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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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 the Charm of Alaska
As we approached Hubbard Glacier, the weather gods were pleased with us, as it was a truly spectacular day. Sun shining, moderate temperatures, and no wind made it perfect to be outdoors. READ MORE →

Contrasting Rugged Kodiak and Bustling Anchorage
Last evening was our Cruise Specialists Cocktail Party, which was very well attended - 80 out of 110 Guests enjoyed an open bar with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. It was quite a congenial group, staying well beyond the scheduled time. READ MORE →

A Spectacular Start to Our Alaskan Adventure
Our journey began in the charming Queen Anne section of downtown Seattle, just a few blocks from the Cruise Specialists office. After a delightful visit with our colleagues, we spent Friday and Saturday wandering around the city, taking in all the iconic sights of Seattle. READ MORE →

Seward, Dutch Harbor and Nome
Here we are today, once again standing in front of the beautiful SeaLife Center complex. It is an aquarium, a wildlife response unit, an educational center, and a sophisticated research facility. It has become a focal point for tourists and tour groups. The rest of the town looks very much the same to us. It had a rugged frontier feel to it back then in 2004 and still does today. That feeling was magnified by the dense fog that covered everything at our arrival. READ MORE →

Discover Alaska: The Ultimate Frontier Adventure Awaits!
Nicknamed "The Last Frontier," our 49th state has it all. From breathtaking landscapes to unique wildlife and rich history, Alaska is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. READ MORE →

2024 Princess World Cruise, Chapter 4
as we reflect on the past 111 days. The days and weeks seem to become a bit of a blur, filled with good and exciting memories that melt into each other, reminded of our awesome journey as we look at the thousands of photos that were taken, and as we reminisce and laugh at the wonderful memories with our CS passengers during chat times! READ MORE →

2024 Island Princess World Cruise - Chapter 3
This Segment consisted of several Sea Days in groups of four to seven days. The first question that came to passengers’ minds was to wonder if they will be bored or if they will enjoy Sea Days, have time to participate in the events set up by the crew, or to get caught up on some reading that has been put to the side while we were visiting various ports. READ MORE →

Grand Australia Voyage Journal, part 4
Follow along with Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer on Holland America’s 94-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Cruise aboard Volendam. READ MORE →

2024 Island Princess World Cruise - Chapter 2
We reached Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii on January 24th, and the wonderful world and word of ‘Aloha’. Aloha means ‘Life’ and ‘Welcome’ as well as ‘Good-Bye’ and ‘Love’ depending on the context in which it is used. Hawaii, the name alone brings up visions of warm caressing winds, fragrant flowers, and Waikiki Beach, an area that is always alive with action. You see many tourists walking about, shiny limousines and buses on the roads, pedestrians sharing the sidewalks with dogs and scooters. READ MORE →

Grand Australia Voyage Journal, part 3
Follow along with Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer on Holland America’s 94-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Cruise aboard Volendam. READ MORE →

Grand Australia Voyage Journal, part 2
Follow along with Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer on Holland America’s 94-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Cruise aboard Volendam. READ MORE →

The Allure of the Open Seas: Multi-Month Cruises Redefining Travel
Cruise Specialists is the expert in long cruises tailored to our clients’ preferences. Our dedicated team provides personalized guidance and unbiased recommendations to ensure you select the perfect voyage. Experience added luxuries and attentive cruise hosts during your extended getaway with Cruise Specialists. 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 →

Grand Australia Voyage Journal, part 1
Follow along with Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer on Holland America’s 94-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Cruise aboard Volendam. READ MORE →

Everything You Need To Know About World Cruise Segments
Imagine setting sail on a journey that takes you around the world, allowing you to explore diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and historic sites in multiple countries. This dream can become a reality through a World Cruise, however, not everyone has the luxury of taking several months off from their busy lives. That's where World Cruise Segments come in. 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 →

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Guest Contributor

Guest contributors to Travel Leaders have diverse backgrounds in publishing, travel, and vacations. They live across the globe and bring unique, first-hand experience to their writing.
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Justin Gibson

Justin Gibson grew up in the Dallas suburbia, but has since been transplanted to the D.C. area. He was schooled at Southern Methodist University, which was nice. He currently works as a copywriter, but longs to attempt riding a bull.
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Dayna Engberg

Dayna is an MBA who left a starchy job in finance to pursue the wild adventures of being a travel writer. She has since gotten caught in a blizzard in the Canadian Rockies, lost a shoe on a camel trek across the Sahara Desert and crashed a jeep in the Mexican jungle. She maintains that bad luck makes for excellent stories.
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Guest Contributor

Justin Gibson

Dayna Engberg

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer

Kirsten Ulmer and Alex Tokar

Keith and Susie Boyland

Kim Jackson

John Bell