Cincinnati, Ohio The combination of summer heat and winter snow can make for challenging conditions for most people. Even more so for those trying to make a living brewing beer. For hundreds of years, alcohol was the safest choice for drinking – safer than the local water which was often contaminated. Immigrants coming from Europe had brought their love of beer with them, and quickly set up shop. But where can a brewer go when they’ve moved to the climate extremes of the midwest? In search of stable air temperatures, brewers and winemakers discovered long ago that underground is the place to ..read more

Courtesy StevenSmithTeamaker teas in Portland, Oregon, this recipe is created using their blend of black lavender teas. The tea is slightly floral, slightly smokey and wholly delectable. Using ground Black Lavender in the base of these petite bundt cakes results in a welcome depth and complexity in this traditional European cake. Use whimsical bundt pans for added flair.  Lavender grows well in the Pacific Northwest and you can find multiple lavender festivals every summer throughout Oregon and Washington. Find a list on BestoftheNorthwest.com BLACK LAVENDER BUNDT CAKES INGREDIENTS Cak ..read more

American Cruise Lines has announced a new class of small ships currently being built: The Patriot class. Arriving in 2025, the American Patriot and American Pioneer. These 125-passenger sister ships represent the 5th and 6th ships in the company’s Project Blue series of 12 new small ships for the U.S. market. The ships will be built at the company’s affiliated shipyard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. American Patriot will begin sailing in June 2025, and American Pioneer in November 2025 and both new ships will operate a host of American’s exclusive U.S. itineraries up and down the East ..read more

Choosing the right cruise ship deck can significantly enhance your vacation experience. With the myriad of options available, it’s essential to understand the nuances of ship layout, amenities, and what each deck has to offer. This guide aims to provide you with some helpful insights to make an informed decision about the best deck for your cruise holiday. Understanding a Ship’s Layout Modern cruise ships are marvels of engineering and design, offering a wide range of accommodations, dining options, entertainment, and activities spread across multiple decks. Generally, cruise ships have lower ..read more

The diary of world travelers – Larry and Kathy from their 2024 trip to the Mediterranean Athens We arrived  at our Viking Ship at 8:00 PM in Athens, Greece 25 hours after we left POC, the highlight being the Baileys Irish Crème I talked the flight attendant into pouring into my 1/2 eaten ice cream cup I had for desert. Yum, yum, good!! Greece only has 11 million people and 5 million live in the Athens area. Our excursion today was a drive to the ancient city of Corinth and the Corinth canal. The canal was first thought of in the 7th century BC, it was abandoned and an overland por ..read more

Take Me Out to the Ballgame Cruising for the baseball fan by Dawn Woolcott   As we begin another season of baseball, America’s Pastime is on the mind of many. From the challenge of learning to swing a bat and hit a ball off a tee, catching with two hands, to throwing a ball and actually having it land where you wanted it to go, baseball has become a part of childhood for so many generations. Learning that hand-eye coordination, the patience of standing in the outfield waiting for a ball to hit your way, or being part of a team and dependent upon others to move you ‘round the bases so you ..read more

Since 1893, Hurtigruten has been the lifeblood of the Norwegian coast. The route we founded binds the country together, transporting people, delivering goods, and sustaining communities. Two styles of cruising are available – the original Coastal Ships follow the Norwegian coastline up as far north as you can go – following the Northern Lights. Their Expedition Ships travel the world – taking guests with the same Scandinavian flare for style and casual comfort to remote places including Antarctica, Alaska, and Iceland, to the warmer climes of South America and even Portugal on itineraries wh ..read more

Spring Forward to a fresh and light lemon based dinner option shared by Oceania Cruises’ head chef. Lemon Risotto Recipe Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 cup finely chopped shallots 1 thyme sprig ½ cup dry white wine, preferably Northern Italian 1 cup Arborio rice 3 cups chicken stock, hot 1 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano 1 cup fresh peas, blanched 3 tablespoons lemon zest 1 tablespoon minced preserved lemon (see recipe below) Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper DIRECTIONS In a large heavy-bottomed rondeau over medium-high heat, warm ..read more

Meet Emerald Cruises Say hello to the boutique, small ship river cruising experience that you can expect along the rivers of Europe and Southeast Asia. Our fleet of award-winning Star-Ships combines comfort and innovation with contemporary design and a wealth of amenities.  Their river cruises offer luxurious river cruising in Europe, Portugal, and Southeast Asia, while their luxury yacht cruises offer ocean-going cruises in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Red Sea. Where do they cruise? Europe Portugal Egypt Mediterranean Cambodia Seychelles The Caribbean Why Choose ..read more

Delve deeply into the culture of your destination on a river cruise Oceans take you TO a country Rivers take you INTO a country Cruise the Rivers of the World: United States of  America Mississippi Hudson Columbia Ohio Tennessee Europe Danube Main Moselle Rhine France Seine Saône Garonne Dordogne Seine Rhône Portugal Douro Africa Nile Chobe Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam) Mekong  South America Magdalena Amazon   The Ama Dara Scenic Jewel Ama Zambezi Queen The American Constitution You can cruise on almost every continent while on a small ship river cruise. Wheth ..read more