Cobh (pronounced "Cove") is a picturesque harbor town just a few miles from Cork, Ireland. Cruise ships dock in downtown Cobh and run shore excursions to Cork, the Blarney Castle, Waterford, Killarney, or the Irish countryside. However, Cobh is a nice place to spend the day if you want to just relax and just enjoy strolling around this pretty little village on Cork Harbor. It's also filled with maritime history, having been the last port of call for the Titanic in 1912 and near the site where the Lusitania was sunk during World War I.

Cobh (c) Linda Garrison

Cobh - Historical Village on Cork Harbor near Cork, Ireland originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 07:48:52.

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Sydney is a long way from the USA--a 15 hour flight from the west coast--but it is an exciting cosmopolitan city with a spectacular harbor and friendly people. Cruise ships visit Sydney year-round, with most ships sailing to Australia and the Southern Hemisphere in the months of November through March. The cruise ship pier is conveniently located near the south side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I flew to Sydney and joined the third segment of a world cruise on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager. We had an overnight on the ship before sailing out of Sydney Harbour, which allowed a day and a half to explore the city on excursions or on our own. Here are some of the Sydney highlights.
Things to Do and See in Sydney, Australia When Your Cruise Ship Is in Port

Sydney Harbour Bridge Photo (c) Linda Garrison

Things to Do and See in Sydney, Australia When Your Cruise Ship Is in Port originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 07:22:20.

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Viminacium is near the Serbian town of Kostolac, and cruise ships sailing the Danube stopover for a few hours so that passengers can tour the three objects uncovered thus far at this large Roman archaeological site. It's very interesting to look out over today's crop fields and imagine a bustling town and Roman fort from almost 2000 years ago.

The three sites open include the northern Roman military gate, the thermal baths, and the imperial mausoleum. Guides, who may be either working archaeologists or professional guides, provide explanations, drawings, and models to help visitors understand what they are seeing on the tour.

Viminacium Imperial Mausoleum Graves (c) Linda Garrison

Viminacium - Fascinating Archaeological Site near the Danube River in Serbia originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 07:31:29.

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The 84-passenger Cruise West Spirit of Discovery is ideal for those who love nature, soft adventure, casual cruising, and American history. The passengers on our Columbia and Snake River cruise shared a love of learning and the out of doors. Following the river trails of the Lewis & Clark expedition was a marvelous experience for us all, and the expedition leaders and guest speakers were excellent.

These 35 photos of the Spirit of Discovery demonstrate that she is a small, casual, ship perfect for cruising the great rivers of the American Northwest or Alaska's Inside Passage.

Cruise West Spirit of Discovery (c) Linda Garrison

Cruise West Spirit of Discovery originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 07:10:28.

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I always look forward to seeing the annual issuance of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and & Cruise Ships by Douglas Ward. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the cruise industry, and is an easy-to-use tool for researching and planning cruises.

The 2010 edition is out, and Mr. Ward reviews 271 ships representing about 75 ocean-going cruise line operators. In addition to providing a one (or more) page description of each ship, the Berlitz guide also scores the ships using a 0 to 100 scale in 20 categories that cover the most important things cruisers care about -- accommodations, food, service, entertainment, and cruise experience.

Read more...

Book Review - Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2010 originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 07:12:12.

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A short visit to the Yukon Suspension Bridge near Fraser, British Columbia is often included on shore excursions from Skagway on the White Pass Railway.

Yukon Suspension Bridge (c) Linda Garrison

Yukon Suspension Bridge near Fraser, British Columbia originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 07:20:54.

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Ho Chi Minh City, which is still called Saigon by most residents, is a intriguing Vietnamese city to visit on a Southeast Asia cruise. Those of us who are baby boomers and were in high school or college during the Vietnam War (called the American War in Vietnam) have strong memories of Saigon. Following the end of the war in 1975, America and Vietnam did not resume relations until the mid-1990's. Today, Americans are welcome and the Vietnamese have quickly learned to take advantage of our fascination with the war by offering tours of many of the places we first heard about in the news 40 years ago.

Thirty five years after the end of the war, Saigon offers much more than war memories. The Saigon city streets packed with motor bikes and people are indescribable, and the History Museum, lacquerware factory, and Cholon Market provide a nice balance to the war sites. There's even a post office designed by Gustave Eiffel, who is most famous for that tower in Paris.

Our cruise on the Crystal Symphony had an overnight in Saigon, and we were all happy to have the extra day to tour the city and to visit the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels.

Two Days in Saigon - Crystal Symphony Travel Journal

Water Puppets at the Saigon History Museum (c) Linda Garrison

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) City Tour originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 07:21:54.

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February is here, which means that Valentine's Day will be upon us in just two weeks. Have you planned something special for the one you love? The About.com Travel Channel, led appropriately by our guide to Honeymoons and Romantic Travel, has some great ideas for you in the "Love Makes the World Go Round" blog carnival.

It may be a little late to take a cruise for Valentine's Day 2010, but you could book one for next year or later this year. I'm sure your love will be thrilled.

Valentine's Day Is Just Around the Corner originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 12:24:39.

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The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi (pronounced shu-shu-ee um-fo-loo-zee) Park is the oldest game reserve in South Africa. Established in 1895, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is the only park under formal conservation in the KwaZulu Natal of South Africa where the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cape buffalo, and leopard) occur.

I visited Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in the early morning while on an African cruise on the Silversea Silver Wind. The ship stayed two days in Richards Bay so that passengers could do overnight excursions to other nearby game reserves.

Zebra (c) Linda Garrison

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve near Richards Bay, South Africa originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 06:29:00.

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Varna is the largest seaport on the Black Sea in Bulgaria. It is located about two hours ride south of where the Danube River enters the Black Sea. European river cruises in eastern Europe often bus passengers to Varna for a day trip, which is what we did from the Viking Neptune. Varna is an interesting college town and also a major eastern Europe tourist destination.

The Varna Archaeological Museum was our first stop in the city. This museum is famous for its Varna Gold, which was found in graves at the Varna Necropolis, a cemetery dating back to over 4000 BC. The museum has a map of the cemetery and many artifacts, all marked on a cemetery map. The age and scope of the necropolis is amazing.

Leaving the Varna Archaeological Museum, we ate lunch in a replica of a pirate ship on the wide, golden beach, followed by a boat ride in the Black Seat that enabled us to see all of Varna's coastline. It was a beautiful day in eastern Europe, and I got to put my feet in the Black Sea!

Varna, Bulgaria Beach (c) Linda Garrison

Varna, Bulgaria - Seaport on the Black Sea originally appeared on About.com Cruises on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 08:23:38.

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