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    • Seabourn >
      • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part I (A Look Back and A Look Forward)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part II (Copenhagen & The First Day)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part III (Flam & Alesund)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part IV (Slovlaer and Tromso)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part V (Honningsvag) - Ventures By Seabourn
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part V (Sea Days & Private Culinary Events)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part VI (Bergen, Stavanger & The Last Two Culinary Events: Shopping with the Seabourn Chef and A Cheese Tasting)
      • Goldring Travel's 2013 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Preparations and a Plan...Sort Of!
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Take Off...and A Fresh Perspective
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Air Travel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Meat!
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The First 24 Hours and Ihhabela, Brazil
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The Little Things (Paranagua and Porto Belo, Brazil)
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Quest's Chef Creates An Incredible Tasting Event
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The Event: Montevideo, Uruguay- Caviar, Caviar and Sturgeon
      • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride >
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part II (Perspective)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part III (Storms A Brewing...And A Double Rainbow!)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part IV (Fish & Chips...And A Great Beer)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part V (Cork, Ireland and a Lucky Leprechaun Named Darina Allen)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VI (A Day at Sea with Special Events...And Then A Most Charming Port )
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 1)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 2: Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VIII (Relaxing and "Basque"ing)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part IX (Shopping With The Chef)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part X (The Goldring Travel Food & Wine Tasting)
      • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Sojourn >
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part III
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part IV
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part V
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VI
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VII
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VIII
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part IX
      • Goldring Travel's 2010 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Odyssey >
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Beginning...Almost.
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Beginning...Leaving On A Jet Plane
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Oy, Such Problems!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Doing So Much and Doing Nothing
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - A Sea Day and Some Thoughts About The Dining Expereiences
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Shopping with the Chef and Sicilian Seafood Experiences
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Malta and Food for Thought
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Pizza or the Wintergarden Suite's Spa? Let's Try Both!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Food & Wine Tasting to Die For!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Finding Pizza and What It Means to "Travel"
      • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Spirit >
        • 2009 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Some Pre-Cruise Thoughts and My Plan
        • Goldring Travel's Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit 2009 - The Start: It's All About The Clothes???
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Walking With Wine In Venice
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Finally Onboard...Err, I Mean, Home!
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Split, Croatia: Shopping With the Chef & Chilling Out Seabourn Style
        • Seabourn Spirit 2009 Food & Wine Cruise - Its About The Fish!
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Meeting Up With The Big Sister & Chef's Surprises
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Some Final Thoughts
      • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part III (The Food & Wine Tasting!)
      • Goldring Travel's 2007 Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise
      • Seabourn Quest Pre-Inaugural Cruise 2011 >
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part I
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part II
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part III
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part IV
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part V
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part VI - The Photos!
      • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural Cruise (2010) >
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue - Part II
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue - Part III (The Seabourn Sojourn Has Been Delivered!)
        • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part VI
        • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part XII - Some Videos and Photos
      • 2009 Seabourn Odyssey Inaugural Cruise >
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Ca' Segredo Hotel Starts The Sojourn
        • Seabourn Odyssey - First Impressions
        • Seabourn Odyssey - Cuisine, Venues, People
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Standard Suites - Part I
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Standard Suites- Part II
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Upper Suites
    • AmaWaterways River Cruises >
      • Goldring Travel's 2014 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto >
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part III
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IV (Georg Breuer Riesling Tasting)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VI
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VII (Bamberg Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VIII
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IX (Food & Wine Tasting on the AmaCerto)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part X
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part XI - The Tokaji Wine Tasting
        • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa - The Kindness of Strangers)
      • AmaWaterways AmaLotus - Vietnam & Cambodia >
        • AmaWaterways Mekong River Cruise - Radio Interview
        • AMAWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part I
        • AMAWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part II
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part III
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part IV
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part V (Getting There & Day 1: Hanoi)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VI (Let the Tour Begin!)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VII (Halong Bay...and A Monk)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VIII
