Cruise Line Character

Just as hotels come in a range of price points with individual character so do cruise lines and their ships. Some cruise companies focus on live music while others on popular destinations and still others try and attract families. Prices range from premium fares to reasonably economical, so if your considering your first cruise start with deciding what your budget is and what your interested in. Below we offer a short guide to many major cruise lines and what they’re noted for.

Clicking on the cruise ship photographs below will also open the websites for each cruise company. You can do a lot of research online by checking out destinations and getting quotes.

Princess Cruises

Noted for elegance at sea, passengers can find the itinerary they’re looking for among the lines fleet of fifteen ships. Princess ships are considered a notch above many cruise lines, offering ungraded cuisine options in an environment reminiscent of the historic age of cruising. Expect a less casual dress code.

Celebrity Cruises

Luxury above the average on more than a dozen ships in its fleet, Celebrity Cruises appeals to a more refined and mature cruiser featuring plenty of options from speciality restaurants, great onboard entertainment, guest lecturers all in a modern upscale environment.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line was the innovator of Freestyle Cruising offering a wide range of options so you can cruise “your way”. NCL allows you to choose among different dining options, activities, shore excursions and more.

Carnival Cruise Line

The Fun Ships are the world’s largest cruise line featuring over 25 ships in its fleet. Carnival branded itself “The Fun Ships” and it has a reputation as favored by younger cruises. Actually it isn’t fair to characterize the entire fleet this way as the young party cruisers seem to prefer the two to seven day Caribbean cruises. Generally Carnival is a good all around cruise experience at the more economical end of the spectrum. The food and entertainment are note worthy, the cabins are roomier than average and you can find itineraries to select from that range from Alaska to Europe. While it has a well deserved reputation for attracting the young party crowd, recently Carnival has been trying to tamp down on the onboard excesses by issuing warnings about conduct that won’t be tolerated. A new campaign seems to have been rolled out recently in an effort to switch the image to “The Family Fun Ships” hoping to attract more family vacationers.

Viking Ocean Cruises

New to ocean cruising Viking brings their premium river cruising features to the larger ocean ships. Noted for great food, wine and bear at meals, refined entertainment and included shore excursions. Smaller but more elegant ships and itineraries that range beyond the usual.

Azamara Cruises

Once a part of Royal Caribbean, Azamara was sold to an investment group during the pandemic and has benefitted from the arrangement. Azamara fleet of slightly smaller cruise ships offers a bit of elegance at sea along with itineraries that lean toward the more exotic.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean is a good choice for families looking for programs for every member of the family. With some of the largest and most innovative ships in a growing fleet, Royal Caribbean is very good at programs and activities that appeal to everyone in the whole family.

Holland America Line

A mix of traditional and modern cruising with a reputation for exceptional food along with a major focus on great live music. Holland America Line provides a range of world wide itineraries, features traditional cruising and superior live music on every cruise.

Disney Cruise Line

A cruise line at the higher price point, Disney magic at sea provides a focus on family entertainment. Ships employ the Disney brand everywhere onboard from classic Disney stories to Marvel adventures. The ships of Disney Cruise Line offer great menus, provide no casinos, and specializes in immersive Disney fun for children of all ages.

Costa Cruises

Italian vibes with a true European feel. Cruisers expect upscale cuisine, respected traditions, and a feel for the culture of Italy. Costa’s dozen ships focus on Mediterranean itineraries but do offer some itineraries worldwide. Think understated elegance with Italian flair.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is a cruise division of an old and large shipping business. The cruise division is based in Italy with headquarters in Switzerland. Consisting of more than 15 cruise ships their itineraries cover the world with a focus on a diversity of its options and a range of international passengers.

Want more information? Talk to a travel agent about cruise ships, destinations and pricing and if you have family or friends that have cruised for advice on what they would recommend.

