Even though the water on the Pacific side is dangerous, (riptides, hi surf), it looks like a wonderful place to spend time. (Later in the cruise, I met a couple who actually lived there. They moved from Alaska.)

As we came into the bay, the security patrol was very evident.

This is the first time I have seen this in Cabo. I think that there is a tremendous effort to give cruise companies a sense of security in this part of Mexico. There are some ships that will only go to Cabo. Serenity is one. We’ll skip Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, with our next stop being in Costa Rica.

A couple of weeks ago, I promised Alejandro, a waiter at Señor Frogs, a bottle of the new Tabasco Habanero sauce. It’s not just HOT, it’s flavorful. We tested it against the regular Tabasco on chips.

I convinced Alejandro to match me and put more than just a few drops on a chip. Three or four bites and he ran for a beer.

I slurped most of my Diet Coke. My mouth burned for most of the rest of our walk into town.

We saw this yacht on our way. I wanted to go over to it and find out who’s it was and what they were doing in Cabo. Why do people with that much dinero come to Cabo? Then I thought about the many reasons someone with that kind of money might be in Mexico at all. I decided it was none of my business.

Owen and I went into Diamonds International where a few years ago I had purchased a lost wedding ring replacement. They negotiated and the final price was about 2/3s asking. As we browsed, I saw a case of Philip Stein watches. These watches are different styles, but each has an opening in the back that is supposed to emit something that makes one feel better, sleep better, be less tense. I want to try this, but really don’t come close to needing another watch. The lowest priced watch was $250. It was a nice watch and I offered $150. The manager came over and she gave me ten percent off. Now we were talking $225. I countered with $190. She said no and would not budge from $225. She then told me she had weekly headaches. She got a Philip Stein watch and the headaches went away. She then took it off and the headaches came back. This, she said, proved to her that the watch was worth every penny of $225. After all, she said, it’s only $35 we’re talking about. But wait, she was not wearing a watch of any brand. I started to get a headache. We left.

On the tender back to Serenity, we ran into Kathleen, who we had met the night before in the “leaving the theater line”.

She is in remission from stage 4 cancer. Two tumors in her throat put her in the hospital with a feeding tube for a year. With all that, she is lovely and smiling all the time. Remission being not a synonym for cure, she brought her daughter, and two grandchildren along. They were with her on the tender.

One of the women at our table is in a wheelchair and her husband has to help lift the water glass. And yet she is laughing at me and Owen, and very upbeat in conversation. I’m not sure what lesson to derive from them, but maybe it’s to understand life with loved ones is worth more than many of us may fully appreciate.

We ate at Tastes, casual dining by the Neptune pool. Good simple food and great service. The drink steward lives in Miami, but is from Brazil and we had a ball with him. Owen had a salmon dish and I had Pizza. Our guy took a photo of us, in his words showing an elite Owen, and a real man……..me.

We passed on show time (not a production) read and then slept.

A suite view out a panoramic window on Avalon Vista

Back from Europe, Wallace Immen had a good time on  the new Avalon Vista. He’s posted several stories about the new vessel on his blog, hosted here on Avid Cruiser. 

Avalon Waterways calls its new river ships “panorama class,” and from the moment I stepped aboard the latest, Avalon Vista, I could see why. You’re on the water and you want to see the view, so why use walls when you can use windows? Avalon’s solution for opening a bigger panorama  is to divide the floor-to-ceiling windows into panels that slide on a track into the corner of the room, creating a full height opening. It’s a neat trick that makes the suite seem almost like a big open verandah. The accommodations are almost 30 percent larger than the average room size on river cruises, which has led Avalon to call Vista and her sisters, Avalon Visonary and Avalon Panorama its “suite ships.” Read the full story here.

Trouble viewing the video? Click here.

The Spa aboard Silversea’s Silver Spirit was chosen by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler as the top spa at sea in the magazine’s 2012 Spa Poll. Silver Spirit was the only ship to score a perfect 100 for its treatments. The results are published in the magazine’s June issue.

