The Cruise Port Of Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida is a major cruise port with a number of cruise lines scheduling itineraries departing from the port. The city boasts a major international airport, access to a number of beautiful beaches and a number of attractions worthy of a visit.

On the western side of Tampa Bay is a peninsula that encompasses four cities. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Dunedin. In addition to spectacular beaches the area is well worth a few days just visiting the major sites. Having a rental car is highly recommended.

Where Your Ship Docks

Tampa has a large seaport featuring modern cruise terminals with public facilities and docking space for several large cruise ships. There are a number of parking facilities both public and commercial that serve the port for those driving in to catch a cruise.

Transportation

Inside the Dali Museum

Taxis are available at the port with moderate rates and Hertz and Avis have locations within a mile of the cruise port. Because of the demand it is highly recommended that cars be reserved ahead of time. The cruise lines have shuttle service available from Tampa airport to the ships for under $25 per trip per person. If your party is several people there is a taxi flat rate of $25 to downtown Tampa and the port.

Currency

Tampa is a U.S. port and you will need US$ (some locations will also accept Canadian Dollars) but most major credit cards are welcome and ATM machines are plentiful.

Attractions

The Florida Aquarium [ 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602] is only a short walk from the cruise port. Rated Florida’s Best Aquarium and one of the “top 5 kid-friendly aquariums in the country”. Exploring “the great outdoors” indoors while inside our cool, air-conditioned facility or coming face to beak with one of their penguins, The Florida Aquarium is a fabulous destination and very near the cruise port.

The American Victory [705 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602] is also very near the cruise port and located on a pier right next to The Florida Aquarium. Visit this real piece of WWII history. Welcome aboard the American Victory Ship and Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. As one of only 4 fully-operational WWII Liberty ships in the country, the American Victory is a true American icon and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens – If you’re spending more than a day in Tampa there’s the Busch Gardens Theme Park which is rated one of America’s great attractions featuring live animal attractions in addition to thrilling rides for all ages.

The Dali Museum [1 Dali Blvd, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701] This modern marvel celebrates the life and work of Salvador Dali (1904-1989) and features works from the artist’s entire career. The collection includes over 2,000 works from every moment and in every medium of his artistic activity.

Tampa is part of the twin cities of Tampa-St. Petersburg and sits just east of the Gulf of Mexico beaches.

Sunken Gardens [1825 4th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33704] A botanical paradise in the midst of a bustling city. As St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, this 100-year-old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region.

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Mountain Landscapes – A Gallery

Wilderness, amazing National Parks, incredible mountain vistas, recreational destinations for hiking, camping and climbing, and diverse mountain terranes are all part of our experiences. Here are a few of our favorite mountain destinations…

They have always been called the smokey mountains and for good reason. The mix of the climate and the old rounded mountain landscape seems to be perfect for the development of morning fog. As the mornings wear on it takes a long time for the Sun to reach into the valleys and burn off the fog. The Smokey Mountains of North Carolina.

The native Americans named these rugged peaks teewinot which was later shortened to Tetons by the Europeans. They are part of the ancestral homeland of the Shoshone people, who used the Native word teewinot meaning “many pinnacles” to describe the range. The Teton National Park is right next door to Yellowstone Park in Teton County, Wyoming.

Called The Alaska Range these mountains include Denali Mountain (formally Mount McKinely), the tallest peak in America and actually the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its base to peak top. One of the most challenging mountains to climb it attracts climbers from around the world.

It’s obvious where Australia’s Blue Mountains get their name and they are only a short train ride out of Sydney. With their incredible views, great hiking trails and nearness to a major metropolitan area they’re a favorite day trip for local residents.

Named Tierra del fuego or the “land of fire” by explorers, this end of civilization with the worlds most southern city. It is also the southern end of The Pan American Highway. Across the Beagle Channel from the Tierra del Fuego National Park is a rugged range of mountains with the tallest peak named Monte King Scott. Rarely visited with only a handful of climbers attempting the challenge.