Legends Of Photography

And Their Photographs

I’ve spent much of my life in photography including an education in photography, photographic science and bio-medical photography. Even before that I was exposed to photography through visiting exhibits like the Museum of Modern Art’s photographic exhibit “The Family of Man”* and working with my father in his darkroom. In the Navy I studied photography and was approved to work as a Photographer when an opening became available**. In the Navy I also had the opportunity to meet some working war photographers which at the time inspired me to become a photojournalist. As with almost everything else today photography has changed with the advent of digital images and cellphones. Still, I think it might be of some value to get to know some of photography’s greats – enjoy.

*The Family of Man was probably one of the great photography exhibits of all time and it is still available as a book today HERE.

**In the Navy, job ratings required you to first be qualified by taking courses and training,. But still couldn’t get the job (be rated) unless there was an opening. At the time there hadn’t been an opening for a Photographers Mate in almost five years. I went on to rate as a Storekeeper.

The walk to Paradise Garden, 1946 W. Eugene Smith

W. Eugene Smith – Perhaps the original creator of the photo essay and one of the worlds leading photojournalist. I met Eugene in 1971 when he was invited to a roundtable on photography at my college. After the session we spent a couple of hours drinking and just talking. One of his most famous photographs was “The walk to Paradise Garden” which was included in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibit “The Family of Man”*. He described taking the picture as a grab shot with his Leica. He was out back of his house with some friends and neighbors when he saw his children walking towards the woods. It was over a week before he developed the film and made a quick print.

In a reflective mood that evening he commented that when he was in the battle of Okinawa in 1945, he was seriously injured by mortar fire that broke his arm. Wouldn’t it be a sad finale to my life and career if i now fell off the barstool and broke my arm again. He was 53 at that time.

I still keep that softcover copy of “The Family of Man” from the 1960’s in my photography book collection.

Migrant Mother 1937 Dorothea Lang

Dorothea Lang – This is one of photography’s most famous photographs. From 1935 to 1940, Dorothea traveled the country documenting the hardships of the great depression for the Farm Security Administration, of the U.S. Agriculture Department. Lange photographed the people she met and that included Lange’s most well-known portrait, “Migrant Mother”. It’s the iconic image from the period that captured the hardship and pain of what so many Americans were experiencing. Because she was working for the government, much of her work is in the collection of the Library of Congress and oddly enough you could order prints made from her original negatives for just a printing fee.

Moon and Half-Dome Ansel Adams
Winter Yosemite Valley

Ansel Adams – The dean of American landscape photographers, was famous for lugging his large view cameras up mountain sides. “Moon and Half Dome” above is my favorite photograph. A classmate of mine and a photographer, introduced his mother to Adam’s work. She was an executive with Continental Can Company and contacted him at his studio in Yosemite valley wanting to buy photographs to display at the company headquarters. His reply when he learned the name of the company was that there was no amount of money from Continental Can that could buy his prints.

My own collection has two original Adams prints.

The Two Photographers That Influenced Me The Most

I had an opportunity to encounter both of these photographers during the Vietnam war and they were responsible for me believing I could make a career in photography.

‘Reaching Out’ taken 5 October 1966 after the Marines were ambushed on Mutter’s Ridge. Larry Burrows

Larry Burrows – Anyone that spent time with Larry quickly understood that he was one of the greatest photojournalists of that era. Burrows later died when the helicopter he was in was shot down over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos while covering Operation Lam Son 719.

About Reaching Out pictured above, “Larry Burrows made a photograph that, for generations, has served as the most indelible, searing illustration of the horrors inherent in that long, divisive war — and, by implication, in all wars.” — Ben Cosgrove, Life Magazine

The Battle of Khe Sanh, David Douglas Duncan

David Douglas Duncan – I met him briefly “in country”. He was a photojournalist who documented the Vietnam war over several years. He is noted for spending several weeks with the Marines at The Seige of Khe Sanh. After that experience he published a book called “I Protest”*** about the American policy during the war. He is most remembered though for his images of Picasso taken over a few years he spent with the artist. One of my prized possessions is a copy of his “I Protest”.

***Copies of I Protest can be found from vintage booksellers, on Ebay and at Amazon HERE.

While the two proceeding photographers inspired me to go to college and study photography, their lives also ended up convincing me that a life on the road following wars and disasters didn’t leave much room for a normal life.

