A recent opportunity presented itself to sail with Princess Cruises on the beautiful Sapphire Princess to Mexico over New Year's! The vibrant and colorful atmosphere of Mexico, with its unforgettable combination of culture, history, and natural beauty, set the stage for a fantastic week at sea.

New Year's Eve aboard a cruise ship along with three relaxing sea days guaranteed us a chance to sit back, unwind, and discover all that the Sapphire Princess had to offer. With a perfect balance of port days and cruising the open sea, this sailing offered us a unique opportunity to Ring in 2012, rejuvenate, and return home refreshed.

The atmosphere onboard was buzzing with preparations for the exciting events, along with several of us scurrying around the ship trying to find all the items for the Treasure Hunt, and a chance to win $1000 at the Sail Away Deck Party.

New Year’s Eve was exciting with Champagne flowing, the festive party atmosphere, bands, DJ’s, dancing, and balloon’s falling from the ceiling…..we rang in 2012 with Cheers and Celebration!

New Year’s Day was our first full day of sea with an abundance of activities, and we filled the day with watching College Football Games in the Sports Bar, trivia games, an Enrichment Lecture on whales in Baja, wine tasting, the spa, and pure relaxation.

During the week we chose opportunities to leave our comfort zone and try something new and different. We participated in a 5K Fight against Cancer Deck Walk, a Champagne Art Auction, Karaoke, and some wonderful meals and different cuisine that we may not have tried otherwise.

The snapshots in our minds that will stay with us forever are the ones that had the most meaning; watching dolphins race alongside the ship while we sipped hot tea and enjoyed finger sandwiches, walking the deck and inhaling the fresh open air, toasting our glasses as we sailed past the beautiful El Arco in Cabo San Lucas as the sun set over Lover’s Beach, and having a balloon fight with our other cruise passengers in the Theater while dancing to YMCA. Needless to say, when it comes to cruises for families, a Princess cruise is a great choice for everyone and every lifestyle. I'd enjoy sharing more of my experiences with you and helping you plan your perfect cruise vacation.

Disney Cruise Line is one of the best family cruise vacations. They offer something for everyone, from a themed pirate night to a Disney character's breakfast. The Disney Wonder is just like Disneyland, expect without the rides. From the decorations in the staterooms to the hand railings on the staircases, Mickey was everywhere.

What a lovely ship Crystal Symphony is! We boarded in Los Angeles and took off to what would be an amazing voyage, full of new friends, music and laughter! 

The Crystal Symphony is a bit smaller than the Crystal Serenity, and just as lovely. The ships are laid out similarly, so any Crystal Society [repeat] guest would be right at home on either vessel. I found the Symphony intimate and warm. The service was impeccable, of course. This is what we expect from top rated cruise lines like Crystal Cruises.

Since we were headed to Mexico (where I've been many times), I decided to take advantage of the ship and spent a lot of my time onboard. We took some dance lessons, and for the first time, I experienced the Gentlemen hosts onboard. They really do have it dialed in: if ladies are traveling alone they will ask them to dance, take you for a spin, and then they move onto the next lady. They are lovely gentlemen who are decent dancers and really make a lady feel nice to be asked to dance while traveling solo. Single ladies… pack your bags!

Onboard this cruise the theme was jazz... excellent! There were a number of additional musicians, and a lot of music lovers onboard. We were seated in the dining room with one of the guest lecturers, Will Friedwald, an expert on the Great American Songbook. He's written books on Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet. He was fun and we are staying in touch for the future.  We had other table mates that we just fell in love with, and plan on keeping them around for a long time. There were a handful of us who were the same age on this cruise, we all were drawn to each other and we became our very own little Rat Pack! Meeting new friends is still my favorite thing about cruising!

So our Rat Pack ruled the ship, singing Karaoke, dancing, listening to music, soaking in the hot tub, watching spectacular sunsets, sitting in the sun by the pool and eating in the fabulous specialty restaurants. We had such a great time I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

We went into Puerto Vallarta and there was a cool jazz jam in a lovely club called the River Cafe, a lot of folks from the ship were there as well as the musicians. What a swinging afternoon! The music onboard ship was fabulous and I was lucky enough to play about 5 or 6 times with different musicians (I'm a drummer): Jazz jam sessions in the Avenue Saloon, rock and roll up by the pool with the house band, and, oh yes, we rocked!

The last night was very sad, we had such fun together we never wanted it to end. I say let’s do it again I have always said there is something magical under the Crystal Cruise Seahorses. This trip was no different, a  truly magical time!  you can read more about Crystal Cruises and some of the exclusive offers from our cruise travel agency.

I recently returned from taking my first cruise since the early 80’s and only the second cruise I’ve EVER taken! Now I know what everyone is talking about. Cruising has come a long way….

I sailed on one of the top Mediterranean cruise ships, Celebrity Cruises, for 12 nights, roundtrip from Barcelona visiting Rome, Naples, Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Santorini and Malta. What a way to see a diverse mix of Europe. I had only visited Rome previously, so most of the ports of call were new to me.

As for the cruise line itself, Celebrity was fabulous! I had a semi-obstructed oceanview veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Solstice, which has to be one of the best cruise ships. The obstruction was minimal and it was wonderful looking out at the ocean from my huge bed. My room was very comfy and had a couch, flat screen TV and a nice size bathroom. The staff treated me like I was a “celebrity”. It felt like they knew me wherever I was, dining, spa etc… (I do tend to leave an impression!) My friends had made me a bit nervous about all the food and the possibility for weight gain on a cruise but that was not the case. The cuisine in the main dining room was delicious. Here the staff learned my preferences. They knew I love sangria and would make it for me nightly (or as requested). An extra cost but well worth it! I did opt to dine in three of the ship's specialty restaurants: Bistro on 5, Tuscan Grill and Murano – each was delicious. I think the place one could over-indulge would be at the buffets. The breakfast spread was massive but who has time to eat when you’re in a new port and places to go and people to meet.

At the Aqua Spa I had my first hot stone massage and now I know what everyone is talking about – OMG! I also enjoyed a seaweed wrap/massage and due to a sciatica problem and some leg pain I had an acupuncture treatment. The treatment was a bit pricey, but when you’re in pain and on the trip of a lifetime, who wants to stay in bed in agony. Luckily, I purchased travel insurance which covered this treatment plus the visit to the doctor. Apparently, the story goes the owner of Celebrity Cruises had sciatic pain while on a trip and had to stop to see an acupuncturist while in port. He got so much relief that now Celebrity has staff acupuncturists on their ships. Yay for me!

I enjoyed all the ports I visited and tried a variety of touring options, from on my own (with friends), train, car rental, private tour and a ship’s shore excursion. For me personally, I preferred the on own or private tour options. I like to explore in smaller groups. But I will say if one opts for a shore excursion, they are very easy to book while onboard and conveniently added to your tab at the end of the cruise.

Of all the ports, I must make special mention of Santorini. You must make your way to Oios. I have never felt such a warm inner peace as standing in this picture postcard perfect town and looking out onto the ocean as I did here. This is a gorgeous location for honeymooners or a destination wedding.

Following Moscow, the next stop on our Russian river cruise was Uglich, a small town on the Volga River. We enjoyed a lovely walking tour. This is a quaint small town dating back to 1148. This is where Ivan the Terrible’s son Dmitri was killed. He was found on the river banks, and there stands a beautiful church in his honor, called Church of St Dmitri on the Blood.  Nearby is the Cathedral of Our Saviors Transfiguration. Both churches boast the beautiful onion domes that Russian churches are famous for. This is such a cute little city, and there are vendors set up selling traditional Russian souvenirs. So you can purchase the nesting dolls, Soviet memorabilia & wool scarves at reasonable prices.

Our river cruise in Russia continued to Yaroslavl, where we had a tour of the town. Prince Yaroslavl founded this town in the 11^th century, on the site where he killed a bear, the city's symbol. We had a great time in an open market and did some shopping. The thing to buy in Yaroslavl is the hand painted Russian lacquer boxes. They are expensive; however they are lovely and are collectible items. The town itself was charming.

We next cruised to Goritzy.  We toured the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397. There is a folklore about the lake it overlooks. They say if you wash in it you will be 10 years younger. (Of course, I jumped in!  hee hee.) Goritzy is also a great place to purchase fur, for those so inclined.

Onward to Kizhi. Kizhi is the smallest little town that only has a year around population of 50 people. An open-air museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kizhi is one of the most ancient inhabited sites in Russia., and the sight of the oldest church in Russia. But the key sight here is the Church of the Transfiguration, built completely of wood without a single nail! It has 22 timbered onion domes. It's amazing, and you just can’t take your eyes off of it!

Perhaps for the first time, a luxury cruise ship is offering two voyages that start or end in one of Europe's most splendid cities, St. Petersburg, Russia.  This is an unprecedented opportunity to enhance your Baltic cruise on one of the top rated cruise lines, Silversea, with an extended visit in St. Petersburg and/or Moscow, for as few or as many days you'd care to stay for.

Both Silversea cruises are 7 nights.  You can view the details for the June 18th cruise and the June 25th cruise. Our cruise agency has custom packages available for 3 nights in St. Petersburg and 6 nights that includes Moscow, or we can customize any program in Russia you desire.

Read more about Silversea cruises and our exclusive offers when you book with us.

