Cruise Specialists Blog

Iceland’s Wild West Coast & East Greenland: An Expedition Unlike Any Other
On July 27, 2025, the 136-guest National Geographic Endurance set sail from Reykjavik on a 12-day expedition to Iceland’s Wild West Coast and East Greenland, returning August 7. Cruise Specialists Cruise Consultants Gillian Clark and Karen McKinstry were aboard, and their firsthand experiences reveal why this was not just a cruise, it was an expedition that transformed how they saw the world. READ MORE →

Alaska Arctic Circle Summer Solstice Cruise
Excited guests from all over the USA and Canada were joyfully greeted at the port of Seattle by many of our Cruise Specialists agents and staff. Our group was allowed early embarkation in order to attend a welcome party in the Crow’s Nest. Each of our guests received a wonderful array of gifts for the voyage – tote bags, water bottles, unique pins and a notebook. Drinks and smiles flowed as we met our guests - and for some, they also got to meet their agents for the first time too. We later bid the Seattle team a fond farewell and Westerdam slipped out into the Puget Sound and headed north. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole Recap
We finished all our port visits and spent three days at sea before arriving in Ft Lauderdale to complete our 133-day loop. It is the longest cruise Holland America has ever sailed, covering 28 countries, 68 ports, and almost 32,000 nautical miles. Some guests are ready to go home, others are actually staying on for the next voyage that will head back up the East coast and end in Montreal. We are happy to end with the incredibly positive experience we have had. Volendam has been a wonderful home away from home for 4 plus months and we could not have asked for a more friendly, capable crew than we have had. There is a certain camaraderie aboard this ship that we appreciate. The staff clearly like each other and work as a team. We were told that there is a crew survey that is meant to measu READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Scotland and Norway
Our arrival in South Queensferry, Scotland placed us right in front of the magnificent Forth Bridge, which spans the estuary Firth of the Forth River. It was the earliest multi-span cantilever bridge used for train traffic to connect Fife with Edinburgh. There are also two more modern road bridges that cross in the same location. All three make an impressive sight. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Robinson Crusoe Island and Southern Chile
Robinson Crusoe Island is a special place. There is something about it that captures our imagination, makes us slow down, absorb the atmosphere, and not want to leave when the time comes. READ MORE →

Holland America Line Pole to Pole: Steve's Adventures in Machu Picchu
Our group of 16 Cruise Specialists guests met our guide and chief escort, Katty, at the gangway for the short ride to the airport. She would be with us every step of the trip until she saw us safely back to the ship. 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: 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 →

42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage – Malta & Tunisia
We can’t think of a sail-in that is as scenic as the arrival to Valletta, Malta. It is breathtaking to see the massive, fortified walls in every direction, luxury yachts in the harbor, and gorgeous architecture all around. We arrived at three in the afternoon and decided to go out for a walk. READ MORE →

42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage – Gibraltar, Tangier, and Seville
Arriving in Gibraltar is special, particularly if you have never seen the Rock of Gibraltar. Many were out on the bow to take in the view. READ MORE →

Conclusion of the 42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage
There is no better way to sum up this voyage than with a collection of photos we took along the way. Here are a few highlights from some of our favorite destinations. READ MORE →

42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage – The Acropolis & Egyptian Pyramids
One short day in Athens can hardly do justice to the Greek experience. We have so many wonderful memories of the Greek islands, especially the great food. But today we are docked in Piraeus, the port city for Athens, with only a few hours to visit. READ MORE →

42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage – Exploring Italy
As we made our way toward Italy, our first major event on board was the Volendam Ball. Held in the World Stage, a beautiful new portable dance floor was installed in the middle of the room. Hundreds of guests attended and even though most of them didn’t dance, it was a crowded floor. No matter, we all made space for each other and had fun dancing with the Officers, as well as our partners. Wendy was lucky enough to grab the Captain, Hotel General Manager, Cruise and Travel Director, and Head Housekeeper for a dance each. Steve had dances with our Event Coordinator, Future Cruise Consultant, Entertainment Director, and Executive Assistant. READ MORE →