Vanessa Redgrave, by Victor Skrebneski

Victor Skrebneski – A fashion photographer based out of Chicago. I met Victor when he came to school to give a series of lectures and workshops. At the time he was the main commercial photographer for Estée Lauder. One evening out drinking, he told me that he was going to have to leave early to do a shoot he couldn’t pass up. His agent had contacted him about Gulf Oil’s ad agency wanting him to do a series of outdoor period shots for some magazine ads. He didn’t want to do it and to get out of it he quoted an outrageous five times his normal rate. The agent had just called back that afternoon and told him he had the job with a bonus if he could get it done ahead of schedule. My collection includes several of Victor’s prints.

Marilyn Monroe by Bert Stern

Bert Stern – I never met Bert but his work also inspired me. He was self taught and became famous for his celebrity portraits and his advertising images. I met a photographer at a workshop who worked in Sterns studio. He had an interesting account. I believe it was Smirnoff’s agency that wanted a photograph of a martini glass with the pyramids in the background. Most commercial photographers would have kept the work in the studio by doing a back-screen projection of the pyramids. Bert’s approach to photography was pretty basic, so instead he took the crew to Egypt and shot the photographs outdoors with the actual pyramids as the background.

Iceland Volcano by Pete Turner

Pete Turner – I met Pete several times when he was starting out as a commercial photographer in New York and shortly after that he was picked up to do regular work for several magazines. Pete was more an artist than a photographer, having this incredible vision and feel for the use of color. His images seemed to always be at the edge of becoming abstract art. He’s one of the few photographers where I see an image and immediately know it’s his.

Selected Images • The Castle On The Hill • Wurzburg

Standing high above the town of Wurzburg, Germany is Marienberg Fortress. Located on the left bank of the Main river in Würzburg, Bavaria the Fortress is a symbol of Würzburg and was the home of the local prince-bishops for nearly five centuries. The location has been a fort since ancient times.

Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent. Celebrate a world of travel experiences with these decorating accessories that are perfect for framing.

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Impressions Of Budapest

We can’t say enough about this amazing city and are always ready for a return trip. Here you’ll find a collection of images offering a glimpse of why we love Budapest.

Budapest is the heart of Hungary with the Danube flowing like blood through its veins. History is celebrated at every turn. The beauty of this city overwhelms at every hour of the day.

Budapest is the heart of Hungary providing great parks and riverside sidewalks.
Budapest is the heart of Hungary with landmarks of its history at every turn.

Today’s Image • The Shetland Light

Looking back through thousands of images from oceans and countries around the world it struck me that I’ve taken a lot of pictures of light houses. I believe the attraction is their linked relationship with both land and sea but also because they often stand as isolated and lone sentinels reaching out to guide ships at sea. Here’s one of my favorites.

The Shetland Light is located on a barren hillside jutting out into the sea. It stands watch on a group of islands located between the North Atlantic and the North Sea. The Shetlands, also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland, are an archipelago between Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway. It is the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. 

Join Us – We understand that the last thing you may want is more emails cluttering up your inbox, but we promise we’ll work hard to make this worth your while. Give us a try and if we don’t live up to our promise all you need do is click the unsubscribe link in our emails.

The Cruise Port, Cozumel Mexico

Port of Call The Island Of Cozumel

This port of call is often referred to as Cozumel, but it is actually island on the southeast coast of Mexico and the actual port city is San Miguel de Cozumel. Located off the Yucatan peninsula it is part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and a very popular cruise stop on most western Caribbean itineraries. Its real claim to fame are the beaches and the diving sites but it is also a good place for bargain shopping.

Where Your Ship Docks

Terminal de Cruceros or Cruise Ship Terminal is the major location for cruise ships but there is another major terminal located in downtown proper. With this destination being so popular there is a possibility that your ship could dock at either location.

The Terminal de Cruceros is a well developed area with excellent facilities, two shopping villages, a number of bars (the infamous Mini Senor Frog’s and Three Amigos) and a number of good restaurants. It is about two and a half miles into downtown San Miguel. It is right next to a remarkably good snorkeling area right at the terminal “beach”.

