Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

Oceania Cruises is celebrating their tenth anniversary, so they hosted agents for lunch and a ship tour on the Marina while she was in New York on May 26, 2013.  Launched in 2011 for 1250 guests, she is gorgeous. Here's a link to my photos . Oceania Cruises is all about the food, and this ship was the first vessel they designed from scratch. There's a Bon Appetit Cooking School which offers hands-on classes (the first at sea). There are TEN dining options on-board and Jacques Pepin is their Master Chef (Specialty restaurants include his signature restaurant called Jacques , and Red Ginger , a sexy Asian venue). Wine Spectator hosts tastings, classes and wine dinners at La Reserve. La Reserve As if that didn't offer enough sensual pleasures for one vacation, there's a Canyon Ranch SpaClub with full-service salon and fitness center too. The staterooms aren't bad either, but the suites are superb, especially the 2000 square foot Owner's Suite. I...

Our last day in Alaska on Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator sailing the Inside Passage in Alaska was cruising from Yakutat Bay into Disenchantment Bay to see Hubbard Glacier . We awoke early and threw on all our warmest clothes to head up to the Observation Deck. Terry Breen , Regent's on-board Alaska expert, gave an informative chat about glaciers. We observed the glacier calving and heard the white thunder - amazing. Here’s a link to My Photos . Hubbard Glacier is the longest glacier in North America Truly spectacular  Go see them before they melt! Alaska has had a heat wave this summer recording 90 degree temperatures! Here's the story from NBC News .

The last stop of of Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator sailing the Inside Passage in Alaska was Sitka , where a catamaran took me to see Sea Otters! Here’s a link to My Photos . Sea Otters waving hello This Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest excursion was booked through Regent Cruises (one of Regent's complimentary tours operated by Allen Marine Tours ). The catamaran was docked right at the Pier and it was a little chilly that early in the morning. We saw a bald eagle perched in the trees, and a nearby eagle’s nest. Then we saw a deer swimming between the islands.  And then we hit pay dirt- a raft of sea otters chilling together, floating on their backs, waving to us. They have such adorable faces and they like to hug and cuddle each other to stay warm which is ridiculously cute.  We stayed with them for thirty minutes before continuing on, cruising through more sublime scenery. After spotting a couple whales, we came across another...

The next stop of Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator sailing the Inside Passage   in Alaska was Skagway , where I flew by helicopter to the glacier to go Dog Sledding! Here's a link to my photos . Eurocopter AStar 350 This perfect day started at La Veranda (caviar and champagne for breakfast, what a great idea). This Icefield Flightseeing and Dog Sledding Excursion was booked through Regent Cruises (Regent Choice tour for $439 per person). A van took us to the Temsco Heliport where we donned glacier boots (which slipped over our tennis shoes easily) and red safety vests. Away we flew to Denver Glacier and admired dramatic views of ice falls, ice rivers and glacial lakes. At Base Camp, we met the dogs on our team before heading out into the hills. Four guests plus the Driver were pulled by a team of eleven enthusiastic dogs, and they love to run. We each took turns as Musher - thrilling.  After the ride, we met a litter of tiny 14-day old puppi...

The second stop on Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator sailing the Inside Passage was Alaska’s capital, Juneau . It was a gorgeous 75 degrees and sunny. The shopping here is more extensive, and the prices may be better plus there’s an IGA in town if you want to pick up some tuna and salmon to bring home.  Red Dog Saloon is a little corny but have a beer there anyway. There are a couple of trail heads just a mile or so from the Port or you can take the aerial tram up the mountain to see the Raptor Center, etc. After a little hike on Perseverance Trail , it was time to head back to the ship for the Whale Watching cruise. The Evening Whale Watching cruise booked through Regent Cruises ( Regent Choice tour operated by Allen Marine Tours for $169 per person) guaranteed whale sightings and was recommended by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society , so it was bound to be good.   The lower deck was toasty and the buffet spread looked good, but I needed to be up top ...

The first stop of Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator sailing the Inside Passage was Ketchikan , where I flew by seaplane to Prince of Wales Island to see bears (BEARS!). The flight was breathtaking, and the wildlife viewing was awesome: I saw four bears, three deer, two whales (mama with baby) and a bald eagle. Here's a link to my photos . Alaska Seaplane Tours operated the excursion purchased through Regent Cruises ( Regent Choice tour cost $419 per person).   A van met our group at the pier and it was a fifteen-minute ride to the floatplane dock.   The planes accommodate 4-6 passengers; mine had four guests plus the pilot. It was spectacular gliding through the fjords of the bay en-route to Prince of Wales Island, home of the highest concentration of black bears. We spotted a few solitary bears eating grass along the shore, ignoring the circling plane as we approached closer and closer. We landed on a deserted beach in a small bay and quietly waited,...

Finally boarding Regent Cruises ’ Seven Seas Navigator for a 7-night Inside Passage cruise to Anchorage, Alaska! Farewell, Vancouver. Sailing away from Vancouver The OPUS Hotel offers complimentary car service within town using their BMW Series 7 , so I arrived at the cruise terminal in style. US officials are there in Vancouver to check documents as if we were entering the United States by boarding the ship (makes sense since we’ll be disembarking in Alaska). Regent Cruises completes check-in process on board the ship after handing you a welcome glass of champagne (very civilized).   Here's our Alaska Cruise along the Inside Passage itinerary: Staterooms weren’t ready until 3pm, but lunch was served at the Pool Grill and La Veranda (Hurray! They have Smoked Salmon Candy, along with heaps of Alaskan seafood and of course crab). My Suite  I’ve seen this ship before but she’s still looking good - such a nice size with very warm décor. The Internatio...

