Apologies in advance to my baby boomer readers. Sorry for deviating from My Itchy Travel Feet’s mission to provide you with information about active travel for baby boomers, mostly through my reports of personal travel experiences.

What’s Up? A social media storm is raging about a group of travel bloggers who are also active on Twitter. They were invited by Princess Cruises to experience life on a Crown Princess cruise, the first ever Twitter Press Trip. (Aside to uninformed baby boomer readers, Twitter is an online social networking program where participants write about topics in very short sentences using no more than 140 characters per entry. It’s usually done via texting on cell phones or from a computer.)

Now, I didn’t see the invitation, but I’m assuming that, in return for the free cruise, bloggers were obligated to write and tweet about their cruise experience, good or bad. This is no different than the expectation for travel writers and bloggers who attend any other free press trip. For many, it’s the only way that they can afford to research travel locations for print articles and blog posts. Now come on, you didn’t really think that all those travel articles in magazines and newspapers involved trips that were paid for by the writers, did you?

Unfortunately, things got ugly on Twitter this weekend when a group of bloggers turned the Twitter cruise conversation (#FollowMeAtSea) into a blast against the environmental evils of cruising. Trip participants were criticized for reporting about the fun that they were having instead of conducting investigations about the environmental damage caused by the cruise industry.

Now wait a minute. These bloggers were invited to tweet and blog about their cruise experience. Many of them are discovering that cruising is fun. Shouldn’t they be telling their readers about it? Is that so wrong? In the process, they’ve also been mentioning things they don’t like about the cruise. And, they were given a 5+ hour tour behind the scenes that included a detailed description of the ship’s environmental practices. Even that hasn’t satisfied their critics.

Here’s my long-winded point. These bloggers have only one obligation—to report truthfully to their readers while following the mission of their blog. Some of the participants are listed below. In looking at their blogs, I don’t see a single “environmental” blog in the group. So, why should the purpose of their trip be to uncover environmental damage committed by cruise ships? A few of the participants did take the cruise with environmental questions in mind. They’ve asked them and reported back on Twitter.

Check out some of the bloggers. Go read their posts about the cruise. Decide for yourself if they are performing their job honestly and ethically.

Simone di Santi’s A Road Retraveled: Reports on all types of travel
Kim Mance and The Galavanting Gals: Inspires women to travel
Nancy D. Brown’s What a Trip: Reports on all types of travel
Gary Arndt’s Everything Everywhere: Blogs about traveling around the world
Expert Cruiser Anita Dunham-Potter: Blogs and writes about cruise travel
Cheri Lucas: Writes and blogs about travel
Johnny Jet: Covers travel deals, travel tips, destinations and more
Bret Rounsaville AmTrekker: Blogs about adventure
Cruise Critic: Writes about the cruise industry offering advice for cruisers
BrilliantTips from Brilliant Trips: Blogs about smart travel trends and tips
Shannon Lane’s Travel Tips and Deals: Writes and blogs about travel

Not everyone agrees with me. You can read a dissenting opinion by Julie Schwietert at Matador Travel. In addition, Pam Mandel has written a thoughtful analysis of the situation at Blog Her.

Returning to regular programming. Next post, I’ll be writing about my own travel experiences again. But this topic has raised many questions about cruising as I’ve read misinformed comments about cruising and the environment, crowded ports and the plight of cruise workers. I’ll be addressing these topics in the next few months. But, I promise, they will be written with you, the active baby boomer traveler, in mind.

Care to comment? I welcome ALL opinions as long as they’re written with respect. But please stick to the topic. Save the environmental discussion for when I write about it. This post is about what the bloggers should be reporting from their cruise. Be Warned. This is a Nice Zone. My rules: no personal attacks, no questionable language (the word is “human waste” not “poop”), no flaming. I’ll edit or delete ugly comments quicker than you can say, “Kiss my grits.” As my mother said when I was growing up, “You’re living in My World and it’s not a democracy.” Now, back to regular programming at My Itchy Travel Feet.

Alan and I don’t usually stay at luxurious high-rise hotels. Small inns or bed and breakfasts are more our style. But on a recent cruise from Vancouver to Singapore, Regent Seven Seas Mariner treated all cruise guests to a free night at the Regent Beijing Hotel (we paid for a second night on our own dime). So, here’s my chance to tell baby boomer travelers about an excellent Beijing lodging choice.

The 500-room hotel offers a convenient location near the historical center of the Chinese capital. The upscale area includes many well known high-end stores as well as luxury car dealerships like Ferrari and Lamborghini. When Alan and I arrived, after a three-hour bus ride from the port of Tianjin, check-in was quick with a number of staff present to assist us.

The extraordinary use of interior lighting made an impression as we walked the hotel corridor to our deluxe room. Inside,  a small vestibule housed Chinese art work and enough buttons and electrical switches to keep us busy for a few hours as we discovered their use. Dark cherry furniture decorated the very large bedroom where a flat screen TV hung on the wall across from a king-sized bed. Large windows provided a view of the rooftops of the Forbidden City peaking through the surrounding skyscrapers and office buildings.

