Cruises to destinations around the world!

BALTIC SEA CRUISE

Turquoise lakes, green forests, breathtaking views, and fascinating cities! We booked a 12-night Baltic Sea cruise to London, and it was one of our best cruises together.

CruisesOur cruise took off from Stockholm, the mesmerizing capital of Sweden, where we spent an extra day. Before we boarded the ship, we took a stop at the IceBar and the Royal Palace in Stockholm through the hop on and hop off bus to the town. It was all so beautiful!

In Helsinki, Finland, we saw the Uspenski Cathedral, which is a truly stunning piece of architecture. We also took a walk to Market Square, which is open six days a week.

Our highlight of the trips was the three days in St. Petersburgh, Russia. There, we saw Catherine’s Palace, the Rococo palace located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo, The Hermitage, where the galleries of old masters are hung. We also visited Peterhof Palace, Summer Palace of Peter the Great, Catherine’s Palace, Faberge Museum, and Church of Spilled Blood.

Every location was equally breathtaking and beautiful. We also got to attend a symphony at The Mariinsky Theatre, a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Did you know that the theatre was opened in 1860? Our trip continued to Estonia, Berlin, Skagen, and Copenhagen. Our final destination was London, where we spent 4 days wandering around town. And the experience was awe-inspiring!

ALASKA CRUISE

The inside passage cruise from San Francisco to Alaska was a 10-day trip, and there was not a single dull moment!

CruisesOur first stop was Skagway– the gateway to the Klondike. Alaska’s colorful gold rush history is showcased in Skagway. It is a quaint little town with historical buildings and shops that line throughout. There is a Visitor’s Information Center located downtown where you can ask for a copy of their Walking Tour Map.

There are many guided shore excursions offered here, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking. But the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad is one of Skagway’s most popular attractions. It’s a 3 hour round trip. The train slowly climbs from sea level to 2,865 feet at the summit.

The rail trip is a blend of dramatic scenery and history- the highlight of our Alaska cruise itinerary.

Ketchikan

Our next stop was Ketchikan. Ketchikan has many Totem Poles located throughout the city. The best part of the city is on Creek Street. The city is built on the slopes of Deer Mountain. If you take a short hike up Front Street’s steps, they open up to Cedar Street, from where you can overlook the waterfall. If you don’t feel like walking, there is a downtown loop shuttle that takes you on a 20-minute loop with stops at Discovery Center, Creek Street, Totem Heritage Center, and Fish Hatchery.

BUT the city’s attractions are best seen by taking a walk and stroll around. The cruise ships docking area is very close to all the fun sights to visit. The boardwalk is set on pilings, and it takes you along the shores of Ketchikan Creek. There you will see shops, a museum called Dolly’s House and Ted Ferry Civic Center.

We then stopped at Glacier Bay. Like others, we came by cruise ship, and the rangers boarded our ship. Stunning views, great commentaries from the park rangers… quite simply, a not to be missed experience!

All the views are spectacular of the inlets, the fjords, and the glaciers. Their commentary was very helpful. The scenery was stunning. We saw many birds, harbor seals, and the wall of ice, which is now melting and experienced the fresh air and quietness of the beautiful bay.

Lots of wildlife, sea, and land visible from ship (ice melting is very sad). Keep your camera ready, these bits of ice slide into the water at any time.

ANDES AND SOUTH AMERICA CRUISE

One of our best memories from our cruises together is the 17 day Andes & South America tour. Not only was it beautiful, but the tour is also something that all of you should visit at least once in your life.

CruisesThe tour started in Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile. We experienced a wine tasting in the vineyard, which was really fun. We visited the archaeological museum and saw the Petroglyphs. Those are truly awe-striking pieces of art.

Our next stop was Lima, Peru, where we saw the Pachacamac Ruins. The site is pretty awesome to be called ruins! We also attended an outdoor performance of the Peruvian Horses, dancers, music at Hacienda Mamacona. The hacienda was beautiful. When we entered the hacienda gate, we were greeted by a small brass band, dancers, and five horsemen. The musicians, dancers, and horsemen provided a truly enjoyable show. We also enjoyed a delicious lunch, and it was a really exciting event.

In Manta, Ecuador, the second largest port in Ecuador. There, we went to the Artisan Market and the archaeological museum. On the west of Manta, lie the Galapagos Islands.

Awe-striking, magnificent, glorious? We don’t have the words to explain how amazing it was!

We also visited Costa Rica, and our last stop was Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We snorkeled, and it was such an amazing experience! We then stopped by the pier, had a margarita, and watched the people stroll by.

Relaxing, fun, and a vacation we all needed!