Posted by David Porter on May 25, 2017 · Leave a Comment
TSA’s Advice for Busy Summer Airports: Come Early!
I snagged this photograph in the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as we were headed to Amsterdam in April. As the crowds have grown larger and larger over the years, airlines have work to find organized ways to get all of the folks aboard in an orderly fashion. Note the five different lines as we boarded with United Airlines.
With the busy summer travel season upon us, TSA is warning of record travelers in the nation’s airports this summer and advises patience and that you come early.
Arrive 2-hours early for a domestic flight and three hours early for an international flight.
In fact, TSA recommends that you arrive 2-hours early for a domestic flight and three hours early for an international flight.
Here’s a recent press release from the TSA on 2017 summer travel:
The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for the start of the summer travel period, typically marked by the Memorial Day holiday weekend and continuing through Labor Day. Record numbers of passengers are expected at airports this summer, with peak travel periods occurring in June and July, including the July 4th weekend. During the busiest days of the summer, TSA will screen more than 2.5 million passengers per day.
Through the TSA Airport Operations Center and in coordination with airport and airline partners, TSA aims to maintain effective and efficient security operations at checkpoints nationwide during the busy travel season. The center tracks daily screening operations, rapidly addresses any issues that arise, and deploys personnel, canine teams and technology where needed. This summer, 50 more passenger canine teams will be in use compared to last summer, and 2,000 more TSA officers will be working this year compared to last year.
“As we approach the summer break, securing the travel of millions of passengers daily remains our top priority,” said TSA Acting Administrator Huban A. Gowadia. “It is well known that terrorists continue to focus on aviation, which is why TSA continues to focus on providing robust security screening. TSA takes many security measures, seen and unseen, while working closely with industry partners such as airlines and airports to enhance the traveling experience and ensure every passenger arrives at their destination safely.”
“TSA is tasked with a complex, critical security mission that can only be accomplished through close collaboration with stakeholders and partners. We will not compromise our security mission of protecting air travelers as we face an evolving threat by a determined enemy,” she said.
Additionally, TSA continues to team up with vendors and airlines, for instance, to develop and deploy innovative technologies at airports. Automated screening lanes offer several features designed to improve the screening of travelers this summer by allowing travelers to move more swiftly and efficiently through checkpoints. Fifty automated screening lanes are currently in operation at Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and more are expected to become operational in the coming months. These lanes are state-of-the-art in advancing security effectiveness, increasing efficiency, and improving the passenger experience.
With the increased volume during summer travel, delays at the airport may occur. Travelers can enhance their travel experience through the airport by arriving early. Passengers should expect that there may be delays for traffic, parking, rental car returns and airline check-in. Preparedness can have a significant impact on efficiency at security checkpoints nationwide, so travelers should arrive up to two hours in advance of their flight departure time for domestic travel and three hours for international flights when flying out of the nation’s busiest airports.
Some helpful tools and travel tips for the airport security checkpoint include:
- Apply for TSA Pre?® or other trusted travel programs like Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI. These programs help improve security and provide a more convenient travel experience by affording travelers access to TSA Pre?®expedited screening lanes. Travelers using the TSA Pre?® lane do not need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets at more than 180 U.S. airports. To find the program that best suits your travel needs, use the DHS trusted traveler comparison tool.
- Tweet or Message AskTSA. Issues receiving TSA Pre?® on your boarding pass? Unsure if an item is allowed through security? Get live assistance by tweeting your questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also reach the Contact Center at 866-289-9673.
- Prepare for security. Avoid over packing your carry-on bag and consider checking bags when feasible. Remember to have a valid ID and boarding pass readily available. If you are traveling abroad, be aware of the recent changes to international travel carry-on items. Also read the FAQ or fact sheet about upcoming REAL ID requirements.
- Follow the liquids rule. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less and all containers must fit inside a single quart-size plastic bag and be placed in a bin for carry-on baggage screening. This includes sun block and tanning lotions.
- Call TSA Cares. Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and/or medical conditions may call the TSA Cares helpline toll free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to flying with any questions about screening policies, procedures and to find out what to expect at the security checkpoint as well as arrange for assistance at the checkpoint.
As a reminder, public awareness is key for supporting TSA’s security efforts. Travelers are encouraged to report suspicious activities, and remember, If You See Something, Say Something™. For individuals traveling abroad, please check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Know Before You Go page to learn about required documentation.
For further information about TSA procedures and other trusted traveler programs, read the frequently asked questions, watch TSA’s travel tips videos and visit DHS’s new Trusted Traveler Comparison Tool.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on May 25, 2017 · 2 Comments
Laptop Compter Ban Will Not Affect Flights Originating in U.S. Airports
With the busy summer travel season upon us, many folks are concerned about reports of a laptop ban on international flights.
As of yesterday, Reuters was reporting:
“The U.S. Homeland Security Department said on Wednesday that no specific timeline had been set for a decision on whether to expand a ban on larger electronics as carry-on luggage for air travel.
DHS spokesman David Lapan told reporters at a briefing there was “nothing imminent” that would require an immediate decision to expand the ban on laptops, which currently applies to 10 mostly Middle Eastern airports. He also said there had been no discussion on expanding the ban to domestic U.S. flights or flights leaving the United States.
In March, the United States announced laptop restrictions on flights originating from 10 airports, including in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, because of fears a bomb could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.
Britain quickly followed suit with restrictions on a slightly different set of routes.
Lapan reiterated that DHS still believed it was “likely” the U.S. ban will be expanded. He said talks with Europe were not a “negotiation” over whether to expand the airports covered because Homeland Security director John Kelly would make any decision based strictly on an analysis of threats.
DHS and European officials held a working group level meeting on Tuesday, but no new talks are currently scheduled, Lapan said.
Lapan said the United States would give airports at least the same four-day notice it gave Middle Eastern and other airlines in March before the restrictions took effect, but said it could be longer.
Reuters and other outlets reported on May 11 that the ban on laptops on commercial aircraft was likely to include some European countries.”
This morning, I sent a Tweet to AskTSA on the subject and received the following response:
Bottom Line
- As of today, no laptop restrictions on flights originating from the U.S.
- Laptops are banned on flights originating from 10 airports in the Middle East to the U.S.
- The laptop ban is likely to expand. How and to where we don’t know.
As Carol and I consider our international travel over the coming months, I suppose we need to consider what travel might look like if we can’t bring anything larger than a cell phone on the plane with us as we’re generally working on our laptops when we travel.
While we would probably be able to pack our laptops in our checked luggage, that course of action doesn’t seem very prudent from a theft perspective.
Therefore, as I contemplate this issue while typing this article, I think we will make plans assuming that we will be forced to work from our phones. While it’s not ideal, it can certainly be done.
Link to Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-electronics-idUSKBN18K2AP
As this issue develops over the coming weeks and months, we’ll keep you informed.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on May 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
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Tauck River Cruises: Rhine Enchantment, Milan to Amsterdam
Carol and I participate in WebEx presentations nearly every day with various travel brands that we think will appeal to our audience of baby boomer travelers.
Recently, we enjoyed a WebEx presentation from our friends at Tauck and we thought this combo river cruise and tour from Milan to Amsterdam might be of great interest to our readers and clients.
If you’re not familiar with Tauck River Cruises, they reside in the luxury end of the segment, feature 30% fewer passengers than comparable-sized ships; and on their 443-foot riverboats, feature twenty-two 300 sq. ft. Tauck Suites on the Diamond Deck, the most of any European riverboat of comparable size. Further, this family-owned company has been guiding American travelers around the world for over 90 years with their renowned land journeys.
A few years ago, this journey would have been restricted to long drives through the Alps, but with the completion of the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the longest railway tunnel in the world), travelers can now zip under the Swiss Alps from Italy to Basel, Switzerland.
Here’s this from Tauck Tours:
“Our new-for-2018 journey along the River Rhine explores five countries and features a seven-night cruise from Switzerland to the Netherlands aboard ms Grace or ms Inspire plus three nights in the historic Italian fashion capital of Milan plus a visit to glamorous Lake Como. Highlights include: Milan – three nights at Hotel Principe di Savoia, a historic landmark in the heart of the city; Lake Como – a private boat ride on Lake Como, a visit to Isola Comacina for lunch at a famed trattoria, and a visit to Bellagio. Basel or Zurich – your choice of Swiss city walking tours in either Old Town Basel, a cultural mecca, or fashionable lakeside Zurich. Riquewihr – a walking tour of this tiny Alsatian wine village where French and German cultures blend; featured on the list of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France.” Heidelberg – including a guided visit to legendary Heidelberg Castle. Rüdesheim – experience Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a museum of mechanical musical instruments in a centuries-old castle. Linz am Rhein – picturesque town lined with colorful half-timbered houses. Dusseldorf – spend an afternoon exploring this riverside center of art and fashion. Amsterdam – lunch aboard a private canal boat cruise. Tauck Exclusive experiences include a special evening at Schloss Johannisberg, a vineyard estate in the Rheingau wine region.”
Daily Itinerary – Tauck River Cruises: Rhine Enchantment, Milan to Amsterdam
Here’s a photograph of a Tauck River Cruises ship I captured while sailing the Rhine on another river cruise line:
- Day #1 – Tour begins: 5:00 PM. A transfer is included from Milano Malpensa or Milano Linate airports or Milano Centrale train station to Hotel Principe di Savoia, a splendid landmark building built in the 1920s, decorated in classic Italian and Art Deco style, centrally located on the Piazza della Repubblica. Join us this evening for a welcome aperitif and dinner, accompanied by live classical music, at your hotel.
MEALS: D
LODGING: HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA
- Day #2 – Discovering Milan… and “The Last Supper” – Immerse yourself in the bustling city that reigns as a world capital of fashion and design. Home to the national stock exchange, Milan has been Italy’s financial engine since the Industrial Revolution – and is known for its upscale food scene and shops. But all streets lead to the Gothic Cathedral of Milan, il Duomo, the third largest Catholic church in the world – and beyond magnificent. It took 500 years to finish this forest of spires and pinnacles topped by the iconic statue of the golden madonnina. Steps from il Duomo, stroll through the city’s premier gathering place, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a.k.a. “the living room of Milan.” This massive yet elegant shopping arcade, topped by an airy glass octagonal dome, was built as a symbol of Italian unity in the late 19th century and named after the first king of Italy. You have reservations to see Milan’s pièce de resistance, Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper,” which adorns the dining room at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent. This extraordinary fresco has a way of drawing the viewer in. You might just feel as if you could walk into the picture, sit down at the table, and strike up a conversation with the apostles (subject to availability; the day of visit may vary). The rest of your day is free. You might want to take in La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, where Maria Callas sang her heart out… Pinacoteca di Brera, a great art collection including works by Raphael, Bellini, Piero della Francesca, and Caravaggio… the fashion district between pedestrianized Via della Spiga, via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, and Corso Venezia… or the mildly bohemian Navigli neighborhood of canal-side bars, restaurants, and shops. As you go, be sure to taste the traditional flavors of Milan – sipping a Campari bitter aperitif and sampling dishes like yellow risotto, cassoeula, and ossobuco.
