Turn Spring Break Into A European Holiday: Use These Low Cost Transatlantic Cruises

Spring Break and the April holidays offer well-priced opportunities for cruise ship getaways. Why fight unruly beach and casino crowds when you can sail in comfort from Florida to European ports and fly back with tales to tell.

 

Malaga, Spain

Cruise lines discount Spring fares to fill ships repositioning from the Americas to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Here are a few of the current bargains:

 

Koningsdam

Holland America's Koningsdam leaves Fort Lauderdale Sunday, April 7 for six days across the Atlantic, followed by calls in several of our favorite ports: Port Delgado, Azores, and Malaga and Cartagena, Spain, before ending Saturday, April 20 in Rome's port of Civitavecchia. That leaves the weekend to fly back to the U.S. and return to work Monday morning. Or you can spend additional days in Rome

 

The ship is nearly new, completed in 2016 with the latest of the Cruise Line's entertainment venues and dining upgrades, and carries 2,650 passengers. That's half the size of the bloated giants launched recently by some other cruise lines. 

A cruise agent should be able to book you a balcony cabin for about $1000 per person, plus $188.50 gratuities, with onboard spending money or other credits of $100 or more.

Veendam

Holland America's Veendam, a ship half the size that was built in 1996 but refurbished in 2016, makes the run in 14 days instead of 13, departing April 14 and arriving April 28. Figure about the same $1,000 per person rate for a balcony cabin.

 

Other options

 

Lisbon

Silhouette

Celebrity Silhouette, April 14 for 13 days from Fort Lauderdale. Built 2011, refurbished 2015, 2,886 passengers. Visits Nassau, Bahamas, followed by an overnight at King's Wharf, Bermuda, eventually touching Lisbon before arriving in London Southampton April 27. Balcony fares from $750 per person plus gratuities.

Regal Princess

Princess Regal Princess, April 14, 15 nights from Fort Lauderdale. Built 2014, refurbished 2017, 3,560 passengers. Azores, Zeebrugge, Belgium, Rotterdam Holland, Aarhus, Denmark, Copenhagen. Balcony from $1,200 per person plus gratuities.

Copenhagen

New York Alternative

 

From New York Brooklyn, Cunard Queen Mary 2, April 21, 7 nights to London Southampton. Balcony from about $1,075 per person plus gratuities.

London

Some cabins are in short supply, so if you are considering one of these cruises, have your agent put a "courtesy hold" on a cabin before you take time to check air fare and other arrangements.

 

Use airline points to buy the return flight, or consider carriers like Norwegian for discounted coach fares or its "premium" economy that is reviewed by many fliers as similar to business class-- without a fully reclining sleeper seat. The cruise lines and travel agents also have access to discounted "bulk" one-way seats in economy, business or first class.

Falmouth, England, & Milford Haven, Wales: Charm, Architecture, and Pastry and Pubs

Continued sunny weather gave us an opportunity to walk the main streets of our next ports, Falmouth, England, and Milford Haven, Wales, end to end.

Falmouth Harbor, England, At Dusk

We chose strolling over the typical range of excursions to compensate for too many hours sitting on our 10-hour transatlantic flight and to shake off remaining jet lag.

The towns maintain some of the charm, architecture, and monuments earned through past centuries' importance as strategic and commercial centers during the complex history of what is now the United Kingdom. Yet neither town has fared particularly well since the decline of seaside tourism after budget holiday packages were offered to the Mediterranean beginning in the 1960s.

Today Falmouth's main street is mostly tourist oriented, with one after another pastry shops, cafes, and pubs. Milford Haven is a bit less touristy but neither town seems to have within walking distance of its center the line of traditional green grocers, fish mongers, butchers and bakeries that you still would have found decades ago and in movies set here.

Other guests reported successful ship-conducted excursions from these first ports, including a trek along a beautiful shoreline and a two-hour Zodiac run. The latter is part of Seabourn's expanded “Ventures” program that was launched with the Quest's first visit to the Antarctic. Now Ventures offers what it sometimes calls “soft” explorations using the same kayaks, Zodiacs, and professional guides as the “hard” Antarctic adventures.