I took the Aquabus ferry from Yaletown to Granville Island to explore the local artisans’ studios, along with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The Granville Island Public Market was my favorite experience, with produce stalls selling baskets piled high with gooseberries, blueberries, black berries and rasberries. The Fish mongers had live spot prawns and Dungeness crabs. I wish I bought more of the Smoked Salmon Candy, lots more (so yummy). Back at the OPUS Hotel , I borrowed a complimentary bike and headed to Stanley Park . This 1000-acre waterfront park is the gem of Vancouver. A seawall promenade includes a bike lane and the views were stunning - pine forest, pond with swans, giant rhododendrons, and snow-capped mountains in the distance.   I passed a charming lighthouse, totem poles, Lions Gate Bridge and several beaches. The bike trail continued even after the park ended, so I followed the water along False Creek back to the hotel. Almost the entire waterfront ...

Strolled over to Canada Place to catch the free shuttle to Grouse Mountain , but the schedule was so limited that I used public transportation instead: took the Seabus to North Vancouver and then the 236 bus to Grouse Mountain.   Opted to skip The Grind (one hour or so hike up the mountain) and enjoy the Skyride aerial tram to the top of the mountain.  Included in the Skyride ticket, you can take part in all the Mountain activities including: " World Famous Lumberjack Show " Birds in Motion Theatre in the Sky P eak Chairlift Ride Most of the activities were geared towards families, but the Wildlife Refuge's grizzly bears were the best! Watching these huge, powerful animals wrestle so close was thrilling. The Ranger chat was also engaging (did you know grizzlies really do like honey and dandelions?). The mountain views were spectacular and there was still lots of snow in mid-June. The grand finale to an amazing day was dinner at Blue ...

The non-stop flight from Newark to Vancouver on United was about 6-hours and uneventful. Vancouver Airport is very nice, with lots of Native American art and a waterfall. Welcome to Vancouver Airport The Canadian Line train connects the airport to the city center for $7.50 per person.   The Yaletown stop was across the street from the OPUS Hotel , which had my Executive Suite ready for the early arrival (love it, thank you!). For lunch. I tried the local street food specialty: a Japadog ! My “ Kurobuta Terimayo ” is made with Kurobuta Pork, teriyaki sauce, fried onions, Japanese mayo and topped with seaweed. Delish. Note to self: they have a NYC location at St. Marks Place... Next stop was Chinatown to explore the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese gardens (very serene Chinese gardens in the heart of the city).  Then I strolled through the Gastown neighborhood to see the Steam Clock .  As I continued along the waterfront, I saw Celebrity C...

Seabourn hosted an event at the Ritz Carlton Central Park to highlight their new Antarctica Cruises . Seabourn Destination Service Manager Claudio Schultze and Chris Srigley, Assistant Expedition Leader were on hand to discuss this amazing destination. Chris said, "Antarctica will make you feel so alive and so insignificant in the same breath." The Seabourn Quest offers 21-day "Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia" cruises between Santiago (Valparaiso) Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina with five days exploring Antarctica complete with zodiac landings (parka is provided). They also offer a 24-day   Holiday Cruise and a  28-day Rio de Janiero, Brazil -Santiago itinerary this November. These voyages cruise through the Chilean Fjords, pass Cape Horn, visit Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. It's an adventure with diverse nature and wildlife aboard a luxurious new ship (including Rockhopper Penguins !). What could be better? Oh yeah, a deal would. F...

I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch today on how traveling to the Mediterranean could save your life. Elizabeth O'Brien's piece called " Save Your Life: Eat tomatoes and mozzarella " discusses the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Well, who better than I to discuss the pleasures of eating one's way through Europe to fully experience a destination and to appreciate the culture more deeply? Recipes have always been my favorite souvenirs that I continue to share with friends and family.  I can almost still taste the seafood paella after my cooking lesson in Valencia, Spain this past April. Enjoying white asparagus with hollandaise sauce at a darling bistro was a highlight of my Spring 2012 trip to Paris. The bouillabaisse in Marseille was as amazing as the view of the old harbor from the outdoor cafe - a delicious break during a Mediterranean cruise in 2010. Is it corny to say that I truly beli...

Sailing on the inaugural cruise of  Norwegian Cruise Line's brand-new ship, the  Norwegian Breakaway was super fun! Here is my review of this mega-ship. Click here for my Slideshow . Everyone will be excited about the top deck features (and with good reason): Aqua Park with 5 multi-story water slides Ropes course with zip line and walk-the-plank experience Bungee Trampoline and Spider Web Climbing Cage Sports Complex with Rock Climbing Wall, Miniature Golf course, Basketball court, etc...         But for me, the most exciting feature of the Norwegian Breakaway was the entertainment. Finally, a cruise ship with some serious nightlife options! Do make reservations online before your cruise. THREE Broadway shows: - Rock of Ages  The Musical - Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy  from Cirque Productions - Burn the Floor  is 'the ultimate ballroom sensation' Fireworks show each week with 80's Dance P...