The Last Cruise, released on Mar. 30, 2021, is a short documentary focused solely on the COVID-19 outbreak on board Princess Cruise Line’s Diamond Princess. As background, the Diamond Princess left Yokohama, Japan on Jan. 20, 2020 and was scheduled to disembark in Yokohama on Feb. 4, 2020. The ship carried 2,666 passengers and 1,045…
Seattle is a travel destination on its own, but for many people the Emerald City is also the preferred gateway for a cruise to Alaska. Seattle offers 7-day round-trip itineraries to Alaska, sold by a number of different cruise lines. The cruises from Seattle will not give you an in-depth exploration into the interior of…
A common misconception is that ocean cruises are essentially all-inclusive, with the exception of alcoholic beverages, gambling, photographs and souvenirs. Some guests are likewise shocked when they receive their final bill only to see an added charge of gratuities, commonly referred under the euphemisms ‘Hotel Service Charge’ or ‘Service Charge’, or more recently as ‘Crew…
Navigating the visa hurdles of your Baltic cruise vacation The crown jewel of any Baltic cruise itinerary is the port of call in Saint Petersburg, Russia, with most cruise lines offering 2 days (1 overnight) and some even offering 3 days (2 overnights). Saint Petersburg has an incredible amount to offer, from a rich and complicated history…
Honningsvåg, the northernmost city of mainland Norway Honningsvåg is the northernmost city on the mainland of Norway, located in Nordkapp Municipality in Finnmark County. With just 2,436 inhabitants in 2012, Honningsvåg would not qualify as a city in Norway under normal circumstances, since it does not meet the 5,000 person threshold under law. However, because the…
Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and the second-largest city in the United States by area. Juneau became the capital of Alaska in 1906, the capital formerly being Sitka, due to an act of Congress in 1900. Today, Juneau is well-known as a cruise port and also for its close proximity to Mendenhall Glacier,…
With the 2011 Alaska cruise season just around the corner, it’s a good time to spotlight the offerings of Seattle’s hometown favorite, Holland America Line. Holland America Line accounts for 50 out of 195 sailings leaving from Seattle to Alaska this year, with convenient weekend departures leaving from Seattle’s brand-new cruise terminal at Pier 91.…