My experience on the Oosterdam in Alaska with Holland America was wonderful! The itinerary was; Seattle – Puget Sound (scenic cruising), Stephens Passage (scenic cruising), Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria (BC).

The ship itself is designed artfully and was easy to navigate. The Main Stage is located on decks 2 and 3 and this is where you will find most entertainment EXC Talks, Dancing, singing, magicians, and they even had a comedian onboard. If you choose to switch it up, I highly recommend the music walk. BBKing's club and the Billboard music room offer fresh and fun entertainment. Should you prefer to have a quieter evening, you may enjoy Lincoln's Center stage where musicians play classical music and may surprise you with pop tune.

The dining experience was excellent. The main dining room offered many options and were very tasty. You may take recommendations from the culinary council or you may go buffet style at the Lido Market. If you slip out to the indoor pool area you will locate the Lido Bar, a taco bar, and a little burger gem called the Dive In. They offer many options such as Nathan hotdogs and burgers cooked to order. I recommend the "Backflip" burger.

Juneau was really great -awesome cell service! We did not sign up for excursions and opted to visit the Visitors Center, picked up a map and did our own touring. Sitka was my favorite port - a very small town with one stop light. You can easily venture through the town and hit up all the historical points. Ketchikan is where you will find the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and everyone enjoys this! We went to the visitor’s center that offered tons of information on Native Alaska life and they had many exhibits. Victoria was great for what we were able to see. (Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues we didn’t have much time here.)

Disembarkation was also very simple. Since our flight was a later departure, we chose to explore Seattle. We took the shuttle to the airport (booked by PCL) and had our bags held ($11 per bag). Then we took the train from the airport into Seattle – cost $6.00 per person roundtrip. Our plan was to visit the famous Pikes Market where we experienced fish throwing (and their chants) along with visiting the unique shops.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the lovely destination of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and loved every minute!

This sparkling gem in the Caribbean not only offers an impeccable ambiance, but also luxurious resorts, fine dining, and a wide variety of activities. Punta Cana features the   longest coral reef in the whole island (about 19 miles long). Divers and snorkelers of all experience levels can explore reef caverns and nearby Catalina and Saona Islands. For land lovers, there are challenging golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, bicycling, or you can soar high above land and water on a parasailing ride. Several resorts were visited including; Riu Republica, Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort, The Majestic Colonial, The Majestic Elegance, The Majestic Mirage and The Hard Rock.  I was very impressed with the Majestic properties.  They cater to families and have every amenity you could ask for.

I also took a full day Santo Domingo Excursion that included wonderful sightseeing, a delightful lunch and finished up with shopping (one stop shop location rum, cigars, shirts, jewelry) all in one store. I recommend this excursion if you love history and have a full day to devote to this tour.

I have recently returned from a charming river cruise with AmaWaterways on-board the AmaSerena.  My ports included Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Durstein, Weissenkirchen Krems, and Vienna.  Every port was delightful and we loved walking off the ship and exploring each town. 

In Vienna, we joined the morning bike ride to Klosterneuburg Abbey, where they still had remnants of the celebration (food stands, carnival rides, games) of the celebration of St. Leopold’s Day. We were able to tour the Abbey and look down into a passage where St Leopold III’s remains are kept.  Just a quick stroll from the Abbey we entered Stift Klosterneuburg Winery. Where you can pay two Euro to climb a giant wine barrel, make a wish, and slide down the other side.  And yes, my husband and I slid down the barrel!  We visited the Vienna Christmas Market in the evening and it was delightful. The Market offered amazing food, rides, and of course plenty of shopping. 


We took a city tour of Budapest, and we were able to do some light shopping, visited Heroes’ Square, Fisherman’s Bastion. Buda Castle Hill. We wish we had more time here!  This itinerary was a special Wine Cruise and I would highly recommend this to all wine lovers. We visited many wineries with an abundance of wine tastings and pairing with dinner.  You really get an education about wine and learn to appreciate the work and process that is involved.  Not to mention, it is tasty! 

The food on the AmaSerena was very excellent. The crew was very accommodating and the AmaWaterways chefs offer multiple choices for dining.  We loved the experience and would be happy to assist you on your next river cruise adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Jamaica with Classic Vacations and the Jamaica Tourist Board.  It was a very thorough educational trip and I was able to do a site visit of 14 properties!  There are so many lovely resorts on the island.  A couple of my favorites were the Golden Eye Resort Ocho Rios and Zoetry Montego Bay.

The Golden Eye Resort is roughly two hours from the MBJ airport. This is a very secluded property with trees around the entrance.  (You may feel like a secret agent entering your "hideout".)  As you walk through the property it opens to the beach.  Privately owned Villas provide canoes/water toys for guest use.  This property was once home to the famous Ian Fleming who wrote the "James Bond" novels.  They have an open recreation area for their guest with books/games/ and TV and an open bar that overlooks the ocean.   If you appreciate seclusion this resort would be great for you – perfect for honeymooners!

The Zoetry is roughly seven minutes from the MBJ.  This resort is very tranquil and offers butler service regardless of room category with laundry service is included.  There are 49 rooms on property.  The architecture and features are designed to embody wellness and spa.  The three main buildings: Wood, Water, and Blue Mountain are a nod to Jamaica's ecological tapestry.  The Zoetry offers Yoga, Thai Chi, and Meditation.  Top shelf liquor in rooms, with fresh fruit, is replenished daily.  24-hour in-room dining is available with organic options.  The chef will meet with guests that have special dietary needs.  Sunset Boat Tour offered at the resort.  All dining is Ala Cart (no buffets).  This resort is perfect for someone that wants relaxation and pampering.  There are in room tablets available to order room service and a state the art fitness center. 

Going to Jamaica but cannot decide where to stay?  I would be happy to assist you!