1. Have a glacier experience! Get ‘em while you can whether it’s by bus, helicopter or ship make sure you see one of Alaska’s magnificent glaciers.
2. Misty Fjords by float plane – The only way to see this spectacular National Monument is by boat or plane; definitely worth the effort.
3. White Pass & Yukon Railroad – A little bit of nostalgia and history, this train was built at the time of the Gold Rush to transport prospectors into the interior. It parallels the old White Pass Trail. Beautiful scenery. Great fun!
4. Denali National Park – Keep your fingers crossed for a peak at the tallest peak in North America, Mt. McKinley at 20,300 feet.
5. Whale watching – Hundreds of whales make Alaska their summer home; book a whale watching tour for an up close and personal experience with these gentle behemoths.
6. Flight seeing – Alaska is so staggeringly large the only way to see as much as you can is from a fixed wing plane or helicopter. The scenery is unforgettable.
7. Dog sledding – What says Alaska more than dog sledding? Take a ride and learn to mush. Plenty of puppies to pet as well.
8. Rangers tour in Skagway – The best things in life are free! Take advantage of the free walking tour offered by National Park Service rangers in Skagway. Sign up at the Visitor’s Center.
9. Tlingit Culture – Southeast Alaska is the aboriginal homeland of the Tlingits; from state parks like Totem Bight in Ketchikan to the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Khadi Clan House in Sitka there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about one of Alaska’s native peoples.
10. Treats – No trip to Alaska is complete without sampling some of the great eats the state is famous for like fresh salmon, homemade berry pies, and Alaskan ale.

As most of you know, I wrote the first edition of “The Cruiser Friendly Onboard Guide to Alaska’s Inside Passage” as a challenge from Captain Jean-Marie Guillou. He believed my approach was one-of-a-kind; answering real questions posed by real people on real ships making it really valuable for anyone visiting Alaska. Though the first edition was not very sophisticated, the information was good. It sold out in three months warranting a second edition. The new and improved copy went on sale through my website last spring. I am happy to report, inventory is low and I am ready to print edition three!

The new book will feature a bold new look; new cover design and graphics, new maps and new chapters. Among the new chapters is one written by Executive Chef Mike Roemhild; in it he will share not only his favorite recipes featuring “the tastes of Alaska” but also anecdotal stories of being a chef at sea.

As promised, “The Cruiser Friendly Onboard Guide to Alaska’s Inside Passage” is the first in a series. During my last contract I gathered the final bit of field data and statistics for the completion of the next two books; Panama Canal and the Amazon. I am anxious to get them into the hands of cruisers as the Canal is the second most popular cruise (Alaska is the first in terms of arrivals) and the Amazon is fast becoming one of the most requested. I also have a children’s book entitled, “Time to say Goodnight” and my own memoirs, “Breen there, done that!” If anyone knows of a publisher looking for unfulfilled niche in the cruise industry, let me know! Until then, I’ll keep plugging away in order to help all of you get the most information and enjoyment out of your cruise.

The Bay of Campeche on Mexico’s Gulf Coast has never been a destination for tourists. The city of Veracruz located in the midst of the country’s petroleum rich lowlands is Mexico’s busiest port. With high temperatures and equally high humidity it is the quintessential steamy tropical port city. Consequently this part of the country has remained overlooked as tourists opt for places like the Yucatan Peninsula with its white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters and constant Gulf Stream breeze. From its inception in the 1970s when the Mexican government slated the area for major tourism development, the Yucatan has grown from sleepy fishing villages to international resort destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the Costa Maya. Today, many of these areas are overrun with as many as seven cruise ships in port on any one day. Always looking for new areas to expand the variety of ports on seven day Caribbean itineraries, the cruise industry along with the Mexican government, has developed a new port on the Gulf Coast. Puerto Chiapas is advertised as the gateway to the magnificent Maya ruins of Palenque. Normally considered one of the more “difficult” sites to visit because of its remote location, the existence of a port within easy driving distance of the site is exciting and frightening. Knowing that Palenque is one of the most beautiful Classic Maya city states it is exciting that more people will have the opportunity to see it and appreciate their great achievements. Frightening in that as has been the case in other Maya sites like Tulum and Chichen Itza, the wear and tear of millions of visitors has degraded and destabilized structures requiring them to be off limits to the public forever more. In addition to Palenque, I am not sure what other activities are offered during this port stop. The region of the country is still untouched and I am sure there are many natural areas of interest. It is hard to say how the increase in tourism will effect not only the site but the local economy; hopefully all those factors have been carefully considered with the opening of the port. Only time will tell. If any of you visit the area in the near future, I would sincerely be interested in hearing from you regarding your impressions. If you’d like to read more about what is being planned for Puerto Chiapas, link on the following link http://travel.latimes.com/articles/sns-trvrail2-wk2.