Homer’s two epic poems, The Odyssey and The Iliad, like much of Greek mythology, blur the lines between myth and reality. Stories such as Heracles or the Minotaur, often set fantastical, frequently impossible things within the places of the real world. If you too have been taken with Odyssey fever and discovered a fascination with Greek Mythology, let me tell you how to see the ancient Greek world in person.

Athens

In today’s world, the city of Athens has come to be the most visited spot for those fascinated by Greek history. That’s not surprising, given that it is the capital of Greece today and has a large port that cruise ships frequent. There’s also a decent international airport, making it an ideal location to vacation. Important for the topic of visiting ancient Greek sites is that Athens has continuously been a city for thousands of years. You can scarcely throw a rock without hitting a structure older than 500 years. Although genuine ruins of the ancient Greek world lie all around the city, and under it more often than not, the highlights to see here are among the most visited sites in the world.

The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens is a must when you visit Greece.

Most visible and famous is the Parthenon. Sitting above the rest of the Athens, on the Athenian Acropolis (a word which translates to mean the highest point of the city), the Parthenon is arguably the most recognizable feature of Greece culture and history. In its day, it was a temple to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, where the city takes its name from. The site also has one of my favorite museums anywhere in the world, the aptly named Acropolis Museum. The museum sits above one of the archeological sites at the acropolis and visitors can simply look down and see real excavations going on beneath their feet.

Another ancient place is the Agora, which is a marketplace. The sprawling Agora of Athens contains its own museum that documents the Athenian democracy, housed inside a reconstructed stoa (covered walkway) that dates to 150 BC, temples to the gods Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, and Apollo, an odeon, a library, and the seat of the ancient Athenian government.

Perhaps obviously, there are many more sites in Athens beyond just these two that are connected with ancient Greece, much less other historic periods over the last 3000 years, but there are entire books dedicated to doing little more than listing things to see in Athens and we don’t have the space to do so here. However, I’ll mention a few of the more noteworthy.

Temple of Hephaestus in the Athens Agora

There’s the first modern Olympic stadium, the Panathenaic stadium, which houses the Olympic flame. Lycabettus Hill, which gives you amazing views of the city, has a bar to grab a drink at, and a conveniently placed church to apologize about the drinking at. Of course, you cannot visit Athens without visiting Plaka, a neighborhood just beneath the Acropolis filled with shops and restaurants for you to stop in as you wander the picturesque streets.

What’s the best way to get to Athens then? Since this is a modern metropolis, there’s all sorts of transportation that can get you here. Arriving by plane is very easy and their airport is smaller and simpler to navigate than many other cities. Hotels and vacation rentals are plentiful, so staying overnight isn’t a problem. Cruises, which often start in Athens and also frequently visit there, are another very easy way to visit the city. How long you want to stay in Athens specifically is the determining factor in what we would recommend.

Lycabettus Hill in Athens, Greece

If all you want to see is the Acropolis and maybe one or two other sites, you can do so in a day. It’ll be a busy day, but you can do it. This might fit best if you want to see as many places in Greece as possible, since vacations only last so long. If that’s what you’re looking to do, then a cruise that starts in Athens, which you should arrive at least 1 day before, might be the trick.

However, for longer stays focused on Athens and the surrounding areas, it may be better to connect with a tour group or arrange for a private tour for several days. Since Athens is so popular for travelers, there’s a booming industry of private drivers and tour guides that will work with you on planning a multi-day trip where they take you around to see the area’s sites. As I mentioned, there’s also pre-planned tours that go in a group and travel by bus through the city and to surrounding areas. These tours can be just a single day or even several days, stopping at multiple places in this part of Greece.

Thessaloniki & Mt Olympus

Greece’s second largest city is Thessaloniki. Although this city does not have as storied a history in ancient Greece as Athens does, it was founded in 315 BC, squarely in the Hellenistic period, and is directly connected with Alexander the Great. Most of the historic sites in the city itself relate to a much later period, that of the Byzantine Empire.

Thessaloniki Waterfront. Photo by Berthold Werner https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71127147

The Byzantines are not a subject frequently taught in US schools, so don’t worry if you’re from there and not familiar. I can’t say what schools in other countries are like on the subject, but here’s a short primer. The Byzantines were the eastern half of the Roman Empire that stuck around for centuries after the collapse of Rome. While their capital was in Byzantium, also known as Constantinople, now know as Istanbul. You see, Istanbul was Constantinople, but now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople. It’s been a long time gone, Constantinople and why they changed it I can’t say. Perhaps people just liked it better that way…

Now that I’ve cleared up the history of the capital, Thessaloniki was the “second city” of the empire, in comedy circles this would be like Chicago or Toronto. Ruins from both the Roman and Byzantine era are all over the city, notably the Arch and Rotunda of Galerius, the Palace of Galerius, and a massive Roman Forum. All of which you can visit and are right in the center of the town.

“But I’m here for Zeus, Athena, and Apollo!” You say! What do you care about some boring old Roman emperors? While Thessaloniki might not be as loaded up with the sort of Greek mythos you’re thinking of, it is a great place from which to visit the major site of Greek myths, Mount Olympus.

Yes, the Seat of the Gods, the place where Zeus and Dionysus threw some of the biggest intergalactic keggers the universe ever knew is just a short distance away from Thessaloniki. It was the first national park in Greece and part of the World Biosphere reserve. Mount Olympus has been the site of pilgrimage since at least 400 BC, and you can make that pilgrimage as well! There are tons of opportunities to go hike the ancient, divine stones of this mountain with guides who will tell you stories and myths that grew out of this amazing location.

Mt Olympus Photo By Cristo Vlahos – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30394901

In addition, you can visit the ruins of Dion, which sits at the foot of Mount Olympus and was the site where Alexander the Great’s Kingdom of Macedonia had their largest shire to Zeus. It was the center of religious power for the Macedonians, and hosted large complexes of baths, shrines, walls, mosaics, and more. They even have a “hydraulis” housed in the museum, which is an ancient bronze pipe organ. The site is a center of power for a lot of Macedonian history, and Alexander himself made enormous sacrifices to Zeus before his ill-fated campaign to Asia.

The best way to get to Thessaloniki is typically to fly in. There are some cruises that stop in the city, but it isn’t a main stop. That means that getting a hotel, for a few nights is the best way to stay. There’s some options for vacation rentals, but they aren’t as plentiful as in Athens. Fortunately, tour groups, drivers, and guides are in no short supply here and they can get you to any of the places you’d like to visit without any hassle.

Thermopylae, Delphi, and Lamia

There is hardly a single Greek myth that doesn’t include a guest appearance of the Fates or Oracles. While Greece was littered with Oracles, Delphi was the biggest of them all. This was where, Apollo had his Pythia deliver their visions of the future, and steer the course of history. To ignore these readings would bring destruction.

When you visit Greece, you can go to Delphi where the Oracle was. This is the Athens Treasury at the site.

The Oracle of Delphi certainly gave the site, nestled into the mountains, a great deal of importance to the Ancient Greeks. However, Delphi’s location was considered to be the center of the world – literally. Its position was marked by an omphalos, a type or religious artifact made of stone. The omphalos is still there today, now moved to the protected space of the site’s beautiful museum to preserve it, although we don’t know if it’s original or not. The point is, that when you visit Delphi, you are visiting the center of the Grecian world.

The facilities the Greeks built around Delphi are substantial. The Oracle was a priestess of Apollo, chosen by the other priestesses of the temple and they all worked together to attend and maintain the temple and deliver the Oracle’s visions. To receive a vision from the Oracle, you had to make an offering to the temple of Apollo. This offering, a reasonable fee if you will, was levied to support the Oracle and the temple’s operations. It takes a lot to make some prophecies after all. The various city states kept treasuries at Delphi to make the payment for these visions easier and these vaults would house their tithes to the oracle in thanks for the victories she led them to. A sort of pay to win system I suppose.

Other than the Oracle, there are many more features in Delphi. A massive ancient theater affords visitors sweeping views of the valley below. There was a gymnasium, which is exactly what is sounds like, and a stadium for sporting events. The stadium is at the highest point of the Delphic ruins, which is a bit of a climb, and it is the most well preserved ancient stadium in Greece.

Nichole above the Odeon at Delphi.

In the same region as Delphi, sits Thermopylae. If you’ve seen the movie 300, you’ve heard of Thermopylae, or the “hot gates”. This is where the 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas, fought to the last against the invading army of Xerxes, king of the Persians and his overwhelming hordes of deadly immortals. While this is lauded by ancient Greek fans, the reality is that the Spartans had many, many more soldiers than the 300, plus a whole fleet backing them up. Additionally, Xerxes led a multicultural empire that was widely regarded as one of the best places to live in the ancient world.

Although reality paints a very different picture than Mr. Snyder or Mr. Miller, the importance of Thermopylae is undeniable. While there aren’t a lot of ruins, this site is where battles have been fought for thousands of years due to its strategic location. It was a central pivot point in ancient history, not just for Greece, but the entire world, and you can still visit it today. Its hot springs are still active, and modern baths let you enjoy its mineral waters. You don’t even have to get kicked down a well to enjoy them!

Thermopylae Ho Springs By Fkerasar – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1961603

While you can visit both these places from Athens and Thessaloniki, consider staying in nearby Lamia. It’s a truly ancient city, rivaling Athens in age, that sits in a highly strategic location above Thermopylae. It was possibly named after the daughter of Poseidon, though there is some debate around that. While it doesn’t boast the ruins and structures of Athens, it is a beautiful city with many museums and its own unique history.

The only way to get to Lamia, though, is by driving in from one of the larger cities I mentioned above. There are many places to stay, if you value independent travel, and there are many tours that you can sign up for if you like a group experience. Just like almost everywhere in Greece, there’s also private drivers and guides a plenty if you want to go a more personalized or small group route.

Greek Islands

You might be wondering, at this point, where are the islands? Greece is full of islands, and I definitely saw Odysseus riding around in a boat! Well, don’t worry, I have a few islands loaded with ruins, myths, and more for you!

If you’ve ever been called a cretin, don’t take it as an insult, Crete was the center of one of the largest, most important city states in the ancient world… I’m being told that those two words are not in any way related.

Ariel View Of Chania By dronepicr – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101700513

Anyway, Crete was the center of the Minoan civilization, one of the most technologically advanced places for its time, and Chania was one of its centers. The ancient Minoan palace of Knossos is very near Chania, and that site, specifically, is where we get the tale of the Minotaur from. Talk about being bull-headed, am I right!

In addition to Knossos, Chania was also the seat of the Kydonians, who earn a mention in the Odyssey itself. Because of its distance from mainland Greece, Chania is a wonderful place to visit for several days, or via cruise.

Cape Drastis, Corfu, By Hagai Agmon-Snir https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121317537

Another great island of Greek history and myth is Corfu on the western side of Greece. Famed for its blue waters, there have been countless battles and naval conquests held here throughout history. Sites to visit include Kardaki temple from 500 BC, the temples of Artemis and Hera, as well as the tomb of Menecrates. The tomb is one of only two sites, the other in Rhodes, of this type that we have found. He seemed to have been an ancient ambassador who was lost at sea and includes a stunning ancient lion sculpture.

If you visit Greece, Rhodes is worth your time. This is a view of the Medieval city part of Rhodes. By Bernard Gagnon – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25041428

Speaking of Rhodes, it was the center of trade in the whole region. If it wasn’t an island, we may have said that all roads lead to Rhodes, and that wealth and influence is how they were able to build the Colossus of Rhodes. If you were hoping to see this wonder of the ancient world, however, you’re just a couple of years too late, as it was destroyed in 226 BC in an earthquake and, abiding by the Oracle of Delphi, it was never reconstructed. That doesn’t mean you can’t get your ancient god fix in Rhodes, for the Temple of Pythian Apollo, ancient theaters and stadiums, and the Acropolis of Rhodes are all scattered around the island. Additionally, impressive medieval castles, such as the Palace of the Grand Master where the Knights Hospitaller were headquartered, and where the Colossus was said to have stood.

Santorini, By Skigo Wedding Stories – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159090912

Finally, there is Santorini where, because of its volcanic nature, there isn’t a lot to go off. However, we do know the islands were home to the great Minoan city of Akrotiri, and some of its ruins and murals remain. There are three-story buildings, walls, streets, and some of the oldest examples of plumbing we have, all from 3000 to 2000 BC. Unfortunately, especially for the Akrotirians, most of the city was destroyed in an eruption which lasted for weeks and was so large it caused a tsunami. The catastrophic valcano is what gave Santorini the shape it has today, when at least 25 cubic kilometers of stone, ash, and magma, were thrown into the atmosphere. It’s easy to see why Akrotiri, and thus Santorini, is often held up as one of the most likely locations of the mythological city of Atlantis that Plato described over a thousand years after the eruption.

Beyond the Myth

So, you might have noticed at this point that I’ve listed a lot of amazing, interesting locations with ancient ruins, mythologies, and stunning nature. But you might also be thinking, “Odysseus didn’t go there”.  And yes, we started this talking about the Odyssey, but the thing is, Troy is in Turkey, and most of the places that are mentioned on his journey are thought to be in Sicily, and beyond that, they’re mostly made up.

Yes, Scylla is a real place in Sicily, and Ithaca is a place in Greece, but the island of the lotus eaters, Polyphemus, or giant cannibals, these don’t seem to have any real place attached to them. Just like all myths, they are there to transmit ideas, morals, and stories. While all the myths of ancient Greece are enjoyable, being in the real places where they were created, shared, and believed helps understand them on a whole different level. So if you loved the Odyssey, consider a visit to Greece because nothing compares seeing to the genuine thing with your own eyes. Maybe that’s why the Greeks are so mad at the British museum?

The post How to Visit Greece – The World of The Odyssey appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Know Your Choices

Almost all the major airlines have divided their seating into a complex array of basic, main cabin economy, premium, plus, business and first, it’s confusing. And while the airlines claim to give you choices and make sure you aren’t paying for something you don’t want, the reality is that it often does the opposite. Each one of these categories is a little different and can carry some hidden costs or language that might make you end up paying more out of pocket down the road.

First there are cabin types, usually these are something along the lines of “Main Cabin/Economy”, “Premium/Plus” and “First/Business.” These are going to tell you where in the plane you sit from back to front, as well as the general level of service, you’ll get onboard and, to some extent, the service and amenities you are afforded in the airport and at the check-in counter.

How to save money on airfare is a complex question that the airlines work to make ever harder to answer.

Then there are the fare types. “Basic” typically means no seat selection, no frequent flyer points, added bag fees, and little to no refunds. Paying a little more for something like “Classic” or “Flexible” are going to give you some better options, but not necessarily everything! There may still be hidden fees for things like bags or seat selection.

The main thing you’ll want to do when planning is look through that airline’s chart for what is and isn’t covered under each category and make sure that you are getting everything you need!

Research and Track Prices

Google Flights and similar price trackers will follow and report on specific flight pricing, alerting you to price changes, and give you an idea of the historic costs of that flight. It’s a useful tool if you are hoping to see the price drop.

Of course, you’ll need to double check the pricing on the airline’s website yourself, as sometimes air consolidator and reseller sites will post something lower, but we recommend that you avoid these third-party sellers as it sometimes causes difficulties with the flight you choose.

While it can be nice to have airline loyalty points, the airlines have continued to make these programs less appealing. I wrote an article on that just a few months ago and the link is in the description below. The number one way to make sure you are saving money is to buy whichever carrier is offering the best deal, and at a rate that will let you rebook or reprice, even if only for credit, in case the price drops. Make sure to watch out for change and cancellation fees in your airfare category.

But When Should I Book?!

Statistical analysis of airfare prices have yielded some tips, tricks, and generalities to getting the best pricing. For example, recent studies say Friday is the best day of the week to make a booking. Additionally, flights leaving on a Tuesday tend to have the cheapest rates. Of course, a big event like a World Cup or Taylor Swift concert can always raise prices.

Of course, the reality is that every guide, theory, and purchasing advice construct are being thrown out, as demand-based algorithms have taken over the pricing. If someone buys two business-class seats on a plane, the price can shoot up as it sees demand for that flight is now higher. The only way to see when the price drops is to constantly check or use a price tracker. Once you chose a set of flights you can ask Google Flights or other trackers to send you an email when the price changes.

For our personal travel we always book using a fare that allows no cost change or cancellation for e-credits. Then when the tracker tells us the fare has dropped, we go back to the site and put in for a change. Then we pile up the e-credits for our next flight. If you are willing to pay more at the outset, some airlines will issue refunds rather e-credits.

Once you’ve decided on a flight and booked it, we suggest you relax at that point because you’ve done what you need to save money on airfare.

Ultimately though, the best time to book is when the flight is at a price that you are willing to pay. Once you’ve done your due diligence and made sure you have the right fare type, seat category, and airline for your trip, if you see it at a price, you’re willing to book at, go ahead and book.

If you have it at a rate where you can rebook for credit, feel free to keep watching, but otherwise, close all those tabs, stop all those trackers, and just feel comfortable knowing that you’re booked and you don’t have to think about it anymore. That is until the airline changes your flight times and gives you thirty minutes to run across the airport for your second leg.

Points, Extras, and Tricks

Airline points used to be a big deal. And for some people, they still are, but the reality is that if you aren’t taking a flight every week or flying in very expensive seats, you aren’t going to get a lot out of any one program anymore. Frequent Flier numbers are more useful now for keeping track of your flight information, so you don’t have to fill it in each time.

Don’t get me wrong, the loyalty programs are worth signing up for still. With Delta, it gives you free access to the in-flight Wi-Fi for example. Just don’t expect too much out of the programs beyond the basics of what they provide.

Airline status is not something that you should put much thought into when trying to save money on airfare.

If you live in a hub where most of your flights are from one airline, you can look at the credit cards offered by that airline. They usually include some good perks but just make sure that you aren’t paying for something you won’t use. There are often no-fee versions of the cards that will still get you some of the perks.

While we strongly recommend travel protection for any trip, do not buy it from the airline. You can get better coverage for less. Instead, ask for quotes from reputable third-party insurers. Travel insurance comes in a variety of forms, and if you are planning a trip with multiple parts, it can be very valuable to cover the entirety of it, rather than just pieces.

What You Need To Do

Air travel has always been complicated, and that has not improved in the slightest in the last decade. If you’re an infrequent flier, new to travel, or just don’t want to devote the amount of time it takes to understand each airline’s unique ecosystem, you might be missing out on perks or paying more than you want to for a ticket. To help you out, here’s a quick airline-agnostic list of basic principles to follow when booking:

1. Make sure you’re booking a changeable rate that will let you rebook, even if only for credit, should the price drop.
2. Check for hidden fees like checked bag fees or seat selection fees.
3. Join the loyalty program, but don’t be loyal. Book with whoever has the best fares.
4. Keep flight price trackers on the flights to check if the price drops.
5. Book your flight as soon as it’s at a price you are OK booking.
6. Know your rights as a passenger.

Yes, I said Rights. The US Department of Transportation has passenger rights listed on its website, it is important to understand those rights. In general, you will have fewer rights when the delay or cancellation is not controllable by the airline, like severe weather. Controllable delays, which are things within the airline’s power to influence, include maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loading, fueling, etc. By knowing your rights, you’ll be in a much better position to advocate for yourself and your family in the event of problems.

The post How to Save Money on Airfare appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Because Virgin has no traditional main dining room, like you get on most other cruise ships, you can eat in a different spot every night with no specialty dining fees, which is also unique among large cruise ships. However, this means a reservation system, which can cause frustration or even panic for some guests. I’ll pull back the curtain on Virgin Voyages’ dining reservations and what you need to know about it. 

Booking Before You Board

Virgin Voyages has several sailing fare categories. They are, Lock-It-In, Base, Essential, Premium, RockStar and Mega RockStar. No matter what fare you’ve booked, though, you will have an opportunity to grab some dinner and brunch reservations before you sail. You’ll be able to make these dining reservations through the Virgin app, or on virginvoyages.com under your booking page. 

The trick here is that which cabin and fare type you book, determines how far before your departure date you can make those reservations. In other words, some fare types and cabins get to make their reservations earlier than others.

If you book a Lock-it-In or Base Fare, then the first chance you’re going to have to book any  brunch or dining reservations is 15 days before your sailing. If you’re booked under the Essential Fare, that window for dining reservations will open 45 days before the start of the cruise. With the Premium Fare, you will get 60 days. And for those in the Rockstar and MegaRockstar cabins, you’ll get to plan your dining a whole 120 days before you set sail.

Virgin Voyages dining reservation system depends a great deal on what fare you book with.

With all that said, Virgin only opens a portion of their total reservation slots before the sailing. More on that in a moment.

You also need to know that how often you are allowed to book each restaurant will also vary based on the length of your sailing. For sailings of five nights or less, you can have one reservation per restaurant. Meanwhile, those on six-to-eight-night cruises can book twice per restaurant. And anyone on cruises of nine or more nights can reserve each restaurant three times. 

Also consider if you’re a diehard fan of one of Virgin’s places, doing a walk-up to the restaurant does not count towards this limitation, it’s just for reservations! You can even do a walk-up and eat at a reservation on the same night, if you’re really, really hungry. 

Didn’t Get the Times/Days You Want?

Let’s say you need to eat at 6:30 PM every night, or you really want to snag the Wake for your birthday dinner, but for some reason you can’t get the timeslot you’re looking for. What can be done? Well, don’t worry, there are a few tips a tricks for getting the perfect dining schedule on Virgin. 

First, you can come back and check on availability. People change their schedules, cancel cruises, or any number of things. Just because a restaurant or timeslot isn’t available now doesn’t mean it won’t be later. Pop in and check from time to time to see if that slot opened.

Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle is where you’ll head to at the start of a sailing if you need to make adjustments with the Virgin Voyages dining reservation system and you don’t want to use the app.

Second, once you’re on the ship, there are a few ways you can snag those extra times that open up. First, as soon as you are on the ship’s WiFi, you can log in and make or edit bookings. If you don’t have a great phone or are just a little clumsy with your thumbs, you can also make your way to the dining reservation desk, usually at Razzle Dazzle, where Virgin will have crew helping make and alter reservations. 

Finally, it can be worth keeping an eye on reservations as the cruise goes on. People will cancel their plans mid-cruise, causing times to open. You never know if the perfect spot will free up the day of. 

Virgin’s New Shared Dining – What Is It?

Virgin Voyages recently updated their dining system to allow for “shared tables.” A shared table is one where you will be sat next to other people who are not in your dining party. Many restaurants have called this family style seating. Before you ask, this new system is completely opt-in so don’t worry about being forced to sit with people if you don’t want to. 

The pilot program for this is running on a few sailings in October and November of 2026, and if it’s a hit, it will likely be implemented going forward. Now you might be asking yourself the question, why are they doing this? 

Well, there are two reasons. First, some people like the idea of dining with random folks they don’t know. They are called extroverts and if you are not one of them this probably never occurred to you. At this point I would say hello to my fellow introverts, but that’s not how we do things, so I’ll simply give you a head nod and then go in opposite directions.

Gunbae style dining is exactly what the line is trying out with the “Shared Tables” option in the Virgin Voyages Dining Reservation system, but now it’s at the other restaurants.

The second part of the answer is to simply give Sailors a little more flexibility when it comes to dining. Virgin has always grappled with the reality that they offer the equivalent of specialty dining on other cruise lines as part of the price. This leads to everyone wanting reservations, and with limited space in each restaurant, that leads to people becoming upset if they can’t get the times they want. 

With this program there will be more flexibility. If a 6-person table at Rojo on the Brilliant Lady is being unused for dinner, why not put three pairs of sailors together in a time that might be unavailable for three 2-person tables? And don’t worry about breaking the ice, Virgin plans to have the crew help make those awkward introductions go by in a more direct way. 

It’s not like Virgin are… virgins… at doing ice breakers either. Gunbae, their Korean BBQ restaurant on the ship is exclusively this style of dining. I think the line should have this handled fairly well.

If you’re onboard for one of these pilot voyages and feel like trying it out, make sure to give Virgin feedback! 

But if you don’t want to do it, don’t. Know that people who choose to participate may have made more space for your table.  

No Reservations? No Problem!

If you can’t or don’t want to get reservations, I promise you will not starve. You will do whatever the opposite of starving is. Full-ing, perhaps.

If you don’t have a reservation, consider walking up the evening of. You might have some issues with a big group of people, but if there’s just two or three of you, it shouldn’t be too bad. I recommend going up as soon as the restaurant opens and seeing if you can get in later that evening to give the crew some wiggle room on time to get you in. If you do this, you will get messaged in the app when your table is ready. 

However, even if you don’t get into one of the restaurants offered on Virgin, there are a variety of other options. The Galley will have dinner service at the Diner and Dash, as well as burgers, salads, sushi, and baked goods. Some popular dinner options include beef wellington and butter chicken. Unfortunately, the ramen, tacos, and paninis aren’t open in the evening, as the crew that work those are doing dinner service in the restaurants. 

It’s not exactly conventional, but you can always just eat all the ice cream you want! You don’t need to use the Virgin Voyages dining reservation system to fill up on that!

In addition to the Galley, you can always grab a fresh-made pizza at the Pizza Place. Virgin offers my favorite cruise pizza of any line I’ve tried. There are also quick options at the Social Club and the Dockhouse. The Social club serves wings, pretzels, and hot dogs, while the Dock offers delicious Greek bites. The shrimp there are a consistent favorite for people. 

If you want to eat in your room, you can bring any food back with you and the to-go pizzas, from the Pizza Place, and the grab-and-go boxes in the Galley and by the Dock are all convenient ways to get food back to the cabin .  

There’s also Ship Eats, the delivery room service available 24 hours a day. There’s a $10 delivery charge for non-Rockstar guests, but if you order $10 in drinks with your Bar Tab, that fee is waived. 

There are also dinner shows as a paid extra held in the Manor. You generally get 5 different cocktails, one for each course, included in the price. And finally, it’s not the traditional dinner, but you can get all the Ice Cream you’d like right next to the Pizza Place.

The post Everything You Need to Know About the Virgin Voyages Dining Reservation System  appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

The US National Park system is likely one of the best ideas that the country ever gave to the world and is certainly one of the most popular. Before the United States designated Yellowstone as the first US National Park, no other country had ever dabbled in the idea of such a place. Preserving the land and the resources in it for the benefit and enjoyment of the people was a revolutionary concept. Today, that idea has spread around the world and nations on every continent act to protect natural and historic spaces for people to enjoy.

The US National Parks.

