next, it was up to the more upscale dining 

room. Though the menu is small, what they 

do, they do very well. The focus is on classic 

French style twists on locally sourced ingredients 

and proteins. I thoroughly enjoyed my 

steak, it was done to perfection, and the 

seafood tower at the next table looked excellent, 

too. But to truly experience the talent 

and creativity of this culinary team, it’s recommended 

you try the “Chef’s Tasting 

Menu”- five courses of seasonally inspired 

dishes with an option to pair with wine and 

caviar. Next visit, I will do so. I will also take 

time to visit their on-site spa. 

Thoughtful Extras 

The beauty of staying at a boutique spot is 

often the personalized service. And the staff 

here really went above and beyond and they 

offer many ways to make the stay more 

enjoyable. The “Curated Maps” program is a 

prime example. They’ve created hard copy 

maps along themes like “Bikes, Beer & 

Blooms” or “Beautiful Boutiques” with all the 

spots to visit in the immediate area. They also 

give guests complimentary bikes to help 

them explore the surrounding attractions with 

ease. 

www.magnoliahotel.com 


70 


Vernon, BC: Okanagan Playground 

Article and photography by Jennifer Merrick 

Our bike ride along the 

newly-opened Okanagan 

Rail Trail, a 50km multiuse 

pathway that ran from the north end 

of Kalamalka Lake to the center of 

Okanagan Lake in downtown Kelowna, 

took much longer than expected. It wasn’t 

because we had to catch our breath. At 

1.3% maximum grade, it was pretty much 

flat. Nor did we have any mechanical 

issues. The bikes arranged by outfitters at 

Predator Ridge were in top shape and the 

extra-wide tires perfectly suited to the wellgroomed 

gravel trail. The weather was 

also ideal, with the Spring sunshine warming 

us at a time when ice still covered the 

sidewalk outside my Eastern Canadian 

home. 

So why did the bike ride take so long? 

The views! Every time we turned a corner, 

a gorgeous vista appeared before us with 

mirror-like glacial lakes reflecting the 

peaks of the Monashee Mountains that 

surrounded them. We’d stop, take out our 

phones, snap a few pictures, get back on 

our bikes and pedal until the next look-out, 

which was inevitably more photogenic. 

And once again we’d stop…well, you get 

the idea. It was all just too picture-perfect 

to resist. 

Though the bike trail is new, the 

Okanagan Region, located in south central 

British Columbia, attracts Vancouverites

and tourists from around the world, who 

come for its wineries, fruit orchards, 

mountain activities and Lake Okanagan. 

At 135 kilometers in length and over 232 

metres deep, this glacial lake has long 

been a natural playground, known for its 

fishing, beaches and famous cottagers. 

Celebrities, like Elton John and Arnold 

Schwarzenegger --not to mention a slew 

of NHLers, own vacation homes in the 

region can be spotted at the restaurants 

and golf courses, too. 

After visiting Vernon, one of the three 

main hubs around the lake along with 

Penticton and Kelowna, we now understood 

the region’s magnetic appeal. And 

we know why so many visit to play in the 

lakes, romp in the mountains and taste 

the bounty of the fertile land. Here were 

some of the highlights: 

O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars 

One of the newest winery and culinary 

destinations in the region, O’Rourke’s 

Peak Cellars prides itself on its aromatic 

whites and pinot noir The wines tasted 

even better paired with the expansive 

views of the orchards, vineyards, mountains 

and Lake Okanagan. Much of the 

food served was hyper-local. “Here you 

could almost call it the five-mile diet,” said 

our waiter, noting the meat on our charcuterie 

board was from the farm down the 

road and the vegetables in our salad 

grown in their vine-side garden. I was 

impressed, but apparently this is not 

uncommon in the Okanagan, which has 

879 farms, 430 orchards and 200+ 

wineries. But one of the most popular 

menu items had a little farther to travel. 

Lobster pizza is a best-seller and rightly 

so, delicious paired with the riesling. 

Downtown Vernon 

To DREAM is to see BEYOND the horizon 

and to know that we are CAPABLE of anything 

our hearts DESIRE. 

This quote that hangs on the wall of Hot 

Bread Shoppe in downtown Vernon was 

the inspiration for owner Carolyn Grant, 

who at age 60, despite no previous experience, 

decided to open a bakery. 

“It something I wanted to do for 40 

years,” Carolyn told us. A dream come 

true for her and a treat for any customer 

that walks through the door, and luckily, 

that was us. The aroma of freshly baked 

bread was heavenly as were the 

baguettes, sourdough bread, cinnamon 

buns, and croissants. 

Other independent businesses we came 

across on our downtown stroll included 

toy stores, candy stores, antique and consignment 

shops, ethnic restaurants and an 

historic 1929 movie theatre. 