MEALS: B
LODGING: HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA
- Day #3 -Villas and villages of Lake Como – You’re off for a day’s tooling around Lake Como, one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes, in the shadow of the snowcapped Alps – a mecca for the well-heeled on holiday since ancient Roman times. Drive to tiny Tremezzina, where you’ll board a boat for belissima Bellagio. Your Tauck Director leads an orientation walk in this resort village, known as “the Pearl of the Lake, ” and you’ll have a bit of free time. Take in the lake views and explore the centuries-old buildings, stone lanes, and cobbled stairways lined with shops. Cruise over to the island of Isola Comacina for a quick tour and a six-course lunch at a family-owned trattoria, where you’ll learn the story of Lake Como’s only island, once the refuge of Lombardy’s kings. After lunch, a boat cruise shows you more of Lake Como, which the poet William Wordsworth described as “a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself.” The forested shoreline is punctuated by small towns with ancient stone bell towers and opulent villas. Perhaps you’ll see the home of George Clooney or Richard Branson! Disembark in the town of Como and head back to Milan for an evening at leisure.
MEALS: B, L
LODGING: HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA
- Day #4 – Train to Basel through the Alps – After breakfast, catch the high-speed train to Switzerland. Have you ever ridden through a mountain? “Great things are done when men and mountain meet,” wrote the poet William Blake, and he could have been talking about the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which you’ll go through today, zipping through the base of the Alps. At 35 miles long, it’s the longest railway tunnel in the world, a major feat of engineering that took 17 years to complete. Because you’re heading north, you may enter the tunnel in one kind of weather and exit to find that the weather has completely changed! Late afternoon, get off the train and drive to Basel, where you’ll embark your riverboat. Attend a Discovery Briefing and enjoy cocktails in the lounge before dining onboard your ship.
MEALS: B, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #5 – Choose to discover either Zurich or Basel – Today you have two Swiss cities to decide between. One possibility is to drive to Zurich, a world capital of banking (not to mention chocolate), for a walking tour with a local guide. Visit Bahnhoffstrasse, the city’s exclusive shopping boulevard, connecting lovely Lake Zurich with the main railway station. Head into Old Town to wander through Niederdorf, a pedestrian area of winding streets, lined with shops, artisan studios, and restaurants. You’ll pass by two important places of worship, the Romanesque Protestant church Grossmünster and Fraumünster, once an abbey home for aristocratic ladies, graced with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. Enjoy a traditional Swiss lunch in a historic Guild House and hear a talk by a Swiss banker over dessert. Your other possibility for the day is to go on a walking tour in Old Town Basel with a local guide before setting off on your own. There’s much to discover: the city is known for its many contemporary buildings by noted international architects, and it has the highest density of museums in the country, including the world-class Basel Art Museum. You’ll work up an appetite, so make time to try a favorite local treat – honey cake. Have dinner back onboard your riverboat. You set sail tonight.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #6 – Bicycling in the Black Forest… or exploring Alsace – Wake up docked in Breisach, where you have a choice of excursions today. One possibility is to go on a guided bicycle ride in the scenic Black Forest, stopping in the resort village of Hinterzarten for a traditional German lunch and a demonstration of the art of making Black Forest cake. Your other choice is to drive along the bucolic Alsatian wine route, through the countryside where some of the world’s best Rieslings are made, to Riquewihr for a walking tour of this medieval wine town. On the list of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France,” Riquewihr is situated between the Vosges Mountains and the Plain of Alsace, right in the heart of vineyard country. After lunch, enjoy a tasting at one of the local wine cellars.