“We are delighted to receive this accolade,” said Ellen Bettridge, Silversea’s president of the Americas. “The Spa aboard Silver Spirit was designed to be the ultimate retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation. This award is validation that we are succeeding in providing a spa experience of unsurpassed quality, and one that we hope will foster a truly holistic sense of balance and well-being for our guests.”

At 8,300 square feet, The Spa aboard Silver Spirit is a sanctuary of pure bliss, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, nine treatment rooms, indoor/outdoor relaxation areas, and an outdoor whirlpool. Guests may indulge in a wide range of restorative therapies including facials, body wraps, massages and acupuncture. The ceramic-tiled Thermal Suite is an exclusive spa area furnished with heated lounge chairs. With its connecting private Hammam (Turkish bath) Chamber, it serves as the setting for the Private Hammam Experience, one of several unique Silver Spirit treatments.

The Spa is operated by Steiner Leisure Limited, a leading provider of spa services.

Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012 Spa Poll results were derived from its 2011 Readers’ Choice survey. Spas were rated excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor on three criteria: Spa Facilities, Spa Staff, and Spa Treatments.

Our French Country Waterways Burgundy Canal adventure started in Paris, where eight of us gathered at the Hotel Raphael, near the Arc de Triomphe, for a 2.5-hour escorted transfer south of the City of Light to the luxury barge awaiting us. © Ralph Grizzle

For five full days, I lived with plentiful joie de vivre on a luxury barge chugging along the Canal de Bourgogne — during April, no less.

A lifelong aspiration for many, the journey on French Country Waterways through gorgeous French countryside was a trip that I had looked forward to for years. I had an idea of what barging in Burgundy might be like but no experience. Yes, I had done ocean cruises along the south coast of France, and I had done a fair amount of river cruising in France — in my twenties, I had even bicycled through France, but a barge adventure was something new to me.

There were questions and, despite my excitement, a few anxieties: I was traveling with my significant other, the ever-elegant Monica, who hails from Sweden. How would we get along with the six others who would be traveling with us in a confined space for the week? How confined would the space be?

Before departure, a glass of champagne at the Hotel Raphael.

We met our fellow travelers at the Hotel Raphael, a luxury five-star hotel near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris where a representative from French Country Waterways would retrieve us and drive us to our barge, moored in Tanlay, 2.5 hours south of Paris.

Along with our cruise tickets, French Country Waterways had thoughtfully included vouchers for complimentary cocktails in Hotel Raphael’s exquisite lounge. With glasses of champagne in our hands, we introduced ourselves all around.

Two of the couples, in their 70s, came from northern Georgia, not far from my neck of the woods (Asheville, NC). The other couple hailed from Indiana, in their 80s, and married for only three years. At ages 54 and 53, Monica and I, could have been their children.

During the course of the week we would all bond. Indeed, we departed Paris a week later with handshakes, hugs, email addresses and promises to stay in touch.

Monica told me that our traveling companions had even changed her view about growing older. Mine too. Through them we learned that it is possible to age gracefully and to stay fully engaged in life, an unexpected bonus to our week of barging.

As we were finishing our drinks at Hotel Raphael, a man approached and introduced himself as our host for the week. An Englishman who has lived in France with his English wife and daughter for quite some time, Matthew would demonstrate remarkable knowledge of France, French wines and foods, and European history in general. Midway through the week, I resorted to calling him “Mattipedia.”

“Right,” Matthew said, “if you’re all finished with your cocktails, we can get going.”

We took our seats in a large Mercedes van, and off we went down the Champs Elysees and through the streets of Paris to begin a week that would turn out to be one of the most memorable of my life.

Our next stop: the Horizon II, which could not have been moored in a more picture perfect place. I’ll take you there and on board Horizon II tomorrow.

Leaving Paris en route for Burgundy and our awaiting barge.

Stay tuned as we barge through Burgundy this week on Avid Cruiser.

Want to learn more about barge cruises? See these posts on our sister site River Cruise Advisor.

