LISTING THE BEST HOTELS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Travel website TripAdvisor is teasing us again with their list of "25 Best Hotels in the Caribbean." Reviewers run out of adjectives describing these little slices of Heaven on earth. Number one on the list is the Spice Island Beach Resort, St. George's, Grenada. The Spice Island is quite lovely itself, with its covering of rain forest, so we can just imagine the experience at a high-end resort. Go ahead, dream a little! -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN SETS EUROPE SAILINGS

Norwegian Jade (Credit: Norwegian)

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its Europe deployment for the winter 2014-2015 season. Norwegian will have two ships sailing in Europe year round, Norwegian Jade will sail seven-Day Greek Isles; seven-Day Adriatic, Greece and Turkey; 10-day Eastern Mediterranean and an 11-day Western Mediterranean. Norwegian Spirit will offer 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages and 10-Day Canary Islands and Morocco itineraries. -- Gerry

HALF MOON CAY MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY

Half Moon Cay (Credit: Holland America)

Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas, celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with some new offerings and features. New are five two-story Beach Villas available for rent. The luxury hideaways "boast exclusive hot tubs on the second floor and provide private accommodations for guests while they relax and experience the island’s highlights." Holland also reports, "other beach cabanas were refreshed, and the Grand Cabana received new décor and a slide from the cabana deck straight into the ocean."

Holland also added a new glass-bottom boat that carries 290 guests for tours and features underwater viewing of the island’s reefs and sea life. Additionally, six horses were added to the horseback riding tour. They also note the Bahamian Church has been repainted and outfitted with new pews and interior artwork. 

The 1,700-acre uninhabited Little San Salvador Island was named best private island for the 12th consecutive year by Porthole Cruise Magazine. -- Gerry

WAYS THAT ROYAL GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

While we are all very familiar with the activities and features on cruise ships, we don't often focus on the good work cruise employees do giving back to their communities. This week's video from Royal Caribbean relates the great work done by Royal Caribbean employees on behalf of charities like Make a Wish and in port of call like Haiti. It's the kind of good news that deserves the spotlight. -- Gerry

A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CARNIVAL 'SUNSHINE'

2013 is shaping up as a memorable year for new ship launches and renovations. Among them will be the April debut of Carnival Sunshine, currently sailing as Carnival Destiny. What does it take to totally transform a ship? In this case, 49 days in drydock and $155 million. You can get a virtual tour in this just-released video:





It will launch with a schedule of European cruises April 12, 2013, before re-positioning to New Orleans for year-round Caribbean departures beginning Nov. 18, 2013.

You'll also want to check out the the “Grab Your Destiny” contest at www.carnival.com/sunshine where the grand prize is a European cruise for two on Carnival Sunshine, "as well as a variety of keepsake items from the historic Carnival Destiny, the world’s first 100,000-plus-ton cruise ship." -- Gerry

COUNTRY MUSIC CRUISE SET FOR 2014

Attention all country music fans. The Country Music Cruise is featuring some of that genre's biggest names, including Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap and many more. It sets sail Jan. 19, 2014, from Ft, Lauderdale on the Holland America Eurodam. Find out all the details here. 

JOHN HEALD 'BLOGGERS CRUISE 7' ANNOUNCED

John Heald (Carnival)

Carnival has announced that Carnival Sunshine has been selected as the venue for the seventh annual “John Heald Bloggers Cruise,” which brings together fans of the senior cruise director’s popular blog (www.johnhealdsblog.com) for a week of fun, activities and giveaways. Bloggers Cruise 7 sails round-trip from New Orleans February 16-23, 2014, visiting Montego Bay, Jamaica; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.

Other details from Carnival include: "A full schedule of activities, including lively Q and A sessions, unforgettable game shows, welcoming and closing receptions, and the ever-popular 'Tea Time with John,' will be offered while bloggers will return home with a variety of keepsake items. An exclusive bloggers-only shore excursion is also planned. Heald, of course, will be blogging and providing daily video updates throughout the cruise." -- Gerry

CELEBRITY SHIPS SETTING FOR 'TOP CHEF'

Tune in to Bravo's "Top Chef" this Wednesday, Jan. 30, and you might recognize the setting. It was filmed on Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Infinity while sailing in Alaska. The show airs at 10 pm Eastern. Contestants were challenged to prepare dishes for the passengers, with three Top Chef judges there to review the results.