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part IX (The Ship)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part X (The Egg)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XI (Happy Pizza)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XII (The Killing Fields)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XIII (Our Last Days)
        • Review and Reflection of the 2012 AmaWaterways AmaLotus Vietnam and Cambodia Tour and Cruise
    • Azamara Club Cruises >
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises - Is it Amazing? Part I
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part II
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part III (Bali and Komodo Island)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part IV (Upscale Meets ????)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part V (Perspectives on Experiencing Developing Ports)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part V (Manila, Philippines - By Day and AzAmazing Evening)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VII (Doing It On Your Own - Part A - Dontonbori, Osaka)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VIII (Doing It On Your Own - Part B - Kyoto - Why You Can't Rely Only On Guidebooks or TripAdvisor!)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part IX - Reflections
    • Celebrity Cruises >
      • Celebrity Century (2011) >
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get?
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part II
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part III
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part IV
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? - Some Final Observations and Thoughts
      • Celebrity Equinox (2009) >
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009- The Prologue to the Travelogue
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - The Adventure Begins...With a Bump or Two
        • Celebrity Equinox - Settling In Made Easy
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Luxury Touches ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Asian Flair ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Private Tours, Israel ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Egypt...Impressive and Depressing
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Dining With the Captain ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - The Last Dinner ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - What Happens When ...
      • Celebrity Silhouette (2013) >
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? - Part I
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? - Part II
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? The Review - Part III
      • Celebrity Solstice (2008) >
        • Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part I
        • Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part II
      • Celebrity Summit "Solticized" - A Ship Inspection (2012)
    • Crystal Cruises >
      • Crystal Serenity - November 2015 >
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part I
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part II
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part III
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part IV (Food & Wine!)
      • Crystal Symphony - April 2011 >
        • Crystal Symphony - Part I
        • Crystal Symphony - Part II
        • Crystal Symphony - Part III
        • Crystal Symphony - Part IV
        • Crystal Symphony - Part V
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VI
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VII
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VIII
        • Crystal Symphony - Part IX
        • Crystal Symphony - Goldring Travel's Pacific Exploration of Crystal Cruise's Luxury Experience - "Reflections"
    • Cunard >
      • Cunard's Queen Mary 2 - A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary
    • fathom Impact Travel >
      • Immersing In fathom's Social Impact Programs
    • G Adventures - Amazon River Cruise >
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part I
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part II
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part III
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part IV (What Group Travel Should Really Be About!)
    • Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) >
      • Norwegian Gem - Budget Cruises Pitching Luxury: You Don't Get What You Pay For, You Only Think You Do.
    • Paul Gauguin >
      • Paul Gauguin (2007)
    • Princess >
      • Princess Cruises Doesn't Treat You Like Royalty; Celebrity Cruises Does! Which is a Better Value for the Upscale Cruise Guest? Part I
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part II: The Standard Veranda Staterooms
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part III: Treating You Right From The Start
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part IV: The Wine Lists Speak Volumes (As Do The Beverage Packages)
    • Regent >
      • Regent Seven Seas Mariner (2005)
      • Regent Seven Seas Navigator (2006)
    • Royal Caribbean >
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue - Prologue
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas - My First 24 Hours
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas - A Hurricane Runs Through It...Almost
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue - The Last Days ...
    • SeaDream Yacht Club >
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part I
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part II (Getting There, The Stateroom and First Impressions)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part III ("You Can’t Teach Five Star Service" and Bonafacio, Corsica)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part IV (Calvi, Monaco, Portofino, Porto Azzurro...and Stale Bread)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part V (My Last Day...and How The Chef's Team Makes It Happen)
    • Silversea >
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part I
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part II
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part III
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part IV
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part V
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part VI
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part VII
    • Taipei, Taiwan - Independent Travel >
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part I
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part II
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part III (Spa, Beauty and Fashion)
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part IV (Cuisine: Street, Sublime & Surreal)
    • Windstar >
      • Windstar Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise >
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part I
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part II - The Transformation of A Cruise Line
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part III - The Windstar Experience 2.0
      • Windstar Pride - Black Sea Cruise - September 2014 >
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part I
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part II
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part III
      • Windstar's Wind Surf - Caribbean - January 2014
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Norwegian Gem

Yesterday I performed a ship inspection of the Norwegian Cruise Lines's Norwegian Gem in New York City.  It was, to be sure, both interesting and educational, but more importantly, frustrating and even depressing.  I am not talking about the ship or the staff of the Norwegian Gem. Everyone was pleasant...at least the ones that acknowledged your existence.

I am talking about what I was looking for:  The elusive Luxury Cruise within a Mass Market Cruise.

While I had scheduled this inspection quite a while ago, just this past Wednesday, March 30, 2011,I saw an article in the Wall Street Journal:  "The Return of the Class System - Cruises Offer Private Areas and Perks to Lure New Passengers; Everyone Else Still Crowds by the Pool".  I thought it was rather ironic that by happenstance the WSJ published that article so soon after my March 25, 2011 article A Luxury Cruise: What is the "Industry Accepted Definition of 'Luxury'"? Does One Exist? .

Let me set the stage...and it has nothing to do with the ship:  Our hostess, Cherry, was actually a true "gem".  She cared, she was pleasant and she was concerned that we have a great experience and see everything.  But, as there can be, a truly arrogant travel agent was so abusive (for no reasons whatsoever) that she literally brought Cherry to tears.  I felt terrible, but as the day went on I could see there was an "arrogance of ignorance" in about 50% of these travel agents.  It was so uncomfortable for me that as I was departing I pulled Cherry aside and said, "I really appreciate you.  I am going to tell you something you probably won't believe.  I am one of world's top selling travel agents for Seabourn and I think you are fantastic."  Her sheepish smile was a breath of fresh air.

But that aside I looked at the famous Garden Villas - approximately 5,000 square feet of alleged private luxury.  Yes, you are in a segregated area of the ship...once you get there...and it has its own private spa and lounges, steam room, etc.  And, assuming you can have your eyes adjust to the intense purple, lime green and/or combinations thereof, you are faced with furniture that is supposedly Euro-design, but reminds me of IKEA (not "sort of like", but as in "actually sold by").  Trying to picture true luxury clients sitting in a semi-circular leather sofa with deep seats and low backs which is focused on smallish flat screen tv, just wasn't happening.  Or the Deluxe Owner's Suite, also with private areas and spa, but accessible only via a steep staircase and day-glo purple everywhere...except the dirty lounge chair covers that were red.  Or, to be sure, the Courtyard Villas - Penthouses with access of a shared semi-private glass-covered courtyard with lounges and a spa.

What I saw was large, very tacky, space with OK finishes that are more akin to Las Vegas (possibly even Reno) then what most luxury cruise clients would be looking for.  To be sure, however, these are expensive digs and the Garden Villas sell out on virtually every cruise.  I could, pompously say, "Money cannot buy you taste", but that would neither be fair or correct.  It is more that there is a market for everything and there most definitely is a market for people that want large, gaudy spaces with an air of exclusivity.  But that does not make that space a "luxury" one.  It merely makes it a large, gaudy space with an air of exclusivity.

And, remember, when you leave the confines of the exclusive areas you are hit smack in the face with the rest of the ship:  A treasure trove (for the cruise line) of onboard revenue making operations.  I do not think I will ever forget the look on a woman's face yesterday:  She just walked onto the ship, was handed an umbrella drink, took a sip and the bar waiter said, "May I have your room key?"  She said, "Why?"  followed by the shocking (for her) response, "We will just charge that drink to your room."  The woman was dazed and confused.  Other than a long wait in the cruise terminal that was her first NCL experience!

And then there is the food. You hear about Freestyle Dining and how great it is.  Television monitors are throughout the ship to let you know how long a wait you have if you want to dine in one of the many small venues..at extra cost.  And most of these venues are not enclosed, quaint, rooms, but rather more akin to shopping mall dining in open areas.

And while you think about the charges for the drinks and food, I want you to understand that in most of the accommodations the furnishings are so space that a mini-suite would be a standard veranda cabin on most lines and a standard oceanview or veranda cabin is so small that you are not even provided with a desk, but rather a wood-like tray affixed under the television.

Now it is time to sample NCL's food.  We were directed to some large tables in one of the main dining rooms, which was actually a fairly attractive space (relatively speaking?). I found most of the food to be inedible or close to it. So whether it was Asian ribs (flavorless and fatty) or a goat cheese salad (greens were fine, but that wasn't goat cheese or any natural product) or rib steak (not ribeye) that was very thin, previous cooked and fatty (it's only flavor), that is what the "luxury" guests in the Garden Villa is going to be eating!

So what does this have to do with bad travel agents? Let me continue!

The travel agents I sat with or otherwise met were essentially two types (other than that nasty woman): 

.....1.  Those that are alleged travel agents, being more concerned about which is the next highly discounted cruise they were going to take than the products they were going to sell; and,

.....2.  Those that had absolutely no idea about anything other than the lowest end of the market.  (I did speak with one who actually sold Holland America and one that was so adamant that Regent was the most luxurious cruise line, but had no idea why...other than she has one client that loves it.)

