Travel Maven Blog ... posts from The Travel Mavens.com

Cruising on Seabourn Quest in the Mediterranean

Seabourn, on a quest to be the lead dog in the luxury business at sea, introduces its third new ship in three years on Sunday, June 20. Blythe  Danner, an actress seen lately in the movies of Fockers fame, will do the honors at a sunset ceremony in Barcelona.

Until then, the new Seabourn Quest is on a casual pre-inaugural cruise  from Rome.

I was aboard from Rome to Monte Carlo, and, as usual, found Seabourn ready to serve.

Seabourn Quest follows two nearly identical sisters, the Odyssey, which debuted in 2009, and Sojourn, introduced in 2010, joining three older, smaller Seabourn ships, the Spirit, Pride and Legend.

These are ships of plenty, without crowds, without a wait for service.

The wonders of Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, S.C., is one of America's favorite cities for travelers.

It's a city you can walk with wonder at the historic architecture of its houses and storefronts, listen to the clip-clop of horses pulling carriages full of happy tourists, sit for a spell in shady waterfront parks, stroll the neighborhoods for an understanding of the southern marvel -- a city that lives well, eats well and draws admiring visitors.

I wish my home city of Cleveland, Ohio, offered its residents and visitors such parks on the southern shore of Lake Erie.

On a recent visit to Charleston, I met one of the heroes of the city's success saga, Joseph P. Riley Jr., mayor since 1975. He is pro-people and anti-illegal guns.

Ten romantic Valentine's Day retreats

Just in time for your Valentine, Hideaways International lists its 10 most romantic retreats in the world -- hotels and resorts from Portofino, Italy, to Bora Bora in French Polynesia.

Be forewarned: Hideaways International is a travel company that sells luxury accommodations. The Top 10, created by Hideaways president Mike Thiel, are expensive.

Valentine's Day is during the off-season on the French Riviera, so the weekend special at Chateau Eza, right, includes three nights, a romantic bath, a bottle of champagne and a Valentine's dinner for 2, starting at 580 Euros, about $750 for a couple. Now, all you have to do is get there.

For more romance, go to TravelMavens.net and click on World's 10 Most Romantic Retreats.

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Molyneaux is editor of TravelMavens.net. CLICK for articles on cruising, golf, Florida, Europe, adventure and travel gear and gadgets.