Good Morning from the Regent Seven Seas Explorer, the newest and most luxurious ship in the world according to Regent. We’re sailing with other travel professionals and media on a 5 night preview itinerary that embarked in Barcelona yesterday. Our upcoming ports are Toulon, France; Olbia, Italy; St. Tropaz, France…
We’ve just touched down in Barcelona after a relatively short hop across the pond from Charlotte. Even the economy seating was comfortable onboard the American Airlines Airbus A330-200. By noon we’ve collected our luggage and have been escorted to a small transfer van that will take us directly to the…
After departing Crete, we’ve arrived in Haifa where we’ll spend the next 3 nights. Being a day early, we have no organized tours until tomorrow. Wandering off the ships on our own, there’s not a lot to see near the port. On Saturday it’s an all day tour to Jerusalem…
Santorini is perhaps the most amazing cruise port of the Greek islands. Anchored in the ancient caldera, ships leisurely drift in the breezes while passengers are tendered ashore by Greek boats. Arriving on the island at Fira, you have the choice of a 5 minute vernacular ride, or a slightly…
After a delightful weekend in London, we’ve just boarded the MS Sirena in Piraeus, the port for Athens, Greece. Arriving at the Athens airport with an pre-arranged transfer to the cruise ship, it’s about a 45 minute ride from the airport. Embarkation was quick, but staterooms aren’t quite ready as…
It’s about 11:30AM on Saturday and we’ve just touched down at London’s Heathrow airport. We’re en route to Athens to meet the MS Sirena, the newest Oceania Cruises “R-class” ship. But before Athens we’ll enjoy two nights at the 45 Park Lane Hotel, see Book of Mormon in the West…
Call it “Paris of the East” or “megacity of the new millennium”, this energetic, confident and uninhibited metropolis is really quite a youngster. Following the British victory over China in the First Opium War (1842) and while already active in Hong Kong, the British established a settlement along the banks…
After a very quick day in Xi’an, we’re back to the airport ready to board a flight to Hangzhou. Hangzhou may not be destination familiar to international visitors however is it one of the most important tourist cities in China, with many visitors coming from Shanghai which only about 100…
Our last day in Beijing begins with a walk around Tiananmen Square with seemingly endless lines of Chinese visitors waiting to see the National Museum of China and Memorial Hall, the final resting spot of former Chairman Mao Zedong. Outside China, this location undoubtedly brings to mind the 1989 pro-democracy…
Leaving the Four Seasons at 8:30AM, we’re on the way to the Great Wall today, about 2 hours north. Our destination is a bit further than other tour companies use, but should also provide a quieter, less crowded access point. Arriving early (which is unheard of with Beijing traffic), we’re…