The Quest has been refreshed since our last trip two years ago, with new fabrics covering seating in some public areas, new pool-side furniture, and other steps to brighten the overall aesthetic. The Keller Grill replaced Restaurant 2 as one of four dining venues, including the main Restaurant, Colonnade buffet, and the poolside Patio cafe. Coffee and lights snacks are available in Seabourn Square facing the customer service area.

Some new economies are visible. In the popular Observation lounge with its sweeping forward views neither teatime scones nor Cocktail hour snacks are passed by staff; guests must make their own food runs to a small buffet. Caviar, advertised in past years as always available, is increasing portrayed as part of some Seabourn “Signature Event,” though one can still ask for it anytime, anywhere in board.

Next: Douglas, Isle of Man, and Rothesay, Scotland.

Arctic Embarkation: 55 Days Dover To Boston

Our 55-day sailing from England across Arctic shores to Boston began smoothly yesterday, from Dover hotel to embarkation to the sail-away party with views of the White Cliffs.

A heat wave had been enveloping the U.K. and when we drove into Dover a day before departure, we were surprised to see Brits in swim suits crowding the rocky beach facing our hotel.

Seabourn Quest Departing Dover

The absence of “English Weather” was a good omen for our travels and, at least for now, confirms our decision to pack layers of mostly summer clothes even though our itinerary will take us to the edge of the Arctic Circle in Iceland and Greenland.

 We prefer departures from Dover, with its small scale and easy walks from hotels to shops, restaurants, and pubs along streets that still constitute a traditional British town. This is compared to Southampton that is often dominated by several ships of the Carnival brand, which is headquartered there. And there is Dover Castle, with centuries of history through World War II, a brief taxi or tour bus ride up the hill.

Seabourn Quest Departing Dover

Dover hotels are modest but adequate for an overnight before sailing, and staying here removes the anxiety of arriving at a London airport the same day as your cruise, hoping you can find the operator of your transfer, and racing to port before your ship sales.

The Seabourn Quest was a welcome sight. We last sailed her a couple years ago from Florida, along the Eastern coast of South America, into the Antarctic, and then north to Valparaiso. The all-inclusive ship was comfortable and well run for the 45 days and the professional expedition team made the Antarctic experience exciting and memorable.

Quest is one of three Seabourn vessels that now pass for “small ships,” compared to the new 600 passenger Encore and Ovation and the retired 200 passenger “Yachts of Seabourn” that defined the brand for many years.

With the exception of a few over-size suites, all cabins on Seabourn are about the same size, nine or ten feet by 29 or 30 feet. They all feature the same comforts so there is usually no need to specify and pay an up-charge for a particular cabin. Exceptions are if you want to avoid the potential noise of a nearby elevator or stairs. Or in the case of the Antarctic or Alaska, you prefer the view offered by veranda with all-glass panels.

In these first days, our impression is that the cuisine in the dining room, called the Restaurant, and the Thomas Keller Grill has improved as Keller's influence and relationship with Seabourn has intensified. When Seabourn first announced the Keller deal, the implication was that themes from his famous, highly-regarded restaurants, like French Laundry, would make their way on-board.

Keller Lamb In Quest Restaurant

Surprisingly, these early efforts were channeled into an American steakhouse format that, at least to us, seemed indistinguishable from stereotypical steakhouse chains throughout the U.S.

At the outset of this sailing that has changed, with more sophisticated dishes in his namesake dining venue and intermittently in the main dining room. We look forward to that continuing.

After a sea day, our scheduled first port of call was stolen by Pirates-- actually by the Pirates of Penzance. That is to say that we were rerouted to Falmouth because of damaged docks at Newlyn-Penzance, although newly boarding passengers were not informed about the change unless they happened to attend the port lecture at 11 a.m. on the sea day.

After Falmouth, on to Milford Haven, Wales.