Also this week, Celebrity is hosting a pop-up restaurant in Manhattan at The Kitchen NYC. Celebrity chef John Suley will serve items from a three-course menu that "includes several on board favorites as well as dishes inspired by the culinary flavors of Manhattan." Master Mixologist Junior Merino, aka “The Liquid Chef,” will serve drinks from his ship-board concept, The Molecular Bar. Tickets to all other lunches and dinners at Celebrity’s Manhattan pop-up restaurant are available at www.celebritycruisespopupnyc.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Celebrity Cruises Scholarship at The Culinary Institute of America. -- Gerry

REVIEW: THE MARTINI BAR ON 'CONSTELLATION'

(All Photos: Gerry)

ABOARD CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION -- It's called The Martini Bar for good reason. They serve martinis. All kinds, all flavors, all brands. It's almost all martinis, all the time. Located on deck four near the casino, it's circular, sleek, contemporary and ... crowded much of the time. Next door is the more intimate Crush Bar, which provides even more limited seating around the same icy motif.

In our ongoing, world-wide quest to find, sample and judge martini excellence, we set aside time to experience this popular watering hole on Constellation.

The first thing everyone notices is the frosty icy surface of the bar itself. The second thing is of course to scrawl your name or some fanciful image into the ice. Like "Kilroy was here and had a drink" or some such.

But the main event is the martinis, prepared by bartenders as entertaining as the drinks they serve. Most of the concoctions are $10, and the portions larger than you'll find at other venues around the ship. The fun part is watching the bartenders at work, shaking and pouring with artistic precision.

The Flight arrives

We opted for the martini "Flight," a sampler of six favorites, including the classic. Since they were slammed, we were told it would come from the bar service, rather than mixed on the spot. Okay, no problem. While we were waiting, another bartender tried to take our order.

"We already ordered a Flight," we said. He seemed to acknowledge we had, then set six glasses in front of us in a mini-pyramid. Then he assembled six shakers and begin filling each with various combinations of ingredients. Interesting, we thought. In the meantime, our Flight arrived on the icy runway in front of us, looking quite delicious.

Customers keep the bartenders hopping

Then, in an amazing show of dexterity and flair, the bartender in front of us joined the six shakers together and expertly filled all six glasses at the same time to create a second Flight of martinis. Applause, applause!! But seriously, 12 martinis? We hated to burst his bubble, or leave those six extra drinks wanting for an owner, but we really had already ordered.

In short, we can give The Martini Bar our Cruising Squared seal of approval. Good drinks, good ambience and good times. The only other suggestion would be devote more service personnel to all the people who couldn't find a seat at the bar and landed in the rows of chairs surrounding it. Maybe that's why "Crush" is part of the name. -- Gerry and Pam

'LIKE' VIKING AND WIN A DREAM RIVER CRUISE

Viking River Cruises is inviting you to "Win a dream trip to France and England!" Enter by "liking" them on their Facebook page. Viking says the winner will "sail our popular Paris and the Heart of Normandy itinerary in 2013 aboard one of our sister ships, Viking Pride or Viking Spirit! Plus, you'll take an exclusive tour of Highclere Castle (known to television audiences as the setting for Downton Abbey) as part of our Explore More: Oxford and Highclere Castle pre or post extension!" As big Downtown fans, we're "Liking" it right now! -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA NAMED 'BEST CRUISE VALUE'

Getting a "best of" award is always an honor -- but getting it 20 times in a row, that's amazing. Congrats to Holland America, named by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society as "the Best Overall Cruise Value 2012 for the 20th consecutive year in the publication’s annual Best Cruise Value Awards." The line also noted they got top marks in the High-Deluxe, 5-Star-Plus, Large Ships category in recognition of "its premium cruise experience." The release included this quote: “To win this award continuously for two decades is an incredible achievement for Holland America Line and a testament to the hard work and dedication we put into providing the finest cruise experience to our guests,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. -- Gerry

CARNIVAL'S 'VACATION AWESOME-ATION'

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced they are launching a seven-day "Vacation Awesome-ation promotion" (not easy to say!) featuring $100,000 in cruise prize giveaways "to create the ultimate, awesome vacation," beginning Sunday, Jan. 27. Here are more details from the Carnival press release:

"Consumers who book during the one-week promotional period can take advantage of 50 percent reduced deposits on the line’s most popular fares, including Past Guest rates and, for the first time, Early Savers rates. They are also entered to win a variety of spectacular prizes and upgrades on their Carnival cruise vacation.

