10 years of travel – it is amazing how fast the time has gone… I have been very lucky in my travels – and have sailed on some amazing ships and stayed at fantastic hotels!
One of the best trips I have taken is a cruise – a Regent cruise to be exact.
The Seven Seas Explorer – pre-inaugural cruise from Barcelona to Monte Carlo. I was invited to attend this fantastic event – it was a 5 night cruise onboard the brand new 6 star luxury all inclusive Seven Seas Explorer.
The ship has more marble and chandeliers than anything I have ever seen. We were treated like Royalty – and were also upgraded to a Concierge Suite – which was amazing. What sets Regent high above everyone is the fantastic staff onboard as well as the beautiful surroundings. The attention to detail is phenomenal. The variety of food and the wine list was also amazing. Everything is included with Regent, from the tours to the drinks and even the gratuities. A Regent cruise should be on everyone’s Wunderlist!
My second Regent Cruises was on the Seven Seas Mariner – Alaska – seeing Alaska again – on a beautiful ship is another highlight. Alaska is one of my favorite destinations – even living in the lower mainland – there is something so special about seeing this pristine area of the world. The Mariner has been completely updated – so the ship and service is definitely 6 star. Sitting on my private balcony – sailing the inside passage, seeing whales, eagles, and may different types of wild life – it is one of the best experiences available. If you have not gone to Alaska yet – you should definitely take the opportunity.
Uniworld River Cruise – Burgundy and Provence – from Avignon to Lyon. This is an amazing experience. I have never been on a River Cruise before – and was so pleasantly surprized. I sailed on the SS Catherine – which was one of the newer ships. The ships are beautifully decorated – they are like a small boutique hotel. The cabins are very well appointed – even with marble countertops in the bathrooms. There were daily tours – all inclusive onboard – and the artwork throughout the ship was spectacular – from the Murano Glass horse in the foyer – worth over a million dollars – to the Picasso in the lounge – there was always something to look at and admire.
It is quite the experience going through the locks on the rivers – I had been through the Panama Canal – so no where near that scale – but still very impressive to say the least.
You get to know the people onboard – as the boat is small enough – it only takes you a few minutes to get from one end to the other. There is always a great variety of food – and it was nice having the local entertainment come onboard. It is a very different experience – as there are no big shows or casino’s – it is a much more relaxed and refined way to travel.
Savoy Hotel in London – I have had the opportunity to stay at this Iconic hotel a couple of times – and must say it is one of my favorites The renovations have kept the history alive – the entrance is the only one in England where you enter on the right hand side – as normally they drive on the left… There is a theatre attached to the hotel – so you don’t even have to go far to catch a production show. The staff know your name as you are exiting the taxi or car – and the rooms are beautifully decorated. The location of the hotel is on the ‘Strand’ – a very short walk to Covent Gardens, the Thames and many different theatres. The high tea is also fantastic.
Kempinski la Corvinus – one of the best buffet breakfasts that I have experienced. This hotel was lovely – a great property in Budapest – but when I think of the best breakfast I have had – this one is the top. The variety of food and even the honeycomb that was available – and of course the hot paprika spread was a highlight. The staff here were very nice and when I asked if the spread was available to purchase – they made it happen! The variety was huge. When you are going to Europe – having breakfast included is a must.
Crystal Serenity – Coastal Cruise – San Francisco to Vancouver. High on my list is Crystal Cruises. This is also a luxury cruise line – and the ship is in my top two. This was a vacation to remember – the itinerary did not really matter to me – it was being on a Crystal Cruise – which was a highlight. The service onboard was excellent – the staff at the trident grill knew our names by the first afternoon – and were always there with smiles on their faces – and very attentive. The ship size was also great – not too big and not too small – lots of room without feeling lost or cramped. The entertainment onboard was by far some of the best I have seen. Crystal is all inclusive – but they do no include tours – which worked well for me. I had worked on cruise ships when I was starting out – so did many of the tours available. It was just nice to be onboard and enjoy the fabulous services. One highlight is the Mozart tea they serve – the staff all dress in period costumes and serve tea – of course champagne is also available.
I have been on many different cruise lines in the past 10 years – and each one has been a wonderful experience. There are actually too many to name – but the ones that I have had other family members join me have also been the highlights – whether it has been a 4 night on Princess or a 7 night on Celebrity – they all do an amazing job!