Follow Our Arc Across Arctic Shores 55 Days Sailing Dover to Boston Beginning July 16

Follow us for our two-month exploration of Arctic shores beginning next week.

Iceland

Here you will find updates on our cruise, including an ongoing review of the Seabourn Quest and port evaluations from Dover embarkation to Boston disembarkation. Along the way Diane Love and I will provide intermittent commentary from:

• Penzance, England
• Skomer Island, United Kingdom
• Milford Haven, Wales
• Douglas, Isle of Man
• Isle of Bute, Scotland
• Oban, Scotland
• St. Kilda, Scotland
• Ullapool, Scotland
• Kirkwall, Scotland
• Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland
• Torshavn, Denmark
• Vopnafjordur, Iceland 
• Akureyri, Iceland
• Siglufjordur, Iceland
• Tasiilaq, Greenland
• Skjoldungen, Greenland
• Grundarfjordur, Iceland
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Heimaey, Iceland
• Prince Christian Sound, Greenland (Cruising)
• Qaqortoq, Greenland
• Paamiut, Greenland
• Nuuk, Greenland
• Maniitsoq, Greenland
• Sisimiut (Holsteinborg), Greenland
• Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Greenland
• Iqaluit, Canada
• Lady Franklin Island, Nunavut, Canada
• Monumental Island, Nunavut, Canada
• Akpatok Island, Nunavut, Canada
• Goose Bay, Canada
• L'Anse aux Meadows, NL, Canada
• Red Bay, NL, Canada
• Corner Brook, NL, Canada
• St. Lawrence Seaway (Cruising)
• Quebec City, QC, Canada
• Montreal, QC, Canada
• Quebec City, QC, Canada
• Quebec City, QC, Canada
• Saguenay, QC, Canada
• Gaspe, QC, Canada
• Charlottetown, PE, Canada
• Halifax, NS, Canada
• Bar Harbor, ME

Greenland

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Value Alert: $3000 All-Inclusive 11-Day Seabourn Rome To Barcelona Oct. 27

Rome St. Peters Square

Through June 25, luxury line Seabourn is promoting an 11-day sailing Oct. 27 from Rome to Barcelona for $2,999 per person. You must tell your agent to specify "We Select Your Suite" to get that price for a guarantee ocean view cabin. A guarantee veranda suite is $3,299.  This is under $300 a night, the low end of the cruise line's usual rates.

Seabourn Odyssey

Some agents may offer on-board credits or other benefits; always ask. Most accommodations on Seabourn Odyssey are the same size and have the same amenities, so there is no need to pay more to specify a particular cabin. Add Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses of $308.

Seabourn Odyssey, 450 passengers, built 2009, refurbished 2017.

We are traveling on this same cruise, although we start earlier, in Athens, for the 18 day itinerary we recommended last month. We will renew our acquaintance with the Odyssey and offer an up-to-date review. If you choose this cruise, please join us for a drink on board.

We will also publish insight into the ports of call on this voyage, which touches major destinations that are well-suited to first-time visitors because of excursions to popular attractions from Capri and the Amalfi coast to St. Paul de Vence.

Veranda Suite

Note that the departure described as Rome is actually from the port of Civitavecchia, a 1.5 hour drive. If you stay in Rome a day or two before the cruise, plan ahead for the transfer to the port.

A taxi or shared van transfer for two people costs $125 and up. Our preferred limousine service, Blacklane, quotes $170 for the trip in a "business class" Mercedes E-Class or similar. The main Rome airport is about a one-hour drive from the port and transfers are proportionately less.

Civitavecchia

The "trick" transfer we have used successfully is the inexpensive commuter rail from Roma Termini station to Civitavecchia, but you will have to schlep your own luggage and on arrival in Civitavecchia take a local taxi to the port. Train details are here.