REVIEW: CELEBRITY 'CONSTELLATION'

Celebrity Constellation - docked in Nassau (Photo: Gerry)

ABOARD CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION -- It was one of those last minute, priced too good to pass up kind of cruise deals that you love to see come along. So here we were, boarding Celebrity Constellation for a three-day getaway to the Bahamas. It was our first time on this ship, but we've been big Celebrity fans for a long time.

Launched in 2002 as the last of the Millennium-class ships, she was renovated in 2010 and is scheduled for another makeover in April. Overall, she wears her age well, and like all Celebrity ships, is notable for the striking artwork featured throughout. Let's take the tour, along with some notes and observations.

OUR STATEROOM: Given the short duration of the trip, we opted for an inside stateroom on deck three. No real issues here. First, it was more roomy than we expected at 170 sq. ft. Storage was more than adequate. It was mostly quiet, with only the occasional hall chatter that comes with late-night partying.The shower was actually larger than some we've had on newer, larger vessels, and the shower curtain allowed more freedom to move than the sliding plastic doors. On the negative side, there never are enough outlets, but that seems to be a universal problem on just about all the ships we've been on. If you need to plug in multiple personal electronics, bring an extension cord with you.

MORE DETAILS FOR 'DANCING' THEME CRUISES

Holland America Line has released more details on its 2013 “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” theme cruises featuring professional and celebrity dancers from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Professionals scheduled to appear are two-time champion Mark Ballas, champion Kym Johnson, Chelsie Hightower, Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer. Celebrities scheduled to sail are singer Joey Fatone, actress Sabrina Bryan and television personality Carson Kressley.

More details from their press release:

"The theme cruises on select ships are part of the line’s recently announced 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' on-board experience that also features an exclusive 'Dancing with the Stars' program on all ships in the fleet including dance lessons and an opportunity to dance center stage in a live dance-off performance. These activities will showcase the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

WHAT'S INCLUDED? CHART HAS THE DETAILS

Anyone who has cruised knows the how jarring it can be when that final bill is slipped under your stateroom door on the last night of the cruise. For those who spent most of their time at the bars, in the casino or shopping, the bill should probably come with some smelling salts.

To help passengers keep track of what's included and what's not included by the various cruise lines, the folks at AllThingsCruise have developed a handy chart that details the offerings from 33 different cruise lines. Why the chart? “I frequently sail on smaller ships that include some, but not all, amenities and I am often confused by what I will be paying for and what not,” explains Cynthia Boal Janssens, editor of AllThingsCruise in their press release. “So it was obvious that this kind of reference was needed, both for consumers and for travel agents.”

The chart also includes details such as: "Cunard – 'Stocked in-cabin mini-bar and butler service for Queens Grill guests only. Liquor and wine from mini-bar will be replenished with a charge to guest’s accounts at their request. All standard items replenished daily. QG butler service includes in-room party coordination.' Disney – 'Specialty drinks limited to complimentary soft drinks in dining rooms and 24/7 drink station. Specialty coffees available to concierge guests on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Butler service is included for Concierge guests on all ships.'"

Great idea. You'll want to bookmark this one. -- Gerry

CRUISECRAZIES FOUNDER INTERVIEWED

In the past we're written about Jason Taub's social cruise website, CruiseCrazies. Now over a decade old, Jason has seen his idea grow exponentially into the multi-featured hub of cruise activity it is today. Recently Jason was interviewed on the "Ship to Shore Cruise Radio" talk show, and discussed the past, present and future of CruiseCrazies. Check it out here. Congrats, Jason! -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN ADDING ZUMBA CLASSES

The popular dance-fitness program Zumba is coming to Norwegian. It will be introduced to its ships starting this spring, with a variety of classes on every cruise, led by licensed Zumba instructors. It's described as "combining high-energy dance music including hip-hop, salsa, African beats and Reggaton with fun, global-inspired dance moves to create an irresistible calorie-burning bash." Best of all, there's no extra charge. -- Gerry

PRINCESS INVITES SHARING OF CELEBRATIONS

Princess Cruises is taking "word-of-mouth" to the next level by giving passengers video cameras to tell first-hand what inspired them to cruise. The videos are the centerpiece for their new “Celebrations” campaign. They note that stories can be viewed at www.princess.com/celebrations, and Princess passengers who have recently celebrated a special occasion on board can submit their own stories at www.princess.com/sharestory before March 31, 2013 for a chance to win a 7-day Caribbean cruise for two aboard the new Royal Princess. Here is a sample story from Jason, who cruised with his wife on Island Princess to the Panama Canal. Now that's a reason to celebrate. -- Gerry

CARNIVAL MAKES $300,000 DONATION

Carnival has announced a donation of $300,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Miami, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through mentorship opportunities. The donation consists of proceeds from the book, "An Ocean of Innovation, A Passion for Giving Back" that "highlights the community service initiatives of the company’s 10 global brands." This donation follows an additional $150,000 from Carnival to provide 100 new matches to local children who are on a wait list to participate for the organization’s mentoring program.