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #7 – Heidelberg and an exclusive evening at a wine estate – Wake up in Germersheim and drive to Heidelberg for a guided visit to the splendid ruins of Heidelberg Castle, a sprawling red sandstone compound high above the city, a reminder of 600 years of history. Check out the Heidelberg Tun, the biggest wine barrel in the world (and walk on top of it). Learn about centuries of movers and shakers, and the romantic story of the Elisabeth Gate, built in 1615 as a present from Elector Frederic V to his wife Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of King James I of England. He had the triumphal arch secretly crafted in sections and put up as a whole the night before her birthday to surprise her the next morning. The views of the Neckar River Valley from the castle are unforgettable. While strolling in Old Town Heidelberg below, be sure to try a Heidelberg Student Kiss – a special treat invented in the 19th century by a sympathetic chocolatier to give young men a way to express their affections for young women they were not allowed to talk to! Meet your riverboat in Mannheim and spend the afternoon cruising north. You’ll have time to enjoy the gym, get a massage… or curl up in a chair on the Sun Deck with a snack and your favorite drink. Arrive in Rüdesheim and disembark for a Tauck Exclusive evening at a beautiful wine estate, overlooking the Rhine.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #8 – Two choices for exploring Rüdesheim – The winemaking town of Rüdesheim sits in an idyllic landscape laced with vineyards in the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You have two choices for enjoying this storybook town. One possibility is to fully immerse yourself in a bygone era on a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a collection of enchanting old musical machines, instruments, and music boxes, many with visible moving parts, housed in a 16th-century castle. The museum is a unique testament to craftsmanship and ingenuity. Afterward, enjoy a cup of Rüdesheimer kaffee– coffee enlivened by Asbach Uralt brandy and vanilla-inflected whipped cream. Your other choice this morning is a guided bicycle ride (approximately an hour and a half) through town. Return to your riverboat for lunch and an afternoon’s cruising through the Middle Rhine. Your Tauck Director provides commentary as you glide past sloping vineyards and rocky bluffs, sharing the stories of the Lorelei Rock and the castles standing watch onshore. Dock this evening in little cobblestoned Linz am Rhein, and go ashore with your Tauck Director for a walking tour.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #9 – A choice of activities in Dusseldorf – Spend a leisurely morning cruising and arrive after lunch in Dusseldorf. Walk off the riverboat into town for your choice of either a beer tour that visits a number of breweries to give you a taste of the varieties of dark Altbier the region is known for – or a walking tour focused on the city’s history and architecture. Dusseldorf is one of Germany’s wealthiest cities, known for its charming Altstadt (Old Town) on the riverfront as well as its avant-garde architecture. During your free time, you might want to visit Königsallee (“the Kö”), the city’s super high-end shopping street not far from Altstadt, rivaling Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and Fifth Avenue in New York City. If you’re a vintage car buff, check out the Classic Remise Düsseldorf, a center for vintage cars in a historic roundhouse for locomotives. Or take a walk along the lively promenade by the river. Your riverboat charts a course for the Netherlands this evening.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #10 – The Canals of Amsterdam – Arrive late morning in Amsterdam and disembark to be introduced to the city in the very best way – on a canal boat cruise. As you float through the city’s 17th-century network of canals and enjoy a bite of lunch, you’ll pass under bridges, check out the houseboats, and see the historic buildings lining the canals. After your canal boat cruise, take an afternoon to yourself for exploring as you wish. Be sure to watch out for bicyclists as you walk. The locals go everywhere on bicycles, with their groceries, briefcases, and children onboard. Bicyclists have their own lanes in the streets, ride fast, and don’t always stop for pedestrians who get in their way! There’s much to do with your free afternoon – visit one of the city’s many museums or stroll through the “Nine Streets” in the heart of the canal district, popping into unique shops and galleries, sampling cheeses or trying out Amsterdam’s famed coffee shops. Our shuttle service will take you back to the riverboat throughout the afternoon, but you can also walk back. This evening join us for a farewell reception onboard ship, followed by dinner.
MEALS: B, L, D
LODGING: ABOARD THE RIVERBOAT
- Day #11 – Journey home – Your Rhine River cruise ends: Amsterdam. Disembark by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. For additional nights in Amsterdam, ask at booking.
MEALS: B
Looks like oodles of fun. Right? 🙂
Here’s the pricing for these 7 special sailings in 2018:
Carol and I just returned from a sailing on the River Rhine, but I would totally turn around and go again with this itinerary. It looks like a blast. But, as you can see, they are roughly 50% sold out. So, don’t delay.
For more information and to book your Tauck Milan to Amsterdam cruise tour, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request form (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on May 19, 2017 · 2 Comments
Sailing the Greek Isles and the Adriatic with Azamara Club Cruises
In the not too distant future, Carol and I will be jumping aboard the Azamara Quest to enjoy a fabulous cruise from Athens to Venice with Azamara Club Cruises.
If you are not familiar with Azamara Club Cruises, here is a little information from the “about us” page on their website:
“Founded in 2007 and then re-launched as Azamara Club Cruises® in 2010, Azamara is a boutique upmarket cruise line operating two 690 passenger ships, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest. The company serves an up-market segment of international travelers, who tend to be curious and well-traveled, and as a whole are eager to explore new destinations and cultures.
Azamara Club Cruises pioneered Longer Stays and More Overnights. With its two ships, the focus on these extended stays and authentic local experiences keep evolving. “Stay longer. Experience more.” is the philosophy behind every Azamara Club Cruises voyage. Capitalizing on longer stays in port, more overnights and night touring, Azamara Voyages deliver to guests authentic cultural experiences across the globe. The ship’s smaller size allows for visits to ports larger ships are unable to venture to. In 2017, Azamara will take passengers to more than 200 ports, in 68 countries, including 195 late night stays and 82 overnights. Azamara’s commitment to Destination Immersion coupled with exceptional onboard service offers a unique cruise vacation for those who love travel.
Our immersive itineraries offer guests the opportunity to visit the destinations at night when many destinations come alive. Over 250 overnight and late-night stays (8 pm or later) in port are featured every year, which makes roughly 50% of all Azamara port calls offer a nighttime experience in the destination. Through the brand’s Destination Immersion programming, curated itineraries bring the ships to exotic and marquee ports. An expanded palette of World Events and Themed Voyages are offered, including Monaco Grand Prix, the World Cup, British Open, the Venice Redentore Festival, as well as Wine and Yoga themed voyages with more to come. Azamara’s Country Intensive Voyages allow guests to travel deeper and experience more of a given country, as the majority of the destinations are concentrated in one country such as Japan, Italy, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Croatia and more.”
Why We’re Sailing With Azamara Club Cruises
- The itinerary – I wrote an article back a few months ago that I thought that the itineraries sailing from Athens to Venice were the hot Mediterranean ocean cruises for 2017. And, as Greece and Croatia are waiting to be checked off of our bucket list, this itinerary is just perfect!
- The cruise line – if you’ve been a reader of our website over the years, you are certain to know that I am not a fan of the 5,000 person floating cities that exist in the cruise world these days. Sure, they work perfectly for multi-gen and other unique situations, but we would far rather sail on a smaller ship and enjoy some of the pamperings that those big monster ships simply can’t offer. Plus, these smaller ships can offer ports of call that the larger ships could never dream of visiting.
- Upmarket Segment – there exist a nice little niche between the monster ships and the luxury cruise lines, and we intend to sail the three cruise lines that serve this niche. They are Oceania, Viking Ocean, and Azamara Club Cruises. We’ve sailed Viking, we’re now going to sail Azamara Club Cruises, and sometime in the future, we’ll get aboard Oceania.
- Port intensive – when I’m traveling, I’m generally doing so because I am a very curious person and love to explore different cultures and destinations. And further, I don’t enjoy an ocean cruise itinerary that is full of days at sea. For me, if I want a relaxing vacation, I’m going to head to a Four Seasons Resort, not a cruise ship. Therefore, I like that Azamara Club Cruises is a destination-focused cruise line. This itinerary has only one day at sea as we move from Greece to Croatia. And, as we shared with you above, Azamara Club Cruises makes it a point to stay in port as late into the evening as possible. Many cruise lines want to get at sea so that you begin spending money on their ships. Azamara wants to give you a fabulous port experience so that you desire to come back and sail with them again and again.
