Search Results

Cruise Lines are not a one size fits all, and while all, except for one, will gladly welcome any cruiser on board the reality is that each Cruise Line will cater to specific demographics, experiences and budget. Here’s a breakdown. Luxury: Starting with luxury, you get what you pay for, like Michelin Star Dining experience, a personal butler, concierge service, included excursions, twice daily room service and so much more. If you have a lot of discretionary income you might want to check out Cruise Lines like Oceania, Silver Seas or Viking. Expedition: Similar to the luxury experience this is pricey but offers a very unique intimate adventure not available anywhere else. You could visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, get up close to icebergs in the Arctic, sail up the Amazon, discover the Northwest Passage, take part in scientific research, and more. Expeditions are supported by specialists who will educate you along the way. Viking or Hurtigruten Cruise Lines stand out. River Cruising: Offering pricey exclusive experiences are river cruises. This is a different kind of cruise ship designed specifically to navigate rivers like the Rhine. They’re a luxury experience with the vacation being the journey itself and features incredible scenery, castles, local markets, vineyards. If interested check out Avalon, Amawaterways or Viking. Party Time: For those more interested in the night life or party atmosphere then Carnival is queen. However, Virgin, MSC and other European Cruise Lines tend to have a late night party vibe as well. Solo Cruisers: Historically Cruise Lines have been forcing double occupancy charges for solo travellers. Fortunately times have changed. Norwegian Cruise Lines was the first to embrace the solo cabin which is contained in an exclusive solo traveller area, inclusive of a bar/lounge. A few other Cruise Lines have since joined the ranks. Holland America even offers solo balcony cabins. Adults (18+) Only: If you’re looking for a cruise without having someone else’s vacationing kids running all over the place then check out Virgin Voyages adult only Cruise Line. All restaurants are included in the price and the buffet is actually set up like a food court where they serve you. The ships are newer and clean, and the crew have a refreshing fun loving and an all-inclusive attitude. If there’s a downside its the questionable bed/couch design of most staterooms, where the bed has to be reconfigured daily in order to have any seating during the day. Family: For a family there’s a clear winner, Disney Cruise Lines, but it comes with a premium price. The larger ships from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines have many kid/teen friendly activities and the newer ships in MSC’s fleet have wonderful age specific venues. Seniors: Seniors tend to prefer ships with old world charm, void of all the bells and whistles of the larger ships. Holland America, Celebrity and the older ships in the Princess fleet are best options. Having detailed the above we should point out that each cruise line will have features and experiences which you may find appealing. For example, the old world charm isn’t just appealing to seniors, and kid friendly Cruise Lines also feature adults-only sections. Even expedition type of experiences are offered by the more mainstream Cruise Lines. This post is intended only as a guide and a reference point for you to start your planning so do your research and find what fits your vacation objective and see you on board.

Lets be real here, cruising isn’t for everyone. Before you say no you owe it to yourself to consider the alternatives and why cruising might actually be a yes. Whether its a land based tour, a resort destination, or a cruise there are pros and cons for each, and each will offer a unique vacation experience. Cruising offers the opportunity to experience a variety of destinations from a floating base camp (the ship), with all the food included, daily entertainment, room service and no need to pack/unpack every day. The cruise ship is in fact a floating resort in itself with swimming pools, Jacuzzi’s, a fitness center, a casino, shops, restaurants, bars, and more; basically anything to help you relax. Imagine unpacking once and each morning of your vacation waking up in a new destination, waiting to be explored. You’ll enjoy at least one adventure/experience (of your choice) at each port of call and while that’s enough for you to be rewarded with a lifetime of memories, you’ll find yourself enticed to return for a new experience on a later vacation. And lets not forget the magic of a sunset at sea or watching an iceberg float by, or a whale breaching, or simply the landscape gliding by from a perspective only available from the water. You’ll never go hungry and unless you’re used to Michelin Chef prepared meals everything is good. You can try something new, and if its not to your liking you simply try something else. There’s always a variety of restaurants to satisfy any taste or picky eaters. Staying entertained is never a challenge, from an evening of gambling, art auctions, region specific souvenir shopping, meeting new friends over a drink, theatrical productions, comedy acts, musical performances, interactive game shows, rock climbing, bumper cars, sky diving, car racing, water slides, and on and on. You’ll forget the word “boredom”. Cruising used to be likened to a 5-star hotel on the water, and although that’s been relaxed over the years its still an upscale vacation worth trying. Cruising is for anyone whether a solo traveler, couples, friends, families or groups. Cruising can be a destination all by itself, or used as transportation from one exciting destination to another. Its a community of like minded people, and you owe it to yourself to try.

This adventure began months ago during our wedding planning. A pop-up for a brand new ship, the MSC Euribia featured prominently in our social media feed. It offered the perfect itinerary; embarking Denmark, my country of birth, then taking us up through the picturesque fjords of Norway, down to Germany and back to Denmark. It seemed like a perfect honeymoon getaway. But research quickly gave us pause as reviews of MSC were either very positive or dismal, the latter calling out a variety of deficiencies. We decided that, for seven days we could mitigate the bad (if it really was) so booked. Heads up, not only did our experience put us in the ‘very positive’ camp but quite frankly we attribute most of the negative comments to a combination of passenger attitude and unrealistic passenger expectations. First let me say, I’m not a fan of the MSC online site and trying to get clarification from their telephone Customer Service was like pulling teeth but if you simply trust the process it functions like a well oiled machine. For example, our documents came as a single package instead of multiple downloads as is required by other cruise lines. Check-in took only a few minutes, and with minimum crowds. Scheduling our dining was orchestrated, ahead of time, by our very attentive dining host/hostess. This was not intended to be a review of MSC or the Euribia but this has proved to be an experience all of its own, a grand experience. The cabbie taking us from Kastrup airport to the cruise terminal was initially confused by our request to be taken to the Oceankaj Cruise Terminal. After consulting Google he perked up at the 20 minute fare. That’s where the really big ships dock he would exclaim. At 183,500 tons the MSC Euribia is big, and yet her and the Titanic combined only match the size of Royal Caribbean’s big ships. The Euribia is a perfect size in our opinion. We dropped off our bags and proceeded to check in. A few minutes later we were walking up the gangway to deck 5 and our first drink of the day. After a day at sea we awoke to the peaceful hamlet of Hellesylt, Norway at the head of the Sunnylvsfjorden fjord, which is a branch at the end of the 110 km Storfjorden fjord. Helleysylt is a village out of a fairytale with its roaring waterfall dividing the town in half. Everything is a lush green even though its late September. There are mountains all around us, dwarfing the 19 deck Euribia. Fit joggers are seen running along the town’s path one minute and then halfway up the mountain a few minutes later. It’s an incredible sight, and a paradise in which to relax and be inspired. We didn’t get off the ship here thanks to a misunderstanding in offerings, so instead we took advantage of what this ship has to offer; hot tub and drinks anyone? Disappointingly we left Hellesylt after dark backtracking our passage through the fjord back to Alesund at its mouth. Alesund is best described as a model railway setting. All the buildings look like miniature creations all of the same architectural design thanks to a massive city wide fire in 1904. It’s raining as we board the tour boat for a trip back into the fjord but that’s no deterrent to an awesome experience. The waters edge is dotted with colorful communities, each looking like a miniature village set against a backdrop of mountains. Pictures do not do this setting justice. This is a place that must be experienced first hand. Flåm is next up and its a village out of a fairytale. We board the bus that is to take us to the starting point of our fjord tour. It meanders through mountain tunnels, one being 11 km long carved though solid rock, an engineering marvel. When we emerge we're at the embarkation point of the catamaran tour boat that will take us through the fjord back to Flåm. Hundreds of waterfalls stream down the steep slopes on both sides of the fjord, the source of all this water hidden among the peaks high above. We marvel at the spectacle all around us, and ponder the motives behind the homesteads built half way up these seemingly inaccessible mountain sides. The whole trip is mesmerizing. We come around a bend only to be blasted by a wind tunnel like breeze. It sends hair whipping straight back, jackets fluttering, and hands scrambling to secure loose items. Recovering from the initial shock we realize that the air is warm, tropical like, and with that the whole tour boat revel in this new and unexpected development. You never know what awaits. Since this cruise started and ended in Copenhagen, Denmark it would be appropriate to chat a bit about this beautiful country as well. Copenhagen is after all the home of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales like The Little Mermaid. Denmark is also a country of over a hundred hidden trolls, thatched roofs, castles and fairytale villages. One of these villages is Ærøskøbing, on the small island of Ærø. It's narrow cobblestone streets, architecture from the 1600's, centuries old seafaring traditions, and quaint shops make it a must experience. A future more in depth visit is clearly in store.

Sharing our travel experiences with a focus on destinations with a desire to inspire you to be whisked away as well. Whisked Away with Tamara and Ann A Travel Destination Blog Bucket List Destinations Perfect Places to Stay Our Trips Adventurous Excursions Fantastic Cruise Ships We Get Asked All The Time Must Bring Accessories

We Get Asked All The Time.... Still have questions? Ask us. WhiskedAwaywithTamaraandAnn@gmail.com To Cruise or Not to Cruise; That Is the Question. Choosing a Cruise Line. To upgrade, or not upgrade; that is the question. "We paid for the drink package, is it worth it?" Do I need a passport? Do I need to bring formal wear for dinner? Tipping expectations. --- coming soon Inside, Ocean View, Balcony, forward, aft.... which is best for me? --- coming soon Do I need to adhere to my Boarding Time? --- coming soon

Our Adventures