START PLANNING NOW FOR SUMMER CRUISING

Traveling
With Bob and Sandy Nesoff
Members: American Society of Journalists and Authors
Special to Cruising Squared

There was an old ribald limerick that told you what not to do in the summer when it was “…hot and sweaty...” but rather wait until the “…frost is on the punkin…”

The Disney Magic at Castaway Cay
(Photo: Nesoff)

The same holds true for planning summer trips. The interesting and fun trips sell out fast and prices go up as well. If you are thinking of some quality down time this summer, now is the time to begin doing research and confirming plans.

An added bonus is that you may save a considerable amount of money by doing so in winter because suppliers are anxious to confirm as many bookings as possible. As time draws closer and they aren’t in dire need of filling rooms and cabins, prices are…well, pricier. If huge discounts suddenly show up at a late date it’s most likely for less than top of the line offerings.

TWO MUSIC THEME CRUISES ON NORWEGIAN

Music concerts at sea are among the most popular of the "theme cruises," and Norwegian is partnering for two more -- one classic Southern rock, and the other country-western. For the former, legendary Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will be offering the seventh edition of their Simple Man Cruise, departing Miami onboard Norwegian Pearl, to Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas Oct. 20 – 24, 2013.

Scheduled is a Lynyrd Skynyrd Sail Away Concert on the pool deck, a main theater performance and a Q and A session. Additional performing artists, theme nights, and artist-hosted activities will be announced in the coming months. Pre-sale signup is open now at http://www.simplemancruise.com/presale. The cruise line notes that guests who reserve their staterooms during the Pre-Sale will have their photo taken with Lynyrd Skynyrd on board. You can view the Simple Man Cruise 2012 Recap Video at http://vimeo.com/56029796. Fares start at $700 per guest, plus taxes and fees, with staterooms going on sale to the public March 15th. More information and announcements on Simple Man Cruise can be found at www.simplemancruise.com.


For fans of country-western, there's the second Country Cruising “Best Country Cruise Ever,” on board Norwegian Pearl sailing from Miami, Jan. 2, 2014 for a seven-day cruise to the Western Caribbean.

DINING: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PRESENTATION

When it comes to dining, the food you enjoy in those elegant cruise ship restaurants is only half the story. What's the other half? The presentation, of course. Who doesn't love a fanciful and creative plating, be it a vertical dance of shredded veggies or those delicate sauce patterns in the desserts? Josef Jungwirth, Royal Caribbean's director of culinary operations, talks about what goes on behind the scenes to create these culinary masterpieces in this week's video. -- Gerry

PRINCESS ADDS NEW CRUISES IN 2014

Crown Princess (Credit: Princess)

Fancy going to Carnaval in Rio? Or visiting the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu? Or soaking up the natural beauty of French Polynesia? Princess Cruises is offering that and more with new cruise options in spring, 2014. Here are details from Princess:

"The new Exotics sailings include:

FRIDAY DIVERSION: HORSE SHOWMANSHIP

Right down the road from Palm Beach is the Village of Wellington, considered by those who know the equestrian capital of the world. Now through March it's "showtime" as horses and their riders compete in jumping, dressage and polo. I had occasion to visit the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and see these magnificent animals in action for a jumping competition. It's like poetry in motion. Here's a few snaps:

Horse and rider in action (Photos by Gerry)

A scenic setting for the competitors.

Readying for the competition.

AZAMARA 'JOURNEY' UPGRADES COMPLETE

Azamara Journey (Credit: Azamara)

For passengers who seek a more intimate cruise experience, including more ports of call, longer stays and a variety of shore excursions, Azamara Club Cruises is just your ticket. They operate two, 694-passenger "boutique" ships -- Quest and Journey. This week, Journey emerged from an eight-day drydock in Singapore’s Sembawang Shipyard, completing a refurbishment of both vessels.

Journey got a refresh of its public spaces and staterooms plus a new blue exterior hull, that included: New carpets, upholstery, and a new color palette in public spaces; new mattresses and upgraded veranda furniture for suites and staterooms; and a resurfaced pool, and new sun loungers and pool towels.

