CAPTIVATING INSIGHTS INTO OCEANIC TRAVEL

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SUMMER 2023

Summer is here - ships have been repositoned for seasonal sailings to the Mediterranean, Alaska, Antarctica, Canada, Northern Europe and the Baltics. This is peak season so don't expect any big discounts. Even the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera are fetching high rates for sailings as many families prefer to sail from ports closer to home.

Here in Aruba it gets very quiet regarding arrivals. We host just five arrivals in the month of July, six in August and a whopping seven in September. A far cry from over twenty arrivals a month during the winter season.

So far no major problems with river cruises throughout Europe in 2023. Let's pray for some rainfall and acceptable conditions averting using buses to get passengers from one port to the next due to low water levels.

In an interesting transformation, what was Costa Venezia is now a Carnival ship brandishing many Italian themed amenities, lounges and features. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia was named by Jay Leno in June in New York. I just wonder how the unique atmosphere onboard will lure Carnival's happy-go-luck guests with a very different scene onboard. This ship is pretty inside and...hang on Carnival guests, you're in for an surprise!

Crossing the Atlantic

Now is the time to think about repositioning cruises that cross the Atlantic in the fall. Cruise lines send their ships from Europe to the USA for the Caribbean season offering great value for sailings that range from eight-fifteen days. You may have a chance to explore Spain, Portugal, The Azores, Canada and even Iceland. Cruise lines are beefing up port stops on these westbound voyages allowing them to increase prices based on their itineraries. Of course you can opt for a quick transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 - just seven glorious days on the world's only ocean liner with regular sailings between New York and the UK.

I've crossed the Atlantic fourteen times and find it to be the most gratifying way to enjoy oceanic travel. A chance to visit some great ports and also savor those days at sea.

Journey On !

“It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me.

But life at sea is better.”

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE