NAPA AND SONOMA FOR THE SENSES

All photos by Pam and Gerry

Ah, the mystery of it all.

But, is it?

Wine snobs bore me.

The wine country of Northern California does not.

If I have learned anything it is the fact that I know enough about fermented grapes to know I know nothing about them.

Well, in the scope of true wine making.

What I have learned, from the makers themselves, is enjoy what you like and let that be the end of it. Forget price, forget matching food and wine, just sample plenty, find what pleases your palate and ignore everything else.

Also, when the waiter hands you the cork, just look and do not sniff. Sniffing is meaningless. You are only looking to see if the cork shows an indication of the bottle being on its side. In other words, a dampness or discoloration on one end of the cork.

Today, I present you with a photo entry of our recent tour of the Napa and Sonoma area of Northern California. It is a place we greatly enjoy and highly recommend. We did an outdoor tasting and indoor tastings of numerous varietals and it was an adventure to the senses.

My only tip is to let someone else do the driving, and you may want to divide the time between the more intimate establishments, as well as the more well-known. There is a tremendous difference between them.

On this trip, we toured three vastly diverse vineyards and I was immensely charmed by, Madonna and wowed by the grounds of Sutter-Home. We found the staff to be more personal and informative at the smaller places.

It seems the only real mystery about wine and visiting the wine country of California is not selecting red or white, just deciding how long to stay. -- Pam

ODD? OR JUST PLAIN 'COOL'?

A magical porthole (Credit: Disney)

Over at the website MarketWatch there is a story today about the "10 oddest cruise ship innovations." While we have written about most or all of them here, I'm not so sure the majority would qualify as "odd." For example, the craft cocktails aboard the Celebrity ships (love that martini sampler) or the Broadway-themed shows aboard Norwegian Breakaway. Also cited is Disney's virtual portholes and the new sky diving experience aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum ship. Odd? I would say those are just plain cool! -- Gerry

TWO SAILINGS TO FEATURE CELEBRITY CHEF

Geoffrey Zakarian (Credit: Norwegian)

For those who watch the Food Network, you know Geoffrey Zakarian as one of the judges who frequently helps decide who gets "Chopped." You may also know he has three restaurants on Norwegian's newest ship, Breakaway.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Zakarian will host a number of special activities on board Breakaway during two of the ship’s upcoming sailings: November 3 and December 1, 2013, where passengers can meet and interact with the Iron Chef in his on-board restaurant, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian.

During those sailings Zakarian will host a meet and greet session, giving guests the chance to take a photo, and a dynamic cooking demonstration, followed by a personalized book signing of his latest cookbook. "The special event of each cruise will be the opportunity to attend an intimate dining experience where a limited number of guests will enjoy a specially-curated Ocean Blue tasting menu served by the Iron Chef himself."

Zakarian launched three new seafood-centric restaurants on Breakaway: Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian; The Raw Bar, an adjacent bar and Ocean Blue on The Waterfront, a more casual dining option. -- Gerry

VIDEO CAPTURES 'QUEEN MARY 2' CROSSING

Cunard has released a video following Queen Mary 2's historic 200th Transatlantic Crossing, which departed New York for Southampton, England, on July 6. It's the next best thing to being there. -- Gerry

HERE'S '10 QUIRKY HOTELS'

Dog Park Bark Inn (Credit: TripAdvisor)

If your taste in hotels runs to the unique and unusual, TripAdvisor is ready to check you in. Browse this collection of "10 Quirky Hotels" and see if any of them are your cup of tea. A hotel in the shape of a giant dog -- really? Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry

NORWEGIAN ANNOUNCES WEDDING PACKAGES

Credit: Norwegian

Weddings at sea continue to be a hot trend in cruising. This week Norwegian Cruise Line announced three new, customizable destination wedding experiences in partnership with Vancouver-based Royal Ocean Events. Couples can choose from three wedding ceremony options: “Symbolic,” performed on board while at sea; “Harborside,” performed on board while the ship is docked in select ports of call; or “Destination,” performed on shore in select ports of call. Packages starting at $1,600 and include an officiant or ship officer to perform the ceremony, on-site wedding coordinator, private ceremony location, ceremony vows, bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, prerecorded ceremony music, a bottle of sparkling wine, keepsake wedding certificate and wedding cake.

Other options include:

NEW SHIPS WILL BE ECO-FRIENDLY

Cruising conjures images of five-star dining and exotic ports of call. But scrubbers? Not so much. While they may not be top-of-mind, they play and important role behind the scenes, making the world a greener, cleaner place. To that end, Norwegian Cruise Line announced its two new Breakaway Plus class ships "will be the first new builds in the cruise industry to feature innovative scrubber technology developed by Green Tech Marine (GTM), a world leading marine scrubber supplier."