But there is a less stressful way to get to your ship: arrive in Civitavecchia a day before the sailing and spend the night at one of several modest small hotels and B&B's. We have stayed several times at our first choice, Hotel San Giorgio at  http://www.sangiorgiohotel.biz/hotel-cruise-civitavecchia.htm

Hotel San Giorgio Classic Room

San Giorgio offers a cruise package starting at about $150 that includes breakfast buffet, free WiFi, and shuttle service to the Cruise Terminal. Rooms are adequate but not deluxe by any means. Try for one with a sea view. Small cafes for dinner are a short walk from the hotel. Also easily walk-able is a local shopping area where you can pick up liquids or other needs for the cruise that you don't want to fly with. The best feature is transfer to ship-side. The town refurbished its waterfront a couple years ago, so there is a pleasant promenade for an afternoon or evening stroll.

Itinerary

DAY 0: October 27, 2018 Departs 05:00 PM Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

DAY 1: October 28, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Naples (Pompeii), Italy

DAY 2: October 29, 2018 Arrives 10:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Trapani, Italy

DAY 3: October 30, 2018 AT SEA

DAY 4: October 31, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Monte Carlo, Monaco

Marseilles

DAY 5: November 01, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM La Joliette (Marseille), France

DAY 6: November 02, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Sete, France

DAY 7: November 03, 2018 Arrives 10:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Mahon, Menorca, Spain

DAY 8: November 04, 2018 Arrives 07:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Ibiza, Spain

DAY 9: November 05, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Cartagena, Spain

DAY 10: November 06, 2018 Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Valencia, Spain

DAY 11: November 07, 2018 Arrives 07:00 AM Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona Guell Park

Seabourn advertises its definition of luxury this way

• Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere
• Intuitive, personalized service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations
• Curated voyages to all seven continents delivering award-winning experiences
• All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
• Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times
• Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
• Tipping is neither required, nor expected
• Finest resort at sea that is masterfully designed
• Seabourn Conversations, connecting with visionary experts
• World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller
• Ventures by Seabourn™, optional shore excursions, enhance and extend your experience in select destinations
• All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish
• Select purposeful and sustainable travel experiences in partnership with UNESCO
• Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, featuring an exclusive mindful living program
• An evening entertainment experience in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice

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Arctic Cruise: What You Can Expect From The Vistas And Ports Of The Frozen North

Next month CruisingGrade.com sets sail to the Arctic to research newly-popular cruise ship destinations and renew our acquaintance with Seabourn Quest.

Greenland Northern Lights

For 55 days from Dover, England to Boston, Massachusetts, we will provide tips on what you can expect in the ports of Iceland and Greenland. We will post an up-to-date review of the Quest, one of Seabourn's three "small" ships of 450 passengers each, and compare it to the most recent 600 passenger Ovation and Encore, which we reviewed earlier this year.

Iceland

Lerwick, Scotland

The first 10 days of the Arctic cruise touch Wales, the Isle of Man, and several picturesque Scottish ports, more familiar cruise ship stops that we will also review.

Finally, our itinerary winds through two dozen Canadian destinations from Iqaluit to Montreal to Halifax before ending in Bar Harbor and Boston.

Iqaluit, Canada

We welcome you aboard for our travels and look forward to sharing insight and specific recommendations based on our own world travels.

You can follow us by adding your email in the box at the top of this page.

Value Alert: $320 Price Cut For Cruise Recommended Last Month: Ireland, Scotland & Wales 8 Nights With Optional Military Tattoo

Edinburgh Tattoo

August 18 Princess Pacific Princess, built 1999, refurbished 2017. Just reduced to $1,219 per person balcony 216 sq. ft. plus $195 fees. Extraordinary military tattoo ceremony available from $270 per person in front corner stands to $750 per person with private seating and reception.

Itinerary: London (Dover), England | Jersey (St. Helier) | Milford Haven, Wales | Dublin, Ireland | Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland overnight | London (Dover), England.

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Value Alert: Leverage Your Labor Day Holiday Into 8 Nights On A Sailing Ship Visiting Our Favorite Ports From Barcelona To Lisbon

We recently extolled here the value of visiting the Mediterranean in September, which avoids the worst of the summer heat and the hordes of Europeans and other tourists who must take their vacations in August.

