Cruise Specialists Blog

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WORLD CRUISE REVIEWS

Postcards From A Regent World Cruise: The Amazing Americas
Of the many attributes of the countries in the Americas, some of our favorites are the natural beauty, stunning flora and fauna and their daring-do spirit. We went searching for these and others during our stops in South, Central and North America during the first leg of our world cruise on Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner. READ MORE →

Postcards From A World Cruise: The Adventure Begins
The adventure began with an included two nights/three days pre-cruise in Miami: one night was spent at the InterContinental Miami and the second night on board the Seven Seas Mariner. This InterContinental hotel turned out to be comfortable, luxurious and iconic: it is from here that Miami's 35-foot neon “Big Orange” drop occurs each New Year’s Eve. The hotel has attractive contemporary décor, art including the monumental 18-foot Henry Moore "Spindle" sculpture in the lobby, and ocean views; it is conveniently located in the heart of the Magic City -- five minutes from PortMiami. Club InterContinental, the hotel's lounge for suite guests (other guests can purchase day passes for $50) offers breakfast, afternoon tea and happy hour with wine, beers and tapas. I am gluten free and found some READ MORE →

Postcards From A World Cruise: Preparing For Adventure
We are preparing for our eighth world cruise, dreaming about it now for a year and a half, and we can’t wait! Cruise brochures tell you a world cruise spans 100-plus days, in our case, on the ultra-deluxe Regent Seven Seas Mariner’s “The Sense Of Adventure” 2026 World Cruise it will be 154 days, embarking in Miami on Jan. 10, with an included pre-cruise overnight at the luxurious, oceanfront Intercontinental Miami, located only five minutes from PortMiami. This epic voyage will take us to visit 77 ports in the Americas, Polynesia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. But if you figure in preparation and dreaming/anticipation, you are not looking at 154 days, but much more than a year of enjoyment –not to mention, that after the voyage concludes, we have a lifetime of READ MORE →

Retirement at Sea: Live the Adventure on World Cruise
For many retirees, the golden years symbolize freedom—a time to explore, relax, and make every day extraordinary. What if your retirement could be a world cruise, with no need for grocery shopping, home maintenance, or the unpredictability of travel logistics? Enter the idea of retiring at sea, where every horizon holds a new destination, and you call a luxury cruise ship your home. READ MORE →

Holland America Grand World Voyage: Cruising the South Pacific
We experienced Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands, a tender port. As much as we all prefer a dock for easy access to the islands, the nature of the harbor or underwater topography do not allow for larger cruise ships to enter the port. When we step on land, a huge sign welcomes us with the lovely “Kia Orana”! We arrived on a Saturday, in time to visit the local markets and to see the fish vendors with their prized tuna hanging next to their pickup trucks, ready to be sold. The local bus drove around the Island, passengers entering or exiting as they reached their hotels and beaches, with the bus driver calling out the various locations. If no one was interested in alighting, she drove on to the next stop. There was bus audience participation as we often had to repeat her location callou READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole Voyage Bon Voyage and First Ports of Call
Saturday morning, we headed to the ship. Our entire group was granted priority status and were among the first to board! The whole process was smooth and easy, and our luggage and supplies were delivered to our cabin by late afternoon. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Ecuador and Peru
Manta was our next stop, a city we have visited many times. There are some fun tours here that explore the local culture. Ecuador is the home of the Panama hat (not Panama, as you might think), and you can watch the painstaking weaving process required to create these unique hats. They are available for purchase everywhere. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Wendy's Adventures in Peru
We’re docked in the commercial port of Callao, adjacent to the city of Lima, Peru. Steve and his excited group of 15 left this morning for the Lima airport, headed for Cusco, on the way to Machu Picchu. We’ll tell his story when they get back in three days. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Arica and San Antonio, Chile
Our first stop in Chile is the city of Arica. It’s another commercial port but the shuttle ride is only a few minutes to the port gates. You can then step out on the main street called Avenida Comandante San Martin. It is right across from the Main Square with the iconic Cathedral of San Marcos, a 19th century Gothic-Style Church designed by Gustave Eiffel. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Costa Rica and Panama
Our first group shore excursion was a diverse and fascinating adventure into the natural world of Costa Rica. We started with a bus ride to the Sloth Sanctuary. Their mission is to care for injured or abandoned sloths, rehabilitate them, and then release them back to the wild where possible. If it is not possible, they are given a lifetime home at the sanctuary, where they entertain and impress visitors like us. We met at least a dozen of these gentle creatures, all with disabilities or who were abandoned by their mothers before they learned the skills to survive in the jungle. READ MORE →

Introducing Holland America Line Pole to Pole Voyage
Ever since the “Pole to Pole” concept was introduced as a possible future itinerary we felt it was designed for us. So much of our experience as Hosts and as avid cruisers has revolved around these destinations. READ MORE →

Holland America Grand World Voyage
The Holland America Grand World Voyage aboard the Zuiderdam commenced on January 4, 2025, from Fort Lauderdale. Over the past few weeks, passengers have explored a variety of captivating destinations, each offering unique experiences and insights. READ MORE →

Sailing the World: Cruise Lines Offering World Cruises
For those with the wanderlust bug intertwined with their very being, a world cruise is the ultimate voyage, promising much more than a typical cruise experience, but a dramatic unraveling of the planet's wonders over several months. READ MORE →

2024 Island Princess World Cruise - Chapter 1
The Island Princess World 2024 adventure of a lifetime began on January 3rd, 2024, at the Renaissance Plantation Hotel when the Cruise Specialists guests signed in at the Hotel and enjoyed a hosted reception and a pre-cruise celebratory dinner. This was a first opportunity for guests to connect with each other and share their excitement of a journey that would take place over the next 111 days. READ MORE →