So me being me, I thought let me get a conversation about how travel agents discuss travel with their clients.  My favorite comment was from the most arrogant at the table who demanded that in order to see anything outside of the Caribbean you must take as many ship's tours as possible so that you can see everything.  When I asked her if she ever thought about, say, walking around the town and seeing how people live there, she responded that her clients aren't interested in the people, they want to see things.  Huh?  (Of all the travel agents I spoke to I don't think 30% had been outside the US or Caribbean.)

So I tried another tact and asked, "Why do your clients pick a particular cruise?"  They almost all told me that their clients were "Destination Driven" and really didn't care about the ship.  So I asked, "If that is the case, why don't they just fly there?"  Silence.  Not a single one had a clue.  I let them off the hook and said, "Don't you think if that was really the case they would all buy inside cabins and never spend a dime on the ship?" 

I pause and wondered to myself, "If the travel agents say their clients are destination orientated and they know little to nothing about the destination and, further, no little about anything other than the lower categories of cabins on mass market ships...that they insist their clients don't really care about...it is no wonder that the cruise lines can pitch this garbage about there being luxury cruises within mass market ships."  All any travel agent needs to do is find one "whale" (a gambling term") and the cruise line has an easy buy-in from that knowledgeless travel agent.

I was then asked a question about how I get people to purchase the more expensive cruises.  Aside from the fact that I don't "get" people to purchase more expensive cruises, I gave them a metaphor:  If the ship doesn't matter than, just like a plane, book them in Row 40 by the bathroom.  But do you think you clients might be willing to pay extra for a little more leg room, or possibly to sit closer to the front (so they can get their meals and drinks sooner)? Forget the First Class cabin...or should you?  Not a single one had ever thought of that.

Don't worry I wasn't thinking about the additional commissions those travel agents could have earned.  I thought about all those poor clients  - who blindly listened to their inept travel agent's advise - virtually sitting in Row 40 by the bathroom who would have purchased better seating, and even possibly first class accommodations, if they had been presented with the options and they were properly explained to them.

So where does that leave the novice cruise client who wants a luxury experience:  With most travel agents, worse than lost in the woods!  They have a guide that can't see the forest from the trees!

Make no mistake, if you are looking to spend over $22,000 for two people on an NCL seven day cruise in a Garden Villa ...before you have paid for drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, etc.  you will, without question, be spending $25,000.00 for your seven days of either exclusion or inundation of masses of mass market cruisers, or both, you just might want to speak with a travel agent that actually knows travel, understand the various products and can explain wherein the value lies.

And, after you make your decision, remember:  Plunking down $25,000 does not give you the right to redefine what luxury is.  It gives you the right to spend seven days on an NCL ship in a particular accommodation.  From my perspective, all I can say is, "You don't know what you are missing and, alas, if you stick with most travel agents, you will not have a chance to know."

As the Wall Street Journal said, you were "lured" into it...like a big ol' fish.  Doesn't sound so good, does it?  Blame your travel agent; not yourself.

And where does Goldring Travel fit into all this?  Do you find it shocking that one of the world's top sellers of Seabourn Cruises, the guy that sells the top suites on Crystal Cruises and other luxury experiences, would waste his time inspecting the Norwegian Gem?  I don't....because I am that travel agent that can specifically explain the differences and, to be sure, let you know what you are actually buying.

If you have any questions about luxury cruising please email me at eric@goldringtravel.com, call me at (888) SEABOURN or (877) 2G0-LUXURY in the U.S.; +44 20 8133 3450 in the U.K.; +61 7 3102 4685 in Australia; and +1 732-383-7398 elsewhere.