In Antarctica due south of Tierra del fuego in South America is Paradise Bay. It sits on a peninsula its backbone being a range of rugged mountains. Because Antarctica has been so unexplored there are very few named peaks on the continent. Paradise Bay is becoming a popular destination for adventure travel expeditions and cruise ships.

Utah brags about having the most National Parks in America and Zion boasts some of the most rugged peaks as well as some of the most diverse terrain. Any planned visit to the parks of Utah should set aside several days to explore Zion National Park. One tip is to look into trail reservations with the National Park Service as some trails require them.

Utah features some of the most beautiful landscapes in America from parks like Arches, Capital Reef, Canyonlands and Bryce. Whatever time you allocate to visiting Utah parks it won’t be enough.

Traveling from sea level to 10,000 feet at the summit of Haleakalā is only a few miles as the crow flies but probably an hours drive switching back and fourth as you climb. The Hawaiian island of Maui is actually two volcanic cones joined by a small piece of flat land. The larger volcano to the southeast is Haleakalā featuring miles of fantastic hiking trails through a truly otherworldly landscape.

Port of Call Southampton, England

Southampton, besides being a cruise port of call, is also Great Britain’s largest cruise ship port. It is the most convenient port to London which is only 65 miles away with London’s three international airports. Southampton is also a major departure port for cruise itineraries to Scandinavia, Portugal, Spain, the Canary Islands, Azores as well as cruises around the British Isles. From the port you can catch a ferry to Cowes over on the Isle of Wight to discover Queen Victoria’s holiday home at Osborne House.

Where Your Ship Docks

The Southampton cruise ship piers are located just inside the port facility with an easy walk into the central city. While there is no dedicated terminal a major shopping mall and retail outlets are only a short distance from the port.

Currency

With Brixet the Euro is out ant the British Pound is now the official currency. You’ll find credit cards welcome and ATM machines plentiful.

Transportation

Located on the south coast in the heart of Hampshire, Southampton has its own airport serving a number of European cities. The city is also only 65 miles (an 80-minute drive) from London Heathrow Airport, with connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide. Southampton is also easy to get to by road or rail with direct London to Southampton train service that takes about 75 minutes from London’s Waterloo Station. The city is great for exploring on foot with most Southampton shopping areas featuring pedestrian malls. Southampton has a good public bus network that serves the city and surrounding areas.

Attractions

Around half of Southampton’s Medieval City Walls survive to this day, providing a unique glimpse into the architecture and history of the period. It has also been a major port since medieval times. The Historic Southampton Dockyard is Englands first destination for exploring naval history.

It is also near the scenery and wildlife of the New Forest National Park, where you’ll also find Beaulieu National Motor Museum that houses one of world’s finest collections of cars and motoring memorabilia and Paultons Park, the home of Peppa Pig World.

Shop the trendy shops in Westquay, discover the home of the historic Spitfire aircraft at Solent Sky, catch a show at the Mayflower Theatre, browse renowned masterpieces at the City Art Gallery or explore 800 years of history at the Tudor House and Gardens.

The city of Winchester is only a 20-minute train ride to the north of Southampton, houses the striking 11th century Winchester Cathedral and is also famous for its upscale shops.

Cruise Port Akureyri, Iceland

Akureyri is one of the most popular cruise destinations in Iceland and it lies at the end of Iceland’s longest fjord, Eyjafjördur. Cruise ships will actually cross into the Arctic Circle to reach the fjord and Akureyri. This small but bustling town is the forth largest in Iceland and is the farthest north with a population of about 18,500 people. It is located near some of the most spectacular scenery in Iceland and is sometimes called the woodland town because of the nearby forests.

Where Your Ship Docks

Cruise ships will dock at a pier right near the downtown area with only a short walk into the town center. It’s a popular port and can handle three cruise ships at a time with additional anchorage in the enclosed bay. While there is no terminal with public facilities there is a tourist information center only a short walk up the pier with information for visitors and clean restrooms.

Transportation

In Akureyri all public transportation on city buses is free of charge. The buses start at 6:28 am and run till 10:36 pm on weekdays and 12:18 till 6:55 pm on weekends. All the city buses routes drive in circles that begin and end at the main stop in the city center designated as “Miðbær” on time tables. Each circle route takes 30 to 50 minutes.

