Travel Maven blog

Celebrity Cruises builds a bigger ship

Celebrity Cruises will build its largest ship for the last of the five-vessel Solstice series.

Celebrity Reflection will be about 3 feet wider than other Solstice vessels to expand restaurants and public areas, and to carry an extra passenger deck with cabins and suites connected to the spa, the cruise line announced today.

Cruising, a free voyage to the Bahamas

I met an enterprising woman cruising on Azamara Journey, during our November crossing of the Atlantic. She said she had just booked a free four-night cruise.

In this crazy world of travel anomalies and managed discounts, her plan made perfect sense.

Azamara passengers like wine, gratuities changes

Voyages end.  Our bubble of civility burst in Miami, as Azamara Journey docked after two weeks at sea from Rome.

We arrived in Miami, about 600 of us aboard the cruise ship (right, docked in Tenerife) that had become a temporary home.

An old friend once described traveling in luxury as being a part-time millionaire. One day you are treated like royalty, cruising or resort-sitting where your comforts and attitude are someone else’s concern, your meals prepared, your bed made, your cocktails poured. The next day you are at home, cooking, cleaning, making your own day, chipping ice off the car windows to get to work.

I spent much of the last few days aboard Azamara Journey asking other passengers about their views of the ship and our voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.