Quoting from the release:

“Norwegian Cruise Line has a history of innovation along with a commitment to utilizing green technology whenever possible,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Installing scrubbers from Green Tech Marine on our new Breakaway Plus vessels is a smart decision and one that will ensure these ships are as eco-friendly as possible.”

Also: "GTM has previously delivered scrubbers to Norwegian’s Pride of America which sails year-round in Hawaii. The scrubbers were installed during the ship’s dry dock refurbishment in March and are scheduled to be fully operational later this year." Learn more in this video from GTM"

COMING TO CELEBRITY: 30 NEW COCKTAILS

Credit: Celebrity Cruises

Cruising and cocktails -- is there a better combination? Not for us! As longtime fans of both the Molecular and Martini Bars onboard Celebrity ships, we especially welcome the news that Celebrity is "significantly expanding its selections of the beverage world’s favorite comeback kid – the cocktail – with a selection of 30 entirely new craft cocktails offered exclusively on Celebrity’s ships."

Here are more details from the press release:

"Celebrity’s new craft cocktail experience was developed through an alliance with artisanal cocktail developers Hawthorn Beverage Group, founded by noted cocktail creator Josh Durr.

"The new craft cocktails blend vintage-style liqueurs with fresh ingredients, organic juices and the finest artisanal spirits, resulting in a combination of new-school libations and updated old-school favorites. A new line-up of “zero-proof” (non-alcoholic) cocktails also will be introduced – ‘Sparkling Mint Lemonade’ or ‘Raspberry Fizz,’ anyone? – along with an assortment of fine wines by the glass. Celebrity’s current list of international beer selections will be expanded, too, to join Celebrity’s industry-first offering of craft beers in an even more well-rounded variety of styles, from pale ales and IPA's to Belgian ales and premium lagers.

"Celebrity’s guests will have the opportunity to indulge in the full, new craft cocktail experience across its modern luxury fleet by the end of 2013."

We hope to bring you a complete review of all 30 in the near future. -- Gerry

10 BREATHTAKING BEACHES LISTED

Siesta Key, Florida (Credit: TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor is out with their "10 Breathtaking Beaches" list. Like you, I can come up with several that weren't included. But two of the Top 10 happen to be right here in Florida, and one of those definitely deserves its spot -- Siesta Key. When they refer to "sand like sugar," believe it. It's the most granulated sand we've ever walked on. Makes us want to start packing up the towels and sunblock. Have a great weekend! -- Gerry

DINOSAURS INVADE THE GARDENS

Downtown at the Gardens -- the shopping/dining/entertainment complex in Palm Beach Gardens -- is well known for its upscale shops and restaurants, not to mention our favorite Happy Hour at Dirty Martini. One thing we didn't expect to run across is a dinosaur. Thank goodness these weren't the mean and hungry types. Very docile, in fact. A few snaps from our "close encounter."

I wouldn't want to get on his bad side

Goes without saying, right?

This one has a perfect view of our martinis

SECOND 'BREAKAWAY PLUS' SHIP ON ORDER

Credit: Norwegian

Norwegian's newest ship, Breakaway, is a runaway hit with cruisers. So much so the cruise line now has two more ships in the new "Breakaway Plus" class on order. Here are the details from Norwegian:

"Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday that it has confirmed an order for a second 'Breakaway Plus' cruise ship with MEYER WERFT GMBH of Papenburg, Germany for delivery in spring 2017. Along with the first Breakaway Plus ship, which is scheduled for delivery in October 2015, these two new vessels will be the largest in the line’s fleet at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths each and will be similar in design and innovation to the line’s current Breakaway class, the first of which, Norwegian Breakaway, launched in New York in early May.

DISNEY'S 'HALLOWEEN ON THE HIGH SEAS'

Credit: Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line has announced a frightfully fun event coming up later this year -- Halloween on the High Seas. New for 2013, here are the details from this Disney press release:

"Halloween on the High Seas takes place on most voyages aboard the Disney Dream from late September through October. This brand-new event features Halloween-themed parties, lively entertainment and elaborate décor including a Halloween Tree that transforms throughout the cruise. Other special experiences include:

•Mickey’s Calling All The Monsters Mouse-Querade Deck Party, a celebration in addition to Pirate Night with games, dancing and some Disney characters in Halloween attire.
•A Nightmare Before Christmas—Sing and Scream, an interactive movie experience where guests are part of the action, followed by a meet-and-greet with Jack Skellington and Sally.

SUNSET AT JUNO BEACH

The fading colors of day make a perfect backdrop ...

as Reggie and Pam enjoy sunset by the ocean ....