So you're not ready to take the leap to a top luxury cruise line, and you're style and tastes maybe warrant something other than the mega-size mainstream cruise lines. Maybe you're looking for cruises for families because you're taking the kids along. Which cruise line to book? Sounds like a premium cruise line like Holland America Line may be your ticket.  Here's 7 reasons why -- and perhaps you'll have your own to add:

1. Holland America is one of the top rated cruise lines because it's ships are mid-size -- neither too large nor too small. That means they're not so large you feel lost onboard, and not too small you feel there's not enough to do or space to move around in.
2. Many of the large cruise lines with Caribbean cruises offer their own private island experience. Holland America's private island, Half Moon Cay, is rated one of the best, with its 700-acre lagoon, 15 beachfront air-conditioned cabanas, and variety of island excursions. (Did we mention the 15 beachfront air-conditioned cabanas?)
3. Holland America has some of the best itineraries among the larger cruise lines, including Alaska cruises and Canada & New England cruises. In 2012 Holland America will have seven ships in Alaska.
4. Among the nine awards Holland America received from Porthole magazine recently, one was for best shore excursions. For the best family cruise, Holland America is a good choice. For example, in Alaska the line operates exclusive excursions for children (sans parents) instead of just keeping them onboard, allowing parents and kids to both have their shoreside experiences tailored to their interests.
6. Holland's alternative dining venues on its newest ships, including Pinnacle, Asian-themed Tamarind and Canaletto, for Italian cuisine, offer a diverse and quality dining experience that supplements the fine dining experience in the main dining room.
7. Cooking is all the rage, and the hands-on Culinary Arts Center onboard makes for fun experiences while the ship is at sea.

For these and other reasons, Holland America Line is one of our top rated premium cruise lines, and a popular choice of customers using our cruise agency. What's your take?  Perhaps you'd like to submit your reasons to like Holland America cruises.

Part of the excitement about taking a cruise is visiting different ports, experiencing different cultures and cuisines. In St Thomas I took a beach break and island tour thru Princess Cruise line. We visited Megan’s Beach, which is absolutely gorgeous with its white sand beach. We also got a bird’s eye view of this beautiful island from its highest point. St. Thomas is the mecca for Duty Free shopping, and you can really find some great bargains. For those last-minutes shoppers, the pier in St. Thomas has lots of stores selling souvenirs. I highly recommend booking excursions in advance because they do sell out and there could be 3 cruise ships in port at the same time bringing 10,000 passengers ashore. Our cruise agency can also arrange customized shore excursions for those that prefer VIP treatment.

St. Maarten is a very small island that's half French and half Dutch. The ship arrives on the Dutch side of the island. As it was a cloudy day with the possibility of rain, I took an excursion with the cruise line as I did not want to venture on my own. There were three ships in port, and traffic was pretty bad. Well, it started raining shortly after we left for our tour. Soon our fun little tour bus started leaking! Our tour guide did all possible to get another bus, but unfortunately, with three large cruise ships in port, chances of a replacement was not possible. The best rule for Travelers: just take things all in stride and enjoy yourself.

At Turks & Caicos the ship docks at the pier and the beach is incredible. I found myself floating in the Caribbean and enjoying Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Grand Turk! One can also take a quick trolley tour of town, or you can just relax on the beach and get some last minute souvenirs.

Princess Cays is a great port of a beach day getaway. You can also rent a private little beach bungalow while the ship is in port and they have various souvenir stores that you can charge the purchase to your onboard account. If the ship's tours are not suited to you, your cruise travel agent can always arrange private tours for you.”

I just sailed on Ruby Princess from Ft. Lauderdale, visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Turks & Caicos and Princess Cays (their private island). I was pretty excited since this was my first Eastern Caribbean sailing with Princess Cruises. These days luxury cruise ships are getting bigger, and the ship carries approximately 3,000 happy passengers on her 7-day sailings each week. After a quick lunch, I set off to find my way around the ship and was impressed how easy it was to navigate her. This is a very beautiful ship with numerous loungers and bars on various decks. One of my favorite areas to hang was the Piazza. This is a great place for people watching, which I love to do. They had live music and entertainment in the evenings which made this area on the ship a gathering place for many families but never crowded.

For those looking for total seclusion, I would highly recommend The Sanctuary. This is an Adults-Only area that offers a swimming pool, a whirlpool and a spacious sundeck with lounge chairs. They serve light refreshments as well. There is a fee to use this facility, and it is well worth it. Another feature I enjoyed is the Movies under the Stars, at the outdoor theatre. Princess screened new releases and concerts on various nights. This was a hit among passengers in the evenings, when they provide you with a light blanket and popcorn (how cool is that) and you find a cozy place for your movie night. Always check your Princess Patter, since they may play the same movie twice.

If you are one of those who must stay connected, there is an Internet Café onboard. The connections may be a bit slow at sea, therefore your minutes can be used up pretty quickly. Princess also rents laptop at a nominal fee. There are two premium restaurants onboard, Sabatini’s and Crown Grill. Plan on taking your spouse or date for a special meal at one of these restaurants, and be sure to make advance reservations.

There is no shortage of entertainment on this ship. If you like to dance, there are four different hot spots to check out. Hey, for someone like me who is too shy to dance, I even hit the dance floor and had a blast!