This, my seventh expedition to Antarctica, was definitely different from my previous ones. Fly the Drake Passage in a Penguin Jet! There are really two things that my Fly the Drake Passage experience set it apart and one can see them as, “Hey, this is perfect for me!” or “I want a longer and more immersive experience;” a very personal decision! (1) Flying across The Drake Passage, allaying the fear of possible rough seas, rather than embracing the experience of crossing The Drake and having time to settle in, get your head around what is about to happen, and enjoy the whales and birds o ..read more

Weddell Seal This has been a very busy yet relatively short expedition in Antarctica. It, as always, leaves me with a desire – no, need – to return yet again. The sense of wonderment, enormity, beauty, power, calm, quiet, mind-blowing nature, inner peace, and so much more is just something I cannot get enough of. But before I get to the “good stuff” I have to say that the staff and crew on Silver Endeavour are simply exceptional. The genuineness and kindness are extraordinary. After being on so many cruises and expeditions (they are different!), I can tell the difference between making repeat ..read more

Silversea’s Silver Endeavour at Deception Island, Antarctica This is the start of my seventh expedition to Antarctica; brought about by Silversea wanting me to have a “Fly the Drake” experience. Let’s just say my Antarctica “Fly the Drake” Expedition on Silversea’s Silver Endeavour truly started out as an expedition of its own! More importantly, it clearly shows how well Silversea handles things – even non-Silversea things – when they go wrong…and when I say “things”, I mean “THINGS”!   The original plan was for me to fly from Reno to San Francisco, then to Houston, and then onto Sa ..read more

To “Fly the Drake or Sail the Drake?” That is the question!   A Dramatic Arrival in Antarctica: Sailing into Hope Bay. Let’s try to answer the question, keeping in mind that due to new availability, ultimately, it is a personal choice.  But drilling down – rather than jumping to conclusions – I will assist you in making the best choice for you.  (And, yes, I understand that fear is usually generated through the unknown and rumor, but it is also very real and to be respected!) Having been on expeditions in Antarctica six times and on all sorts of ships, from converted ferr ..read more

I am thrilled to announce that Goldring Travel is now a member of The Affluent Traveler Collection travel consortium! Before I get into the details of what you can expect moving forward, a very quick explanation of, “Why and Why Now?“.  As you may know, Goldring Travel was a member of Ensemble Travel for over twenty years, but about a year ago the member-owned consortium was sold to a private company, and, well, things changed from management to philosophy to, well, you get the picture. So, it was time for Goldring Travel to move to a consortium that better aligns with our philoso ..read more

I was recently asked by a major travel magazine what I thought were the top cruise lines for an Alaska vacation. It got me thinking…as I do! Sea Otter in Alaska The question of which are the “best” cruise lines for Alaska really depends on the guest’s desires, as there is a balance between how in-depth they wish to delve into Alaska’s nature and indigenous culture, what type of onboard experience they desire, and, of course, whether the cruise is family-focused (including the ages of the children). Eric Goldring Kayaking in Alaska I must pause for a moment:  Actually, the most important ..read more

Goldring Travel loves encouraging its clients to be “Comfortable Being Uncomfortable!”  But that does not mean being physically uncomfortable while experiencing new, exotic, locations that challenge and open one’s mind up to truly different cultures, cuisines, breathtaking landscapes, and maybe some exciting wildlife. Leopard Travel with Goldring Travel sailing with Silversea for 19 days up the West Coast of Africa from Cape Town, South Africa, and calling on exotic ports you probably would otherwise never visit – but will fascinate you – including Namibia, Angola, the Congo, Sao Tome &a ..read more

I am frequently asked by both media outlets and potential expedition travelers, “What is an expedition cruise really like?“ and “Who should ‘consider’ an expedition cruise?“ Alas, the answer to both of these questions is not straightforward…And that is where Goldring Travel comes in! Silversea’s Silver Endeavour Why should you consider my opinions? I have more hands-on experience than the vast majority of those selling expedition cruises. I have had personal expedition experiences with: Scenic Eclipse Silversea Quark Expeditions Aurora Expeditions Seabourn Ponant Intrepid Atlas Oc ..read more

After two days crossing the Labrador Sea on Silversea’s Silver Endeavour we transitioned a bit from an expedition in Greenland to more of an expedition-ish cruise through the Canadian Maritimes. Silversea Silver Endeavour – St. Anthony, Newfoundland Labrador, Canada Because this is both a transitional and repositioning expedition/cruise, our time in each port in the Canadian Maritimes is abbreviated because we have long distances to travel and only so much time, so we are “relegated” to only a few hours to experience each. As you know for me that is somewhat frustrating for two reasons: I li ..read more

Now having spent over a week on Silversea’s Silver Endeavour, and two sea days before reaching Newfoundland, Canada, this is a good time to discuss the ship itself, as well as Silversea’s service and cuisine. Silversea’s Silver Endeavour But before I do that I need to give props to our very popular stowaway: A Peregrine Falcon  I don’t think it was terribly happy, but found places to rest in between flying about the upper decks of the ship. I don’t think it hunted any of the birds flying around the ship or even our other stowaway, a tiny snow bunting. It will fly off once within sight of ..read more