No caption required  (Photos by Gerry)

SOUTH KOREAN HOTEL SHAPED LIKE A CRUISE SHIP

Have you heard about the hotel shaped like a cruise ship perched on a South Korean hillside? According to this story in The Mirror, the Sun Cruise Resort even pipes in the sounds of seagulls and waves to make the whole thing more real. We loved this quote from one guest: "It looks like a ship which was stranded on the cliff top by a tsunami." Check out the video:

'QUEEN MARY 2'S' HISTORIC JOURNEY

Sailing by the Statue of Liberty (Credit: Cunard)

As  the Queen Mary 2 makes her historic 200th crossing, Cunard is providing updates on her trip. Here is the latest:

"Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 is making her historic 200th Transatlantic Crossing, having sailed from New York on Saturday en route to her home port of Southampton, England, arriving July 13.

"To mark the beginning of the historic voyage from New York, Queen Mary 2 performed a sail-by of the world’s most iconic statue atop Liberty Island. On board are keynote speakers presenting talks about the ship’s design, as well as special Big Band performances, and a celebratory Gala Dinner to be held on July 11.

"In the course of Queen Mary 2’s 200 Transatlantic Crossings, Cunard Line estimates that a half-million passengers have consumed 8.4 million cups of tea; 980,000 scones; 481,000 bottles of champagne; 644,000 eggs; and 253,605 gallons of milk. In total, 22.4 million meals have been served over 600,000 nautical miles, excluding the ship’s annual World Cruise and sailings to the Canaries, Fjords, Iceland, the Low Countries, around Britain, up to Montreal and Québec in Canada, and among the Caribbean islands.

NEW AMTRAK SUMMER-FALL SCHEDULE

Here's news from Amtrak: "The Amtrak summer-fall system timetable is now available and includes minor seasonal schedule changes, which are effective with departures beginning Monday, July 15. The new summer-fall timetable cover features the Carolinian crossing the Potomac River during cherry blossom season after departing Washington D.C., Amtrak's second busiest station. The Carolinian operates daily in each direction between New York City and Charlotte, N.C. The magazine-style booklet, printed bi-annually, will be available in stations and can be ordered and viewed online at Amtrak.com. In addition, passengers can get Amtrak schedule information by calling 800-USA-RAIL or on the Amtrak iPhone and Android apps."

A 'MONUMENT' TO GOOD EATING

 As our regular readers know, we don't confine all our "cruising" to the seas. Recently, we loaded up the Cruising Squared "Gomobile" -- Reggie, too (our Cavalier) -- and headed for Texas to visit family and friends. It turned into a 2,900-mile odyssey through five states, and can we say again, thank goodness for satellite radio.

One aspect of travel that's always fun is finding new places to eat, and one our favs on this trip is located in Georgetown, Texas, just north of Austin. It's called Monument Cafe, and was featured on Guy Fieri's Food Network show, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." According to the show's website, "Matthew McConaughey brought Guy to his favorite cafe that grows its own produce. Guy and Matthew downed the hearty portion of King Ranch chicken casserole and loved its creamy texture. The contrasting flavors of the maple syrup and savory ham thrilled Guy as well in the Pig 'n Waffle." You can check out some of their recipes here.

Whatever you order, you can't go wrong. It's traditional blue plate food, fresh and served in generous portions by their friendly wait-staff. Pam ordered the chicken-fried chicken, while I opted for the liver and onions. But the real star of the meal was my dessert -- a banana pudding to die for. Everyone at our table had to have a bite. Can you say, "Heaven on earth."

And they really do grow their own food in an adjacent garden out back. Plus you can buy their fresh produce at the Monument Market next door. If you ever in the Austin vicinity, we recommend you swing by. You'll be glad you did. -- Gerry

Pam checks out the produce

Just a sampling of what you'll find. (All photos: Gerry)

'MAGIC' MAKES INAUGURAL STOP IN CROATIA

Disney Magic makes first stop in Croatia. (Photo: Matt Stroshane)

In another first for Disney Magic on her current European voyage, the cruise ship arrived in Dubrovnik, Croatia for the first time as part of the 2013 Mediterranean season. It's the first time a Disney Cruise Line ship has called on a Croatian port.

'DISNEY MAGIC' MAKES CALL ON VENICE

Disney Magic in Venice (Credit: David Roark)

Venice has always been one of our favorite cities -- what's not to like? Today Disney notes in a release "the Disney Magic called on Venice, Italy for the first time since the ship was constructed in nearby Marghera and Ancona, and the vessel set sail from Venice on July 1, 1998. The ship is in Venice as part of the Disney Cruise Line 2013 Mediterranean season and will return again later this summer. In 2014, the Disney Magic will return to Europe with Venice as its homeport for select sailings."

'SUPERFAST' CRUISE SHIP SETS COURSE FOR BIMINI

Lots of press reports this week about the new Superfast cruise service set to debut between Miami and Bimini in the Bahamas. The cruise ship, being called the world's fastest, will make the 50-mile trip twice a day at speeds of 30 knots, with tickets starting at $49. Here's more in this report from Local 10 in Miami: