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Healthy Eating on a Cruise

For some cruise fans, one of the most relaxing aspects of a cruise is the delicious food that’s always available – with no prep, cooking, or clean-up required on your part. But some wonder if the abundance of food will challenge their commitment to healthy eating. Fear not: it’s possible to eat well and healthfully throughout a cruise. Here are some simple strategies. Don’t skip breakfast. Start each day with a meal that satisfies your hunger and gives you energy for an active day. Choices like a made-to-order omelet loaded with veggies, oatmeal with fruit, a tall green smoothie, or an acai bowl with granola can give you a tasty, nutritious start to the day. At lunch or dinner, control portion size by ordering an appetizer in place of an entree. Choosing an appetizer or two as a main course is also a fun way to try some new tastes; avoidance of oversized entrees is just a side benefit. You can also ask for a half-portion of an entrée; cruise ship culinary staff are typically happy ...

Cruising Rivers All Around Europe

If you’ve thought about taking a European river cruise, you may know that the Danube and the Rhine are two of the most popular rivers to cruise not only in Europe but in the world. Both flow through or along the borders of multiple countries, with opportunities to visit castles, vineyards, historic cities, and charming villages. But there are several more European rivers where you can cruise in style while enjoying the beautiful scenery and cultural treasures, as well as terrific local food and wine. Here’s a quick look at just a few. The Rhone and Saone rivers meet at Lyon, France, the starting point for river cruises that wind through the Provence region to Avignon, Arles, or Marseille. The scenery includes olive groves, orange groves, and fields of lavender dotted with wineries, Roman bridges, monasteries, and palaces. It’s easy to see how Provence provided inspiration to artists like Cezanne and Van Gogh. Portugal’s Douro River flows through a green valley lined with hillside v...

Saying I Do at Sea

A cruise ship can be a beautiful, exciting venue for a wedding. Everything you need – from airy spaces to amazing food and drinks – is on board. Many cruise lines offer complete wedding packages and will be happy to work with you to arrange a personalized and memorable ceremony. Options for shipboard weddings include having a ceremony: On the ship before it sails. This means guests can come on board for the ceremony but don’t have to cruise along with you. It’s a nice option if you want the cruise to be a honeymoon for two, without your entire wedding party coming along. On the ship while at sea. With this choice, the people you want to have at your wedding can sail along with you. While an on-deck ceremony can produce stunning photos, be sure to select an indoor backup in case it gets a bit windy. In a port of call. Saying “I do” on a tropical island or in a historic park can be wonderful. Just know that you may not have much control over the surroundings; if you’re on a publi...

When Cruise Itineraries Change

Cruise lines do all they can to ensure the cruise you reserve is the cruise you experience. But itineraries can’t be guaranteed, and sometimes changes are necessary, usually to protect the safety of passengers. Severe weather is often the main reason for an itinerary change. Rough seas can slow a ship down enough that it can’t reach port on time. Bad weather can also make it too dangerous for the ship to dock or to send passengers to shore in tender boats. Other possible reasons for itinerary changes include civil unrest, damage from a natural disaster, or an outbreak of illness on the ship or in port. Remember, cruise lines have the right to change an itinerary whenever the captain or the cruise line thinks it’s necessary. When an itinerary has to be changed in advance, the cruise line will notify you so you can decide whether to change your cruise plans. But, as in the case of sudden severe weather, some changes can’t be made until the day of a scheduled port call. When possible,...
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Travel Solo - Know Before You Go Traveling solo can be a thrilling experience that pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone. However, you want to make sure you prepare before venturing off! Here are some “know before you go” on solo travel. Leave Your Contact Info with Someone at Home When traveling, especially overseas where communication might be trickier, it’s important to let someone know your travel plans. Let them know where you’re going, where you’ll be staying, and the travel dates. This will keep your loved ones at home in the loop just in case they need to get ahold of you. Keep Copies of Important Documents Always keep copies of your important documents, such as your passport, social security card, and other necessary paperwork. These copies can come in handy in case you misplace one during your travels! Network Talk to your contacts about where you’ll be traveling to, they may have connections in those places and could connect you with other people in th...
Pink Sand Beaches When thinking of tropical locations or relaxation vacations, most people talk about warm sun beating down on their skin, clear, blue ocean waters, and white sand between their toes. That sounds nice, right? But what about pink sand between your toes? Yes, there are places that actually have pink sand, and they’re beautiful! Pink sand gets its color from broken coral pieces, calcium carbonate materials from marine creatures, as well as seashells. Sometimes, the sand has the slightest highlight of pink, but the shoreline and the water’s edge is where the pink will be most vivid. There are quite a few areas with pink sand beaches, but here are some that stand out to us! 1. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda This beautiful beach is located on Bermuda’s South Shore and is a great place to visit if you’re looking for some relaxation. This beach is also family friendly, with many activities such as snorkeling, boogie boarding, and paddle boarding. Because thi...
Mauritius If you're looking to travel somewhere with fantastic beaches and views, put Mauritius at the top of your list. This Island Country is located just east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Île aux Cerfs, on the eastern side of Mauritius, is a private island known as a water sports paradise. You'll have plenty of fun snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. Not only is this location great for water sports, but it's also said to have the most attractive beaches in Mauritius! Be sure to plan for a whole day here as it's only accessible by boat. Bras d'Eau, on the northeastern side of Mauritius, is a smaller bay that resides in the lagoon of Poste Lafayette. Because of its unique position offering southern views, visitors to this spot can catch both sunrises and sunsets. If spectacular sunsets and sunrises aren’t enough, Bras d'Eau is also known as the best place to view the Milky Way on the island, so be sure to stick around after that sunset. Soaki...