One of the activities on our first sea day was a wine tasting done by the ship’s Sommelier. Wine was paired perfectly with delicious bites which we enjoyed as he gave us a wealth of information about each wine. Good times!
Back to Alaska part three
Category: Travel
Back to Alaska part two
My two week Alaskan cruise embarked from Vancouver, a city I’ve never been to. After a long day of flying across multiple time zones, I had a fabulous meal then crashed out. I wanted to show up for my first day on the Discovery Princess well rested.
And just like that we sailed away at sunset, the first of many sunsets……
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Back to Alaska part 1
I recently traveled back to Alaska to celebrate my birthday and my sister and her husband‘s wedding anniversary.
I was celebrated with a group singing “Happy Birthday” in our concierge lounge, then on the elevator and again in the dining room after dinner. There were cards in my room from staff members and chocolate covered strawberries delivered as a gift from my cruise specialist.
The towel art was such a fun surprise and remained with me for the duration of the cruise. I felt very loved and this trip will remain a cherished memory of my 70th birthday.
Stay tuned for part two…..
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Caribbean Cruise 2026 part three
The moon over the ocean is pure magic. I make it a point to get up before daybreak to catch sunrises when on a cruise.
One morning well before daylight, I got to enjoy the moon reflecting in the sea below. Mesmerized, I sat on my balcony with a steaming cup of tea and watched the sky until sunrise. I’ll never know if any other passengers were up that early to see it.
It might’ve just been me and the moon enjoying each other‘s company, sharing a moment…
As the sun came up, the moon hung over this cluster of clouds for a while longer. Stunning.
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Caribbean Cruise 2026 part two
For a foodie, cruise food is always a treat and this trip was no exception. From hearty breakfasts to salads, appetizers and dinners, the offerings were beautifully plated and delicious while the desserts were decadent and (almost) too pretty to eat.
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Caribbean Cruise 2026 part one
It’s difficult to choose the “best of the best” photos from my cruise but I did it! The sea is ever-changing from daybreak to sunset, at sea and in ports. It’s magical.
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Bellagio’s “All Aboard for Holiday Bells and Whistles”
When in Vegas recently, I once again visited Bellagio to see the beautiful display in their conservatory. Christmas is such a sparkly and festive time of year and Bellagio never disappoints.
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Wizard of Oz at The Sphere
When The Sphere was built in Vegas, it instantly became iconic, visible from many vantage points around the strip and beyond. The exterior is ever-changing and the creativity is remarkable. This trip, we went to see The Wizard of Oz there and it did not disappoint.
There were several special things I knew to expect as the movie began. During the tornado, it became windy with debris flying through the air, all around us. When Dorothy picks an apple from the tree and the tree throws apples back, I knew what would happen next. Lots of apples dropped from above – hundreds? thousands? I’m not sure but I got one! When they fell asleep in the poppy field and the snow started, the air got very cold and “snow” fell over the audience. I’m including a few photos followed by some video clips of what we were experiencing.
If you get to Vegas any time soon, this is so worth your time.
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Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden
While in Vegas I had the opportunity to go to the festive 32nd Annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lights. I’ve been to the cactus garden during daytime on a prior visit to Ethel M Chocolates and a few years ago, tried to attend this event only to arrive during a power outage.
This year, no power outage and an unseasonably mild December evening allowing us to stroll through the lovely, lighted cactus garden with Christmas music playing…..
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Luau at Smith’s Tropical Paradise
There are more than a few options in Kauai to attend a Luau – no surprise. That said, my sister Lisa deserves kudos for always finding the best and most fun things to do and see when we travel. For Luau’s she compared reviews, details of what’s included, location, viewing websites and knew Smith’s was the hands down the choice for our Luau experience.
Started fifty years ago and spanning four generations, the Smith family has curated more than a Luau experience for guests.
At 5 p.m. we boarded a tram for a narrated tour of their 30 acre botanical and cultural garden in the heart of the historic Wailua River Valley. We learned about the many types of trees, plants, flowers, fruits, and nuts growing in abundance on the property. After that, we were free to wander the meandering paths surrounded by tropical splendor, a small lake with mountains as a backdrop and peacocks, chickens, roosters and other birds roaming about adding to the atmosphere.
At 6:00, the Imu Ceremony was held explaining the cooking method called Kalua. Photos are courtesy of my sister.
At 6:30 began the Luau feast and remarkably for someone who photographs her food, (particularly whilst traveling) I literally took not one photo. I can only attribute this to my overwhelming appetite and anticipation. It was DELICIOUS.
At 8:00 we moved to the spacious open-air, torch-lit Lagoon Amphitheater for the Rhythm of Aloha Show which incorporated music and dance performances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Philippines, New Zealand, and Japan.
