Mama mia! When the SeaDream I, sailed into Gustavia Harbor, in St. Barts - she turned heads! This sleek, sexy ship has 54 outside staterooms that measure 195 square feet. The master suite has 450 square feet with private master bedroom and bath, living and dining room and guest bath. There is a spa, fitness center, casino, 24 hour room service and boutique onboard plus beautiful bars and dining revenues. Their slogan is, “its yachting, not cruising,” and they promise once you try a SeaDream yacht you will never cruise again.

The SeaDream I is elegant and the people I met onshore were very happy with what they were experiencing. Being so impressed with the grand entrance she made, I went online to look at their website. It looks like the perfect environment for the independent, motivated traveler who wants comfort and luxury without the fuss. With longer stays in port and a more low-keyed environment onboard, it feels like one’s own yacht. Certainly it won’t be for everyone – there’s no “big” entertainment, activities or events – however, there is staff, equipment and resources for enjoying days at sea and exploring in port. As I said, I think SeaDream Yachts are ideal for the independent and self motivated traveler who wants comfort and luxury without the fuss. Sounds great to me!

The cruise ship terminal in Bridgetown, Barbados is so large it can now accommodate eight ships at one time. Not only are they calling on the island for traditional one day port stops, many cruise lines are now using Barbados as an embarkation and debarkation point port as well. Departure out of Barbados allows ships a chance to visit Caribbean and South American ports not accessible from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale on a typical seven day cruise. One such itinerary that particularly caught my eye was offered by Fred Olsen Cruises.

From Barbados the Braemar sails to Manaus and back in fifteen days. All the Amazonian stops are included like Santarem and Parintins including an encore presentation of the ever popular Boi Bumba Festival. Though most of the guests are coming from the United Kingdom, the chance to see the Amazon with the convenience and added savings of flying round-trip out of Barbados makes the opportunity an attractive one not to mention the opportunity to spend a few extra days in Barbados!

On December 27^th, the Seven Seas Mariner called upon Mexico’s newest cruise destination, Puerto Chiapas. I originally wrote about the port’s opening in my blog last year; but this was the first time I actually visited so I wanted to share my observations.

The Mexican government spent a lot of money dredging and enlarging the original local port; there is a new breakwater, a huge thatched palapa hut terminal and a brand new pier that can accommodate the largest ships in the industry. Though everything looks good on paper – in my opinion - the port as a destination is not quite ready to handle the demands of thousands of cruise passengers.

From what I can tell the main draw for the port of Chiapas is the chance to visit some of the most beautiful archaeological sites in the Maya world including Palenque. To do so however requires a full day. Unfortunately, our call was relatively short thus making it impossible to go anywhere too far from the ship. Given the choice of a coffee plantation, bird watching or the ruins of Izapa, I chose Izapa. Because of how out of the way the site is, I had never been there. I knew Izapa was small – a pre-classic site – with unusual stelae or carved markers. Now just 45 minutes away from the port it seemed foolish not to go.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by musicians and dancers; flags waved and confetti showered down upon the disembarking guests as they walked the distance of the pier to assemble for their tours. The sun was directly overhead and it was blazing hot. There was no shade until the groups headed for the buses via the terminal. The “terminal” is constructed to look like a traditional palapa hut only in gargantuan scale; along the perimeter were a few vendors selling handicrafts; in the center folkloric dancers were getting ready to perform. We boarded a new air conditioned coach that had a clean restroom, good public address system and functional air conditioning – everything a visitor wants. Traveling out of town I could see that this region of the coast even during a major holiday week was not a Mecca for national tourists not to mention foreigners.

We drove north about 30 minutes through an industrial area to the town of Tapachula; during the drive our guide said nothing. Other than introducing herself, she said nothing. She explained that “real guides” would be at our stops. Unfortunately, at all our stops the real guides were no better than the gal on the bus. Our tour visited the Casa de Cultura and Museum. To those interested in his wire sculpture, a young artist talked about his work; the rest of my group wandered through the small building wondering why they were brought there. Next door the museum had three rooms with pre-classic stelae and a few pieces of pottery; the signage was in Spanish and the person in the museum was grossly inaccurate in some of his explanations. I had hoped to see the stelae known as, “Tree of Life”; I asked where it was. I was told we would see it in the archaeological park. Unfortunately, upon our arrival to the very small complex of ruins, I discovered what we were seeing was but one of many groupings and the “Tree of Life” was in another area an hour away!

Like my fellow guests I was disappointed that greater effort had not been made to develop the infrastructure of the destination before it was opened. I can appreciate that tourists are new to Tapachula and signage in the museum has not been translated into English but trained guides could have compensated for that. My experience on our bus was not unique; it seemed the guides in general did not know their stuff and were not prepared. None of the tours were any good; no birds were spotted on the bird watching tour; there was nothing to see or learn at the coffee plantation tour. Upon returning to the terminal, shoppers desperate for a souvenir found very little. That is not to say that there is little to see or do in Puerto Chiapas, I think they are just not ready.

Personally, I did enjoy Tapachula. This rural community had all the charm of a Mexican town not yet tainted by tourism. There were no t-shirt shops or jewelry stores – yet. I did not see any gringos other than those I recognized off the ship. For the holiday season the buildings surrounding the tree filled plaza were decorated with red and green tinseled streamers. Vendors were hanging colorful new piñatas on the hooks before the entrances of their shops. In the plaza people listened to a mariachi band as they watched their children play with their new Christmas toys. I peered inside several outdoor cafes whose braziers were stoked-up with spits of grilled meat waiting for the home made tortillas. I thought to myself that this is the kind of place I would like to come back to on my own; find a little hotel and just enjoy the innocence of what used to Mexico. It’s sad to say that in the meantime, until the infrastructure is better developed I think most of the cruise ship visitors to Tapachula and Puerto Chiapas will remain disappointed.

