ALL ABOARD THE AMTRAK APPS

We all know we can't go anywhere these days without our travel apps, right? That goes for train passengers, too. Amtrak apps have had more than 3.5 million downloads, and let passengers to plan and book travel, check the arrival and departure status of trains, receive and display eTickets for paperless travel, modify reservations or upgrade seats, search for station information, add ticket information to calendars and access Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts.

Amtrak also reports in addition apps have also eliminated the need for paper tickets, "with millions of eTickets displayed since the launch of eTicketing in 2012." Along with a new recently released version for Windows, the iPhone and Android apps were recently updated to improve the customer experience. 

ULTIMATE DRYDOCK: CRUISE SHIP EXTENDED 99 FEET

Here's something you don't see everyday: A cruise is cut in half, then extended by 99 feet in what we would call a MAJOR refurbishment. The ship used to be the Norwegian Crown. Check out the amazing time-lapse video here.

TRIPADVISOR NAMES TOP 25 HOTELS

TripAdvisor is out with their 2014 Travelers Choice Awards and the world's Top 25 hotels, based on millions of reader reviews. And number one on the list is the Hotel Grand Kronenhof in Switzerland. With a dramatic mountain setting, readers were impressed with its blend of old world charm and modern conveniences. Check and see if your hotel made the list. -- Gerry

CUNARD: A HISTORY OF BOTH AIR AND SEA

Credit all photos: Cunard

Are you a history buff? We are. History is so fascinating, whether it's the history of the world, Palm Beach, or in this case, cruise lines. Cunard has produced this as "part of an ongoing series of key moments" in its rich history. I think you'll enjoy it as much as we did:

By Cunard

In 1957, airplanes carried more passengers across the Atlantic than passenger liners; and the number taking to the air rather than taking a ship would increase yearly thereafter. 

Cunard Line saw its future as a transatlantic carrier threatened in the early 1960s with the advent of cheap air travel. In fact, Cunard was one of the first companies to take advantage of air travel to deliver its passengers to its ships in the Mediterranean, Bermuda and the Caribbean, and decades later millions of cruise passengers would be flying to and from their ships.

Without doubt, the most spectacular air/sea marriage occurred when British Airways and Cunard Line joined forces to create the Concorde/QE2 package, matching the world’s fastest passenger aircraft with the world’s fastest and most famous ocean liner.

But before then...

DECORATING IN 3-D fOR 'QUANTUM'

How do you make decorating decisions? Visit stores, browse the web, pour through catalogs and magazines? Wouldn't it be cool to have a 3-D rendering of your house and see exactly how your choices look? That's exactly what the team behind Royal Caribbean's upcoming ship, Quantum of the Seas, has at their disposal. We can only wish. Check it out:

NORWEGIAN DEBUTS 'ULTIMATE DINING'

Credit: Norwegian

Ever dreamed about an "all you can eat specialty restaurant package?" Dream no more. Norwegian Cruise Line today introduced their “Norwegian’s Ultimate Dining Package,” which provides a way to dine every night at the specialty restaurant of your choice aboard any ship in the Norwegian fleet. 

Norwegian’s Ultimate Dining Package is priced in tiers based on cruise length. On three to six day voyages, guests can dine anywhere throughout their cruise at a set price of $59 per person; for seven-day voyages, the package is $119 per person; $149 per person on eight to 10 day cruises; $199 per person for cruises of 10 to 15 days; $259 per person during cruises of 16 days to 25 days; $299 per person during cruises of 26 days to 35 days and $349 per person during cruises of 36 days to 45 days.

With even more food choices available, we may have to relent and actually use the exercise room. -- Gerry

'EPIC' WILL HOME PORT IN SPAIN IN 2015

Norwegian Epic (Norwegian)

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that Norwegian Epic will home port year-round in Barcelona, Spain starting April 30, 2015. From Norwegian: "Named 'Best Overall Cruise Ship' by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row, the 4,100 passenger, Norwegian Epic will be the largest Norwegian Cruise Line ship to ever home port in Europe year-round. Norwegian Epic’s 2015 European Itineraries are scheduled to be announced mid-March."

TOP RATED PHOTOS ON TRIPADVISOR

Over the years, Pam and I have taken about a zillion travel photos (sorry, she's told me a million times not to exaggerate). But it's a lot. Thanks to the Internet, we can all share our photos like never before. Like these reader choice photos posted on TripAdvisor. With today's cameras, it's hard to tell the amateurs from the professionals. Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, QUEEN MARY 2

Queen Mary 2 (Cunard)

It seems like only yesterday when Pam and I boarded the Queen Mary 2 for the Transatlantic crossing from New York. Today we are among the thousands who have made that unforgettable journey aboard one of the world's most magnificent ships.

This year marks a milestone for Cunard Line’s flagship: Queen Mary 2 will celebrate her first ten years of service in 2014. Over that time she has taken a total of 419 voyages, including over 200 Transatlantic Crossings, and has called at 182 ports in 60 countries.

Along with this special video, http://bit.ly/1koe4jr, here are some more facts about her first ten years from Cunard:

CRUISE SHIP OF THE FUTURE?

Could this be the cruise ship of the future?

MOCK-UPS HELP 'QUANTUM' TAKE SHAPE

My idea of a mock-up of usually a crude drawing on the back of a cocktail napkin, or maybe a new martini concoction. Royal Caribbean's idea of a mock-up for a new ship is actually build a life-size model of the components and test it like a passenger would. It makes total sense when your project cost hundreds of millions, right? This video shows you the concept at work for Quantum of the Seas, coming later this year. Wonder if they need any volunteers to test the spa? -- Gerry

'NAVIGATOR' BOASTS 'VIRTUAL BALCONIES'

Navigator will feature "virtual balconies" (Royal Caribbean)

Having lived in the Lone Star State for many years, we know it takes a lot to "wow" a Texan. But when it comes to cruises, Royal Caribbean knows something about the "WOW factor." Next month they are debuting the re-tooled and upgraded Navigator of the Seas, which will sail year-round from Galveston to the Caribbean. New ship features will include the FlowRider surf simulator and expanded dining offerings, including Chop’s Grille steakhouse, Izumi Japanese Cuisine, Giovanni’s Table Italian trattoria and Sabor, their new Modern Mexican concept restaurant. And how's this for cool? Navigator of the Seas will feature the first virtual balcony staterooms and floor-to-ceiling, panoramic view staterooms. We think some Texans are in for a real treat! -- Gerry and Pam

12 TRIPS OF A LIFETIME

The Great Wall (TripAdvisor)

Happy New Year everyone!

It's 2014, and let's get this party started. What better way than -- what else? -- hop on a cruise ship! Today we board Majesty of the Seas for a weekend sojourn to the Bahamas. Of course we'll have more to say about that. In the meantime, TripAdvisor is out with their picks for "12 trips of a lifetime." Check out the list and see if they match your own choices.

All aboard ... let's see where the road takes us, and you, in the year ahead! -- Gerry and Pam

HI EVERYBODY