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 The star attraction on a Baltic cruise for most people will be St. Petersburg, Russia. It was for me. I'd seen plenty of pictures of the iconic sites, which truly intrigued me, but I was also very curious about the people and what was "beyond these sites". What was it like to be in Russia?
Two full days touring St. Petersburg didn't make me an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But along with the seeing the iconic sites, I did get a glimpse of the beyond, behind the scenes if you will. For this I am grateful. I did not know what to expect, and while I had a few preconceived notions, I went with open eyes.  On July 4th, we sailed out of Copenhagen, the beginning of our 9 night Baltic cruise. We were treated to sunny days the entire cruise, and though I rarely let weather hinder my experience, I must admit that not having even one drop of rain was quite special.
A Baltic cruise had been on our wish list for a number of years, and this itinerary and timing fit perfectly into an already planned visit to Germany. In all honestly I would have preferred a smaller ship (a much smaller ship!) as it would have reduced some of the transfer time, but none the less, we packed in a lot of experiences. A Baltic itinerary is not one I would describe as relaxing. It is however, incredibly interesting, very rich in history, with each port offering unique experiences. Following are the highlights.  One of the things I love about cruising is waking up in a new port every day. One of the things that leaves me yearning is waking up in a new port every day. Certain ports just deserve more time to explore.
The picture above of the Sydney Opera House is just one example. If you left port at the normal 5 pm sailing time, you'd miss this amazing icon so beautifully lit up . So much action starts after the sun sets!  I know a lot about cruising and the different brand personalities. The brands also do a wonderful job promoting themselves and their styles. I have found, however, the best way to get authentic insight (aside from taking the cruise myself) is from you, my clients. I love hearing about personal experiences. Everyone brings a different perspective to the table, and this is the best way to learn and truly understand how to match the right experiences - on and off the ship.
Dear friends and clients Kim and Maria are seasoned cruisers and global travelers and are not afraid to go off the beaten trail to explore more authentic, less touristy areas. "Go where the locals go" fits them perfectly. We met on on board a transatlantic trip while looking for exciting options in Reykjavik. Their recent Celebrity cruise had an extended stay in New Orleans, and I thought it would be fun to share their experiences with you (written by them and sharing with their permission of course!). My learnings are at the end.  France - a land rich in history, art, wine, great food and delightful people. These are a few of the reasons that draw us to this wonderful part of Europe. If you are thinking about a river cruise, the lines that sail the region have done an exceptional job weaving these experiences into their itineraries.
How to choose? Despite many similarities, each of these five waterways have unique personalities., which, depending on what you'd like to experience, should help you choose one or at least narrow down the choices. Still can't decide? Choose one that best matches your dates and budget AND GO! You'll enjoy the experience no matter which area you choose.  It was only a few years ago that I noticed only few articles about Lisbon and Portugal in general. Truly an under the radar destination. Fast forward to 2018 and Portugal is now high on the list of emerging destinations, with Lisbon quickly becoming a favorite city to visit.
Europe's westernmost and sunniest capital, Lisbon is a picturesque port city, charming, romantic and wonderfully historic (over 2700 years old!). Lisbon was home to a number of Portuguese explorers, including Vasco de Gama and Ferinand Magellan, but did you know that the inspiration of the James Bond 007 character can be traced back to the nearby town of Estoril? I had the opportunity to visit Lisbon a number of years ago, and was pleasantly surprised by all the things to see and do. I would gladly go back to have every one of these experiences again. Whether it's a pre or post stop on an ocean cruise, a Douro River cruise or part of a land tour, take some time to explore this exciting city. You won't be disappointed. Top places to see:  A number of years ago I was on a Mediterranean cruise, starting and ending in Rome. I remember talking with an Australian couple that first evening about how they had lost all their valuables - money, passport, personal items - in the main Rome train station, on their way to the ship. A very professionally dressed man had swiftly cut the bag that she was carrying over her shoulder, and disappeared before she or her husband could even react.
Another couple I met on board ship had heard about how good pickpockets were in Europe, and were absolutely convinced they would know if and when someone tried to take a wallet out of their back pocket. They decided to put this thought to test in Barcelona by placing a "sticky" wallet (made of rubber or some type of material that supposedly sticks to fabric and is difficult to remove) in a very tight back pocket. Well, the wallet was never seen again. They admitted that they had NO clue where or when it disappeared. I've been to 8 out of the 10 top cities known to have the best pickpockets in the world. While no one is exempt from being targeted, I can say that I've never lost anything by following a few simple rules.  For years I had heard about this beautiful garden near Amsterdam. Friends and colleagues considered Keukenhof a "must see" experience. But I never understood why. I love flowers, but really, what was the big deal? The pictures I had seen just didn't register until I personally walked the gardens last month while on my Rhine River cruise trip.
 This may have just been coincidence, but as many times that I saw Giethoorn mentioned, I figured I may need to check it out. Several times before my Rhine River cruise last month, Conde Naste had posted a short video about this cute little town in the Netherlands on Facebook. The video was quite intriguing, so I remembered it. When we met up with my German cousin in Amsterdam, out the blue she mentioned this same town. Her neighbor had fallen in love with it and highly suggested a visit. And when I picked up a brochure on day trips from Amsterdam, there it was, mentioned again.
Well then! We must check it out, right? YES!! We decided to venture a bit (actually a lot) off the beaten path on our way back from Bruges to Amsterdam to see for ourselves what all this attention was about. |
Laurie Marschall
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