Beginning our 42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean Voyage
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer hosted 75 guests aboard Volendam roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to iconic Mediterranean ports. Hear all about their adventures in this detailed report. READ MORE →

Adventures Around the Mediterranean on Silver Moon
November 2nd 2024 - It was a beautiful sunny morning in Lisbon when we had the pleasure of joining Silver Moon for a 21 day adventure around the Mediterranean. Embarkation is always super slick with Silversea and that day was no exception. It was exactly what we have come to expect from their personal attention to detail. READ MORE →

Conclusion of the 2024 Tales of the South Pacific Voyage
Embarking on a journey through the South Pacific with Cruise Specialists was nothing short of magical. Over 51 days, Holland America’s Zaandam took us across some of the world’s most breathtaking islands, filled with rich cultural encounters, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical landscapes. READ MORE →

2024 Tales of the South Pacific Chapter 1
It feels like our adventures on the 51-Day “Tales of the South Pacific” aboard Zaandam just began, and yet, we are now already at the end of October! Here is an update of the first leg of this incredible voyage. READ MORE →

45-Day European Explorers aboard Seabourn Ovation
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts Susan Atkins and Kevin LaGraff spent the late spring and early summer on Seabourn Ovation hosting 4 cruises. They have provided a detailed account of their exciting journey. READ MORE →

Voyage of the Vikings - Netherlands and United Kingdom
The day at sea between Oslo and Rotterdam was calm and relaxing, offering time for guests to indulge in the ship's many activities. Highlights of the day included "Chat Times" and "High Tea," both of which drew enthusiastic participation. READ MORE →

Concluding Voyage of the Vikings
It was rough seas today, so a number of people decided to stay on board. We braved the tender and took a cold walk around this small village. READ MORE →

Voyage of the Vikings - Greenland, Iceland & Norway
We were treated to a day of scenic cruising up and down the Tasermiut Fjord to see breathtaking views of icebergs, a glacier and even a rainbow! We have travelled many times in the Norwegian fjords and although the Icelandic ones are similar, each fjord is unique. The Tasermiut Fjord has very steep sides and a good deal of ice floats around it, making for magnificent photographs. We hosted an extra chat time today offering Cruise Specialists guests a chance to take in the views while we chatted and were pleasantly surprised as to how many people stopped by! READ MORE →

Voyage of the Vikings - Bar Harbor, Sydney, Corner Brook and Red Bay
Boston is steeped in history, impressive statues and storytelling plaques. We highly recommend a visit to this beautiful city. We walked more than 10 miles each day and used local buses and the subway system. Public transport in Boston is easy to use and inexpensive. READ MORE →

Scenic Glacier Bay, Homer, Haines and Skagway
There is the city of Homer and then there is The Homer Spit. Our tenders took us to the small boat harbor on The Spit - a very narrow, 4 plus-mile-long peninsula, jutting out into Kachemak Bay. Surrounded by snowcapped mountains, there is a gorgeous view in every direction. READ MORE →

Conclusion of the 2024 Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice Voyage
We were pleasantly surprised at how nice a town it was. As our last port, we had planned a tour with our Cruise Specialists guests that included a farewell lunch. We started with a fun Vintage Trolley tour around the city. Our guide knew everyone and everything about the area and had a great sense of humor, keeping us laughing throughout our tour. READ MORE →

Discover Juneau and Misty Fjords
Welcome to the Capital of Alaska, Juneau. It is perhaps the busiest of the Alaskan cruise ports, with 4 ships joining us today which will be typical almost every day during the summer season. We estimated 16,000-18,000 cruise passengers tour the area. READ MORE →

5 Must-See European Ports
Have you been dreaming of exploring Europe? We don’t blame you! From historic cities and silver screen cameos to breathtaking beaches and awe-inspiring ocean views, Europe is home to some of the world’s most incredible destinations. With so much to see and so many fantastic attractions, a cruise is a great way to soak up multiple cities in one easy vacation. When you book through our agency, you’ll have the expertise of a professional on your side. We can protect your vacation with travel insurance and help you understand all cancellation and refund options available. Looking for inspiration? Read on to discover five of our favorite European ports to explore on your next cruise adventure. READ MORE →

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