• How Barging and River Cruises Differ
• The Emergence of Barging, Part I
• The Emergence of Barging, Part II

Location:Paris, France

I have been cruising for many years and have been through the Panama Canal more times than I can remember. I write about those trips.

He is a former editor of Cosmopolitan, Parents, and a contributor to American Photographer, Smithsonian Magazine, and countless other publications. He is the author of several books, and a truly top writer. But, he has yet to set foot on a cruise ship, and the Canal is, in his mind, but a ditch. It’s time to make that right.

We are going together from Los Angeles to New York City on Crystal Cruises newly refurbished Serenity.

We’ll travel together for 17 days in a lovely cabin with a balcony. It’s dubbed a Penthouse Suite. This is, in cruise parlance, a luxury ship.

Truthfully, although we are good friends, we have never spent that long a time together. Certainly, not in “confined” quarters.

Herewith an inside look:

We boarded Crystal Serenity using Crystal’s entirely new boarding procedure. Upon entering the boarding area, hand luggage goes through the scanner and then it’s off to the ship. Once aboard, all the rest is taken care of: seapass, ID photo, and you are set. Quick, easy, and so superior to the mass mess that many other ship lines have to offer.

We have a cabin on Penthouse Deck. Serenity has just recently been through a $25,000,000 rejuvenation, and our cabin reflects money well spent.

A lovely update, not flashy, not overstated, but just warmly lovely. The entire ship is reminiscent of being in a classic French mansion. At least I think it is. I’ve never really been in one.

But as beautiful as Serenity is, the typical cruise problems still pop up. For instance on one page, Reflections, the ship’s daily news of events, etc., says that one needs a reservation for Nobu’s Sushi Bar. On another page it says “first come first served.” And we were set for a table for six at 6:30, the first dining seating. The time 6:30 is on the Crystal website. We were presented with a table for two at the second seating. No real problem, we went to the dining office and got changed to a table for six at 6:00. At last after all these years of cruising I am now accepting that all things may not be as preplanned. I now sleep better.

Last night was the welcome aboard show. I never attend this show on cruise ships . . . mostly they are kind of boring. “Hi, are you all having fun???” And on from there.

Last night was different. It was wonderful. As you walked into the theater, there was a female dancer on stage stretching, another looking at a notebook. This went on until actual showtime. At that point, a couple of guys with backpacks came from the audience. Then another, and then it turned into “A Chorus Line.” Amazing dancers and singers. Really amazing. Then the Cruise Director took over.

Our cruise director is Gary Hunter. He is one of the best ventriloquists alive. I met Gary years (and years) ago and we became acquaintances. He has gone from performer on cruise ships to a Cruise Director for Crystal. Of course both of us have grown a bit older. His hair is completely white, but he can still read a book without moving his lips.

After his very energetic talk about the ship and activities, the chorus did a piece from Grand Hotel. Again, top Broadway fare. When the lights went up, the live band played Sing, Sing, Sing, a Benny Goodman piece that featured, at one time, Gene Krupa. It was the first drum solo I learned when I started playing. The drummer in this band was one of the best I’ve heard. I hated him.

Owen and I headed off to the cabin. He read a book in Italian . . . I put in my earplugs, put on my eye cover, and off to sleep.

Day One Crystal Serenity Canal

We are at sea and heading for Cabo San Lucas. It is grey and a bit gloomy but I promised Owen that we’d get sun by 2 p.m.

We are seven years apart, which at younger ages is a big gap. When I was 17 and driving my car in my junior year in High School, he was 10 and we had little in common. We are much closer these days, but are still not the same model.

Both of us head to bed around ten or so at night. I put on the eye-shade and ear plugs. He puts on his cabin reading light (which could illuminate a dark street), and starts to read. Usually he is asleep before me, comfortable in the knowledge that a book is on his lap should he need it. No problem, of course, finding it, the light is still on. Sometime in the night he wakes and extinguishes the light and then himself.

In the morning he wakes at six and goes to the gym, then for a walk and then coffee. I wake at 8:30, sip the coffee he brings to the cabin, and then we both go to breakfast at the Lido. I have no plans to see the gym on this cruise.

We spent our first day checking out Serenity, getting our internet set, and our credit cards registered. At guest services, there is no line marked out by cloth strips. You go there and somehow you’re next. Very nice people behind the counter.

Tonight was formal; we were in dark suits. We headed to table 92 to have dinner and meet our table mates. It was the Captain’s Gala Welcome Aboard Dinner. I had checked out #92 earlier in the day and went right to it. Hmmm, it said #81. Ninety two was against a wall and empty. We sat and then a dining elf told us that this had been #92 at lunch, and our table was actually closer to the lovely view. It was also empty. Our table mates were still at the Captain’s Formal Reception.

Soon they appeared. Two very nice couples; one from Florida and one from Seattle.

They are World Cruisers who have extended through NYC to Iceland, Greenland, and then the Mediterranean. It is so interesting to see how the conversation goes back and forth. They were fascinated by Owen’s Gentleman’s Quarterly writings and experiences. There is a professor on board who lectures on Alfred Hitchcock and he is a favorite of the couples. Owen used to work for George Lucas and has some inside stuff on Hitchcock. Believe me when I tell you they really paid attention to his musings. No one seemed particularly interested in the fact that I played tennis with Clint Eastwood.

Our waiters are excellent. Antoneo from Goa is taking care of my garlic allergy. After I ordered stuffed baby quail, he nodded affirmatively. After a bit, he came back; the chef had told him there was a bit of garlic in the stuffing. I had a very tasty Halibut. On other ships I have asked to avoid garlic, but this the first time it’s really been paid attention to. And, then surprise, surprise, the man on my left also had the same allergy.

Showtime again. Tonight it was Movie Music.

GREAT!! The talent is unbelievably good. All the dancers sing as is usual, however the best dancer didn’t seem to be that into vocalizing. You know how singers in a chorus open their mouths fairly wide to get the best sound. Well this guy didn’t open his mouth very wide and sometimes didn’t seem to try. I found out why. He was born and raised in Siberia. He was a leading dancer in the Academic State Ensemble of the Red Army, then joined the Academic State Folk Dance Company, then got into jazz and hip-hop choreography.

OK, so now here he is and he’s learning English, and trying hard to replace Boris with Dolly when he sings “hello.”

Tara Khaler and John Ellis, the lead singers, are simply the best I’ve seen and heard. Brett Bullock, Crystal’s executive producer has outdone himself. He has no equal in the cruise entertainment business.

Time for bed and guess what, I miss my wife Michael. Of course because I love her, I miss her, but I can’t find my eye shade. She can always find everything.

Worthy of a watercolor painting, the gorgeous countryside along the Burgundy canal.

If I could design three weeks of your leisure life, I would simply replicate the way I spent three weeks of mine from April 25 to May 15.

In a span of 21 days, I experienced three widely divergent cruises, all within a relatively compact region of Europe. The cruises took me on a river, a canal and on a journey in the Mediterranean Sea.

I stepped ashore in Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain and Italy, spending days that will surely go down as some of the best of my life.

I strolled spring landscapes worthy of a watercolor painting. My forefinger remained perched on the shutter release of my trusty Canon 7D. Each day, I returned with as many as 300 photos, ending the three weeks with just 1,050 “select” photographs that defied being deleted.

During the next couple of weeks, I’ll be writing extensively about these cruises, beginning with a six-night journey along the Burgundy Canal on French Country Waterways. The luscious landscape we floated through on the barge and the epicurean experience on board it will make you salivate.

Scenic Crystal, docked in Strasbourg, France.

Next, I’ll cover Scenic Cruises, a relative newcomer operated by an Australian entrepreneur who is rapidly expanding his fleet of river cruise vessels. If you haven’t followed river cruising for the past several years, toss out all of your preconceptions. River cruising is one of the most exciting, and fastest growing, segments in the cruise industry, and I love it.