Wind Surf Off Sicily

Windstar has just made that easier by including in their weekly promotion starting today a cruise that departs Barcelona Sept. 1, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and concludes Sunday, Sept. 9, just in time to fly home after only a few days off the job.

Wind Surf

Besides the perfect timing, there are two other treats to this cruise. First, the ship is the Wind Surf, Windstar's recently refurbished flagship that combines seven billowing sails with diesel electric engines. Second, the ports of call are among our favorite Mediterranean destinations.

Until June 20, you can book a cabin of 188 square feet with location chosen by Wind Star for $2,299 plus $218 taxes and $108 gratuities.

Sopranis, Cadiz

We rarely recommend restaurants, but in Cadiz last year we found an outstanding example. It is recognized in the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2018 Guide. If you schedule this trip, immediately book Sopranis, walk-able from the port and open for lunch 1 to 4 p.m. and dinner. Your ship arrives 7 a.m., does not sail until 11:59 p.m.

Wind Surf, 310 passengers, built 1990, refurbished 2013. 

• Saturday, September 1 Barcelona, Spain. Extraordinary art and eats if you arrive a day early
• Sunday, September 2 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. We'd skip the resorts, stroll the town
• Monday, September 3 Cartagena, Spain. For nearby coastal resorts.
• Tuesday, September 4 Granada, Spain. Do the Alhambra Palace excursion.
• Wed, September 5         Malaga, Spain. Picasso museum or village excursions
• Thursday, September 6 Gibraltar, UK Territory, The Rock.
• Friday, September 7 Cadiz, Spain. Another charming town for strolling.
• Saturday, September 8 At Sea
• Sunday, September 9 Lisbon, Portugal. Unique architecture and cuisine. Worth a day or two stay if you do not need to be back at work Monday.

Windstar fares include: 

• All meals in all venues at all times, including room service menu available 24 hours
• All non-alcoholic beverages, including cappuccino, espresso, and other specialty non-alcoholic drinks
• Welcome cocktails at reception
• All onboard entertainment
• Unlimited use of Fitness Center
• Unlimited use of all water sports equipment
• Informative nightly port talks and destination briefings

Round-trip air fares from New York and other U.S. cities range from about $800 in economy to  $4,000 in business. Use Google Flights to search for the best flights for your needs.
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Tallinn: CruisingGrade.com Port Of The Day

Tourists Want To See St. Petersburg For The Grandeur, Connoisseurs Want To Visit Tallinn For The Compact Study Of A Medieval Town.

When travelers book their Baltic cruise, most eyes are on St. Petersburg for obvious reasons-- former capital of Russia, home to overwhelming museums and monumental architecture. After a swing through Baltic stars like Copenhagen or Stockholm, few focus attention on that last port before St. Petersburg-- Tallinn, Estonia.

Tallinn, Estonia

Yet Tallinn, CruisingGrade.com Port of the Day, is at its core a charming Medieval town, scrubbed and welcoming to visitors, who come to savor the capital of Estonia. Plan ahead for your hours ashore in this storybook Old Town and you will be rewarded.

LonleyPlanet gushes:

No longer the plaything of greater powers – Danish, Swedish, Polish, German and Soviet – Tallinn is now a proud European capital with an allure all its own. It's lively yet peaceful, absurdly photogenic and bursting with wonderful sights – ancient churches, medieval streetscapes and noble merchants' houses.

Tallinn, Estonia

We agree. We were impressed after a visit a few years ago during just the kind of cruise described here. Week or two cruises call on Tallinn roughly June through September. Other shorter or longer sailings call on Tallinn while on their way to or from more distant ports, from London to Brisbane to Arusha, Tanzania.

24 Nights Baltic Roundtrip Copenhagen, With Five Night Reach Into Iceland

June 27 Holland America Zuiderdam, 1,918 passengers, built 2002, refurbished 2017. Our review of Holland America line can be found here on CruisingGrade.com. Balcony cabins are offered from about $4,000 per person, oceanview about $500 less. Ask for promotions that may be available for bookings made before May 31.