I have never taken a cruise. I know it sounds crazy but I have never paid for a cruise and boarded as a passenger. However I am seriously thinking about changing that now that I found out Celebrity Cruises is offering a 4-day cruise from Seattle to Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver departing every Friday and Monday on the Mercury. The other day I saw a ship sail into Elliott Bay at about 6:00 am; I thought, “It’s too late in the season for there to be ships to Alaska – who is that?” I contacted the Port of Seattle and saw that it was the Mercury. I was so intrigued by not only the itinerary but the price (around $350 average for four days!) I am considering it myself! The ship sails through November; if you want a quick getaway this is perfect – the charm of Victoria, fall foliage in Nanaimo, and great museums, shopping and dining in Vancouver and Seattle. Why not?

If you are still thinking about a cruise to Alaska, there is still time to book. While kids are still in school, space is available on early season cruises. As ships reposition to Alaska the first cruise of the season usually calls on out of the ordinary ports like Grays Harbor, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. This year Regent Seven Seas Cruises is� offering a new port you might want to see, Campbell River, British Columbia. For years ships have passed Campbell River to and from Vancouver. It is the city you see on the starboard side after passing through Seymour Narrows. For years the ships have sailed by but now the city of 31,000 residents is opening its doors and inviting us to stop for a while.

According to The British Columbia Tourism Board the focal point is salmon fishing and an important gateway to the rich wilderness of northern Vancouver Island. For me it is the ease and charm of the community that I find attractive; my taste must also be shared by the aristocrats and wealthy outdoors enthusiasts from Europe and America that have chosen to make Campbell River their home.

The main industry is fishing and logging; the pulp mill can be seen from miles around. But increasingly more and more are discovering Campbell River as the gateway to the Strathcona Provincial Park and the 7,218 foot Golden Hinde, tallest peak on Vancouver Island. While there don’t miss The Museum at Campbell River which highlights not only the history of the area from the indigenous First Nations people to the contemporary townsfolk but also you can see actual footage of the explosion of Seymour Narrow’s Ripple Rock, said to be the largest non-nuclear explosion in history!

Take a walk along Discovery Pier for excellent views of mainland British Columbia. If you want to drop a line rent a pole nearby or continue out to Rotary Sidewalk and see if any orcas are in the vicinity. In addition to the shopping, hiking, kayaking, and biking one of the more unusual opportunities is a chance to “swim with the salmon.” Divers can mingle eyeball to eyeball, great way to get to know a Coho and find a new gill friend!

How many times have I been asked which cruise offers the best way to see and experience the Amazon? If you are not ready to string up a hammock on a local riverboat but you do want to get closer to nature than from what can be seen on a large cruise ship – have I got a trip for you!

Its the M/V IberoStar. Last year for the first time I saw the IberoStar docked in Manaus. I was gob-stopped! A 4 star shallow draft expeditionary riverboat it has 72 air-conditioned cabins, some with sliding glass doors leading to a spacious balcony. There are two restaurants, a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center and internet access. However, most importantly it carries five zodiacs for up close and personal exploration of tributaries with pre-excursions lectures by naturalists specializing in Amazonian flora and fauna. It took everything for me to resist jumping ship – I would love to work in that environment!

The IberoStar offers three and four night programs out of Manaus. Itineraries are complimentary and can be combined back-to-back for a one week cruise. For more information contact: www.iberostar.com or my friends at www.ladatco.com.

Here at home winter’s cold is starting to set in; however down south – way down south – spring has sprung and summer is not far behind. South of the equator in the temperate zones below the tropics, climate is exactly like ours only in reverse. For some it’s hard to imagine that places within South America contain landscapes reminiscent of the fertile plains and prairies of North America and the spectacular, glacially created fjords of Scandinavia. More than a dozen cruise ships will be setting sail south to explore this fascinating continent. However, luxury ships are not the only option for cruising in South America.

The southern portion of the 2,700 mile long coastline of the incomparably beautiful, shoestring country of Chile is best explored by sea. Here the Andes, the longest mountain range in the world, plunge precipitously into the Pacific Ocean forming a perilous coastline of uncharted bays and inlets defined by rocky cliffs. The Humboldt Current races up from Antarctica bringing cold water and bitter winds that strip the land bare of vegetation. All but the hardiest species survive. Unlike areas in the northern hemisphere, Southern Chile lacks terrestrial wildlife. However the area abounds in sea birds and marine mammals.

One of the best ways of getting “up close and personal” in the fjords of Chile is by experiencing them from the decks of a Navimag ferry. Navimag (Navigaciones Magallanes) has been in business since 1979.The ships are a combination ferry, cargo, mail and passenger service transporting walk on day-travelers, overnight guests, as well as cars, trucks, and even livestock. The fleet of 2 vessels departs from Puerto Montt. From here they serve a handful of small towns not normally accessed by large cruise ships. Because of their size and draft, Navimag can cruise along channels too shallow for big ships giving passengers a closer look at nature. You’ll be hard-pressed to see any vestige of human habitation along the way.

Onboard life is not six-star; you won’t find chocolates on your pillow or evening entertainment. Overnight guests wishing a bed can pay for a private cabin with bath or a bunk with shared restroom facilities. For those not wishing a bed, there are plenty of chairs and deck space for tents and sleeping bags. Food is cafeteria style and there is a sitting room for quiet reading. But who wants to be inside when condors are soaring overhead and glaciers are on the horizon?

For those travelers looking for an adventure, I suggest Navimag. Your adventure will begin once you reach the breathtaking Lake District and end in Puerto Natales gateway to the spectacular peaks of Torres del Paine National Park. This is a special part of the world still pristine; untouched by the outside world. For more information contact www.navimag.com.