I’ve already covered the nine nights I spent on Oceania Cruises’ new Riviera, but I have a little more to say about the sister of Marina. There are, after all, 727 differences between the two vessels. For now, you can find a recap of that voyage by clicking Avid Cruiser’s Oceania Riviera Ship Review.

Upon the conclusion of this series of stories, I’ll give you some insights into pricing, which ranged from reasonable to stratospheric, but all, according to those who were with me, a good value for the money.

Three glorious weeks, three incredible cruises. Stay tuned as the fun begins this week.

Reporting from Europe, The Avid Cruiser, Ralph Grizzle

What does a World Cruise itinerary look like? Something like this! Illustration courtesy of Holland America Line

Once the exclusive domain of the uber-rich, a World Cruise can now be had for less than the price of some new cars.

Typically beginning in January and running until late April or early May, these voyages span more than 100 days. Embarkation ports are usually located along the Eastern or Western seaboard in cities such as New York, Fort Lauderdale or Los Angeles. From these ports of call, ships embark on spectacular voyages that can take them to any corner of the globe.

Holland America's Amsterdam at sea. Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

Holland America Line, for example, offers a 115-day Grand Voyage World Cruise in 2013 aboard its flagship Amsterdam, which will depart from Fort Lauderdale on January 5, chart a course through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Africa, South America, and finally the Caribbean before returning to Fort Lauderdale on May 1.

One notable port of call is Easter Island, home to the mysterious Moai head statues, which were carved by hand sometime between 1250 and 1500. The exact techniques used to move these enormous statues into their final positions are still largely unknown.

Both Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (left) and Queen Elizabeth (right) will operate World Cruises in 2013. Photo courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line, which pioneered the World Cruise, still offers these extended voyages aboard its Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth.

Next winter, Queen Mary 2 sets sail from Southampton bound for the Mediterranean, Egypt, Dubai, India, Asia, Australia and New Zealand before looping back around South Africa for Southampton.

Queen Elizabeth charts a course from Southampton to America, calling on the Eastern seaboard first before transiting the Panama Canal and arriving on the West Coast. After calling on Hawaii and the South Pacific, she visits New Zealand before returning to Los Angeles, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and eventually Southampton.

Siver Whisper frequently sails World Cruises for Silversea.

Plenty of other lines offer world cruises, but few execute theirs with the lavish special features that ultra-luxury line Silversea bestows upon its guests.

In 2013, Silver Whisper will visit 52 ports in 28 countries on a massive 115-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale. Guests booking the entire World Cruise receive complimentary Business Class airfare, private car transportation, a $2,000 bonus Onboard Spending Credit, a $1,500 Onboard Spending Credit, a Gala Bon Voyage pre-cruise dinner at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, complimentary laundry and Silversea’s Baggage Valet luggage service.

If that wasn’t enough, the line has also created some special events for World Cruise guests. They can dine in the Namib Desert during their port call in Walvis Bay; an overnight stay in the Winelands region in Cape Town; and an excursion to Singapore’s exclusive China Club for dinner with Silver Whisper’s Captain and select Officers.

Literally every corner of the world is explored on a World Cruise.

World cruises can also be sold in segments that range in length from a few weeks to a few months. These voyages tend to be exceptional values, given that world cruises frequently offer enhanced amenities and features, not to mention visits to some ports that aren’t on regular itineraries. 

A world cruise isn’t for the faint of heart, however; in fact, we’d recommend it only to experienced cruisers and those who are comfortable with extended shipboard living. You wouldn’t want to commit to five months at sea only to discover that you get horrifically seasick any time you leave port. That’s by no means to say that first-time cruisers shouldn’t consider a world cruise, but we’d recommend testing your sea legs out on an extended voyage to start with.

Also see 

• World Cruises: Cheaper Daily Than An Extended Stay At A Resort Or Owning A Second Home
• Choose Your Cruise: World Cruises & Grand Voyages
• On The Wishlist: World Cruises
• World Cruise Back In Vogue? Busy Booking On Silver Spirit
• World Cruises: Perks for Going All The Way
• Confessions Of A World Cruiser

Guests enjoy the pool deck on the Oceania Riviera.