More Culinary Highlights 

Unique venues were not limited to downtown, 

and we had some tasty Vernon bites 

in eateries like Intermezzo Restaurant. 

Though known for Mediterranean classics, 

seafood and steaks, the menu has continued 

to expand over the years. A new signature 

dish is the Moroccan lamb made 

with a combination of 21 different spices 

and housemade mint jelly. Delicious. And 

instead of an after dinner candy mint, we 

were presented with chocolate-covered 

fresh mint leaves, which was a lovely finishing 

touch to our fine meal. 

Ask any Vernonite to recommend a breakfast 

spot, and chances are they’ll name 

Diner at Six. Some come early to fuel up 

for a day on the slopes and others later to 

chillax with a newspaper, but always to 

enjoy hearty portions of breakfast classics 

served up quickly. 

Another local fave is Ratio Coffee & Pastry, 

especially on Fridays, which is donut day. 

Customers line up early to nab concoctions 

like chocolate espresso filled donuts, 

gluten free white chocolate macaroon and 

apple cranberry fritters to name just a few. 

Indulgence of a different kind can be 

imbibed at Okanagan Spirits, a craft distillery 

that has won numerous international 

awards, including the gold medal at 

the World Spirits Awards for its single 

malt whiskey. Liqueurs are also a 

specialty, which was somewhat of a surprize 

to owner, Tyler Dyck, who works 

along side his father in this family-run 

business. 

“I hated liqueurs,” said Tyler. “Most were 

cloyingly sweet and artificial tasting.” But 

inspired by the orchards that surrounded 

them, they endeavoured to create ones 

that “tasted like fruit”. It’s been a huge 

success for the business, and they now sell 

more unusual varieties, like Huckleberry 

and Sea Buckthorn, as well as the more 

traditional raspberry and cherry. 

Resort Retreat 

Hard-core adventure or soft-robe relaxation? 

Hiking or biking? Fine dining or 

pub grub? How you want to stay and play 

at Silver Star Resort is totally up to you. 

But if you’re like me, you’ll be sneaking 

peeks at real estate listings and vowing to 

come back. Though most well- known for 

its ski slopes and abundance of champagne 

powder snow, the resort with its 

colourful village in the midst of the mountains, 

shines in all seasons. 

It was a treat to hit the slopes in the 

spring, wearing just a sweater (a few 

hearty souls were even wearing shorts!). 

Summer and fall brings mountain bikers 

careening down the mountain and families 

taking scenic chairlift rides. 

Festival events at Silver Star include the 

Snowed In Comedy Tour, Wine and Music 

Festival and the all-new SEISMIC Mountain 

Festival, which we had the pleasure of 

attending this year. The spring party 

brought the community to the mountain 

for a fabulous lineup of competitions, chef 

dinners, wine tastings and art events. 

www.tourismvernon.com 

71 


72 

From Sea to Shining Sea 

Rediscovering America’s Beauty 



One of the joys of being a travel 

writer is that I get to fulfill my 

quench for knowledge and 

adventure daily. Whether by plane, train or 

even camel on occasion, I am fortunate to 

explore the nooks and crannies of this planet, 

absorbing the cultures, traditions, religions 

and especially the cuisine of foreign 

lands. Amongst the passport stamps and 

customs checkpoints, it remains important to 

me to explore my roots. And that is why every 

year I wander in wonder through the United 

States, in an attempt to rediscover the beauty 

of where I’m from. From the sun-soaked 

beaches of Miami to the rugged, sprawling 

mountains outside Denver, from the small 

towns hiding in the crevices of Idaho’s rolling 

hills to the Big Apple’s grandeur and skyline, 

I invite you on my journey to rediscover 

America. 

New York City 

Over eight million people call The Big Apple 

home and about 63 million visitors enjoy the 

bustle of this world-class metropolis each 

year. After living in New York City for five 

years, I decided to leave behind my local 

grocery store and dive bars in the East 

Village to venture where most no locals dare 

be seen - Midtown Manhattan. Tourist cap 

on, subway pass in hand, I emerged from 

the 42nd Street Subway into New York City’s 

heartbeat, Times Square, famous for its 

bright lights and constant energy. One of the 

classic ways to explore NYC is by utilizing the 

GetYourGuide booking platform, which 

opened my eyes to unique perspectives in my 

hometown. On the “Under The Skirt of Lady 

Liberty Tour,” for example, I bypassed the 

crowds at this typical tourist destination and 

was able to view this iconic site in a refreshing 

manner. Similarly, on the Midtown Urban 

Adventures NYC tour, I learned interesting 

tidbits about iconic NYC landmarks like 

Grand Central and Rockefeller Center.