The luxurious marble bathroom included a walk-in shower. But my favorite was the large tub that sat in front of a glass wall that looked into the bedroom. Automatic blinds assured privacy. Of course the usual luxury hotel amenities were there – terry robes, hair dryer, magnifying mirror and toiletry accessories.

Hotel dining options included five restaurants and lounges. On our first Beijing night, another couple from the ship invited us to dine with them in a private room of the Chinese restaurant, Li Jin Xuan. The soothing atmosphere provided a quieting end to a long travel day. The fixed price menu magically matched the amount on our Regent dining voucher. We ate breakfast at Cafe 99 where an extensive buffet offered Chinese and American selections, including the best chocolate croissants that I’ve ever tasted.

From the Regent Beijing, you can walk to the main shopping districts, including Wangfujing Street. Although Alan and I experienced Tiananmen Square while touring with guide, Jane Yeo, many of our cruise friends walked there from the Regent Beijing. We enjoyed a stroll down the street to experience  Sin Dong Yeng Night Market where stall after stall of street vendors sell skewers of grilled squid, prawns and unidentifiable seafood as well as other Chinese favorites.

Have you stayed at the Regent Beijing Hotel? Post a comment to share your experience. Two nights is not enough time to spend in Beijing. Alan and I will be returning to China one of these days.

A blazing sunset was the backdrop for sundowners at Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.

Baby boomer travelers, I love good news, don’t you? Last night, I received an email from Carlomar Daoana, editor of CommuniTrip. The online travel guide and magazine has named My Itchy Travel Feet one of the 10 most inspiring travel sites, in an article, “Notes on the Road: Famous Travel Sites.” According to Carlomar, “Your site was included for its relevant content, wonderful design and immediate connection to readers.” Thanks to Carlomar and the folks at CommuniTrip. My goal is to encourage boomers to get up off the couch and go. I’m glad you found My Itchy Travel Feet to be inspiring.

And while I’m talking about accolades, I don’t think I told you about this one. My Itchy Travel Feet was mentioned in, “Find It Online, Prepare For Your Vacation,” in the June issue of Smart Computing.

I just love good news. Happy Friday.

Hiking on Kodiak Island, Alaska

Baby boomer travelers, are you looking for a pair of comfortable shoes that are suitable for hiking, yet easy to pack? Well, look no more. I have just the shoe for you.

When the folks at Kuru asked me to try out a pair of their Kuru Womens Shoes, I knew I’d found my lightweight hiking shoes to bring along on our Vancouver to Singapore cruise. I chose the “Chicane” style in a brown color (Java) with turquoise lacing. The look of the asymmetrical lacing system, meant to follow the top line of my foot, took some getting used to; but I appreciated the secure fit it provided. The collapsible uppers made the shoes especially easy to pack.

Although my Kuru shoes felt light as a feather on my feet, they provided the sturdiness that I needed when I hiked on Kodiak Island in Alaska. I liked the way the soles gripped the slippery surface at Nalychevo Nature Park on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. And in rainy Juneau, the water beaded up on the surface of my Kurus, proving their water resistance.

No wet feet for me on a rainy day in Juneau, Alaska

What makes Kuru shoes different from their competitors? According to the Kuru website, Kuru shoes are designed with an ergonomic and anatomically correct active midsole. The patent-pending technology custom molds to your feet providing orthotic quality support. “The thermoplastic HeelKradl™ orthotic keeps the fat pad where nature intended, under the heel bone and reinforced to support the arch.”

What do other hikers and travelers think about Kuru shoes? Check out these reviews:
SectionHiker.com
The Adventure Blog
Mom Most Traveled
Gear Diary

Resting with my Kurus near a smoking volcano in Russia

If you think Kuru might be the shoe for you, be sure to use this coupon code: ITCHYFEET10 for 10% off your order at the Kuru site. Along with your purchase, Kuru donates a portion of profits to a charity that you choose. Don’t be jealous, boomer guys. Kuru produces shoes for men too.

Would you like to win a pair of Kurus? Post a comment after this post telling me where you would hike in your Kurus for a chance to win a pair of Slipstream, Draft or Rapid models of Kuru shoes. Please include your email for contact purposes. Contest ends on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:00 p.m. Arizona Mountain Standard Time. Winner will be announced as soon as possible after Monday, November 16, 2009. Remember, according to my general contest rules, the winner must be a U.S. resident and respond within 48 hours of receiving the notification email, or I chose another winner.

Disclosure: Kuru Footwear provided a pair of shoes for me to try; however, they did not pay me to write this post.

Are you a baby boomer cruiser who dreads dragging luggage through the airport? Do you cross your fingers once it’s on the conveyor belt, hoping that you and your clothes will make it to the cruise ship at the same time? I cringe when I read  cruise forums where baby boomer travelers report that their luggage was delayed or did not arrive at all. Why not ship your luggage, instead?