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Goldring Travel LLC
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Telephone:
US:   (877) 2GO-LUXURY (877-246-5898)
UK:   020 8133 3450
AUS: (07) 3102 4685
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Email: info@goldringtravel.com
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    • Seabourn >
      • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part I (A Look Back and A Look Forward)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part II (Copenhagen & The First Day)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part III (Flam & Alesund)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part IV (Slovlaer and Tromso)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part V (Honningsvag) - Ventures By Seabourn
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part V (Sea Days & Private Culinary Events)
        • Goldring Travel's 2015 Culinary & Cultural (formerly Food & Wine) Cruise - Seabourn Quest - Part VI (Bergen, Stavanger & The Last Two Culinary Events: Shopping with the Seabourn Chef and A Cheese Tasting)
      • Goldring Travel's 2013 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Preparations and a Plan...Sort Of!
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Take Off...and A Fresh Perspective
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Air Travel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Meat!
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The First 24 Hours and Ihhabela, Brazil
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The Little Things (Paranagua and Porto Belo, Brazil)
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Quest's Chef Creates An Incredible Tasting Event
        • Goldring Travel's 2013 Food & Wine Cruise - The Event: Montevideo, Uruguay- Caviar, Caviar and Sturgeon
      • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride >
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part II (Perspective)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part III (Storms A Brewing...And A Double Rainbow!)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part IV (Fish & Chips...And A Great Beer)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part V (Cork, Ireland and a Lucky Leprechaun Named Darina Allen)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VI (A Day at Sea with Special Events...And Then A Most Charming Port )
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 1)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 2: Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part VIII (Relaxing and "Basque"ing)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part IX (Shopping With The Chef)
        • Goldring Travel's 2012 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Pride - Part X (The Goldring Travel Food & Wine Tasting)
      • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Sojourn >
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part III
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part IV
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part V
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VI
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VII
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part VIII
        • Goldring Travel's 2011 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn - Part IX
      • Goldring Travel's 2010 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Odyssey >
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Beginning...Almost.
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Beginning...Leaving On A Jet Plane
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Oy, Such Problems!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Doing So Much and Doing Nothing
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - A Sea Day and Some Thoughts About The Dining Expereiences
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Shopping with the Chef and Sicilian Seafood Experiences
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Malta and Food for Thought
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Pizza or the Wintergarden Suite's Spa? Let's Try Both!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - The Food & Wine Tasting to Die For!
        • 2010 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey - Finding Pizza and What It Means to "Travel"
      • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise - Seabourn Spirit >
        • 2009 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Some Pre-Cruise Thoughts and My Plan
        • Goldring Travel's Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit 2009 - The Start: It's All About The Clothes???
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Walking With Wine In Venice
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Finally Onboard...Err, I Mean, Home!
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Split, Croatia: Shopping With the Chef & Chilling Out Seabourn Style
        • Seabourn Spirit 2009 Food & Wine Cruise - Its About The Fish!
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Meeting Up With The Big Sister & Chef's Surprises
        • Goldring Travel's 2009 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit - Some Final Thoughts
      • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise >
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2008 Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit: Travelogue Part III (The Food & Wine Tasting!)
      • Goldring Travel's 2007 Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise
      • Seabourn Quest Pre-Inaugural Cruise 2011 >
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part I
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part II
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part III
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part IV
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part V
        • The Pre-Inaugural of the Seabourn Quest - Part VI - The Photos!
      • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural Cruise (2010) >
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue - Part II
        • Seabourn Sojourn - The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue - Part III (The Seabourn Sojourn Has Been Delivered!)
        • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part VI
        • Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage - Part XII - Some Videos and Photos
      • 2009 Seabourn Odyssey Inaugural Cruise >
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Ca' Segredo Hotel Starts The Sojourn
        • Seabourn Odyssey - First Impressions
        • Seabourn Odyssey - Cuisine, Venues, People
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Standard Suites - Part I
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Standard Suites- Part II
        • Seabourn Odyssey - The Upper Suites
    • AmaWaterways River Cruises >
      • Goldring Travel's 2014 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto >
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) - Part I
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part II
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part III
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IV (Georg Breuer Riesling Tasting)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VI
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VII (Bamberg Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VIII
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IX (Food & Wine Tasting on the AmaCerto)
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part X
        • Goldring Travel's 2014 Food & Wine River Cruise - AmaWaterways AmaCerto (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part XI - The Tokaji Wine Tasting
        • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa - The Kindness of Strangers)
      • AmaWaterways AmaLotus - Vietnam & Cambodia >
        • AmaWaterways Mekong River Cruise - Radio Interview
        • AMAWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part I
        • AMAWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part II
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - 2012 Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part III
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part IV