CELEBRITY DEBUTS SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGES

Credit: Celebrity Cruises

Every passenger knows a mainstay on today's cruises is the specialty dining experience. Celebrity Cruises recognizes that as well with their new Specialty Restaurant Packages. By buying a package, the cruise line says guests can save "up to 31 percent when compared with the cost of booking reservations individually onboard, and allow guests to bundle their specialty restaurant visits into one convenient price."

The packages vary by ship, since they were created based on each ship's specific collection of restaurants. The new series includes:

STATUE CRUISES ADD PARK RANGERS

Cruises come in all sizes, and a short cruise that has always been popular is seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. Tour operator Statue Cruises has announced that National Park Service rangers are now on board their  harbor tours "to lend their valuable expertise to passengers." Their daily Statue of Liberty Harbor Tour provides up-close views of New York City landmarks. It departs every 30 minutes daily from 10 am to 4:45 pm. from Battery Park. More information at www.statuecruises.com. -- Gerry

CELEBRATING THE FOODS OF BORDEAUX

Credit: Viking

European river cruises are booming these days, and why not? Ply European rivers at a leisurely pace, step right off the dock at an historic destination, enjoy food and wine native to the region. One of the new itineraries in 2014 for Viking River Cruises is their "Chateaux, Rivers and Wine" cruise through France's Bordeaux region. And what says "Bordeaux" than a rich Bordelaise Sauce? In that spirit, Viking is sharing this famous recipe. If you want to try it, we can be there at 8. -- Gerry

Sauce Bordelaise

Source: Viking River Cruises

Sauce Bordelaise (bore duh LAZ) is a great accompaniment for any grilled red meat. Bordeaux wine is the key to this recipe’s rich taste. The author of this classic recipe is Georges Auguste Escoffier; it appears in his book Le Guide Culinaire, first published in French in 1903 and now in its fourth edition. Viking provides this recipe to celebrate its Châteaux, Rivers & Wine itinerary through France’s Bordeaux region, new for 2014.

Ingredients:

ALABAMA SETS COUNTRY FESTIVAL AT SEA

Legendary country music group Alabama will mark the 40th anniversary of their first performance with a "country music festival at sea." Fans are invited to join them and a dozen more music acts on board Norwegian Pearl for a four-night cruise from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay on Oct. 24, 2013. Scheduled are "two outdoor concerts from the full band, performances from each of the individual Alabama band members and one autographed cruise poster per stateroom. Guests in each stateroom will also get a rare opportunity to take a photo with the band." Read more about the event and sign up for the Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea pre-sale at www.alabamafestivalatsea.com. Staterooms go on sale  March 20, 2013 and fares start at $750 per guest, plus taxes and fees. -- Gerry

'PRINSENDEM' ADDITIONS COMPLETED

Credit: Holland America

Holland America has announced completion of enhancements to its ship, ms Prinsendam. Among them, the addition of Canaletto, a casual Italian dining venue, and transforming the Lido Terrace into an enclosed Wintergarden. Named for the famous 18th-century Venetian artist, Canaletto is located in the Wintergarden, adjacent to the Lido dining area. Holland reported "the ship also received other cosmetic enhancements during its dry-dock in Freeport, Bahamas, including new balcony decking and balcony dividers." -- Gerry

CARLO'S BAKE SHOP COMING TO 'BREAKAWAY'

Master baker Buddy Valastro (Courtesy: Norwegian)

Passengers on Norwegian Breakaway may think they haven't left New York, the new ship's home port when it debuts in May. Now comes word it will have an extension of that famous New York-area bakery, Carlo's Bake Shop, featured with master baker Buddy Valastro on the TLC series “Cake Boss” and “Next Great Baker.” Guests can pre-order custom specialty cakes for celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries as well as attend cupcake decorating classes. It will be located on Deck 8 and feature menu items such as Buddy’s famous Oreo, Dark Chocolate Mousse and Purple Groovy Fondant cakes, along with "luscious chocolate and vanilla cannolis." I think Pam is already heading to the dock. -- Gerry

ARTISTS DEFY GRAVITY IN THE CENTRUM

You may recall when we did our review of Grandeur of the Seas, one of the highlights was the awesome aerial show that takes place in the ship's Centrum, the multi-story atrium at the ship's center. It's a choreography of sound, light and human artistry as performers ascend and descend on rings and ropes. That show happens to be the focus of this week's video from Royal Caribbean. Amazing. -- Gerry

'BREAKAWAY' THEME OF TONIGHT'S #FOODIECHAT

Geoffrey Zakarian (Norwegian)

You may be one of the two million followers of the weekly #FoodieChat on Twitter. If so, listen up. Tonight's topic is the food to be found on Norwegian's new ship, Breakaway, debuting from New York in May. Celebrity chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian will focus on Breakaway's culinary delights live from Zakarian’s restaurant in New York City, The Lambs Club. The theme is #NorwegianBreakaway and "a select group of New York City foodies and 'tweeters' have been invited to eat and tweet live as Zakarian personally prepares some of his favorite vacation-inspired cocktails and bites."

Every Monday, #FoodieChat creator and host Steve Green asks the community 10 questions centered on that week's food-related theme. Participants respond to the questions via Twitter, sharing photos and personal experiences related to each question. It starts at  8pm EST every Monday. -- Gerry

MORIKAMI CELEBRATES 'YEAR OF THE SNAKE'

On Sunday, hundreds if not thousands of people gathered at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach to celebrate the Year of the Snake at the Oshogatsu Festival. It was our first time to visit the famed museum and Japanese gardens, and what a treasure it is for residents of South Florida with its combination of beauty and serenity. It was food, fun, music, face painting and everything you want in an outdoor festival. If you missed it, here are a few snaps:

Pam enjoys one of many benches where you
can relax and take in the beauty around you
(All photos: Gerry)

The bamboo forest is amazing. Stop
and listen to the sounds as they sway
in the wind.

DELTA APP HAS 'GLASS BOTTOM JET' FEATURE

Are you ready for a "Glass Bottom Jet"? Pretty sure we aren't. But Delta is offering a virtual version as a feature in their just-released Delta app for iPad. You can activate it in-flight to get a view of what's on the ground beneath you, including connecting to your social contacts, landmarks and a mileage tracker. Pam loves those tracking maps, so this is right up her alley. Check it out in this video from Delta (the Glass Bottom Jet feature is around the 1:30 mark). Very cool. -- Gerry

10 HOTELS WITH INCREDIBLE VIEWS

TripAdvisor's latest "Top 10" is "10 Hotels with Incredible Views." It's filled with descriptive adjectives such as "stunning," "beyond description" and "jaw-dropping." In other words, "too bad we're here and you're not."   Alas, I guess someone has to visit these out-of-this-world locations. You could at least send us a postcard. --Gerry

CELEBRITY, BILLBOARD JOIN FORCES

If you want to create a partnership around cruising and music, what better brands to come together than Celebrity and Billboard? As a one-time rock music writer turned cruise blogger, it's a marriage made in Heaven. Today Celebrity announced they have joined forces with Billboard to launch "a series of innovative, modern luxury musical programs onboard. Based on Billboard’s exclusive charts that track today’s hottest songs and artists, a trivia series, new musically focused game shows and themed parties will offer guests fun and exciting entertainment experiences across the fleet, with a chance to win Billboard prizes."

More details from Celebrity:

NEW SPEAKERS SET FOR CUNARD VOYAGES

Bill Bryson (Courtesy: Cunard)

Not long ago I was introduced to a book entitled "A Really Short History of Nearly Everything." Written by Bill Bryson, it's a science book for non-scientists, full of fascinating factoids and wonderfully illustrated. Cunard just announced Bryson will be a featured speaker aboard Queen Mary 2 on the Autumn Colors voyage, departing New York Oct. 15.

Joining Bryson as part of the Cunard Insights series will be business guru Lord Digby Jones and eminent Professor of Science and Society Lord Robert Winston. Jones is featured on the Queen Victoria's Adriatic Explorer trip, departing May 15 from Southampton, and Winston will be on Queen Elizabeth for Norwegian Fjords and North Cape Explorer, leaving Southampton on May 26. -- Gerry

AMTRAK RELEASES NEW TIMETABLE

Amtrak has released the winter-spring Amtrak System Timetable, effective with departures beginning Monday, Jan. 14. They note, "Major updates include the recently launched services including the Amtrak Virginia Northeast Regional service to Norfolk, Va., the extension of Downeaster service to Freeport and Brunswick, Maine, and the new Amtrak Thruway bus service in Eastern North Carolina. In addition, Amtrak recently announced the addition of a new weekday Acela Express round-trip between New York and Washington, D.C. beginning on Jan. 28." The winter-spring timetable cover features a conductor greeting passengers boarding a Northeast Regional train at sunrise at the historic Manassas, Va. station.