The more than three week itinerary provides a generous introduction to the Baltics, including Tallinn. The cruise appends five nights visiting ports in Iceland, an increasingly popular and promoted destination for cruisers, many of whom have already "done" more familiar European ports.

Note that the port of Warnemunde is at least 2.5 hours from Berlin by road, which makes for a long day if you choose an excursion to Berlin.

Holland America also sells the June 27 departure as a 10-day cruise including Tallinn from about $1,400 per person balcony cabin.

Tallinn, Estonia Viru Gate

Itinerary

Wednesday, June 27 Copenhagen, Denmark

Thursday, June 28         At Sea

Friday, June 29         Tallinn, Estonia

Saturday, June 30         St. Petersburg, Russia

Sunday, July 1                 St. Petersburg, Russia

Monday, July 2         Helsinki, Finland

Tuesday, July 3         Stockholm, Sweden

Wednesday, July 4         At Sea

Thursday, July 5         Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

Friday, July 6                 Kiel, Germany

Saturday, July 7         Copenhagen, Denmark

Sunday, July 8                 At Sea

Monday, July 9         Bergen, Norway

Tuesday, July 10         Alesund, Norway

Wednesday, July 11 At Sea

Thursday, July 12         Seydisfjordur, Iceland

Friday, July 13         Akureyri, Iceland

Saturday, July 14         Isafjordur, Iceland

Sunday, July 15         Reykjavik, Iceland

Monday, July 16         Reykjavik, Iceland

Tuesday, July 17         At Sea

Wednesday, July 18 Torshavn, Denmark Faroe Islands

Thursday, July 19         Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Friday, July 20         At Sea

Saturday, July 21         Copenhagen, Denmark

Dover: CruisingGrade.com Port Of The Day

Dover, England, the CruisingGrade.com port of the day, is a welcome alternative to Southampton, the home base of Cunard, crowded with cruise traffic and short on good hotels.

Dover is 80 miles from London or Gatwick Airport, 100 miles from Heathrow, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road with no traffic jams, not significantly different from Southampton.

Dover Castle

Dover offers several unique attractions. Foremost are the White Cliffs, visible from your cruise ship but worth a close approach by land. Above the town is Dover Castle, built to defend England against European invaders, site of hidden tunnels from both medieval times and World War II, home to a military museum and castle tours.

Canterbury

An hour away is Canterbury with picturesque St. Augustin's Abbey and shops and pubs that welcome tourists. Last time we were there, voices of the abbey choir rehearsal drifted throughout the grounds.

And when you're ready to embark, you'll find Dover's port arrangements much more convenient and far less hectic than Southampton.

Scandinavia & Russia, 11 Nights With St. Petersburg Overnight

July 29  Disney Magic, 2,700 passengers, built 1998, refurbished 2018. Few cabins remain, including Oceanview 214 sq. ft. from $11,100 for two passengers, veranda 268 sq. ft. from $15,000 for two, thankfully including taxes, fees, and port expenses.

St. Petersburg

Amsterdam and the Scandinavian ports all worth the trip, Berlin an unconformable distance from Warnemunde, we recommend visiting another time; Tallin, Estonia a favorite port of ours.

Itinerary: Dover, England; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Warnemünde (Berlin), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark.

Ireland, Scotland & Wales 8 Nights With Optional Military Tatoo

Edinburgh Tattoo

August 18 Princess Pacific Princess, built 1999, refurbished 2017. From $1,539 per person balcony 216 sq. ft. plus $195 fees. Extraordinary military tattoo ceremony available from $270 per person in front corner stands to $750 per person with private seating and reception.

Itinerary: London (Dover), England | Jersey (St. Helier) | Milford Haven, Wales | Dublin, Ireland | Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland overnight | London (Dover), England.