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part V (Getting There & Day 1: Hanoi)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VI (Let the Tour Begin!)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VII (Halong Bay...and A Monk)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part VIII
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part IX (The Ship)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part X (The Egg)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XI (Happy Pizza)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XII (The Killing Fields)
        • AmaWaterways' AmaLotus - Vietnam, Cambodia and The Mekong River Cruise- Part XIII (Our Last Days)
        • Review and Reflection of the 2012 AmaWaterways AmaLotus Vietnam and Cambodia Tour and Cruise
    • Azamara Club Cruises >
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises - Is it Amazing? Part I
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part II
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part III (Bali and Komodo Island)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part IV (Upscale Meets ????)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part V (Perspectives on Experiencing Developing Ports)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part V (Manila, Philippines - By Day and AzAmazing Evening)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VII (Doing It On Your Own - Part A - Dontonbori, Osaka)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part VIII (Doing It On Your Own - Part B - Kyoto - Why You Can't Rely Only On Guidebooks or TripAdvisor!)
      • Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia - Is it Amazing? Part IX - Reflections
    • Celebrity Cruises >
      • Celebrity Century (2011) >
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get?
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part II
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part III
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? Part IV
        • Celebrity Century Cruise 2011 - How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity's Smallest Ship Get? - Some Final Observations and Thoughts
      • Celebrity Equinox (2009) >
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009- The Prologue to the Travelogue
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - The Adventure Begins...With a Bump or Two
        • Celebrity Equinox - Settling In Made Easy
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Luxury Touches ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Asian Flair ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Private Tours, Israel ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Egypt...Impressive and Depressing
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - Dining With the Captain ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - The Last Dinner ...
        • Celebrity Equinox 2009 - What Happens When ...
      • Celebrity Silhouette (2013) >
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? - Part I
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? - Part II
        • Celebrity Silhouette 2013 - How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? The Review - Part III
      • Celebrity Solstice (2008) >
        • Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part I
        • Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part II
      • Celebrity Summit "Solticized" - A Ship Inspection (2012)
    • Crystal Cruises >
      • Crystal Serenity - November 2015 >
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part I
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part II
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part III
        • Crystal Serenity - Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a "Move Up" & "Move Over" Luxury Option - Part IV (Food & Wine!)
      • Crystal Symphony - April 2011 >
        • Crystal Symphony - Part I
        • Crystal Symphony - Part II
        • Crystal Symphony - Part III
        • Crystal Symphony - Part IV
        • Crystal Symphony - Part V
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VI
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VII
        • Crystal Symphony - Part VIII
        • Crystal Symphony - Part IX
        • Crystal Symphony - Goldring Travel's Pacific Exploration of Crystal Cruise's Luxury Experience - "Reflections"
    • Cunard >
      • Cunard's Queen Mary 2 - A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary
    • fathom Impact Travel >
      • Immersing In fathom's Social Impact Programs
    • G Adventures - Amazon River Cruise >
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part I
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part II
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part III
      • Goldring Travel Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures - Part IV (What Group Travel Should Really Be About!)
    • Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) >
      • Norwegian Gem - Budget Cruises Pitching Luxury: You Don't Get What You Pay For, You Only Think You Do.
    • Paul Gauguin >
      • Paul Gauguin (2007)
    • Princess >
      • Princess Cruises Doesn't Treat You Like Royalty; Celebrity Cruises Does! Which is a Better Value for the Upscale Cruise Guest? Part I
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part II: The Standard Veranda Staterooms
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part III: Treating You Right From The Start
      • Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess - Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part IV: The Wine Lists Speak Volumes (As Do The Beverage Packages)
    • Regent >
      • Regent Seven Seas Mariner (2005)
      • Regent Seven Seas Navigator (2006)
    • Royal Caribbean >
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue - Prologue
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas - My First 24 Hours
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas - A Hurricane Runs Through It...Almost
      • Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue - The Last Days ...
    • SeaDream Yacht Club >
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part I
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part II (Getting There, The Stateroom and First Impressions)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part III ("You Can’t Teach Five Star Service" and Bonafacio, Corsica)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part IV (Calvi, Monaco, Portofino, Porto Azzurro...and Stale Bread)
      • Goldring Travel Cruising on SeaDream Yacht Club - Italy and Corisca 2014 - Part V (My Last Day...and How The Chef's Team Makes It Happen)
    • Silversea >
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part I
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part II
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part III
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part IV
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part V
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part VI
      • Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review - Part VII
    • Taipei, Taiwan - Independent Travel >
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part I
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part II
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part III (Spa, Beauty and Fashion)
      • A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan - Who Knew? - Part IV (Cuisine: Street, Sublime & Surreal)
    • Windstar >
      • Windstar Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise >
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part I
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part II - The Transformation of A Cruise Line
        • Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise - Part III - The Windstar Experience 2.0
      • Windstar Pride - Black Sea Cruise - September 2014 >
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part I
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part II
        • Windstar Cruises - Star Pride Black Sea Cruise - Part III
      • Windstar's Wind Surf - Caribbean - January 2014
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    • Goldring Travel's 2016 Culinary & Cultural Cruise - The British Isles and More on the Seabourn Quest (August 4, 2016) -
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