PRINCESS DEBUTS 'LINKED BY THE SEA'

Princess Cruises does a good job of inviting guests to share their cruise experiences online via blogs such as “50 Essential Experiences” and “Inspired to Cruise." Today they announced their latest effort, which they call “Linked by the Sea.” Princess describes it as "exploring the many relationships that begin, or are rekindled, at sea. Featuring touching stories from both passengers and crew members, the blog will recount personal tales of friendship, romance and meaningful connections forged at sea."

Princess relates that in the first post, "passenger Steve Deas tells how wearing a kilt on board became an icebreaker that led to an ongoing friendship with Princess Maître d’ Generoso Mazzone. This friendship led to a unique opportunity for Steve to surprise his wife with a secret vow renewal ceremony during a visit to Emerald Princess. What was supposed to be a friendly visit became an anniversary to remember."

You can submit your own “Linked by the Sea” story for consideration at http://linkedbythesea.com/share-your-story/. -- Gerry

TOP 10 WINE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

As major fans of the grape, we always enjoy reporting on wine happenings, especially ones that marry wine and travel. In their second annual travel issue, Wine Enthusiast Magazine has named their top 10 wine destinations of 2013. Three of our favorite wine regions made the list: California, Oregon and New York. The magazine includes profiles that feature where to dine, where to stay, budget tips and prominent wines, "plus local-in-the-know suggestions and the best time to visit." Without further ado, their top 10 for 2013:

The 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2013:

Rioja, Spain
Danube, Austria
North & South Fork of Long Island, New York, United States
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Monterey County, California, United States
Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil
Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States
Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Douro Valley, Portugal
Puglia, Italy

CRUISE PLANNERS EXECS BUY COMPANY

Big news coming from Cruise Planners - American Express Travel, who Tuesday announced that "CEO Michelle Fee, CFO Tom Kruszewski and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Vicky Garcia together purchased the company from Palm Beach Capital, a private equity investment firm that had been the majority owner of Cruise Planners since 2005. The transaction price for the deal, which closed on Dec. 31, was not disclosed."

The release also included these details:

PRINCESS NAMED TOPS IN ALASKA

Congrats are in order for Princess Cruises. For the sixth year in a row, the cruise line was recognized as “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” in the annual Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards. The awards, given by the magazine’s travel agent readers, recognized the line for the quality of its Alaska cruises and cruisetours.

“Alaska is a special destination for us, so we’re honored that our program continues to receive accolades year after year,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president in their press release. “It’s especially gratifying that travel agents – the true travel experts – continue to choose Princess as the best way for their clients to experience the breathtaking beauty of this amazing state.”

THREE SPECIAL OFFERS FROM CELEBRITY

Celebrity Cruises has made selecting a modern luxury vacation as easy as "1-2-3." That's the idea behind the cruise line's new promotion, “123 go!” – allowing consumers to "select what they value most in a Celebrity vacation."

The three options include:

• Free “Classic Beverage Package” for two, allowing guests to pair Celebrity’s cuisine with their favorite beverages – representing a value of up to $616 for two guests, based on a 7-night sailing, and including coverage of beverage gratuities.
• Free gratuities, representing a value of up to $210 per stateroom based on a 7-night sailing.
• An onboard credit of up to $300 per stateroom, depending on the selected itinerary length.

Passengers who book a European cruise have the opportunity to select two of the three special options. Offers are valid for oceanview stateroom and higher bookings on all ships (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition), and all sailings from February 2013 through April 2014, providing the cruise is booked between January 7 through January 27, 2013.

At the same time, Celebrity has partnered with Blue State Digital (BSD) to create “Experience it,” which provides some cool interactivity for planning your ideal cruise vacation. It can be viewed at http://experiencecelebrity.com/. -- Gerry

'BREAKAWAY' CRUISES TO FEATURE FIREWORKS

More news about Norwegian Breakaway, guaranteed to generate fireworks:

The New York-based ship debuting in May will feature a fireworks show on every cruise, set to occur the second to last night at sea each week. The fireworks will be the grand finale of a 1980s-themed deck party and will be set to a specially-selected playlist of classic 1980s hits by artists like Madonna, Devo and Prince. Sign us up for that! Let's cue the video:

NORWEGIAN DOUBLES DOWN ON NYC

As the debut of Norwegian Breakaway approaches, the cruise line is "doubling down" on New York, which is Breakaway's home port. Their just-launched new ad campaign is themed "The Best of NYC Sails to Sea." You can see it here:



More New York-inspired news from Norwegian:

"Norwegian has enhanced www.breakaway.ncl.com with new digital experiences that highlight the New York City experiences found on board and demonstrate how Norwegian Breakaway brings the best of NYC to sea. Site visitors can watch as a theater on Broadway is transformed into the Breakaway Theater and as New York’s popular SOHO Neighborhood transitions into The Waterfront on board Norwegian Breakaway. Additional transformations will be launched later in January including Central Park being morphed into the ship’s Aqua Park."

