Daniella explored Alaska by e-bike, sea kayak, helicopter, floatplane, packraft, nature hikes and rail.
Yves and I just returned from a week-long cruise from Rome to Malta on the recently refurbished SeaDream II. The cabins were updated and we really liked the fresh look and additional storage space. The two hot tubs on the top deck added a nice touch and I also got to enjoy the hammock for a bit. Reading my book with great views of Taormina, Sicily caused me to pause and look up frequently. The new slide from the pool deck into the ocean is an absolute blast and several of us enjoyed every minute of the thrilling slide into the ocean!
We have always loved the staff and the food on SeaDream Yacht Club. The staff was as personal and caring as always, but the food was even better than ever before. The menus change daily, with a few staple items that are always available. We also tried the wine pairing dinner and were very impressed with the knowledge of the wonderful sommelier.
The sailing included two overnight stays: first, Sorrento, which gave us a chance to explore the town in the evening and visit Pompeii the next day. Amalfi was another overnight stay, and having dinner on the top deck with the incredible views of the dramatic coastline was magical.
Our trip highlight was cruising past Stromboli Volcano, which was erupting about every 15 minutes at that time. Watching it come closer as we were cruising after dinner was very special. Once we were up close, the captain stopped the ship for 30-45 minutes so that we could just sit and observe the eruptions. INCREDIBLE!
Because it is a yacht, it does not have balconies and the cabins run small, but they are well appointed. The guest-to-staff ratio is excellent at 98 staff and 112 guests. But it’s not the ratio that makes the difference, it is the attitude of the staff and how much they love taking care of their travelers. That’s what is sure to make you want to sail with them again and again.
Meanwhile, Daniela Harrison just returned from Alaska on board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Regent is an all-inclusive line, meaning the cruise, meals, beverages, gratuities and shore excursions are all included in the fare. This makes navigating on the ship easy and there were about 70 excursions in each port of call to choose from.
The ship is small, with under 800 passengers making embarkation and disembarkation a breeze. The passengers never had to stand in line or wait for anything, and there were always open seats at the restaurants and theater.
The public areas on board are well appointed and very comfortable. There is ample space for groups of friends and multi-generational families to spread out and enjoy the space, but there are also many nooks and hideaways for a more romantic couple’s retreat. The spa, gym and sports deck were always busy, and the cooking school and library were well attended. The lounges and atrium are host to multiple activities throughout the day and evening, pre-dinner music and lectures are followed by the big evening show and late-night music. Daniela says the evening shows were some of the best she’s seen in recent years! A wonderful variety of musical numbers, classic and modern dance, a magical comedian, and on the last night, a most fantastic crew talent show.
Daniella explored Alaska by e-bike, sea kayak, helicopter, floatplane, packraft, nature hikes and rail. The trip highlight was a shore excursion to Norris Glacier in Juneau. After a 40-minute floatplane flight across multiple glaciers, the group landed at the foot of Norris Glacier. They hiked 15 minutes across a small island, learning about the new flora and fauna since the glaciers’ recess in the last 70 years. Then, they climbed into packrafts and paddled for about an hour through the ice shard field to the glacier front. The adventure included pulling themselves up onto the ice shore, embarking on the 40-minute hike across the glacier, drinking from a natural glacial spring and learning about the ice layers and geology. Then they did it all again in reverse. An AMAZING day! Other highlights were spotting a bear in Hoonah, and whales bubble-feeding in Skagway. FBN
By Monika Leuenberger
To learn more about Avenues of the World Travel and our preferred supplier partners, please join us at our 8th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo on Sept. 26 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff. Meet with world-renowned cruise lines, tour operators and hoteliers, face to face between 5-8 p.m. Check the September issue for a list of attending supplier partners and show details. Avenues of the World Travel Advisors will be on site to answer any questions, schedule appointments and assist with live bookings on site. Don’t miss your chance to secure amazing booking specials and enter our door raffle for vacation giveaways and much more! For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.
Monika Leuenberger is the president and owner at Avenues of the World Travel. Daniela Harrison is a travel advisor and director of marketing at Avenues of the World Travel.
For more information, visit https://www.avenuesoftheworld.com.