- Peer recommendations – we have peers in the travel industry and the travel blogger world. All have given big thumbs up to Azamara Club Cruises.
So, as luxury baby boomer travelers represent a significant percentage of our audience, not only do we think that we will enjoy this experience, but we believe that our readers and clients will as well. Stay tuned! 🙂
For more information or to book an Azamara Club Cruise, please call (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on May 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Exploring the Cologne Cathedral with AmaWaterways River Cruises
Note: click all photos for larger views. © 2017, David A. Porter
We left Amsterdam at 9:00 in the morning on April 2nd and I snagged this photograph with my iPhone a full 24 hours later as we pulled into Cologne, Germany. As you can see, it was a foggy morning, and the Cologne Cathedral eerily dominated the city as we moored at the dock.
While some of my fellow passengers commented, “great, another cathedral,” I was excited to explore this most visited landmark in all of Germany. While I felt conflicted knowing that these great edifices were largely built on the back of peasants’ indulgences to get their family members out of purgatory, I nonetheless marveled at the fact that this architectural masterpiece began construction in 1258 and wasn’t completed until 1880.
The Cologne Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The medieval designers of this grand structure created this cathedral to house the Reliquary of the Three Kings, which I talk about in this article.
Here is a brief synopsis of the Cologne Cathedral from the folks at UNESCO:
“Begun in 1248, the building of this Gothic masterpiece took place in several stages and was not completed until 1880. Over seven centuries, its successive builders were inspired by the same faith and by a spirit of absolute fidelity to the original plans. Apart from its exceptional intrinsic value and the artistic masterpieces it contains, Cologne Cathedral bears witness to the strength and endurance of European Christianity. No other Cathedral is so perfectly conceived, so uniformly and uncompromisingly executed in all its parts.
Cologne Cathedral is a High Gothic five-aisled basilica (144.5 m long), with a projecting transept (86.25 m wide) and a tower façade (157.22 m high). The nave is 43.58 m high and the side-aisles 19.80 m. The western section, nave, and transept were begun in 1330, changes in style, but this is not perceptible in the overall building. The 19th-century work follows the medieval forms and techniques faithfully, as can be seen by comparing it with the original medieval plan on parchment.
The original liturgical appointments of the choir are still extant to a considerable degree. These include the high altar with an enormous monolithic slab of black limestone, believed to be the largest in any Christian church, the carved oak choir stalls (1308-11), the painted choir screens (1332-40), the fourteen statues on the pillars in the choir (c. 1300), and the great cycle of stained-glass windows, the largest existent cycle of early 14th century windows in Europe. There is also an outstanding series of tombs of twelve archbishops between 976 and 1612.
Of the many works of art in the Cathedral, special mention should be made to the Gero Crucifix of the late 10th century, in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which was transferred from the pre-Romanesque predecessor of the present Cathedral, and the Shrine of the Magi (1180-1225), in the choir, which is the largest reliquary shrine in Europe. Other artistic masterpieces are the altarpiece of St. Clare (c. 1350-1400) in the north aisle, brought here in 1811 from the destroyed cloister church of the Franciscan nuns, the altarpiece of the City Patrons by Stephan Lochner (c. 1445) in the Chapel of Our Lady, and the altarpiece of St. Agilolphus (c. 1520) in the south transept.”
After strolling the streets of Cologne with our AmaWaterways guide for roughly 30 minutes, we approached the cathedral, and I was able to snag another photograph with my iPhone. While my iPhone can’t compete with my Sony A7 mirrorless camera, I still stand amazed at the photographs I am now able to produce with my phone.
And here is another photograph I captured inside the cathedral with my iPhone.
If you’d like to learn more about the Cologne Cathedral, click here to visit its Wikipedia page. There, you will learn that after this cathedral was finished, it became the world’s tallest building and structure. But enough from me, go read about it. 🙂
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