'KEEP CALM' WORTH A VISIT TO THE NORTON

One of the real gems of West Palm Beach is the Norton Museum of Art, located  on South Olive Avenue in the downtown area. Pam and I made a trip there to see one of their current exhibits, "Keep Calm and Carry On," which chronicles how the British people coped with the rigors, and horrors, of Wold War II on the home front. Working under the mantra of "Keep calm and carry on," they showed amazing resilience and courage under the most adverse of circumstances. Which makes us extend a hearty "Well done!" to our UK friends and bloggers, Mo and Brian. The exhibit ends Jan. 20, so get there and see it soon. -- Gerry

A vintage Jaguar -- we want one of these! (Gerry)

GET READY FOR 'DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 3'

Big news! "Downton Abbey, Season 3" begins its run on PBS stations this Sunday night, Jan. 6! While that's not exactly a cruise topic, there is a connection: Viking River Cruises is a sponsor. That's good enough, right? Pam has just about memorized all the scenes and dialogues from Season 1 and 2, so you'll know where she'll be come Sunday. And Viking was kind enough to share this video just to whet our appetites a little more.  "Carson, please make sure we aren't disturbed!" -- Gerry

Watch Downton Abbey: Hugh Bonneville on Fans of the Series on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

REPORT LOOKS AT 2012 CRUISE TRENDS

The website CruiseCompete has released its CruiseTrends 2012 Annual Report, which tracks consumer quote requests off its website. They break down topics under three major headings: Contemporary/Premium; Luxury and River. A few highlights of note:

• Most Popular Cruise Departure Ports: Florida grabbed then first three spots under "Contemporary": Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Port Canaveral.
• Most Popular Countries Visited: Contemporary: The Bahamas; Luxury: Greece and River: Germany.
• Most Popular Cruise Ships: Contemporary: Carnival Dream; Luxury: Queen Mary 2 and River: American Queen.
• Most Popular Month to Sail: Contemporary: December; Luxury: December and River: September. 

4 ROYAL SHIPS SET FOR MAKEOVER IN 2013

Legend of the Seas (Credit: Royal Caribbean)

In its campaign to make "every ship our best ship," Royal Caribbean is continuing its $300 million revitalization program, adding Oasis-class upgrades to each of its ships. Ships scheduled in 2013 include Legend of the Seas in January/February, Brilliance of the Seas and Independence of the Seas in April/May, and Vision of the Seas in September/October. Each ship will enter dry dock for approximately a month for the makeover. -- Gerry

AMTRAK'S 2013 CALENDAR ON SALE

Credit: Amtrak

Amtrak has announced their 2013 wall and desk calendar, which spotlights Raleigh, North Carolina. From Amtrak: "On the calendar, North Carolina locomotive 1797, 'City of Asheville,' and Amtrak locomotive 120 are pictured with Raleigh as the backdrop capturing a long standing and progressive partnership between Amtrak and the state of North Carolina." The wall version goes for $10, and a desk size for $5 at the Amtrak Store. --Gerry

TIRED OF HAMBURGERS? TRY A KUMMELWECK!

It isn't often that a sandwich gets its own video, but as you'll see, the Kummelweck is no ordinary sandwich. First offered in the Park Cafe on Oasis and Allure of the Seas, it was an instant hit and will no doubt be appearing soon throughout the Royal Caribbean fleet. What is a Kummelweck, you ask? Have a look:

VIKING SHARES CABBAGE SOUP RECIPE

Ciorba de Varza (Credit: Viking)

New Year's is a good time to try a new recipe, and the good folks at Viking River Cruises always seem to have something yummy cooking in their kitchens. Here's a soup provided by one of their executive chefs from their European fleet, Reiner Marks. It's called "Ciorba de Varza
Ciorba de Varza (pronounced CHOR ba duh VAR zuh)" which they describe as "a traditional cabbage soup with meatballs, very typical of the Bulgaria/Romania region."

Here's the recipe, courtesy of Viking: