On its weekly winter cruises out of St. Maarten, the 310-passenger sailing ship, Wind Surf, often docks for a day at Les Saintes, a small island in the French West Indies, and at Roseau, Dominica. Boats bobbing near the dock on Les Saintes, French West Indies (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)
The Caribbean islands that run like a loose, wiggly string from Puerto Rico southeast toward Grenada and Barbados, are situated perfectly for the meandering ways of a sailing ship. Most distances between island anchorages are relatively short, so hurry is not a factor, and there’s little need to put into the bustling ports where big…
Powered by a new owner, new leadership, and $18 million of renovation, Windstar Cruise’s three ships are sailing again with vim, vigor, a contemporary interior, and a batch of new sails that total the size of seven football fields. Wind Surf at anchor off Dominica in the Caribbean Windstar’s energetic president and CEO, Hans Birkholz,…
Cruise ship changes that allow you to pick the time for dinner — as well as the cuisine style and a table for two or a few close friends — are partly responsible for the continuing increase in the popularity of sea vacations. Comfort food, casual dress and anytime eating are among the top draws…
Through the years of renting cars in Florida, I’ve been all over the Internet. My expeditions have yielded dozens of cars from websites and rental companies, with varying degrees of success. Goal for my latest Florida car rental was hanging out with the pelicans in the Keys (Photo by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com) The cost…
I never tire of Key West. I’ve lolled around the city at the bottom of Florida maybe a dozen times, each occasion too short. When I leave, I know I will be back. Lobster Trap Christmas Tree at Key West’s Historic Seaport (Photo by Rob O’Neal ) It’s no secret that Key West is a…
One of my favorite overnights during the past year was at the Hilton hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, where traveler’s luck played me well. Harbor in Auckland, New Zealand No matter how detailed the travel planning, luck plays a role. The bad luck, well, you hope that Plan B works, or C or D. I…
As they plan their trips, folks who vacation at sea sometimes bob from ship to ship, cruise line to cruise line. They may be drawn by price, a quest to sample different styles of food and service, or the tease of hot new vessels. Many cruisers, however, find a comfort zone on one or two…
Older cruise ports are crowded and can be disappointing to repeat passengers, so cruise lines are developing their own, increasing Caribbean stops at newly developed island ports and private island compounds. Read David Molyneaux's cruise trend story at the Miami Herald, Developing destinations – Cruises – MiamiHerald.com And at TheTravelMavens.com Carnival Corp. built Mahogany Bay…