The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

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When you spend $23.5 million on something, you want to show it off. That’s just human nature. And that’s just what Crystal Cruises did a few weeks ago for the travel trade and press. The cruise company had doled out that princely sum to upgrade its 12-year-old Crystal Symphony, and they invited us to come take a look.But has the upgrade improved the passenger experience? Crystal Cruises President Gregg Michel thinks so.  Read more... (103 words, 1 image, estimated 25 secs reading time)

This is Ralph Grizzle, editor of The Avid Cruiser magazine. Yesterday, I talked about my cruise on SeaDream II, which carries only 110 lucky passengers. After disembarking SeaDream II in Nice, I made my way back to Rome to board Regent Seven Seas Voyager.  Read more... (465 words, 1 image, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

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An interview with Regent Seven Seas Voyager’s Hotel Director Engelbert Lainer-Wartenberg about how the company’s new alcohol-inclusive policy has changed the social dynamic of the ship.

Straddling the seat of a motorbike, my driver and I weave in and out of traffic as we make our way to Ho Chi Minh City’s central market. Traveling at a slow pace, the ride is nonetheless invigorating, with few traffic lights and apparently no traffic laws to impose order. Intersections are chaotic, with motorbikes, cars, busses and pedicabs all competing to make their way through. My driver skillfully brakes, accelerates and toots his horn to glide with astounding finesse through the clutter. ‘You go to market,’ he says, looking over his shoulder at me. ‘I waiting for you.’  Read more... (803 words, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)

Can the nearly all-inclusive, ultra-luxury Silversea Whisper satisfy your insatiable appetite for pampering?

Ship: Silversea Cruises Silver Whisper

Entered Service: 2001

Overview: Like its sister Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper boasts an ultra-luxury, ‘near all-inclusive’ experience. You won’t need to dole out extra cash for gratuities, alcohol, soft drinks, juices, speciality coffees or shuttle service between the ship and city centers. But your cruise fare won’t quite cover everything, either. There are charges for shore excursions, internet usage, spa services, cigars from The Humidor, and premium wines and liquors. Laundry service, but not dry cleaning or pressing, is included in many stateroom categories, and use launderettes is free of charge for all stateroom categories.  Read more... (1604 words, 4 images, estimated 6:25 mins reading time)

While it’s possible to do a segment of a world cruise, going all the way is a badge of honor for some. After all, completing a full world cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (except for those like the Zimmermans, who have done multiple world cruises - you’ll hear from them in a moment.)

Cruise lines reward those who dole out the dollars for the industry’s highest-ticket item. Book a full world cruise and receive generous discounts and perks that can include private car transfers between home and the airport, exclusive shoreside events, complimentary wine and spirits, shipboard credits, all gratuities and more.  Read more... (314 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Travel writers highlight their favorite “Round Cape Horn” Shore Excursions

Our two-week “Round Cape Horn” cruise took in eight ports, including our port of departure, Buenos Aires, and our disembarkation port, Valparaiso. We traveled with a group of travel editors and writers, and we asked them for comments about their shore excursions along the way. With few exceptions, shore excursions on our cruise got two thumbs up. “It was hard to choose a favorite,” says Michelle Dill, an editor at Alaska Airlines Magazine, “because I went on three shore excursions that were among the best I’ve ever done in nearly 15 cruises.”  Read more... (1859 words, 7 images, estimated 7:26 mins reading time)

Done the Caribbean? Try South America on a cruise.

Weeks before my South America cruise, I tried to form mental pictures of the places our ship would visit: Buenos Aires, Montevideo, the Falkland Islands, Ushuaia and Valparaiso. My resources were sorely lacking. I could not recall having studied South America in high school, and my only exposure to Latin America had been jaunts to Mexico, Guatemala and a handful of other Central American countries.  Read more... (1012 words, 4 images, estimated 4:03 mins reading time)

This is Ralph Grizzle, editor of The Avid Cruiser magazine. Today, Thursday June 14, is a significant day in the history of cruising. For the first time ever, Princess Cruises will christen a vessel in Portofino, Italy.  Read more... (473 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

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During our port call on Crystal Symphony in Monte Carlo, we visited Eze, a medieval village perched on a high cliff on the Cote d’Azur.

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