When Alan and I sailed on Regent Seven Seas Mariner from Vancouver to Singapore, Tim Macht, President of The Luggage Club, offered us the opportunity to try his luggage shipping service. With 52 days of cruise clothes to pack, we were happy to lighten our load on the way to Vancouver.

Here’s how it worked for us:

The Luggage Club website is easy to use. The “Instant Quote” section allows travelers to estimate how much they will be spending on luggage shipping, depending on level of service and bag size. Once you’re ready to ship, it’s necessary to join the club via a free membership. After that, the “Schedule Delivery” button, near the top, walks you through the process. I simply needed to supply the shipping address for the ship provided by my travel agent. Since I was shipping to an international address, The Luggage Club also needed a copy of my passport and trip itinerary for preparing customs forms. Later, I supplied a packing list of all items in the luggage to complete the process. I called a toll free number when I had any questions. Wesley Austin-Nash, International Sales Rep, was especially helpful in assisting me through the process.

A couple of days before luggage pickup, I received packing labels with detailed instructions on where to place the documentation. A delivery service picked up our luggage on the correct date for 6-day economy shipping to Vancouver. Within two days, the shipping agent called. Our bags had arrived but he needed to know which ship to put them on. Somewhere during the process, that information wasn’t recorded on the papers. It turned out not to be a problem. Next time, I’ll do my part by double checking to make sure the ship’s name is listed.

Besides the convenience and security of shipping our luggage, I enjoyed the added bonus of being prepared almost a week ahead of our departure. Alan and I left home relaxed and ready for a fun trip. We breezed through the airport without schlepping large bags. In Vancouver we didn’t have to worry about our luggage appearing on the carousel. When we stepped inside our Mariner suite, our luggage was waiting for us on the bed.

This is a great service but I’ll admit it isn’t cheap. However, you’re receiving shipping, insurance, assistance with customs plus peace of mind. Also, with airlines charging for checked luggage these days, you’re really not paying that much more by shipping luggage. One way to save money is to ship to your destination but bring the bags home yourself. That’s what we did.

I’m not the only one writing about The Luggage Club. Here are more reviews:

Jet With Kids
Road and Travel Magazine
BoardingArea

Have you shipped luggage with The Luggage Club? Post a comment to share your experience. I’ll certainly be considering them again, especially for long trips.

Disclosure: This travel experience was provided by The Luggage Club.

I captured this smoking shot while exploring the Kamchatka Peninsula by Russian army truck.

Baby boomer roadtrippers, do you like to travel around in circles? A drive on New Mexico’s “Enchanted Circle” offers scenery, activities and unique stops as it circumnavigates Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet), New Mexico’s highest point.

Every circle needs a start. To begin the circuitous journey, take NM Highway 522 north from Taos for the day’s first stop, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the second highest expansion bridge in the country. The gorge and bridge are seven miles west on NM Highway 64. Near the parking lot, visitors negotiate sidewalks to viewing platforms in the middle of the bridge for a peak over the rail at the brown Rio Grande rushing 650 feet below the curving canyon walls.

Continuing the drive on NM Highway 522, pass through Questa, home to a thriving arts community and The Wild Rivers Recreation Area. To complete the circle, take NM Highway 38 east to the rustic mountain town of Red River, a good place to stop for lunch. Log cabins and Swiss chalets vie for space along the highway adding to the town’s western feel.

Now the drive becomes a mountainous journey up 9,000 ft. Bobcat Pass. At the top, you’re rewarded with scenic high country as the road travels beside grassy meadows and white capped mountains. At Eagle Nest Lake State Park, the sparkling waters of the lake reflect a deep blue sky tempting the angler. Here the road junctions with NM Highway 64.

The natural beauty of the region adds to the powerful experience at the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial State Park. In 1971, Dr. Victor Westfall and family erected a chapel overlooking the Moreno Valley to honor son, David, a 1968 casualty of the Vietnam War. Inside the Visitors Center, a small theater shows a moving documentary of scenes from the era as actors read letters written by soldiers, parents, friends and politicians. No matter your political persuasion, you’ll be reaching for the box of tissues placed beside the chair.

Follow NM Highway 64 south through the mountains to reach Taos in time for afternoon tea at Casa Benavides Bed and Breakfast Inn, a convenient headquarters when touring the Taos area. We like to stroll into the art-filled living room with our cup of tea and a plate of homemade goodies. Sitting in the late afternoon sun, surrounded by western art and Native American artifacts, is the perfect way to close the circle on an enchanting day.

Have you driven New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle Highway? Post a comment to tell me about your experience. Alan and I will be exploring this area again.

Today, Alan and I are on a cruise excursion in Bangkok, Thailand, part of our Vancouver to Singapore cruise on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Even though we’re out exploring, you can still keep up with our baby boomer adventures. In this week’s installment of Dispatch from Donna at the Luxury Cruise Bible blog, I write about what it’s like to live on a luxury cruise ship for 52 days. Or, check out my weekly port reports including China, Japan, Siberia and Alaska. Happy reading.

Alan captured a colorful desert sunset during our Dinner in the Desert in Namibia.