All Inclusive Crystal President's Cruise 14 Nights With Three Days Bordeaux, Two In Lisbon, Barcelona, And Monte Carlo

July 29 Crystal Serenity, 980 passengers, built 2003, just refurbished 2018. All inclusive from $5,135 per person.

Guernsey Castle Cornet

Itinerary: London (Dover); St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands; Bordeaux, France three nights; At Sea; Oporto (Leixoes), Portugal; Lisbon overnight; At Sea; Barcelona, Spain overnight; Cassis, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco overnight.

San Francisco: CruisingGrade.com Port Of The Day, Gateway To Shores Near And Far

Baghdad by the Bay was a magnet for adventurers 150 years before high-rise buildings ruined the skyline and the Dot Com gold rush inflated the cost of living beyond reach. But you can still discern remnants of that former gritty, gracious city-- squat frame homes and brick businesses hanging onto undulating urban hillsides.

A stopover in San Francisco offers opportunities for excellent dining, Cable Cars, Golden Gate Park, healthy walks over the hills to Fisherman's Wharf, window-shopping and a great lunch at the Ferry Building market.

That's the San Francisco we'd recommend you enjoy, on your way to one of the ships that departs from here for the world, as they have since the European discovery of San Francisco Bay in the 1700s and gold drew the Forty-Niners on Clipper Ships a century later.

Sample Cruises

Alaska

May through September 10-day and longer round-trip cruises are offered by Princess with balcony cabins starting about $1,200 per person and ranging to twice that for popular vacation dates. Holland America has 21-day round-trip voyages with a dozen or more Alaska ports at about $2,800 oceanview, $6,500 balcony. Oceania and Regent sell 11 or 12 day trips that end in Vancouver, B.C.

Grand Princess Balcony Cabin

June 5, 2018 Inside Passage 10 Nights

Princess Grand Princess, 2,600 passengers, built 1998, refurbished 2016. Juneau, Skagway, cruising Tracy Arm for Twin Sawyer Glaciers, Sitka, and Victor, B.C. Balcony cabin of 179 to 279 sq. ft. from $1,398 plus $240 taxes per person.

Asia

Five years ago we took a Holland America cruise similar to the one recommended here. It delivered a good introduction to Alaska and provided transportation to Asia for our extended travels. A highlight was Dutch Harbor, where we found a tiny, excellent museum focused on indigenous peoples and lunch at the Norwegian Rat Saloon, a popular haunt that was serving the first crab boil of the season. The enormous portions did not stop customers from ordering seconds.

July 9, 2019 'Northern Pacific Adventurer' 21 Nights

Maasdam Oceanview Cabin

Holland America Maasdam, 1,266 passengers, built 1993, refurbished 2016. Victoria, B.C.; Seattle, Cruising Alaska Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Sitka, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Nome; Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, Russia; Kushiro, Japan, Yokohama. Oceanview cabin with partial view 174 to 255 sq. ft. from $2,849 plus $549 taxes.

Australia & New Zealand

February 6, 2019 San Francisco 21 Nights To Sydney

Queen Victoria Oceanview Cabin

Cunard Queen Victoria, 2,014 passengers, built 2007, refurbished 2010. Honolulu; Tonga, Tauranga, Auckland and Bay Islands, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia overnight. Oceanview cabin, obstructed view, 180 sq. ft. from $4,749 plus $280 taxes. Balcony cabins are about $1,000 more per person.

Americas, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Florida

October 8 'Pacific Treasures' 18 Nights To Miami

Regatta Oceanview Cabin

Oceania Regatta, 684 passengers, built 1998, refurbished 2014. Catalina Island, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Mexico; Acajutla, El Salvador; Corinto, Nicaragua; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Colon, Panama overnight; Cartagena, Columbia; Havana. Ocean view cabin 143 sq. ft. from $4,549 or $700 more per person with round-trip air and a choice of 8 shore excursions or beverage package or $800 shipboard credit. Veranda cabins from about $1,100 more.

Other Options From Your Travel Agent Or Cruise Line

• Europe
• Hawaii Round Trip
• London
• Tahiti
• World Cruise