I’ve just finished nine nights on Oceania Riviera, cruising with the Oceania Cruises’ executive team, travel agents and journalists from points worldwide.

Today, Riviera embarks on her 10-day Pearls of the Aegean maiden voyage, from Venice to Athens. What can cruisers, now and later, expect from the new ship?

The strongest components of Riviera (and sister Marina) are its

1. emphasis on the epicurean experience; 
2. comfortable staterooms with quality amenities; 
3. upper-premium, or upscale, offerings;
4. diversity of activities and experiences.

Read Avid Cruiser’s full review of Oceania Riviera here or check out areas of interest in our complete listing of Avid Cruiser Articles, Posts & Videos Featuring Oceania Rivera.

• Dinner At Jacques on Oceania Riviera
• The One That Didn’t Get Away: An 80-KiloTuna For 5,000 Euros For Lunch On Oceania Riviera
• A Christening In Barcelona, An Evening In Toscana & More: Roundup Of Our Oceania Riviera Coverage
• An Evening At Toscana On Oceania Riviera
• In Photos: Oceania Riviera Is Christened In Barcelona, Spain
• Friendly Folk At Baristas, Oceania Riviera’s Complimentary Coffee Bar
• Ship Of Art, Oceania Riviera
• Burger & Shake In Barcelona — On Oceania Riviera, Of Course
• An Evening To Remember, Dinner On Deck And A Gorgeous Sunset
• Oceania Riviera In Valencia, Spain
• Of The 727 Differences, This Is The Biggest On Oceania Riviera
• Staying Fit On Oceania Riviera: The Canyon Ranch SpaClub
• Oceania Cruises’ Riviera Roundup: Avid Cruiser’s Live Coverage, Plus Breaking News, A New Ship For Regent?
• Dining With Frank Del Rio At Jacques On Oceania Riviera
• What’s Cooking On Oceania Riviera? Scones & Frittatas That We Made At The Bon Appetit Culinary Center
• Dining On Oceania Riviera
• Oceania Riviera Stateroom 9006: Attractive, Roomy, With Concierge Access & Deep Balcony
• Titans Of The Cruise Industry Now Sport Similar Looks
• 727 Differences On Riviera
• Let’s Eat! Riviera Spices Up The Oceania Experience
• Reporting In May From Stateroom 9006 On Oceania Riviera

Charming & rustic, Oceania Riviera's French restaurant Jacques, created by and named after legendary chef Jacques Pépin.

Oceania Riviera concluded her christening cruise today in Venice, Italy. My last dinner was in Jacques, created by and named for legendary chef  Jacques Pépin. There’s no charge for dining at Jacques or any of the other dining venues on Oceania Riviera, except for the seven-course wine-pairing dinners in La Reserve.

Delicious appetizers.

Creamy pumpkin soup served from a pumpkin.

Escargot in the shell.

The cheese trolley.

And attentive service.

It's a day for cheering and partying on Avalon Vista--Photo by Wallace Immen

WALLACE IMMEN on AvidCruiser.com

Like all great fairy tales, the events unfolding had a building sense of enchantment.

The ceremony to launch Avalon Waterways’ two newest Panorama-class ships was a rare event, even for a cruise industry that is christening ships regularly. Side by side, the ships were decked stem to stern with flowers, balloons and bunting.

And as the day progressed so did the weather, from grey to brilliantly sunny. How could it not with two godmothers on hand to make sure that the clouds evaporated before the long awaited event?

Vivacious and energetic Canadian cruise industry innovator and publisher Vanessa Lee was the godmother of the Avalon Vista, while dynamic Nicole Mazza, of the U.S. agency Travelsavers would do the honors for Avalon Visionary.

Having godmothers is a long tradition I really hadn’t understood until now. They’re guiding spirits and since ships are always referred to as “she,” it’s appropriate that women be chosen to see them on their way into the world. Women add glamour and class to the occasion as well.

Would you really rather have a ship christened by a godfather?

Read the rest of the story An Auspicious Start for Avalon’s Two New River Ships.