Taxis are available but can be expensive with the a main taxi stand in the city center and there are a number of car rental agencies in town

Currency

The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona with an exchange rate of 128.41 Krona to 1 US$. Credit cards are welcome and there are ATM machines available.

One of the benefits you should take advantage of shopping in Iceland is to get a VAT (value added tax) refund on your purchases getting up to 24% back on leaving Iceland but you need to save your purchase receipts..

Attractions

It’s hard to miss the Akureyrarkirkja, a tall church perched high on a hill, whose twin towers dominate Akureyri’s skyline. This Lutheran church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and consecrated in 1940. On a clear day, you can see tremendous views of the nearby fjord and mountains from the back of the church.

The old town of Akureyri brings you back to the beginning of the town. The area is located just a short stroll from town center, towards south.

The area is a monument to the town‘s history and culture. Many of the town oldest houses have been preserved and the original street planning has been maintained. Informative signposts guide visitors about the history of a different era. On this walk you see the old Theatre, the old Primary School and the Old Hospital built in 1827 as well as the oldest building in Akureyri, Laxdalshús, built in 1795. You will also have the possibility to visit several museums as Akureyri Museum, Jón Sveinsson (Nonni) Memorial Museum, Toy Museum, Industrial Museum and the Motorcycle Museum of Iceland.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well year-round, and at the Christmas Garden (Jólagarðurinn) you can buy yuletide souvenirs, taste some local treats and learn all about Icelandic Christmas traditions, including the 13 Yule Lads and the “Christmas Ogress” and her child-eating cat. The vivid red house a 10 minute drive outside of Akureyri also features a fairytale tower complete with the world’s largest Christmas calendar, a play area for young visitors and beautiful gardens for everybody to enjoy.

If you’re more fascinated by the history of aviation than Santa’s elves, then a visit to the Aviation Museum is right up your alley. Housed in an airport hangar a short drive outside of central Akureyri, visitors to the museum will find a detailed history of aviation in Iceland and the lives of Icelandic pilots portrayed through images and video. Also on display are a number of airplanes, including the first aircraft owned by Loftleiðir Airline, Iceland’s oldest ambulance airplane and the first glider built in Akureyri 1937. The museum is open to visitors daily from June through August and on weekends in May.

Last but not least, Safnasafnið, or the Icelandic Folk Art Museum, is built on a hill overlooking Eyjafjörður. The museum exhibits folk art together with works by modern artists and houses an impressive book collection. There’s also an old fashioned garden which adds to its charming atmosphere. The museum is open daily from 17 May through 31 August.

Goðafoss Waterfall

Booking excursions through your ship, selecting any number of available tours in Akureyri or renting a car there is some spectacular scenery in the surrounding countryside which includes some incredible waterfalls.

Only a half hour drive out of Akureyri is the picturesque Goðafoss Waterfall one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water from the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 36 feet over a width of 90 feet.The waterfall is one of the beautiful larger falls in Iceland. In the year 1000, the Law speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion, Þorgeir threw his statues of the old Norse gods into the waterfall, hence the name “waterfall of the gods”.

Dettifoss Waterfall

The Dettifoss Waterfall is believed to be Europe’s most powerful waterfall, with 4,500 cubic feet of water per second plunging over its edge. Dettifoss is 135 feet high and 300 feet wide and is fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Iceland.

Aldeyjarfoss is a waterfall surrounded by unique basalt columns in the river Skjálfandafljót in the valley Bárðardalur. The river Skjálfandafljót originates from the glaciers Vatnajökull and Tungnafellsjökull flowing towards the north, covering a distance of about 130 miles, on its way to Skjálfandi Bay. Making it the fourth longest river in Iceland.

The Northern Lights is a what attracts a lot of visitors to Iceland, they’re also called Aurora Borealis and it produces a spectacular show in the night sky and can frequently be seen in Akureyri from September through April on clear nights. The Northern Lights exist in the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. They are created by electrically charged particles that make the thin air glow, like a fluorescent light.