Where to Eat: Midtown is home to some of 

New York’s most famous and mouthwatering 

restaurants—and they often come with a 

spectacular view. The Edition Hotel in Times 

Square, for example, has something for all 

palates. While The Terrace Restaurant is a 

casual, all-day eatery that elicits a French 

brasserie feel (think elegant cocktails and a 

variety of chops), stepping into Edison’s 701 

West restaurant is reminiscent of a 1950’s 

Hollywood film set, with large blue drapes 

overlooking Times Square. 

Where to Stay: A tourist’s literal dream, the 

aptly named Dream Hotel Midtown was perfectly 

located in the city’s nucleus for our 

New York City adventures. For a more boutique 

experience, The Refinery Hotel, also in 

Midtown, is known not only for its industrial 

accents such as 12-foot ceilings and distressed 

hardwood floors, but also for its stylish 

rooftop bar with 360 degree views of the 

city. 

Miami, Florida 

While New York City may bring the grimy at 

times (just ride the Q train past midnight), 

Miami brings the glamour. A city known for 

its white sand beaches, star-studded nightlife 

on South Beach and ever-changing food 

scene, the three-hour flight from NYC to 

Florida’s southern gem may be just the 

escape you need. And escape I did—from 

exploring the graffiti walls of the hip and 

trendy Wynwood district to the constant 

rhythm and pulse of Cuban flavors in Little 

Havana, Miami feels like a whole new world 

from the streets of Manhattan. 

Where to Stay: The Biltmore Hotel in Coral 

Gables (one of Miami’s posh, more suburban 

neighborhoods) is a destination in itself. 

It’s enticing year-round with activity and culture. 

Guests can participate in everything 

from cooking to yoga and aerobics classes, 

book a tennis workshop or play 18 holes of 

golf. It became instantly famous after opening 

its doors in 1926, hosting the glitterati of 

the decade at multiple galas, fashion shows 

and golf tournaments. My favorite part? The 

massive swimming pool — which is a truly 

grand affair with marble statues under a 

promenade, private cabanas and its own 

bar and restaurant. 

Following my Biltmore escape, I decided to 

spend a few nights at Crowne Plaza South 

Beach - Z Ocean Hotel, located on two of 

Miami’s most vibrant boulevards: Ocean 

Drive and Collins Avenue. Here I was in the 

middle of all the South Beach action—clubs, 

bars, restaurants and beaches galore. This 

all-suite boutique hotel not only oozed luxury 

and style, but provided a necessary escape 

from the buzz of South Beach when necessary. 

Key West, Florida 

Contrasting the grandeur of Miami, the 

Florida Keys, located about 15 miles south of 

mainland, are a low-key haven for fishermen, 

foodies, and beach bums alike. Often 

referred to as “America’s Caribbean,” the 

archipelago is home to more than 1700 

islands. This trip I spent time on the most 

developed island, Key West. One of my 

favorite activities was snorkeling in the third 

largest coral barrier reef system in the world 

with Fury Water Adventures. A visit to Key 

West in incomplete without experiencing the 

unique nightlife and gay-friendly bars and 

restaurants on Duval Street. Known as the 

“Longest Street in the World” Duval spans 

from The Gulf of Mexico to The 

Southernmost Point in the Continental USA. 

Where to Eat: For a formal sit-down experience, 

I enjoyed the “Toes in the Sand” Dinner 

at Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. As 

the name infers, dinner is served on the 

hotel’s white sand beach, listening to the 

waves collapse against the shore, and literally 

feel the sand between toes. Blue Heaven, 

the rustic restaurant where the famed 

American journalist Ernest Hemmingway frequented, 

is another must try (along with their 

famous Key Lime pie, of course!) 

Denver, Colorado 

Denver is more than just the capital of 

Colorado—it is the state’s hotspot for culture, 

cuisine, nature and innovation. The city 

has grown exponentially within the last half 

decade, and now is a destination in and of 

itself - in fact Denver continued its ascension 

as a top tourism destination in 2017 by welcoming 

a record 31.7 million total visitors. 

Of course, Denver’s proximity to 

73 

nature is a huge draw for tourists. Just 

minutes outside the city center are 

trails for hiking and running, opportunities 

for kayaking and even 85 miles of bike paths 

to utilize through Denver B-cycle, the city's 

pioneering bike-sharing program. When 

worn out from all the athletic activity, I decided 

to explore The Mile High City’s center a 

bit and was equally impressed. The city continues 

to utilize its space, emphasized by 

development of neighborhoods such as 

“RiNo” – River District North - a creative 

environment where I was immersed in some 

of the best food, music, and art in the country! 

The newly refurbished Union Station in 

the heart of Denver is more than a historic 

transportation hub—it is home to ten unique 

chef-owned bars and restaurants. The craft 

beer scene in Denver is unparalleled - with 

almost 200 breweries and more popping up 

each day, there is always a reason to go out 

for a drink. 

