GUIDES TO NORTH AMERICA’S MAJOR CRUISE PORTS OF CALL
Key West, Florida
From Ketchikan, Alaska to Key West, Florida, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Halifax, Nova Scotia, North America provides an incredible range of cruise ports of call ready to be explored.Hike Alaska’s trails and glaciers or think about some beach time in Hawaii, perhaps you’d look forward to exploring the sights of the Canadian Maritimes? So if you’re thinking about where to cruise; take some time and explore what North America has in store!
If you’re booking a cruise, check out our port guides to help in planning your trip. Find out what to expect in each port from where your ship docks, available public transportation, attractions to see and more.
The answer is Mount Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) and is recognized for its prominence and is actually considered the tallest mountain at 18,000 feet surpassing Everest (at 12,000 feet) in terms of vertical rise from its base to the summit. Still not as tall as Denali are K2 and Kangchenjunga that follow Everest in height, ranking third and fourth respectively among the world’s tallest mountains.
Everest
Mauna Kea
Actually the world’s true tallest mountain for total height is Mauna Kea on the big island of Hawaii, rising approximately 33,476 feet from its base on the deep ocean floor to its summit. While its peak is 13,796 feet, above sea level, its total height from its base makes it significantly taller than Denali or Mount Everest when measured by height above sea level.
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For us the year was 1999 when we booked our first cruise. Every year for a number of years we always took a family driving vacation. Me, my wife and two boys out exploring Yosemite or the Grand Canyon or the Blue Ridge Mountains and there was always someone upset; “I’m too tired to hike”, “I’m hungry”, “when are we gonna be there?” and always my famous rant “Don’t make me stop this car!”.
In 1999 we flew to Seattle and spent several days seeing the city before taking a bus to Vancouver. A few more days there before boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise for seven days cruising Alaska.
On board we settled into our stateroom and that’s when it hit us – we didn’t have to pack and unpack as we visited five different ports in Alaska. Within 24 hours I thought I had gone to heaven.
The youngest son joined the kids program and that kept him busy for the entire cruise. He was having such a good time he had us pay extra for the evening kids programs. There were a couple of family sessions where we played games (I actually won a pair of Royal Caribbean boxer shorts).
The teenager right away took to the Teen Club and became friends with several other teens that he has stayed in touch with for years. In a couple of ports he went off on his own fly fishing and he and I went sport fishing on the day in Ketchikan . One of the salmon he caught was sent back to the ship and was presented at our dinner and shared with the table.
Mom and dad found plenty of time alone together and while my wife had an issue with motion sickness, and came well prepared, it turned out she did just fine – no seasickness. Every evening we sat down for a family dinner and there were no worries about finding something that appealed to the kids or who ordered what or how much the check was going to be.. And in port we all went ashore as a family.
Over the next several years, taking a vacation usually meant cruising and after the kids left home we started cruising even more. We met a lot of new friends our age and over a decade or two we’ve stayed in touch with a lot of them. With two couples we met on a cruise we now travel together at least every year or two. Oh, and we have now taken 75 cruises and still planning more.
Today, we’re convinced that the people who don’t like cruising are mostly people who have never cruised. If you like travel and have never been on a cruise, you’re really missing out. Still not sure cruising is for you? Do you and your family a favor and just try a taste – there are plenty of 3 and 4 day cruises leaving from a number of ports and we’ll guarantee you that it won’t cost much more than a family weekend get-away on land…
Ten Reasons We Love Cruising
Amazing opportunities to meet new friends
As you travel to new places there’s no more packing and unpacking.
No cooking and doing dishes.
There’s no worries about having your food budget wrecked.
Mom and dad get some great alone time.
No conflict about who wants to do – or not do – what.
Kids are catered to in the included kids programs.
No more screaming “don’y make me stop this car”.
Amazing entertainment included in the cost of the fare.
More things to do than you can imagine.
Planning A Cruise? Start By Checking Out The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
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The Pitons, A Landscape Shaped By Volcanic Activity
The Pitons of St. Lucia are two iconic volcanic spires located on the southwestern coast of the island. These geological formations, known as the Gros Piton and Petit Piton, are significant both geologically and culturally. The Pitons are remnants of a volcanic formation created by the island’s volcanic activity. They are part of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, which was formed due to the subduction of the South American Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate. The Petons are classified as remnants of stratovolcanoes, characterized by their steep profiles and layered structure resulting from alternating eruptions of lava flows, ash, and volcanic rocks.
One of the top activities when visiting the Pitons is to hike its almost 23 miles of trails. Guided hikes are available and there’s a wide range of accommodations near the Pitons with prices to fit any budget:
Ti Kaye Resort & Spa
Green Fig Resort & Spa
Sunset Lane
Cultural Importance: The Pitons are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hold cultural significance for the local population, symbolizing the natural beauty of St. Lucia.
Eco-Exploring and Research
The Pitons are a major hiking destination, offering hiking trails, stunning views, and opportunities for photography and exploration. Researchers study the geology of the Pitons to better understand volcanic processes and the geological history of the Caribbean region.
Recent volcanic activity in Saint Lucia is primarily associated with the Soufrière Volcanic Centre, located in the southwestern part of the island. This area has been the focus of ongoing geological monitoring due to its active nature. The most notable feature here is the Sulphur Springs, which is recognized as the world’s only drive-in volcano and was formed from a collapsed volcanic crater over 410,000 years ago.
Beyond Saint Lucia the Caribbean region is home to numerous additional active volcanoes, primarily located in the Lesser Antilles, where 17 known volcanoes are considered ‘live’ and likely to erupt again across 11 islands. The arc of these volcanos is created by the Lesser Antilles subduction zone, where the oceanic crust of the South American plate is being subducted under the smaller Caribbean plate. This boundary contains these active volcanoes, most notably Soufriere Hills on Montserrat*1; Mount Pelée on Martinique; La Grande Soufrière on Guadeloupe; La Soufrière Saint Vincent on Saint Vincent*2; and the submarine volcano Kick ’em Jenny which lies about 6 miles north of Grenada. Morne Watt on Dominica*3 is an additional volcano that has had recent eruption events.
Montserrat’s Soufrière Hills eruption in 1995
*1- July 1995, Montserrat’s Soufrière Hills volcano, dormant for centuries, erupted and soon buried the island’s capital, Plymouth, in more than 39 feet of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern part of the island, now termed the exclusion zone, uninhabitable and not safe.
*2 – La Soufrière Volcano on the island of St Vincent which occurred between 27 December 2020 and 22 April 2022.
*3 Dominicas Morne Watt experienced a VEI-1 phreatic eruption in the Valley of Desolation in 1997.
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For over a hundred years the Panama Canal has remained one of the worlds greatest engineering accomplishments. The canal took 10 years to build under U.S. control, from 1904 to 1914 and the Panama Canal was officially opened on August 15, 1914, when the SS Ancon made the first official passage.
If you enjoy cruising but haven’t transited the Panama Canal you really should move it to the top of your cruising bucket list.
The Intentional Travelers 