Travel Posters from The Intentional Traveler

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock North Carolina and Lake Lure

In the mountains of Western North Carolina is a lake fed by a river that runs thru Hickory Nut Gorge. Standing high above this gorge is a rock formation named Chimney Rock which also gives its name to the town below. Chimney Rock is a North Carolina State Park which features a number of attractions the foremost being stairs and an elevator taking visitors to the top of the rock formation. From that perch you can see for miles down the gorge and across Lake Lure nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park also features miles of hiking trails which go to the top of the mountain and over to the top or the bottom of a four hundred foot Hickory Nut Falls.

Broad River
The town of Chimney Rock NC
Lake Lure

The area is a popular tourist, weekend and vacation destination and claims a connection to a couple of famous movies. Lake Lure was the setting used in Dirty Dancing and Chimney Rock was the backdrop for The Last of the Mohicans. While the area has all the trappings of a tourist town the trails and views surrounding Chimney Rock are really amazing.

If you love the mountains and like to hike this is worth a two or three day visit. If you are looking for a good B&B you should check out our review of The Broad River Inn located in Chimney Rock.

Some convenient links to follow:

Safe Travel Requires Planning

It’s fun traveling. Making plans can be exciting too, as we decide where to go, where to stay and how to get there. There is something we should always take into consideration in our planning. Are we prepared for something going wrong? Travel does have its risks, especially if you travel internationally. After a couple of decades traveling around the world, you’re bound to learn a few things along the way about protecting and taking care of yourself. Here are a few safe travel links and safe travel tips.

TRAVEL MEDICATIONS
EMERGENCIES & TWITTER
AVOIDING GETTING SICK
TRAVEL INSURANCE
COVID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

First and Foremost – never think it can’t happen to you. Believing the worst can’t happen to you is a terrible rationalization. It actually prevents many people from thinking about travel emergencies and can stop them from taking steps to be prepared.

  • Accidents
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Disasters
  • Civil Unrest
  • Crime

These can happen anywhere at anytime and while it doesn’t mean you should give up traveling, it does mean you can, and should, make plans just in case.

Next – don’t guess at what protection you have or how things might work in a crises situation while traveling. On far too many occasions we’ve talked to people that think that their health insurance works internationally just like it does back home. The truth is, health insurance that provides good coverage in the United States provides very little and often no protection at all while traveling out of the United States. Getting stuck for hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills isn’t the best moment to realize you’re not covered. So before you travel check with your health insurance company about international coverage.

INFORMATION ON TRAVEL INSURANCE

Third – the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is really good advice. Buying insurance has always seemed expensive but if you start looking into areas like travel insurance there are a number of policies that seem reasonable considering the coverage and potential risks. At a minimum you can have emergency health evacuation insurance for a married couple for around $200 a year.

Emergency first aid – Another thing that you can do to be prepared is pack a small first aid and medication kit when you travel. Sometimes there just isn’t a doctor or even a pharmacy readily available and a small kit containing over-the-counter meds for stomach problems, flu and cold remedies along with bandages are worth their weight in gold.

Lastly – everyone should carry emergency ID’s. Oddly, your driver’s license or even a passport don’t provide much emergency contact information. While the U.S. Passport application does have a place on the application for emergency contacts it does not appear in your passport. The information is stored at the State Department but isn’t quickly available.

Also if you have specific medical issues, how are first responders and medical professionals supposed to understand your situation? What’s in your wallet or purse?

You should consider carrying an emergency ID card. It should, at a minimum have one or two contacts with phone numbers and a list of meds and allergies.

SEE EMERGENCY ID CARDS HERE

What’s In Your Wallet?

MEDICAL DIRECTIVES – In addition to an Emergency Identification card everyone should have Medical Directives (Living Will or Proxy) available in case of a medical emergency. Get and give peace of mind and fill out a living will. It’s easy, quick, and free – get your forms here:

DOWNLOAD MEDICAL DIRECTIVE FORMS HERE

There are also additional emergency ID cards that provide emergency information as well as notice regarding Living Wills and who to contact or if there might be pets home alone and contact numbers.

Have fun traveling but also be prepared…