Tahiti instantly conjures up images of an exotic tropical paradise. For us, it was a cruise port that I could hardly wait to reach as we crossed the Pacific. Sailing first from Los Angeles to Tahiti and then home to New Zealand, French Polynesia was to be one of the highlights of our three weeks …
Things to do in cruise ports around the world. To date, we have sailed in Asia (Indonesia), Australasia (American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, New Zealand), Europe (France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, UK), North America (Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, USA), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay).
24 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires Argentina
Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …
22 Things to Do in Montevideo Uruguay
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay is an often overlooked South American city with a European flair. Uruguay is a liberal nation with a sordid history and progressive laws. Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, it’s a coastal nation with its own personality. We found plenty of interesting things to do in Montevideo and other parts of …
Santos Brazil for Coffee, Beaches and Leaning Buildings
As we cruised into the Santos Brazil port, passing South America’s largest dock, we had two choices for our day on shore. We could spend it in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, or stay in its seaside resort town of Santos and enjoy some of the world famous Santos coffee, relax at one of the many …
Bali Itinerary: Cruise Port Adventure in Ubud Indonesia
One day in exotic Bali is not enough, but as a cruise port, that was all we had. There are two basic choices for a Bali itinerary. We could head inland to Ubud and see the rice terraces, monkey forest, and markets. Or we could simplify our Bali itinerary to a day at the beach. …
A Guide to Paraty Brazil: From a Day to a Week
Paraty is a popular holiday spot with Brazilians, yet they have somehow kept it a secret from the rest of us. This tropical paradise overlooks Ilha Grande Bay on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Paraty put a smile on my face from the first moment I stepped ashore. The vibrantly painted boats that line the coast create …
Kauai Excursions: Highlights of Kauai, Hawaii in a Day
The rain beat down as our ship docked in Kauai, an island that is one of nature’s most exquisite masterpieces regardless of the weather. We were ready to see the highlights. We hadn’t prebooked one of the ships Kauai excursions, and we were not going to let the weather slow us down. The fourth largest …
Visiting American Samoa: Home to a Tropical US National Park
American Samoa is a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered. Situated in the southern Pacific Ocean just east of the dateline, it’s a small unincorporated US territory that many people don’t even know exists. For me, it is the lush green hills, warm turquoise waters, and a blend of traditional Samoan culture with modern American …
24 Unique and Fun Things to Do in Napier New Zealand
Napier is best known as the Art Deco Capital of the world, but this offbeat New Zealand town has a lot more to offer. From Māori and European history to wine tasting or adventure, there are plenty of novel and fun things to do in Napier and the surrounding Hawke’s Bay region. To understand Napier, you need …
25 Fun Things to Do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui
Home to New Zealand’s top rated beach, the world’s most accessible active marine volcano, kiwifruit, glow worms, street art, and more, the region is aptly named the Bay of Plenty. It is filled with exciting and fun things to do in Tauranga (the largest city), Mount Maunganui (coastal beach town), and the surrounding region. It’s …
Ketchikan Shore Excursions: Our Favorite Things to Do in Ketchikan Alaska
The Ketchikan Alaska cruise port is a stop for nearly every ship sailing the inside passage. Generally the first port for on northbound cruises heading to Anchorage, Ketchikan serves as an introduction to the rugged Alaskan frontier for many visitors. A quick glance at the ship’s Ketchikan shore excursions and it is clear that visitors …
Ephesus Library of Celsus: A Must-See in Turkey
As we pulled into the port of Izmir Turkey, I questioned our decision to visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Our time in port was limited, and after our disappointing excursion to Pompeii, our expectations were low. However, from the first moment we arrived, I knew we made the right choice. And then, we turned …
Oslo in One Day: Ski Jump, Sculptures, Vikings Ships
Attempting to see the highlights of Oslo in one day, we disembarked our cruise ship in the capital of Norway. This is not the optimal way to see this beautiful city. However, for us, it was our only option as it is the final port of our cruise through the majestic Norwegian Fjords before we …
Juneau whale watching, glaciers or other shore tours
Juneau Alaska is the largest US capital city by area, yet it’s also the only US capital not accessible by a road. It’s a metropolitan city surrounded by the rugged wilderness that makes Alaska famous. While Juneau whale watching topped my list, there are plenty of other things to do in Juneau for nature lovers, …
Pompeii and Naples – Why You Need to Visit Both Cities
Naples is our final cruise port on Italy’s Mediterranean coastline. Like in Pisa/Florence and Rome/Vatican, one day is not enough. We opted for Pompeii and Naples, but that meant giving up the Amalfi Coast. In truth, I have waited a long time to visit Pompeii. Thirty years ago, I toured Europe. Back then, Pompeii closed …