In addition to its innovations in food truck 

culture and its elaborate street art visions, 

Denver is also a mecca for live music. The 

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an open-air theatre 

built into a natural rock formation that produces 

incredible rocking natural sound, is 

only 20 minutes outside of the Denver. I even 

decided to take local transit one morning 

from Denver and hike around Estes Park, a 

town in northern Colorado known as the 

base of Rocky Mountain National Park and 

home to majestic wildlife including elks and 

bears. Denver serves as the perfect metropolitan 

home base for exploring the rugged 

interior of the United States. 

Where to Stay: The Kimpton Hotel Born just 

feels as though it belongs in Denver, exuding 

a cool and authentically urban vibe. Located 

in the popular neighborhood of LoDo, the 

city’s most up - and-coming neighborhood 

and transportation hub, The Born is an 

urban refuge after long day’s getting lost in 

the city and nearby nature. 

see following page 


Sun Valley, Idaho 

Honestly, even as a travel writer I had no 

known much about the state of Idaho prior to 

my travels. I knew it was out west and that is 

was likely sparse - but that was it. Yet, like 

often happens when exploring somewhere 

new, my expectations were greatly surpassed. 

Though it seemed secluded and 

remote, Sun Valley is incredibly convenient to 

access with airlines such as Alaska Airlines, 

who provide direct flights from Seattle and 

other western cities. While Sun Valley is 

famous for its epic ski areas during the long 

winters, the resort town is just as spectacular 

in spring and summer months. A haven for 

nature lovers, the diversity in terrain and 

landscape is perfect for hiking the labyrinth 

of hiking trails, riding on equestrian routes 

and dancing through wildflower meadows - 

all with stunning views of the valley. It’s also 

important to remember to look up at night. I 

was entranced by the clear skies and dancing 

constellations over Sun Valley, feeling 

gratitude for the lack of light pollution. 

Where to Stay: Hotel Ketchum, the newly 

opened boutique hotel in the town Ketchum, 

was very much worth the wait. The hotel 

boasts many new facilities including an outdoor 

pool and hot tub, an on-site ski shop, 

and healthy and inspired locally sourced 

meals. Centrally located on Main Street, it is 

the perfect home-base for launching adventure 

in the area. Makes sense that their slogan 

is: 'Settle in, set out,” indeed! Another 

new property in the area, The Limelight Hotel 

Ketchum, is home to 99 rooms and prides 

itself of a vibrant atmosphere, spacious guestrooms 

and hands-on adventure programming 

for guests. 

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 

A newbie to Wisconsin, I was enthralled by 

the idea of visiting Elkhart Lake, a lively yet 

quaint town nestled on the shores of a crystal 

clear lake. Arriving in Milwaukee Airport, 

I was surprised by Elkhart Lake’s proximity to 

nearby cities while still feeling entirely secluded 

in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest. 

While of course the lake is a destination in 

itself (think swimming, kayaking and paddle 

boarding), I was surprised by the amount of 

activities on land! Specifically, I learned how 

to make innovative dishes from the professionals 

at L’ecole de la Maison Cooking 

School, tried my crafting pottery at the quaint 

Two Fish Gallery, and even golfed 27 holes 

at the renowned 250 acre Quit Qui Oc Golf 

Club. Finally, growing up on the East Coast, 

I had never truly understood the sport of racing, 

which is why visiting Elkhart Lake’s Road 

America Experience - America’s National 

Park of Speed - was an enlightening (and 

quite lightening fast!) experience. 

Over the course of a few days, I spent time 

on the crystal-clear lake, walked around the 

mom-and-pop shops and galleries, and 

came to discover a part of my country I hadn’t 

explored prior. 

Where to Eat: The surplus of activities in 

Elkhart Lake certainly build up an appetite, 

and luckily the destination has a wide variety 

of dining options. I enjoyed small plates at 

Cottonwood Social, with ingredients that are 

inspired by Wisconsin’s lake, as well as the 

creative creations as The Paddock Club, 

serving European traditional dishes in a 

restored iconic building downtown. Lola’s on 

the Lake was an elegant finale to my time in 

town, with panoramic views of Elkhart Lake 

and a distinguished ambiance. 

Where to Stay: The Osthoff Resort, sitting elegantly 

on 500 feet of recreational lakefront, 

is renowned for its amenities and history in 

Elkhart Lake. All 245 suites, each featuring a 

kitchen, dining and living room and balcony, 

making that “home away from home” feeling 

a reality. There is also no shortage of 

pampering at The Osthoff Resort, with the 

hotels’ Aspira Spa, which focuses on purifying 

and detoxifying the body with elements 

of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 

The Shore Club, a newly renovated resort in 

Elkhart Lake which was originally known as 

Victorian Inn, is a prime choice for guests 

who desire natural beauty and surroundings, 

with its own private beach on the lake and a 

relaxed vibe. 

www.visittheusa.com

American World Traveler Summer 2019

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