That’s why it seems to fitting to spend this 250^th milestone celebrating, what I think, to be one of the best ideas ever conceived and go to one of the US National Parks. However, I am a travel writer and this wouldn’t be a very interesting article if I just told you to go to a place like Gettysburg. Not that you shouldn’t go to Gettysburg, you should, because it’s worthwhile history to experience, but almost everyone knows about that place. Instead, I want to tell you about less prominent National Parks, Memorials, Lakeshores, Sites, and Monuments that many people don’t even know exist.

This is a two-part article and together they will cover sites across the country starting from the east coast and moving west.

George Washington Carver National Monument – Missouri

George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond Missouri stands out for several reasons. First, it preserves the childhood home of one of the most influential Americans in US history. Second, it is the first National Monument dedicated to an African American. All other previous Monuments had also been dedicated to Presidents, so it was also the first in that regard.

The life of George Washington Carver is extremely interesting, diverse, and influential. While many people think of him tied to peanuts, because of his book on peanut uses, he did groundbreaking work in the areas of soil depletion, food preservation, and crop development. It’s easy to get lost in his biography, but I’ll save that for when you visit.

George Washington Carver National Monument – Missouri (NPS Photo)

While the National Monument itself is relatively small, there are a number of interesting things you can do there. There are guided tours and hikes around the area, exploring the life of Carver.  Additionally, there is a classroom modeled after the ones where Carver himself taught, and they even do educational programing there. Finally, there are always events being held here, so make sure to check out the calendar before you visit!

If you’re traveling in the area, there are several sites worth checking out as well, including Grand Falls, Fort Scott National Historic Site, and several mining and mineral museums. All of which are worth a look.

Big Bend National Park – Texas

Texas boasts numerous impressive parks and monuments, but nothing shows the real beauty of Texas like Big Bend National Park. As a National Park, it’s all about nature in Big Bend, so hiking, canoeing, camping, stargazing, and more are a must when visiting.

With that said, some specific reasons to come to Big Bend over some of the other amazing places we’ve been through already. It has unique views and geology, in fact it’s sometimes called a geologist’s paradise and a geologist’s nightmare because of its stunning, but often confusing geology. Ancient seas, volcanoes, faults, and folds have led to a variety of bizarre structures, like giant boulders suspended on pillars, fossil beds of ammonites, and gorgeous banding in the stone highlighted by the desert sun.

Big Bend National Park – Texas (NPS Photo)

Another reason to come to Big Bend is for the birding. We’ve mentioned birding before, but not many places do it like Big Bend. With the waters of the river and its prime location on many migratory paths, Big Bend is sacred ground for birders, hosting 56 species living year-round, and over 450 species known to come through the park, if you have interest in birds, this is a must-visit location. Guides and birding hotspots are provided by NPS, and some rare and beautiful birds hide in and among its rocks.

White Sands National Park – New Mexico

White Sands National Park, located in New Mexico, completely surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range. But don’t worry, it’s completely safe to visit! In fact, over a half million people visit each year, and is the most visited NPS site in New Mexico.

This park has a huge array of things going for it, geology, nature, modern history, and ancient history all rolled into one! First of all, this area boasts the largest gypsum dunefield in the world, with dunes reaching 60 feet. These are rare because gypsum usually dissolves with water, but the dry climate has let it develop here.

White Sands National Park – New Mexico (NPS Photo)

Because it’s been well developed, there are a lot of ways to enjoy nature here, from hiking, bicycling, driving, and even horseback riding. People will even ride sleds down the sides of the dunes, in designated areas of course, and don’t worry if you forgot to bring your sled to New Mexico, they sell them at the park.

Finally, one of the biggest reasons to check out this park is its historical impact. While the site is not accessible to the public, White Sands has human footprints preserved in its arid climate from back when this area was a large lake. Dating techniques done by the US Geological Survey have dated these footprints to 23,000 years old, which has caused some controversy, as the common wisdom before now put human arrival in North America at 16,000 years or less. More research is being done, but it’s amazing to imagine walking in the same place that people over 20,000 years ago did.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument – New Mexico

While the Gila Cliff Dwellings are becoming more well known, I think that this amazing site deserves even more recognition than it currently has. Located in New Mexico near Silver City, this ancient site is perched up in five caves, comprising 46 different rooms, so far. The site is said to have been occupied during the 1200s-1400s, in the surrounding area there are additional ruins as well as evidence of hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

There is a museum associated with the site which has exhibitions of Apache and Mogollon artifacts from the region. There are other ruins nearby, some of which you can also visit. In addition, the region hosts natural hot springs, which have brought resorts and other activities into the area.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument – New Mexico (NPS Photo)

In addition to learning about the ruins through guided tours, there are other activities to enjoy in the area. It’s a well-known bird-watching site, as part of the Southwestern New Mexico Birding Trail. Additionally, it is known for its stargazing opportunities with chances to see meteor showers and auroras. The surrounding area also has a great variety of hiking opportunities to take in the beautiful desert landscape.

While you’re soaking in the history, there are also a few natural hot springs that you can soak in. The Lightfeather and Jordan hot springs are in the park, and are what are called “Sweet springs” not because they are filled with corn syrup, but because they lack salt and sulfur, meaning you don’t have that eggy smell.

Hovenweep National Monument – Utah and Colorado

Tucked amongst some of the most famous National Parks, like Arches, Canyon Lands, and Natural Bridges site the Hovenweep National Monument. This relatively unassuming monument on the border of Utah and Colorado holds a wide array of history to it.

At this location, there are sites of ancient human habitation sites, including stone ruins of these villages. Inhabited from 8,000 BCE to 200 AD, and then again by the Puebloan cultures in the region until 1400. There are at least six separate periods of human life that have been discovered at this site so far. A variety of stone ruins dot the landscape, offering you a glimpse into North America’s ancient past. In addition, the location has given us insight into the development of agricultural staples like corn, squash, and cotton amongst others, that were grown in terraced fields.

Hovenweep National Monument – Utah and Colorado (NPS Photo)

Exploring this monument and its environment is a must-see if you are visiting any of the nearby big-name parks. And if you’re willing to stay up late, Hovenweep is also a destination for stargazers, with up to 15,000 stars visible every night. In fact, this site was added to the International Dark-Sky Association, helping to keep the night sky visible for everyone going forward.

Dinosaur National Monument – Utah

Like Hovenweep, Dinosaur National Monument sits in Colorado and Utah, unlike Hovenweep, it has a very different type of history hidden in and among its surfaces. Created at the famous “Dinosaur Quarry”, this region boasts hundreds of paleontological fossils sites, particularly of sauropods, Allosaurus, and Deinonychus, the dinosaur that the Jurassic Park’s Velociraptor was directly based on.

This monument boasts a unique experience unlike almost anywhere else in the world. With over 200,000 acres of land with hundreds of sites that have produced holotypes, or prime examples, of different species. You can see the dinosaur bones emerging from the rock face as you traverse this gorgeous landscape.

Dinosaur National Monument – Utah (NPS Photo)

If dinosaur bones in their “natural habitat” aren’t enough of a draw for you, there are also petroglyphs and pictographs carved into the stone along various trails and sites throughout the monument. River rafting also presents a unique way to experience this location. While guides and programs for children to learn more about this monument provide different ways to experience it.

Montezuma Castle National Monument – Arizona

Montezuma Castle is named after the famous Aztec emperor but, in reality, it has no ties to Montezuma, the Aztecs, and it isn’t even a castle. While it’s an impressive stone cliff structure, which overlooks the beautiful landscape around it, the site was abandoned before Montezuma was born. However, Europeans named it Montezuma Castle, and it stuck.

The big draw of this monument is the cliff structure itself, and a park service runs regular events and tours which go over everything we know about the people who built and lived at this striking location. There’s even a virtual tour that you can take on the National Park Service website, but nothing compares to the real thing.

Montezuma Castle National Monument – Arizona (NPS Photo)

There are more structures located at the nearby Montezuma Well, with sites ranging back to at least 11,000 BCE. This oasis in the middle of the desert hosts not only ancient sites, but also wildlife that flock to the water. Birds, reptiles, and more can be found in and around the area. At the bottom of the well, there is a unique feature where the bottom is comprised of free-flowing sand that creates a false bottom.

If you are in the area, a variety of other archeological and petroglyph sites are nearby, in addition to historic For Verde and famous National Parks like the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest.

Crater Lake National Park – Oregon

Crater Lake National Park typifies what makes a National Park a National Park. Natural Beauty. The whole idea of the parks was to preserve the wonder and beauty of the United States for generations to come. Crater Lake, the 5^th oldest National Park, is a prime example of that. While tending to remain a little less well known than its cousins Yosemite and Yellowstone, it has no shortage of beauty.

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, this lake is one of picturesque beauty, owing to its highly unusual geology. Mount Mazama, much like Mount St Helens, underwent a cataclysmic eruption almost 7,700 years ago. As a result, a colossal caldera was formed, which filled in with water to create the lake we see today.

Crater Lake National Park – Oregon (NPS Photo)

Visiting this park, the biggest draw is the landscape itself and enjoying the nature that fills this land. Birding, hiking, fishing, camping, educational programing, overlooks, and more are all available. For something a little more structured, there are trolley and boat tours offered here to give more background from the park rangers themselves. If you’re a little less adventurous, or just like the AC in the car, there is also a Rim Drive that offers a variety of scenic views. Rim Village offers a variety of experiences as well, with events, and even Crater Lake Lodge where you can stay for the duration of your trip.

San Juan Island National Historic Park – Washington

San Juan Island might sound like a tropical paradise off the coast of Mexico, but this historic park sits on an island near Vancouver and Seattle in the much colder Haro Strait. With a weird history and natural beauty, it makes for a unique place to visit.

For birders, a wide variety of unique birds can be found. Meanwhile the park is famous for foxes and whales, predominantly orcas, humpback, and grey whales which can be seen off the coast. One of the prairies on the island is also home to the only known population of Island Marble Butterfly, which was believed to be extinct for 90 years before it was found living here in 1998.

San Juan Island National Historic Park – Washington (NPS Photo)

However, I mentioned a weird history, and in 1859, the US and England nearly started a war here with a spiraling military buildup on the island stemming from territorial claims and a dispute involving potatoes and a shot pig. While the so-called “Pig War” never came to actual blows, hundreds of soldiers and warships were involved. You can visit the sites of both the US and UK military camps that took part in the dispute.

As an island, you need to plan ahead to visit, but San Juan Island has a number of options for getting there, including ferries, airplanes, and seaplanes. Horseback riding, weddings, and all sorts of nature activities remain popular here, in addition to searching for wildlife and learning about the Island’s unique history.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park – Alaska

This historic park is a liiiiiitle further away than some of the places that have been listed, but if your Alaskan cruise stops off in Skagway, you’ve been there. There are a lot of parts to the Klondike Gold Rush Historic Park, many of which I covered in my series on Alaska, but there are other parts that are a little less common.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park – Alaska (NPS Photo)

One of the most interesting ones is the Chilkoot National Historic Trail, which is a 33-mile trail that made up part of the route that the gold rush prospectors would take from Dyea to Lake Bennett before continuing to the gold fields. Originally a trade route used by the indigenous population trading coastal goods with inland tribes, it became heavily used during the Klondike Gold Rush. Seemingly endless lines of prospectors walking the paths left signs of their passing and the tent cities that they built. As such, it’s sometimes nicknamed “the World’s longest museum” because of the historical remnants left along the trail.

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like, partaking in a 33-mile hike up a mountain into Canada, the Skagway historic district and Dyea Townsite boast a variety of museums, sites, and exhibits that you can take in.

Assorted Parks – Hawai’i

If you’re traveling to Hawaii, you are likely thinking of lush greenery, deep blue oceans, and volcanoes. Well, the National Park Service has offerings for you to really get to know all of these. Because the islands can be a little difficult to get around, we’re going to look at a number of national sites on the big island of Hawaii, which are all in close proximity to one another, but give you a great overview of everything you think of when it comes to Hawaii.

Volcanoes National Park – Hawai’i (NPS Photo)

Most famous is Volcanoes National Park, which hosts Kilauea and Mauna Loa, two extremely active volcanoes. This is one of the few places in the world where you can get a first-hand look at active lava erupting from the surface as whole new land is created right before your eyes. All sorts of educational programs on geology and Hawaiian traditions are represented at Volcanoes.

Along the western coast is the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which follows ancient Hawaiian sites right along the oceanside. Along this trail, you can visit Pu’ukohola Heiau, which was the seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Kaloko-Honokohau, a settlement from before recorded history, and Pu’uhonua o Honaunau which hosts some of the most important traditional sites on all the islands.

Muir Woods National Monument – California

If you really want to see the Redwoods but are just to cool to hang out with the gaggle of tourists flocking to Redwoods National Park, then perhaps you should go to Muir Woods National Monument. This much smaller site hosts hiking, education, and Muir beach, a popular location for tourists and locals alike.

Muir Woods National Monument – California (NPS Photo)

If you’re a fan of the National Parks, and I hope by this point you are, you might have heard the name Muir before. This National Monument was named after John Muir, known as the “Father of the National Parks”. Through his relentless lobbying of the US Government and the public, via the Sierra Club, he helped found the entire National Park system which has been the groundwork for every one of these sites.

While the Muir Woods National Monument is relatively small compared to some of these locations, as someone who now might understand the real breadth of this system, it might be a fitting homage to the man that made it all happen by visiting the National Monument that bears his name.

The post US National Parks You Don’t Know – America’s 250th (Part 2) appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

The US National Park system is likely one of the best ideas that the country ever gave to the world and is certainly one of the most popular. Before the United States designated Yellowstone as the first US National Park, no other country had ever dabbled in the idea of such a place. Preserving the land and the resources in it for the benefit and enjoyment of the people was a revolutionary concept. Today, that idea has spread around the world and nations on every continent act to protect natural and historic spaces for people to enjoy.

The US National Parks.

That’s why it seems to fitting to spend this 250^th milestone celebrating, what I think, to be one of the best ideas ever conceived and go to one of the US National Parks. However, I am a travel writer and this wouldn’t be a very interesting article if I just told you to go to a place like Gettysburg. Not that you shouldn’t go to Gettysburg, you should, because it’s worthwhile history to experience, but almost everyone knows about that place. Instead, I want to tell you about less prominent National Parks, Memorials, Lakeshores, Sites, and Monuments that many people don’t even know exist.

This is a two-part article and together they will cover sites across the country starting from the east coast and moving west.

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site – Maine

The United States may soon be 250 years old or, if you’re watching this a bit later, the United States recently turned 250 years old. Even though that’s quite a few years, it’s a mere drop in the bucket of North American history. Dating back more than 13,000 years ago (no, that’s not a typo), the Passamaquoddy tribe occupied areas of what is today known as Maine. The tribe still exists today and they were the first native people to meet the first French explorers and colonists to North America in 1604.

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site in Maine dates back to more than 400 years to when Europeans and the Passamaquoddy people first met.

The French attempted to make a settlement on Saint Croix Island only to discover that the winters in Maine are much harsher than the winters in France. Of the 79 men who initially colonized the island, 35 died in the first winter. The remaining men were saved by the Passamaquoddy aiding them after the winter was over. That spring of 1605, the French made the decision to move the settlement to Port Royale in what is now known as Nova Scotia.

This park commemorates and memorializes that first French attempt to settle and the Passamaquoddypeople who have lived there since pre-history. Today, the park is best reached by driving. From Bangor, it’s around a two hours drive to the visitor’s center. You cannot visit the island itself, it’s a protected site to preserve the historic artifacts on the island, but there’s a lot to explore and learn on the mainland.

Federal Hall National Memorial – New York

I was inspired to write this article because it is the 250^th anniversary of our independence from England and the reign of Jonathan Groff, it seems fitting to mention something about George Washington. Of course, every American watching this already knows who he is; leader of the American revolution, first President of the United States, and that guy on the boat. Despite that boat guy fame, many of us don’t know something surprisingly basic that happened right at the start his presidency. The very start of it in fact.

Where was he inaugurated?

Every US President must be sworn in. It’s kind of a big deal. These days it happens on the steps of the US Capitol Building, but that wasn’t completed until 1793, and Washington was sworn in on April 30^th, 1789. So I ask you, where was he sworn in? Did he just stand on some slightly soggy ground near the Potomac?

Federal Hall National Memorial in New York, New York hides in the canyons of New York City.

No, he took the oath of office standing in the United States Congress’ first capital building in the nation’s first capital. A short distance from the water inside Federal Hall, the former city hall of New York, New York.

The original building was demolished in 1812, but the site is the same. Located at 26 Wall Street, square in the Financial District of Manhattan, it’s quite easy to visit and it’s probably one of the easiest places to visit on this list. Literally millions of people live a short drive, train ride, bus, or even a flight under and hour from this place.

Weir Farm National Historical Park – Connecticut

When you think of a national park, you probably aren’t imagining an artistic retreat nonetheless, that is exactly what the Weir Farm National Historical Park is. The beauty of our National Parks system is that it preserves many parts of our history, not just battlefields or political figure’s offices. American art history is just as important to the story of the country as anything else.

J. Alden Weir spent much of his life living and painting in this farm near Branchville, Connecticut. Both his father and older brother were well known painters, so I think it’s fair to say that he came by the trade honestly. Over his life at the farm, he hosted a number of other artists who all were part of the American impressionist movement. These artists included Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, Emil Carlsen, and Albert Pinkham Ryder. There’s even a painting of J. Alden Weir himself by John Singer Sargent, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest American painters of all time. Julian Alden Weir’s legacy continued with his daughter Dorothy Weir Young as, following his death, she continued to study and practice art at the farm, hosting a new generation of artists.

The idyllic lawn of Weir Farm National Historical Park in Connecticut.

Today, the farm still hosts resident artists practicing in the impressionist style and hosts a collection of works by Weir and other artists. It’s a smaller site to visit, but for those interested in art history and American culture, this one seems pretty unmissable.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park – Georgia

Saint Croix Island isn’t the only place where thousands of years of human existence is contemplated, there are multiple sites in the US National Parks that preserve and educate on the ancient people of these lands. Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia, just outside of Macon, features enormous earthwork mounds and human habitation dating back more than 12,000 years.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Georgia is one of the oldest sites of human activity in North America.

The large mounds that the site is named for were built sometime before 1000 CE by people from the Mississippian culture. At the site, there is a visitor center with more than 2,000 artifacts on display and an earth lodge that you can go inside. There’s also several miles of trails to walk which will take you to historical mounds.

First State National Historical Park – Pennsylvania, Delaware

Continuing our celebration of the 250 years, the First State National Historical Park commemorates Delaware being the first state to ratify the Constitution. This district along the Delaware River, just south of Wilmington, features historic buildings and fortifications. Although the significance of being the first state to ratify is certainly notable, the park gives emphasis to the history that Delaware played in the early colonial history as well.

First State National Historical Park where Pennsylvania borders Delaware, has a unique waterfront full of history.

Delaware was colonized by not only the English, was we all know, but there were several other prominent nationalities with settlements as well. The Dutch, Swedes, and Finns each had their own settlements in the region and they all had their own cultures and traditions. It’s not all about the culture, though, because the park also aims to preserve the landscape of the Brandywine Valley.

Interestingly, this is quite a new park being established in 2013 by President Barack Obama, so it’s still getting its legs, so to speak.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park – Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia

Cumberland Gap may be one of the more famous parks on this list, Vice President Richard Nixon was present for the visitor center dedication, but it’s still one that I’ve found most people don’t know about. Located where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee meet, this was a key passage through the lower Appalachian Mountains and served as a critical path of travel for centuries before European settlers and centuries after.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park where Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia meet.

The closest major cities to the park are Knoxville and Lexington at about 1.5 to 2 hours of driving away from the park. At Cumberland Gap, there is the historic village of Hensley Settlement that you can visit and, from Mid-May through October, take a tour through. If you’re up for something in a much more enclosed space, there’s also a tour that’s conducted at Gap Cave. These tours are only conducted from May through August and they only take twenty people on each tour. If you are interested in doing a tour in Hensley Settlement or Gap Cave, call 606-248-2817 in advance of your visit to make reservations and check availability.

In a first for this list, Cumberland Gap National Park also features camping sites and horseback riding. You’ll have to bring your own horse, but I have a feeling that horse people already knew that.

Dry Tortugas National Park – Florida

Key West is the end of the road in the Florida Keys. Once you’ve reached Fort Taylor or Mallory Square, that’s the end right? Wrong, and you’re not even close to the end. No, the end is more than 60 miles away on the Dry Tortugas islands along with Fort Jefferson, but the road does not go there.

If you want to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, the only way to reach it is by seaplane or boat. The most striking thing about the park is that less than 1% of the park is ground, almost all of the park’s surface is water. As you might expect, most of the activities are water based. Snorkeling, diving, and swimming are immensely popular in the park.

Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida is one of the best snorkeling places in the world.

Boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders all love Dry Tortuga as well. The waters of nearby keys are explorable, though some areas may be restricted to protect wildlife from time to time. Fishing is another popular activity in the park with an opportunity to patiently wait in some of the clearest waters you’ll ever see.

I haven’t even mentioned the most prominent feature of the park, Fort Jefferson. The starkly red 19^th century fort encompasses much of Garden Key and is about 14 acres in size. It’s the center of all visitor arrivals to the park, with docks for the ferry and private vessels as well as seaplanes. You can even camp just outside its walls, though those spots often sell out months in advance.

Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial – Ohio

The War of 1812 is not taught nearly as well as other major wars in US history. I would challenge anyone reading this to tell me what the war started over. Unless you have specifically studied the War of 1812, I doubt you can tell me. That’s exactly what makes visiting Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial in Ohio so very worthwhile.

The memorial was created to honor the Battle of Lake Erie. This was not a battle on land, it was a naval battle on the waters of Lake Erie. Not only that, this was one the largest naval battles of the war and proved to be a critical victory for the American forces since they would go on to control Lake Erie for the rest of the war which, in turn, allowed them to recover Detroit. That’s not something that most US schools teach you, though I imagine if you leave in the area a field trip probably happened.

Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial in Ohio.

A chance to learn about one of the most pivotal moments for America in the early years of our history should not be passed up. You can visit the memorial by taking a ferry from several different nearby cities, but the most notable is Sandusky, OH. The memorial is located on an island in Lake Erie and stands 352 feet tall. The visitor center hosts dioramas of the battle along with exhibits discussing the history of the war and the events on Lake Erie. During the summer, there are ranger talks, weekend weapon demonstrations, and presentations.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Michigan

Dunes are something that most people associate with deserts, where they take on an ominous, looming quality. Of course that’s not the only place to find dunes, though, because they also exist by many sandy shores. Sprawling out over 35 miles of coastline in the northwest of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore exists.

The sweeping shoreline of Lake Michigan was created by glacial movements more than 10,000 years ago. Frozens mountains carved out the lakes, crushed stones, and moved soil to shape these massive buffs. The dunes rise hundreds of feet above the water, giving visitors unbelievable vistas.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is incredible to behold.

Inside the park, you can hike miles of trails, drive scenic roadways, paddle in several different bodies of water including Lake Michigan, camp, or simply enjoy a wonderful sandy beach along a freshwater lake. Biking the roads in the park and areas outside the park is also extremely popular. Calling this an outdoor recreational paradise may not be much of an exaggeration. The surrounding region is also one of the most visited tourism spots in the state, with Traverse City being the largest hub.

I do feel the need to pause for a moment and reframe the term lake for people. Most individuals that are not from the Great Lakes region seem to have little to no understanding of the scales involved with a Great Lake. Lake Michigan is more than 300 miles long and 118 miles wide with a surface area of more than 22,000 square miles. These are not the lakes you’re thinking of.

Pullman National Historical Park – Illinois

There’s a National Park right in the middle of Chicago. Okay, maybe not the middle, per say, but just a little ways south of the Museum of Science and Industry. The site is the Pullman National Historical Park and it tells the story of the first planned model industrial community in the nation, otherwise known as a company town.

George Pullman founded the Pullman Palace Car Company in 1862, which made sleeper cars for railroads, not road going cars. As his company grew, he had an idea for a planned community that all his workers would live in. With a new factory being built to meet demand, he put into action his concept of the company town. His workers would live in the town and work in the factory and everything would be great. Until demand slipped due to a financial crash and worker wages were reduced but the rent wasn’t. That sort of thing usually leads to some fairly upset workers, which might explain why they went on strike.

National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum in the Pullman National Historical Park.

Although the neighborhood never came to be what Pullman hoped it would be it now stands as a lesson on, public policy, culture, labor, race, city planning, business and industry, railroads, technology, and more. The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum as well as several buildings kept in a historic state, educate visitors on the lasting impact that this place has on our world; for example, the strike I mentioned earlier led to the eventual labor movement in the US and the creation of Labor Day as a US holiday. Perhaps that weekend would be a good time to visit.

The post The US National Parks You Don’t Know – America’s 250th appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

When you sign up for the Carnival Rewards program, you will retain your VIFP club status (as of August 31, 2026) through December 31, 2028. Guests who have Diamond Status as of August 31, 2026 will permanently retain their Diamond status. This is an update from Carnival’s original information which stated Diamond guests would retain their status through May of 2032.

If you think that you will book a Carnival Cruise, you will definitely want to sign up for the new Carnival Rewards program so that you do not lose your status for the next 1-1/2 years.

If you’ve received the email from Carnival, please use the link in the email to sign up for the Carnival Rewards program. Your current VIFP number will transfer over to this new program.

If you have not received this email, you can use the following link to sign up for the new program. You will need your current VIFP number if you use this link.

Carnival Rewards Opt-In Enrollment form

So…. How will this new Program Work?

Except for those who have Diamond Status as of August 31, 2026, your status will no longer be a lifetime status. Your status will change every two years based upon the qualification requirements for a specific status. Here is a confusing explanation.

After December 31, 2028, unless you are a lifetime Diamond status guest, your status will change based upon the number of Qualifying Stars you have earned from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028. Carnival is calling this your “Earnings or Qualifying Period.”

Your new status as of January 1,2029  will be your status for 2 years (January 1, 2029 through December 31, 2030). Carnival is calling this your “Enjoyment Period.”

During this period of January 1, 2029 through December 31, 2030, you will be earning Qualifying Stars toward your status for the two-year period of  January 1, 2030 through December 31, 2032.

This two-year qualifying and “Enjoyment” period will continue indefinitely unless Carnival makes changes to the plan in the future.

Unless you have Diamond Status on August 31, 2026 AND enroll in the new Carnival Rewards program, your status will change every two years based upon the number of Qualifying Stars you earn during the prior two years. This can be quite confusing. Trust me, I was confused.

Carnival Rewards is changing a lot about how the way guests earn perks for their loyalty.

To lessen the blow of losing Platinum status every two years, a guest who has Platinum Status as of August 31, 2026 will receive 10,000 stars at the start of every “Earnings or Qualifying Period”. This will give you Gold Status for the upcoming “Enjoyment Period”.

Again, this is confusing. So, let’s use dates.

If you have Platinum Status as of August 31, 2026, you will continue to enjoy Platinum Status benefits through December 31, 2028.

During the Earning/Qualifying period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028, you will earn stars for your status beginning January 1, 2029. Carnival will credit your Carnival Rewards account with 10,000 stars at the beginning of this Earning/Qualifying period. Any additional stars you earn during this 2-year period will go towards your qualifying Status for the period starting January 1, 2030.

You will, at the very least, have Gold Status as of January 1, 2030 (Your Enjoyment Period). You will have Platinum Status as of January 1, 2030  if you earn an additional 30,000 stars during the Earning/Qualifying period ending December 31, 2029.

How many stars do you need to earn every two years for a specific status?

Red – 1 to 9,999 stars

Gold – 10,000 to 49,999 stars

Platinum – 50,000 to 99,999 stars

Diamond – 100,000 or more stars

How do you earn Qualifying Stars?

Beginning September 1, 2026, you earn three stars for every $1.00 spent on Carnival purchases. This includes cruise fares, any purchases made pre-board or while sailing as well as purchases with the Carnival credit card. You will also earn 1 Qualifying Star for every casino point earned. The following DO NOT earn points:

• Required Cruise Fees & Expenses
• Government Taxes and Fees
• Fly2Fun air travel booked through Carnival.
• Any purchases in which you used Carnival Rewards Points and Onboard Credits
• Any Carnival-funded Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) that were not purchased by you or purchased prior to September 1, 2026.

Carnival Rewards

What are Qualifying Points?

You will earn three points for every dollar spent (1 point for each casino point). These points are added to your Carnival Rewards account after your cruise is complete. . They are not used for your Qualifying Status. These points are like Carnival bucks that can be used to purchase items before or during a Carnival cruise. This even includes eligible cruise fares if you have enough points.

Unlike the Qualifying Stars, these points do not expire as long as you have either earned or spent points within a 3-year period. If there is no activity in your “points account” for 3 years, the points will expire.

The post Carnival is launching a new Carnival Rewards program to replace its VIFP Club. appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Not only does healthy skin keep you looking younger, longer, but it also helps avoid melanoma and other health conditions later in life. I have multiple people, close to me in my life, who have had to undergo surgery, sometimes major surgery, to stop the spread of skin cancer. Sun safety isn’t the most fun thing to think about when you’re out on the beach, or even spending the day in your garden, but you’ll thank yourself later.

Stick with me and read the rest of the article. I know it’s a bit boring and these days you may have some preconceptions about what I’m going to say, but please have a little faith and give me a chance.

Why Do We Need Protection?

The sun, the bright glowing ball in the sky that you shouldn’t look at, throws off a lot of energy. It gives us heat, which is what allows for liquid water to exist on Earth and is why any of us exist. The sun gives us light, which is the basis for almost all plant life on Earth and how we humans see things. The big old orb also gives us some things that we need to be careful about, and for this article, that means UV light.

Ultraviolet light exists just beyond our visible spectrum, and the UV wavelength contains enough energy that, when it interacts with our skin’s cells, these rays actually cause a burn. Calling it sunburn isn’t just wordplay either, it is a burn just like you get from a heat source. In severe cases, there can be blistering, peeling, even nausea, fever, or chills. If you’ve never been burned that badly, count your lucky stars.

Some people are more sensitive to being burned than others. We all know someone who needs to cake on the goop lest they turn into a human tomato. I am one of these people and although looking like a Scooby-Doo ghost isn’t flattering, I’ll take that over the alternative. Just because you don’t burn easily, though, doesn’t mean that your skin isn’t impacted by UV light. Everyone should take care of their skin to stay healthy.

What’s Should I Do to Stay Safe?

The biggest, simplest, mostiest, hopefully not toastiest thing that you can do to stay safe is sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen, the thing that screens the sun. The effectiveness of sunscreen is measured by SPF, which stands for Sun Protection Factor. This widely known term is simply a quick way to represent how protective the sunscreen is. Essentially, the higher the SPF, the more UV light it blocks.

The lowest recommendation for adequate protection is 30 SPF, but many people, including myself, go with 50 or higher. Which SPF you reach for can be based on your skin’s need and how much UV there is on that day. The level of UV light at any given time is impacted by many variabilities. The strongest variables are location, time of day, and atmospheric elements.

Being closer to the equator, where the sun’s rays hit the atmosphere more directly, increases how much UV light makes it through our planet’s protective layer. During the hours of 12 PM to 3 PM (or 1200 to 1500 hours for our 24-hour clock enhanced friends), the sun’s light strikes most directly and further enhances how much UV reaches the surface. Clearer days allow the most light to reach us, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of safety by clouds because they do not block UV light and you can still be burned on cloudy days.

Anecdotally, several doctors and nurses I know have told me that they see more cases of severe sunburn on cloudy days than sunny ones because people don’t realize they aren’t fully safe.

There are also two types of UV light, UVA and UVB. UVB protection is very important to have because it is 1,000-2,000 times more damaging than UVA. Make sure your sunscreen protects against UVB as well.

What Kind of Sunscreens Are There?

There are two types of sunscreens on the market, traditional sunscreen, which is a chemical based protection, and mineral, which is a mineral based protection. Both types of products have their pros and cons, but both provide protection from UV.v

The more widely known and familiar sunscreen is the chemical-based products. These use chemicals that are absorbed by your skin and then provide protection from UV light. The protection is caused by the chemicals absorbing the energy from UV rays instead of your skin’s cells. Some common active ingredients are: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate.

Chemical sunscreens are lighter to wear, transparent, and often more water-resistant, meaning they stay on your skin longer when exposed to water. However, their drawbacks can be that some people may experience an allergic reaction, and they take time to become effective, typically about 20 minutes.

Your typical chemical based sunscreen. This is the type that the FDA approved the new sunscreen ingredient for.

Over the years, concerns have also grown about the safety of sunscreens using those chemicals. By design, those chemicals are absorbed into the skin and, inevitably, some of them make their way to your blood stream. While long the term safety or danger of those chemicals has not been conclusively determined many people, including health professionals, advocate for better alternatives.

To the end of safer sunscreens, last week, the FDA approved a new ingredient for sunscreen, bemotrizinol. It’s the first new ingredient to be added to US sunscreen in more than 25 years, but it’s been in use in Europe and Asia for decades. I’m not going to dive into the regulatory hurdles that had stood in the way of this ingredient being used in US sunscreen, but this is widely regarded as a step in the right direction.

The good news is this ingredient will replace the older chemicals and there are significantly fewer concerns over the safety of bemotrizinol than the compounds it replaces. The bad news is that it will likely be a year or more before we see this ingredient hit the shelves of our supermarkets.

This is one of many mineral sunscreens available. These products will not have the new sunscreen ingredient in them.

Mineral sunscreens, which are widely available right now, are the other option. Just like the chemical-based products, these too have pros and cons. Among the pros are being less likely to cause allergic reactions, meaning they are good for sensitive skin, and immediate protection. Since mineral sunscreens work by reflecting UV light, rather than absorbing it, they work as soon as they are put on. The cons are that these products are often thicker, leaving a visible white cast on your skin, and can be harder to apply and feel heavier to wear.

Notably, there are no medical concerns with mineral sunscreens but, on the other hand, they also often are less water resistant than chemical sunscreens. That means that you’ll have to reapply more frequently if you’re in the water.

Most importantly, both types of sunscreens will keep your skin safe in the sun as long as you follow the directions for use.

Reef Safe

Another thing you might see when shopping for sunscreen is “reef-safe”. One thing we know about our sunscreens is that have the potential to damage coral reefs. That damage is principally caused by the chemicals in them. The idea behind “reef-safe” products is that the sunscreen does not contain chemicals that damage reefs and other sea life when it inevitably washes off you.

Be cautious, though, because “reef-safe” or “reef-friendly” are terms that are thrown on a lot of products but are they not regulated. That means that when you are shopping you can’t necessarily trust the label.

Look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as the active ingredients to make sure your sunscreen is as reef safe as possible.

To be sure that any product you use is safe for our aquatic life, you need to look for sunscreen with either of these two active mineral ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Avoiding chemical sunscreens when you go in the water is an important part of keeping all our waterways healthy.

There are quite a few health and environmental organizations that have guides on finding reef safe sunscreen. The Surfrider Foundation recently published their guide on reef friendly sunscreens and it includes links to the scientific studies they reference and I’m always for showing your work.  

What Are Sunscreen Alternatives?

What if you can’t use or don’t want to use sunscreen? Perhaps you have sensitive skin, sensation issues, or something else? What’s the best way to protect yourself from the sun?

The most straightforward answer is to cover up. Umbrellas, parasols, long-sleeves, and big, silly, floppy, hats. That’s the answer.

Now, not all fabrics are equal when it comes to sun protection. You want something tightly woven, and materials that are good at absorbing UV light, which are typically blended or synthetic fabrics. If you want the best protection, you also want a darker, heavier fabric and a loose fit.

If you’re going swimming, you can also consider a water shirt to give you protection that won’t slough off in the waves. I have one and I love it. Mine even has a hood on it to help keep the top of your head safe. There is also clothing that is specifically rated and marketed with UPF, which stands for ultraviolet protection factor.

Wearing clothing for UV protection is my usual approach, because it’s simple and effective. I burn very easily and by wearing a lightweight, long sleeve, UPF rated top, I stay safe, grease free, and cool. But UV rays can be reflected off of surfaces, especially water, glass, and snow. That means that I’ll still use sunscreen on my face and other exposed skin to make sure I’m protected when I’m near those conditions, like when I’m on a boat.

Stay Safe and Get Outside

As I’ve been writing this, I’ve kept in the back of my mind the fact that we humans need the sun. Not just to grow plants or keep us warm, we need to be in sunlight for our health. Being outside in sunlight is what promotes vitamin D production. Somewhat ironically for this article’s focus on health, we specifically need the UVB, the most intense UV light, to make Vitamin D.

While it is absolutely true that we need that sunlight on our skin, the reality is you really don’t need much of that UV. To maintain a healthy level of vitamin D, humans only need about 4-15 minutes a few times a week at midday. That length of time will vary greatly depending on all the factors I mentioned earlier in this article, but it still isn’t very much.

I’m not endorsing any of these products, they are just what I had in my home. Whether you use these or something else, the important thing is that you’re protecting yourself.

Once you’ve got that exposure, which you can get quite easily with a short stroll at lunchtime, you’re good. After that length of time, the important health factor is to take care of your skin. Wearing sunscreen or covering up with clothes is still the best thing to do for your health once you’ve gotten the necessary UV exposure for vitamin D. Even SPF 15 sunscreen protects against skin cancers and precancers. Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma can be reduced by up to 50% through regular use of sunscreen.

In addition to this, it protects against skin aging. Wrinkles, sagging, spots, and “leathery” skin can all come from not protecting yourself. Those undesirable effects can all be reduced through regular, thorough use of sunscreen.

In the end, after you get your dose of vitamin D, it is always advisable to use sunscreen or cover your skin, regardless of age, skin type, or location, anytime that you are out and about in the sun.

The post Safety in The Sun – New Sunscreen Ingredient appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

We’ve sailed Virgin a number of times now, but none of us ever tried out the Splash of Romance package. Which is kinda strange, to be honest. Virgin Voyages’ Splash of Romance is one of the most popular add-ons they offer and we get asked about it all the time by clients. So, on our last voyage with them, I decided to remedy that oversight and try it out.

What is the Splash of Romance Package?

Have you ever wanted literal Cupid, the classical mythological figure, to grace your romantic getaway with a few heart-tipped arrows and some cold-pressed juice? Well, if the answer is yes, I’m sorry to say that there’s no Cupid, but Virgin does have you covered with the cold-pressed juice.

Here’s what’s included in the Splash of Romance package:

• Priority Boarding
• Curated daily cold-pressed juices
• Two 3-Hour Thermal Spa Passes
• A Shake for Champagne
• Exclusive Sail Away Hour
• Sultry bites

The package costs $250 (up from $200 in years past) and only 90 people can purchase it on any voyage. That means that availability is limited and you might not be able to get it if you wait to purchase it later on.

One important thing to note on the price is that if you decide to add Splash of Romance to your trip, the price covers two people, but only one sailor should be selected during the purchasing process. If you select two, it will attempt to charge you for the package twice. Yes, that’s a bit of an odd way to do the checkout, but it’s how it’s properly done in Virgin’s system.

Now that we’ve got the basics established, let’s dive in deeper.

Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance – What you get

Priority Boarding – This allows you to board before most others. RockStars (the people who booked a suite) still get to board before you, but you get to board before all the other standard boarding times. Typically, you’ll board this ship just after guests with Deep Blue Extras board. Deep Blue Extras being the top tier of sailing status with Virgin Voyages loyalty program.

When you have DBE or Splash of Romance, there isn’t a special booking time available to you on the app. Instead, it will show that you have Priority Boarding and list an arrival time of 1:45-2:00.

Curated daily cold-pressed juices – This is pretty self explanatory, but here’s what you do to get it. Each day of your voyage, head up to deck 15 and go to the pool. The bar there is called Gym and Tonic and they serve cold-pressed juices until 11AM each day. You will scan your wrist band and get your juice. Pretty simple.

If you like juices, it’s really tasty!

Two 3-hour Thermal Spa Passes – Down on deck 5, there is a thermal spa. If you buy the Splash of Romance package, you’ll get two passes for three hours at the spa together. I’ll talk more about what the spa is like in a minute.

Shake for Champagne – This is a fun feature! Anytime during the trip, when on the ship, you can open up the Virgin app and literally shake your phone. It will trigger a prompt to appear on screen and you then select “Yes” to receive the champagne. It’s a bottle of Moet and Chandon, which is the partnered champagne brand with Virgin.

This is a significant part of the value proposition to the package because that same bottle would otherwise cost around $105 to purchase on the ship.

Sail Away Hour – On the first day, as you leave your port, Virgin schedules an hour at one of the ship’s bars where you can go and get some complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There are usually two options for drinks, usually a bubbly and a sangria.

Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance – These are one of the Sultry Bites. Ooohhh, so sultry! (I guess? I don’t know what makes a macaroon sultry. It was tasty though!)

Sultry Bites – When I purchased Splash of Romance, several times during the voyage, someone on the crew came by our cabin with some sweet treats, leaving them for us on the table if we were out. These treats were only available for Splash of Romance guests, so you can’t pick them up anywhere else on the ship. They offered a variety of chocolates and pastries for these bites, and they were meant to be romantic-y types of things. You don’t get to choose what you get, but they do bring them right to you!

As of 2026, there are variations on The Sultry Bites appearing around Virgin’s fleet. It seems that there is a move toward providing a small box of chocolates at the start of the cruise rather than things like the macaroons pictured above. I can only guess that this is easier to control and standardize across the fleet and various suppliers around the world.

Value is Very Subjective

Now that you are familiar with the perks, let’s talk about that value so many people want to know about. Everything that comes with this addon is potentially worth it, but it all depends on what matters to you. Let me explain.

Take the champagne, it’s the second most valuable item in the package at around $105 on board price, but if you don’t like champagne, then it’s worthless to you. If you know someone who likes champagne, it’s possible to bring the bottle home to them in your luggage, but the bottle can be purchased for around $50 in many places, so justifying the champagne as a gift for someone else, doesn’t really make sense.

The same thing applies to the Savory Bites and juices. If you like those things, then they provide value to you, if you don’t like them, then it’s meaningless. I liked them both, but I like sweets and juices. Your enjoyment may vary.

Early boarding is what most people buy Splash of Romance for, which I understand. Typically, people want to get on the ship as soon as possible so they can start enjoying their vacation to the fullest. Personally, I get this mindset. I don’t want to stick around the port town, I want to get on the ship – if I wanted to stay in the city, I would have booked the vacation there instead of the cruise. Lots of folks think that early boarding is all the reason they need to spring for the package. In addition, the people who board soonest tend to have the best luck making reservations for other events like the Grog Walk or one of the very popular shows.

But that doesn’t cover every perk you get, there’s still one I haven’t talked much about.

Thermal Spa

The thermal spa passes are the most divisive among people. If you’ve never been to a thermal spa, I’d say give it a try, because you never know if you like something without trying it! I’ve spent time in thermal spas before, and I enjoy them and I enjoyed what Virgin offered. I didn’t take any pictures though, because that’s a creepy thing to do in a spa, but you can find promotional images on Virgin’s site to give you an idea.

Inside there’s a sauna, a salt room, a mud room, heated marble benches, and hot and cold plunge pools. If you haven’t used these facilities before, staff are happy to give you a tour and explain it as you go. The biggest thing that I don’t think many U.S. folks understand is that these are shared spaces, they aren’t private and just for you. Spa culture isn’t as prevalent in the U.S. as it is in Europe, at least in my experience, so this explains a lot of the confusion I see. Since you will be sharing the area with other guests, wearing a swimsuit is necessary.

There’s also no massage included with Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance. It’s not that they don’t have massage services, they do, it’s just not part of the Splash of Romance package. Some folks think that’s part of what they get and are disappointed when they find out what the package really is. I enjoyed my time in the thermal spa and would do it again. The staff is excellent, and the quality is quite high for a cruise ship.

As the most valuable item in the package, at least monetarily speaking, it’s worth talking about on its own. Purchasing it for two people separately costs between $120 and $160 (the price changes if you are in port or at sea), so out of the $250 price tag of Splash of Romance, this is a big part of it. As a final tip, the spa staff recommends coming on a port day because it’s less busy, but that’s only true as long as it doesn’t rain heavily and cancel all the excursions!

Is Splash of Romance Worth it?

It’s an easy answer for me, yes. But the answer may not be so quick for you.

I can’t say that it really represents a significant bargain. If you purchase the champagne and thermal spa passes separately, you would wind up close to breaking even. The juices push it over the goal line, again, just in monetary terms, but not by much. The Sultry Bites are nice, but they’re not better than all the other already amazing sweets available on the ship, and the Sail Away Hour is fine, but it’s easy to miss it as you’re getting your room set up or getting changed for dinner.

What does it come down to then?

Priority Boarding.

It was always going to be about Priority Boarding, wasn’t it? Yes, it was.

Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance doesn’t represent some sort of great deal, it’s basically pre-puchasing a few things. Priority Boarding is where the value truly lays.

Look, if you want to get on the ship ASAP and you don’t have Deep Blue Extras or a suite, Splash of Romance is made for you. This is really what the package is about, just feeling a little more special on your vacation. It doesn’t represent an amazing deal or some steal of the century thing, it’s just about feeling special.

So, ask yourself, when you take a vacation, do you want to feel special? I know that I do, and that’s why Splash or Romance gets a thumbs-up from me.

The post Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance – Is it worth it? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Before we get any further into this, I want to make clear from the outset that any businesses I mention here have no relationship with us. If I’m bringing them up it’s because I think people would like what they offer and nothing more, I’m not receiving any commission from them or something like that.

Juneau

Juneau is the capital of Alaska but can only be accessed by sea or air; no roads lead to Juneau. That’s not a joke, there really aren’t any roads that lead into or out of Juneau. Which means that taking a cruise there is probably the best way to visit the town.

If you’re planning a day without excursions in Juneau, you need to consider that Juneau is one of the busiest ports in the state, so expect a lot of cruise ships to be in when you’re there. The good news is that because there are so many tourists that come to the city each day during the cruise season, there’s plenty of infrastructure to entice them.

Right around the port there are a lot of tourist shops. Most of these are going to have the same sort of jewelry, stainless steel Ulus, and T-shirts that you’ll see in any tourist shop, so unless that’s your thing, you can move right past them.

In that area, you can also find the Red Dog Saloon. It’s Juneau’s oldest tourist spot and has a couple of interesting things to see and do. In addition to the ambiance, which plays into the rough and ready theme, they have Wyatt Earp’s gun, which he checked in but never claimed, and a local shot that’s become quite famous. Known as the “Duck Fart”, which is more appetizing than it sounds, it consists of Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and whiskey in equal parts. There’s a walk-up window on the street where you can buy one and not have to wait for table service should you only wish to down the creamy concoction.

Mendenhall Glacier is one of the best sites in Juneau.

If you want something a little more cultured and a little less… Duck Farty… Maybe try the Alaska State Museum. It’s easily walkable by following the waterfront from the cruise terminal. Inside, you’ll find exhibits on local cultural and natural history, even retrospectives from local artists are on display there. You can learn about the native tribes, the history of mining and logging, WWII, and even a climb-aboard sailing ship. It’s a beautiful museum and something that excursion goers often miss.

If you’re up for a bit more of a journey, you can take a taxi out to Mendenhall glacier. About a 20-minute ride from port. Mendenhall is a beautiful glacier with a nice visitor center, and if you’re ambitious, you can hike over to Nugget Falls, which cascades down the mountain just to the right of the glacier. Although the glacier is included in many excursions, you don’t need one to go there and sometimes it can be better when you are on your own because you’ll have more time.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is often called “Alaska’s first city”, not so much because of when it was founded, but rather because of its location. It’s the furthest southeastern major city in Alaska and it’s situated right near the start of the Inside Passage, meaning it’s usually the first stop for a cruise.

The city of Ketchikan has more than 80 totem poles in it and you can scarcely go a block without seeing one. Tucked a little ways back from the waterfront, off of the aptly named Totem Dr. there’s the Totem Heritage Center. It’s a walkable distance from the port, but it’s uphill and might be a bit of a challenge for some people. If you’re willing to take an Uber, the Saxman Totem Park at the nearby Tlingit town of Saxman is another place that centers on totems that is easy to visit.

Ketchikan’s most iconic feature is Creek Street. It’s the perfect place to go when on an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

Nothing is more iconic that in Ketchikan than the famous Creek Street. Boardwalks running alongside Ketchikan Creek are home to dozens of businesses and restaurants. This attraction is really only accessible by foot, which makes it perfect for anyone that doesn’t have an excursion. You should know that a great deal of the waterfront is pay-to-enter, at least on one side of it, but the other side is accessible to the public. If you’re in Ketchikan, take a minute to walk through here, I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

Finally, of course, there’s the lumberjack show. If you read my article on excursions in Alaska, you already know I was going to see this show. The reason that it’s showing up here is that you don’t need to book tickets on the ship, you can buy them day of at the door or on their website. Just make sure you don’t miss your ship leaving.

Sitka

The town of Sitka has a long and interesting histo ry involving the Tlingits, Russians, Americans, and was once the capital of Alaska before Juneau replaced it. If you’re coming into Sitka, you’re almost certainly docking at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, which is about 6 miles out from Sitka and there’s functionally no option to walk in. The good news is that they run shuttle buses into the town all day long when ships are in port. The terminal itself is quite lovely and there are a number of vendors that have a shop there.

Once you’re downtown in Sitka, you can walk almost everywhere that you might want to go. If you are looking to see wildlife, I recommend the Alaska Raptor Center which is on the edge of town, but still walkable. They do amazing work and you can see eagles, owls, hawks, and more up close and personal. You may have heard of the Fortress of the Bear which also does rehab work but that is very far outside of town, and one of the things that you can’t realistically walk to.

You can go to the Raptor Center in Sitka even if you’re doing an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

Not far from the Raptor Center, you can explore part of the Tongass Rainforest at the National Historic Park, which has easy to traverse paths, winding underneath the beautiful canopy formed by the towering trees that will surround you. This same place has a totem park with interpretive signs along one of the paths. Not far away from the park, you can check out the Sitka Science Center, which has a small aquarium and touch pools that kids are sure to love.

The downtown area isn’t massive, but it has a lot of interesting shops and other sights. I love supporting local businesses and I really love a local artist’s shop I encountered called Fate Accompli. Not only is the artist’s own art on display for decoration or on pottery, but she also has other local artists with ornaments, jewelry, and more. Stop in there and you’ll find something beautiful and local, which is better than cheap tchotchke.

Skagway

Skagway is one of the smaller towns that you’re likely to visit on an Alaskan Cruise, but the town is certainly built for lots of people. Almost immediately when you reach the town itself, you’ll notice the train, or at least the train tracks. These are part of the White Pass and Yukon Route train that I discussed in my video about Alaskan excursions. But, since this is a video about what to do if you don’t have an excursion, you’re going to step right over those rails on continue into the city.

GO right on by the Skagway train when you’re doing an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

The downtown, which is mostly confined to Broadway, feels and looks just like an old mining town and that’s because it is. The buildings that you see are largely original to the gold rush days and are suitably decorated. If you are want to walk around downtown, it’s easy to spend a few hours browsing through the shops and eating some local fare.

If you’d like a sugary treat, I recommend checking out the fry bread shop, it’s called Klondike Doughboy and it’s on 3^rd ave, just please don’t feed the crows. I love my birdy friends and if you think fried dough isn’t great for us, it’s really not good for them! Should you have worked up a bit of a thirst and are looking for try something with a local flavor, there are two places that serve Sitka Spruce Tip Beer (when it’s in season). Both Klondike Brewing Company and Skagway Brewing Company, serve the unique beverage. However, Skagway Brewing also has a restaurant if you need a bit to eat as well.

For those that are wondering what spruce tip beer tastes like, I would say that it’s similar to a sour. Fortunately, that happens to be my favorite type of beer, so I absolutely loved the pint I had.

Skagway is my favorite town to spend a day in when doing an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

Plenty of folks don’t really care for shopping or crowds, and it can get crowded in the town when five ships are in port, there’s some wonderful hiking that starts right at the waterfront. It’s about a 40-minute walk from the port to the Gold Rush Cemetery. This is the old cemetery for Skagway during its earliest years. Not much further of a walk brings you to Reid Falls, a stunning cascade of water over the mountainside. It’s worth mentioning that you can book a shuttle service to the falls and back from the downtown are for $10 per person if walking isn’t an option for you or if it’s just not something you fancy doing.

Another self-guided sightseeing choice is to rent a bike, including an e-bike. Sockeye Cycle, which is right downtown (like almost everything), has a variety of bicycles that you can pick up for the day. I’m not sure that most people will want to ride up the road out of town, which climbs a mountain, but some people might. I know I watched a few folks do it while I was there. This might be a little bit quicker way to see the cemetery and all of downtown in a day.

Skagway has lots of interesting activities that you can participate in besides hiking and eating. There’s the Skagway Museum and Archives where you can learn about the fascinating history of region. The Red Onion Saloon offers guided tours of the building that was once a brothel but is now a restaurant. You can easily while away time just sitting and relaxing by the stream and waterfront.

Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point was created by the local Tlingit town of Hoonah nearby to give cruise ships a place to stop. While it doesn’t have a long history like many of these ports, it does have the distinct advantage of being designed from the ground up to accommodate cruise passengers.

I didn’t know what to expect here and, being completely honest, hearing that a place was designed specifically for cruise ships didn’t inspire confidence in me. However, I am happy to admit when I’m wrong and I was wrong to doubt Icy Strait, because I loved it!

In the complex, which I think is the fairest description of Icy Strait, there are two gondolas. The green one is free and runs from the “wilderness port” to the main area of Icy Strait Point. More than anything, it’s to get cruise ship passengers from the far port to the near port by cutting out the roughly quarter mile walk through the forest, although that walk is quite pretty. The other gondola, the red one, is only available to paid ticket holders and leaves from the wilderness port and goes up, way up, to top of the mountain.

These chili fries are some of the best I’ve had! Icy Strait Point is one of the best places for an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

Some excursions include all-day tickets on the red gondola, but you can also buy tickets day-of. At the top of the mountain is the zip line, which claims to be one of the worlds longest. There are a few small shops, a vendor for make-your-own smores packs, which you cook over an open fire, and a nature hike to the hidden lake, which is breathtaking. Buying tickets to the red gondola costs $55 per person, so it isn’t cheap. I love a nature hike and I love gondolas (kinda weird, I know) so I thought it was worth it, but you might not.  You should also know that if you are scared of heights, riding the gondola might be a challenge for you.

In the main area of Icy Strait Point, there is an adorable boardwalk with a few restaurants and shops. The majority of the shops are run by the local artisans and business owners, so you won’t be shopping at big international companies. There is one big international company there, but it is VERY clearly marked, almost hilariously so.

When visiting, I recommend stopping into one of these eateries I mentioned, grabbing a seat by the water, and trying the reindeer chili or, for the more intestinally abusive among us, the reindeer chili fries. They are amazing.

As for that seat by the water I suggested you grab, well that’s because the absolute best wildlife watching I’ve ever had in Alaska was in Icy Strait Point. Most people will book a whale and bear watching excursion, but just sitting around the harbor gives you some mind-blowing views.

Although the wildlife excursions in Icy Strait are great, you can easily enjoy nature sitting right at a table.

While we were there, I watched dozens of bald eagles catching fish, soaring above us, and preening in the trees over my head. There are humpbacks and orcas that live in the waters right off the shore. You might even see a bear while just sitting there eating your chili.

I really was skeptical of this place, and I experienced it without an excursion, just as I’m describing. Most of the people I talked to that day also had gone in with low expectations and every single one of them remarked how happy there were to be there. It’s worth mentioning that we were the only ship in port that day, which may have colored our perspective, but I think even with another ship in port we would have had a great time.

Victoria

The most common of the Canadian ports for a cruise stop is Victoria. This is not a port that I have personal experience with, however, one of our team members does. Karen, who is part of the Far Far Away Travels team, used to live in Seattle and has spent a fair amount of time in British Columbia. She wrote an entire article on the city that is worth reading if you’d like to get a much more thorough rundown of the activities available.  

The good news for everyone visiting the city is that Victoria is a popular place for people to explore, even without an excursion! Keep in mind that this is a sizeable city with around 400,000 people living in the Greater Victoria area. Even though you don’t need an excursion to do some cool things, you’ll probably need to grab a taxi or Uber.

One of the most popular and famous places you can visit is the Butchart Gardens. It’s about a 30-minute card ride from the cruise port in downtown Vitoria, but looking at these images of the gardens certainly makes me want to visit the next chance I get. Getting to spend any amount of time in a place like this would be worth the taxi over there.

If you’re in Victoria, it’s easy to do the Butchart Gardens on an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

If gardens aren’t your thing, the Royal BC Museum is another option. Their permanent exhibits cover both the cultural history and natural history of the region. The museum is large enough to attract traveling exhibits. Just a few days ago, at least at the time of writing, an exhibit on ancient Egypt opened and will be operating for the duration of the 2026 cruise season.

Perhaps you want to do a little shopping, fortunately, Victoria has you covered there as well. Given the size of the city, there’s all the normal sorts of touristy shopping places, but you may want to make your way down to the Fisherman’s Warf to experience something a little more unusual. At the Warf, you’ll find a floating collection of businesses. I don’t want to oversell it, because it isn’t the largest shopping area you’ll ever see, but there are numerous restaurants, an artisan boutique, and even kayak tours if you have the time and want an excursion after all.

I won’t belabor the point here any longer, there’s lots to do in this amazing Canadian city. If I’ve intrigued you enough that you want to learn more, check out the article my colleague Karen wrote about visiting Vitoria.

Haines

I have not yet been to Haines, and it is a less frequent stop for Alaskan cruises but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing for a tourist to do there, far from it. Little did I know, when I started researching the town, that it has several very interesting and unique places to visit.

First things first, though, there is a shuttle service between the cruise port and the town that you can use at no cost. You can walk from the cruise ship dock into downtown Haines, it isn’t all that far, but the shuttle runs to different points around the area. According to the most recent map I could find (so, double check this when you’re visiting rather than taking my word as gospel), the route will take you to the following places:

First up is the Visitors Center, then the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, which is next to the Hammer Museum (more on that in a moment), followed by several different stops in the downtown area. Next the shuttle goes to Dalton City, which is the real movie set used in the 1991 film White Fang (yes, I’ll say more about that too). After that, the shuttle makes its way to The American Bald Eagle Foundation, and finally Historic Fort Seward.

As you see, there’s a fair number of things to do in Haines but let me tell you a bit more about them.

Haines is a fantastic port for an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

The Hammer Museum is exactly what it sounds like. It is a museum and it’s all about hammers. They claim to be the world’s largest collection of hammers, which I have no reason to doubt when they have thousands of examples on display and thousands more in storage. The small building is filled to the brim with examples of types of hammers, exhibits on the history of the tool, and rare hammers that can’t be found elsewhere. The city highlights that visiting such a different kind of museum is a bragging right unto itself.

At the Dalton City movie set from White Fang, you’ll find the structures from the Disney film. Haines is where the set was built and the filming took place, so they were left here after production wrapped. Today, the “town” remains as an attraction for people to visit.

American Bald Eagle Foundation is a non-profit organization that works towards to conservation of the American Bald Eagle and its habitat. The center is, obviously, in Haines and you can visit it. There you will find educational programs and a few resident birds.

The American Bald Eagle Foundation is a worth place to spend some time when you’re on an Alaskan cruise with no excursions.

The last stop of the shuttle is Historic Fort Seward. Last functional as a US military outpost in 1945, it is now a few remaining buildings and a clearing. What’s more popular to visit is the sculpture garden that was put in place on some of the old ruins of the barracks.

Besides what I’ve described, there’s lots of beautiful waterfront and nature to hike through, so there’s plenty to do at this stop. If you are more inclined to spend some of your day walking, there are several self-guided walking tours that the city has made pamphlets for. There’s one for the downtown area and one for Fort Seward. There’s also a walking tour of the totem poles around the city; that guide tells the stories for the totems and gives you their locations.

Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert is a city in British Columbia that appears on the occasional Alaska cruise itinerary. The city has diverse industries and more than 10,000 people living in it. Just like Victoria, I haven’t been there myself so unfortunately I don’t have personal knowledge. However, also just like Victoria, we have people are on our team that are on their way to visit it as I’m recording this, so we will have that personal experience to help guide our clients and all of you.

I’ve heard online chatter, which is to say people complaining that there isn’t much to do in the city, at least within walking distance of the cruise terminal. I’ve spent several hours poring over tourism websites for the city and Google Maps to browse through the city’s streets, taking a virtual tour to see what there is to do.

Only a block or so from the terminal is the Museum of Northern BC. It’s not a very large museum, but it looks lovely from the exhibit pictures they have. The institute covers the geological history and the long cultural history of the area, dating back thousands of years. There’s also an attached art, the Ruth Harvey Art Gallery, which displays rotating works from local and regional artists.

Although Prince Rupert is lighter on things near the port, the Museum of Northern BC is worth your time on an Alaskan cruise with no excursions. Photo credit: Hans-Jürgen Hübnerhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7650323

On the horticultural side of things, the nearby Sunken Gardens offer visitors a gorgeous space to admire nature and, possibly, have lunch. Which brings up another possibility for an activity when in port, simply enjoying a cup of coffee. One of the things that I spotted in my perusing online were several cafés and bakeries in the area.

Aside from these things there are small art galleries, hand crafted gift shops, and some small parks and short hiking trails that can all be walked to fairly easily. There does seem to be some truth to the feelings of tourists that activities near the port are limited.

I want to be crystal clear here, what I found online pointed to an active city, with many restaurants, homes, and supermarkets, all overlooking a stunning landscape. Prince Rupert seems like a lovely place that has tons of things to do – away from the cruise terminal. There are water tours galore, cultural and nature centers, hiking trails, mountain vistas, all within driving distance of the port, but you do have to drive to things.

If you are interested in having a relaxing morning or afternoon and enjoying a walk along the waterfront, browsing some small shops and museums, or having a lovely cup of coffee, you’ll have a nice time. If that’s not something that interests you, then it might be a decent day to stay on the ship and take advantage of the quiet.

The post How To Take An Alaskan Cruise With No Excursions appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Virgin Voyages begins their very first Alaskan season with some very successful approaches.

• Different sorts of entertainment and enrichment activities on the ship.
• Shore excursions were made a little extra special by Virgin’s Shore Things teams.
• Small touches and new approaches make a big difference from other Virgin Sailings and other cruise lines in Alaska.

Could Virgin Voyages Pull Off Alaska?

The Alaskan cruise market is one of the most competitive, in demand, and saturated areas in cruising. When Virgin Voyages announced that they would be delaying the launch of their fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, to modify it to be able to traverse the Panama Canal, they also said that they would be sailing in Alaska. Fans of the line were immediately excited, yet many remained trepidatious that Virgin, who built their ships for the balmy warmth of the Caribbean and Mediterranean, would handle the colder Alaskan climates well.

Could a line that throws a party like this, ever fit in up in Alaska?

Many pointed out that Virgin’s pools were open air, that Richard’s Rooftop (the small part of the ship reserved exclusively to suite guests) was also exposed to the elements. Virgin Voyage’s famous balcony hammocks were feared to be useless in the Alaskan weather, mostly because of the brisk temperatures. Speculation swirled around what the line could possibly do to stand out in a market swelling with other options. Is it possible to offer something no other line has offered when there are already more than 800 Alaskan sailings each year? Well, I went to find out.

One last thing before we dive in, this is a review. That means that even though we are travel agents, when we took this sailing it was at full price and there were no special benefits that we received. That means that what we experienced was the same that anyone could experience.

Expectations

I’d sailed Virgin Voyages six times before stepping onboard their inaugural Alaskan sailing, including once before on the Brilliant Lady. I’m well familiar with what the line offers. I also want to be clear about what I mean when I say inaugural, since Virgin has muddied the water somewhat. I sailed on an itinerary from Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle, WA and that itinerary was the first time Virgin Voyages sailed Alaska, it was not the “Mer-Maiden” Voyage though, that was actually the voyage after mine. Their rationale for this was because the “Mer-Maiden” was the first time they sailed from their home port of Seattle.

The Mer-Maiden was the next sailing after the one I took. So, I was on the first Alaskan voyage for the line, just not the big flashy one.

When crews have never sailed to a region before, it can be a bit of a shakedown voyage. The staff have new menus catered to the region, that means different drinks to concoct, new dishes to prep, and new suppliers and supplies to work with. The crew are also getting used to the behavior of guests in the new region, such as when sailors are leaving their rooms so the house keeping staff can clean up and what activities are popular. Virgin Voyages has a very good reputation for guest service and food quality on their ships, so there’s pressure to perform here.

All in all, my expectations were high, since I’ve had many nice voyages on Virgin, but I was prepared for some hiccups.

The Brilliant Lady Is Different

Since not everyone is up to speed on Virgin Voyages, their ships, and their reputation, it’s worth a quick rundown.

• Virgin has four ships, The Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady. The Brilliant is the most recent addition.
• They’ve got a reputation for great food and drinks.
• Their ships were designed with warm weather in mind – they’ve got balcony hammocks, lots of areas to lay in the sun, and tons of open-air spaces.

The last point has been a significant concern for some sailors thinking about taking Virgin Voyages Alaska.

Virgin Voyages was either thinking ahead or listening to feedback from sailors about concerns with the ship in Alaska. When the Brilliant Lady was delayed, Virgin not only modified the lifeboat mounting to become Panama Canal compliant, they also took the time to make some changes to their outdoor areas.

At the aft on deck 7, at The Dock, the outdoor chairs on The Brilliant Lady have been improved when compared to their counterparts on the other Lady Ships. As many people have noted and commented on, the original wooden deck chairs are extremely heavy, low to the ground, and generally not very comfortable to sit in. The chairs at The Dock on the Brilliant are much more comfortable and easier to sit in. This means better viewing of the gorgeous Alaskan vistas.

On deck 15, the two pools are heated, unlike the other three Virgin ships. They weren’t what many would call warm, but they were comfortable. We, and several others we became friends with, all went in the pool and thought it was quite nice but colder than when in the Caribbean. I’d guess the water temperature was around 70-75˚F (21-24˚C). There also wasn’t anyone really using the pool, so it wasn’t crowded. The folks that we were with were quite happy with the experience. The hot tubs were still hot, just so we’re clear that they are there.

Virgin swapped out some of the towels on deck for blankets. A welcome change and something that I wasn’t expecting them to do.

There were some, online, bemoaning that the pools weren’t enclosed, which is true. Whether that matters to you isn’t for me to say, but it didn’t dissipate my enjoyment. For what it’s worth, in my experience, Alaska isn’t the kind of place you go to enjoy a pool, even on a cruise. Most excursions involve being outside, many involve hiking, and almost all the ports are inside a literal rain forest, so being wet outside isn’t exactly a novel feeling in The Last Frontier.

One deck up, on 16, at the Athletic Club, the Brilliant Lady was updated to have the day bed lounging face outward and for the outer railing to be glass. As I write, the Valiant Lady is being updated to an identical configuration of the day beds on the Brilliant, but the other two ships face inward. Appreciating Hubbard glacier from this space was very easy and relaxed.

At every outdoor area, Virgin Voyages swapped out the stacks of towels for stacks of blankets. Although having outdoor blankets is hardly unique to Virgin, Princess offers blankets for their Movies Under the Stars, it’s something that I’ve not found on some lines in Alaska. Sailing Regent Seven Seas last year in Alaska, for example, they did not offer blankets on the open-air areas. On Virgin Voyages, I spent an hour or so lying comfortably under a blanket by the pool on one of the lounge chairs, it was quite enjoyable.

Cuisine

Virgin Voyages’ eateries are all what the cruise industry has come to call “premium restaurants.” This means that Virgin’s ships have no Main Dining Room, unlike many other cruises. Instead, you’ll eat at one of these dedicated and culinarily themed establishments each night. This has led some repeat customers to complain about the mostly static menus. Fortunately, Virgin has been listening here as well.

In the last year, each of the dining establishments on the ships have added limited time specials in addition to their standard menu. I always take the kitchen up on their short-term offerings and have never been disappointed. Virgin has gone a step further for their Alaskan sailings, though, by offering specific regional dishes on some of their menus.

Of the Alaskan exclusives, my personal favorite was the venison loin at the wake. I’m from a state where our schools and communities actually shut down for the start of deer season. Venison is a staple in our diets and I’ve eaten it my whole life. I can say with certainty that Virgin’s preparation was close to the best I’ve ever tasted. If you like fish, I also wouldn’t miss the roasted cod at Rojo. When I reviewed Rojo last year, I said it was the best of Virgin’s restaurants; their cod only reinforces the skill of that kitchen.

The venison at The Wake was astounding! One of my favorite dishes that Virgin has ever made and an excellent preparation even when compared to restaurants on land.

There are also limited items at the bars. Should you be inclined to partake of some alcohol on your sailing, Virgin has brought a cask of mulled wine aboard! Okay, so I don’t know if they actually have a cask, but they are offering the spiced drink. They also added a Hot Toddy to the drink list. The classic bourbon beverage happens to be one of my favorite cold weather drinks and I thought that they made theirs quite well. Virgin has always used higher quality alcohol than other lines in their cocktails, and they continue to do so with the these beverages.

Virgin Voyages’ Alaskan sailings feature additions to the coffee bars as well. At the Grounds Clubs, the ship’s cafés, I found two limited time espresso drinks, the Salty Sea Otter and the Denali Late. The former is a salted caramel and mocha brew, and the latter is a birch syrup infused latte. Both were delicious, although if you prefer a less sweet coffee, I recommend the Sea Otter as the Denali tended to be slightly more saccharine. That being said, it’s not often you get the chance to have birch syrup, so I would suggest trying it at least once because the taste is unique.

Events and Experiences

I’ve taken quite a few cruises and Virgin Voyages offers what, I think, to be the best entertainment, activities, and events of any line. I made my feelings clear some time back now and it hasn’t changed since then. The new shows on the Brilliant Lady are very popular, including the additional paid dinner shows.

On Virgin Voyages Alaska they are offering some new events and activities as well as speakers. The Happenings Cast is hosting several new events that were very popular with the sailors. The Crack The Crab event was a game show tied into eating crab and it was a massive hit. I personally get quite nervous in games like that, despite how very low stakes it is, so I only observed, but the participants were very invested.

In the evenings while the ship sailed in the Alaska fjords, which is to say the end of port days, there was an outdoor event at The Dock at sunset. As hues of auburn dapple the gold washed sky, one of the Happenings Cast will tell a short story to the assembled crowd. It’s only about 10 minutes total, but then an interesting thing happened each time, the people stuck around. Nearly everyone who came each night, which was usually 75 or more people, gathered together with their blankets and just started talking with each other. It was a wonderful event. I can’t guarantee that will happen with any particular sailing, but it happened with mine.

Virgin Voyages Alaska had a new game for the Happenings cast to host called, Crak The Crab. It was a riot!

Virgin also had a member of the Tlingit tribe on the ship to teach guests about the traditional woodworking techniques of the tribe and share the history of the people. When we were at Hubbard glacier, Virgin brought a naturalist on the ship who spoke over the PA system about what we were seeing around us. They also had mobile drink carts serving coffee and hot chocolate (as well as more adult beverages) on deck 16 while we were at the glacier. Although those sorts of things are the expectation for any cruise that visits Alaska, they are new for Virgin, especially having someone talking on the PA. After all, the line is known for their approach to reduce announcements as much as possible. Virgin, for example, does not have the captain address the ship each morning while most other lines do.

Just like their musical performers, these two guests will change between sailings, and you’ll experience something different from me. The point of mentioning it here is to highlight that Virgin Voyages Alaska is doing things a little differently from their usual approach. There’s even a temporary Happenings Cast member, The Lumberjack. If you read my Alaskan excursion article, you’ll know how much I enjoy lumberjacks! He was only on for a couple days, until we reached Ketchikan, where he got off the ship. How much he’ll be back I don’t know, but it was fun while he was aboard (I just wish I got a picture with him, but there was considerable competition).

Successes

Virgin Voyages Alaska had some truly outstanding things that they do to make your time onboard their ship special. While every line does something a little different for Alaska, Virgin is one of the few adults only cruise lines in the world, so their clientele is slightly different.

What I haven’t mentioned yet in this article are the small touches that they put into their rooms. Each room was equipped with a very soft, plush, fleece blanket. Our Sea Terrace room had two, one each for Nichole and I. Of course they were a red color, but hued closer to maroon than Virgin’s signature scarlet. Not only were they warm enough to make for a cozy bed each night, but they also kept you toasty should you decide to spend time outside on your balcony, like enjoying the hammock, which is something I certainly did.

In the RockStar and Mega RockStar suites (which I didn’t pay for this trip but certainly have in the past), Virgin included not only the blankets but also a pair of Binoculars. The brand and model they chose is, and I swear I had no idea, the exact same ones that I recommended just a matter of weeks ago in my article on What to Pack for Alaska. I asked several suite guests what they thought of the binoculars and they had nothing but praise for them. It seems that my recommendation is a good one.

I wasn’t sure if Virgin Voyages Alaska would make an adaptation to their linens, but they did. There’s nothing amazing about these fleece blankets, but having them at all made a huge difference.

There’s other small touches that made a difference. During our time at Hubbard Glacier, Virgin had mobile hot chocolate and coffee carts on deck 16, which is where most people were observing the glacier. You could also have spiked those beverages if you wished. We also got a sneak preview of what, we confirmed with crew, Virgin is trying to do at Hubbard. They brought a small boat up to the Brilliant Lady for a film crew to get on. That was also a test to see if they could sell that as an excursion! Keep an eye out for that in the future because the camera crew said it was stunning.

Speaking of beverages, something that I hadn’t expected was the included alcohol on several different excursions we went on. It’s not that I have never had alcohol included with an excursion, there are many catamarans in the Caribbean who serve cheap rum drinks while you snorkel, it’s more that I wasn’t expecting it in Alaska and it wasn’t included in other cruise ships that booked them. The only reason that I know that is because when we went to the Lumberjack Show (which you should go to), the announcer specifically stated that guests from our ship were given drink tickets and that other lines weren’t. I can’t say if that will always be the case, but I can say that it’s a lot easier to throw in a free drink as a bonus for booking that excursion if the cruise line has no kids on it.

Some Failures

Not everything is perfect, though, not that I expect it to be but it should be mentioned regardless. Virgin Voyages Alaska had some shortcomings that did impact our trip.

At the top of the article, I mentioned Richard’s Rooftop, the suite guests’ exclusive area of the ship. People worried that it wouldn’t be used much in Alaska given that it’s an open air space and Alaska is, well, not the Caribbean. Since I wasn’t staying in a suite, I didn’t have access to this space but, I can look through the glass partition. What I saw was minimal use, which was what people predicted. I’m not sure what Virgin could do to correct that short of a complete redesign that I don’t think they want to do. The one thing that was in use in the Richard’s Rooftop area was the hot tubs, those remained popular.

The most significant shortcoming is the tender port of Juneau. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the term, a tender port is any port where you are not docked at a pier, but rather you are docked away from shore and need to board a smaller boat to get to shore. There are many places where this is the only way to visit, from small towns like Eastport Maine, to very popular places like Grand Cayman.

Juneau has quite a few shoreside docking places, but it also has many ships that come each day. If your ship is smaller or newer to the rotation, you’re likely going to experience Juneau as a tender port. Virgin’s ships are not small, nor are they particularly large for the cruise industry. They are new to Alaska, however, and that puts them fairly low in the pecking order, thus they are tendering people in.

I don’t know what Virgin Voyages Alaska has going wrong in Juneau with the tendering, but they really do need to sort that out.

The tender situation was rather chaotic for us. On every cruise, people with shore excursions will get priority to take the tender, often staged by groups, before anyone without an excursion will be taken to shore. Even with the grouping and scheduling, we didn’t get to shore until an hour after our tour was supposed to begin. This meant that we lost time on our excursion. We still went on the excursion because it was waiting for all of us from the ship, but we lost an hour. That meant that we didn’t get to whale watch and hike at Mendenhall glacier as much as we should have.

Problems with the tendering don’t seem to be limited to just our cruise either since, as I write this, there are reports coming in about similar issues happening at Juneau once again.

I can’t say for sure what the cause of the delay was, but something wasn’t right that day. Keep this in mind when booking things in Juneau. Also, to be clear, when I say people with an excursion get priority, what I mean is, people with an excursion booked through the cruise line get priority. If you booked an excursion on your own… you will have to wait in the standby line or book the first available slot once tender slot booking is opened up in the Virgin Voyages app. Realistically, if you book an excursion in the morning at Juneau and it isn’t through the cruise line, you aren’t going to make it. You shouldn’t book anything before, at the earliest, 1PM if you’re doing it on your own.

In fact, I would caution you from booking anything on your own in Juneau right now.

Most of the dishes on the Virgin Voyages Alaska sailing we did were excellent… not the Achiote Spiced Salmon from Pink Agave. Maybe skip this one.

That was the only major issue that we ran into, but there are some minor flubs that you should have a heads up about.

• The shows are very popular, so much Virgin is rumored to be bringing back ticketing for them. (That doesn’t mean that they will cost extra, it’s just to control crowd size and eliminate people just waiting in line.) We can’t confirm their plans as of writing, but this is a widespread rumor.
  
  For now, you should know that if you want to see a show, you’ll need to line up early; unless you are sailing as a RockStar, of course.
• When the Lumberjack is on, they aren’t on for very long. I can’t even say this is truly a flub, but Virgin didn’t make it completely clear that he is only on for a couple days of any cruise.
• Pink Agave’s Alaska menu item, the Achiote Spiced Salmon, isn’t great. I love salmon and cook it frequently; I’m no stranger to this fish. The approach here, with the combination of flavors and the cooking technique, just doesn’t work. I would avoid this one and get something else from the menu.

Conclusion

Many fans of Virgin Voyages worried that they would fumble Alaska. They said that the pools won’t be any good, that the ship wouldn’t be fun outside of balmy weather, that Virgin wasn’t designed as a line to sail in cold weather. I can confidently say that all those fears are overblown.

Virgin Voyages Alaska sufficiently altered their approach to sailing to meet the needs and desires of the area. There were many long time Virgins… wait… There were many returning Virgin guests we met on the ship that raved about how much fun they were having. I ended up socializing with people more than I usually do because folks were in a fantastic mood and having fun.

I love Skagway! The owners of the Red Onion put this sign out for our first visit and it’s perfect. I really do love that town.

Yes, Scarlet Night was a little more subdued given that the top deck dance party was moved inside and likely will be for much of the season. That change didn’t dampen people’s spirits, though, as all through Scarlet Night people were spotting whales off the side of the ship and it turned into a mix of dancing and nature watching. That’s not something that I’ve ever seen in the warm waters of the gulf.

I spent hours watching the scenery pass by, warmly wrapped in blankets, curled up in the hammock. There was delicious venison, cod, crab, salmon, and halibut, at every restaurant. The mood was bright and fun, as it always is, but there were opportunities to engage in culture and education that don’t typically happen on Virgin’s sailings.

At the end of the day, I’ve been to Alaska before, but I’ve never had such a good time as this.

The post Virgin Voyages First Alaska Sailing Review – Stunning And Successful appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.