The other cruise docking pier is central to San Miguel and an easy walk to the main shops, restaurants and the actual original Senor Frog’s.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port has a several developed cruise ship piers but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with.

Port Characteristics – This port has a good wheelchair infrastructure. Outside the port area you may experience moderate to narrow sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Transportation

If you are looking to get to locations within a few miles of the pier the best choice is a taxi. They are plentiful and moderately priced. Just make sure you settle on a fare before heading out. If your goal is to do some diving or serious snorkeling the recommendation is to book with a tour operator of which there are a number right at the pier and they usually include transportation. Taxi drivers also will offer a fixed price tour of the island and most people we have spoken with have been happy having taken this option. There are also numerous tours you can book with your ship.

Money

The local currency is the Mexican peso ($1 about 2 pesos) but U.S. Dollars are commonly accepted. One word of caution – this is a port where liberating tourists from their money is a popular past time. Be cautious of ATM’s, money changers and especially pay phones that accept credit cards cannot be trusted. ATM fees can also be unuaually high.

Attractions

Shopping –

Both at the cruise terminal and in the town there are a number of bargains to be found. Mexico is famous for silver, onyx and pottery and often the prices are too good to pass up. For the best savings pay attention and for:

  • Mexican Handicrafts especially Talavera Pottery – Talavera is a Mexican tradition founded on the art of the Spanish colonial period rich with old world design and a colorful heritage. While the intricate polychrome and more typical blue and white designs show their Old World legacy, native floral and animal motifs claim these colorful ceramics as classically Mexican.
  • Hand-loomed wool blankets
  • Leather boots, purses and bags – Pay attention to the leather for its quality. Pay attention to the way that it smells. Faux leather smells similar to plastic. Low-quality leather is often thinner and will smell like the chemicals that were used to treat it. High-quality leather has a true leather, earthy smell.
  • Handmade Hammocks
  • Silver, gold, coral, onyx, and amber jewelry
  • Quality Tequila and Vanilla Extract – In shopping for vanilla don’t be tempted by those large, cheap bottles of vanilla available in many gift shops. They may not contain real vanilla extract, and sometimes may contain something that could hurt you. That “something” is coumarin, an extract of the tonka bean that imparts an intense vanilla aroma and thus makes it smell like the real thing. Coumarin was banned as food additive in the U.S. in 1940 because of toxicity. Pay attention and make sure you know what you are getting.
  • Fine Cigars and specialty liqueurs

The two items that are always a good deal are vanilla and tequila.

Beaches – One good recommendation is a visit to a beach and one popular choice is Chankanaab. The cruise ships will offer tours including beach trips and snorkeling but if you are looking for a day at the beach our recommendation is to take a taxi to Chankanaab Beach Park and pay the park admission. You’ll save a lot of money over the tour cost and can go and return when you want. It’s not far and there are usually taxis waiting at the park to take you back to the ship. There is a beach bar, a couple of food options, snorkeling and beach chair rentals and the water is great. To get out to the better reefs it’s a bit of a swim though.

Looking for some history? Cozumel has San Gervasio, Mayan ruins centered on the sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel, the island´s ancient deity.

For the more adventurous there are usually tours available that will take you two hours south along the coast to Tulum, the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city. The ruins are situated atop 12-meter tall cliffs above the Caribbean Sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya between the 13th and 15th centuries.

For a price many cruise ships also offer tours to Chichen Itza some two hundred miles inland (by plane of course). This Mayan city is on everyone’s list of the seven ancient wonders of the Americas with the central city covering almost two square miles of temples, stadiums, courtyards and palaces.

A Cautionary Note: Cozumel has a reputation as a party town and there are no age restrictions on drinking alcohol. It almost seems to be a sport for bars to work at getting teen visitors drunk. So pay real close attention to you children if you go ashore. The problem has been bad enough that many cruise ships no longer stay in the port in the evening because of issues with drunk teens.