Announcments

Travel Explored – The Week In Review

Posted on April 9, 2017
Travel Explored Week In Review - April 9, 2017

The past week has been something of a trying time for me. It is the worst time to travel in Queensland as it is currently school holidays. But also there were not plans to travel elsewhere either.

In saying that it is quite possible a good thing I was not travelling. Last Sunday my MacBook decided to be a little less than cooperative (putting it nicely). So it took all week to finally get an appointment with the local Apple Store at 4.30 pm on Friday afternoon. But it could be in for a couple of days due to a heavy workload at the moment. The plus side is that even though it is out of warranty, the potential fault is a known issue. If that is all that is needed then it will be covered, but I will have to wait and see what comes up.

The problem with my Macbook has impacted my motivation somewhat. Even though I am prepared with another computer available to use, it is just a struggle moving from an Apple to a PC. But I still got three great articles out for you in the past week and have another three coming next week. So lets take a look at the week that was.

New Content

Monday 3 April 2017
Deciding To Book A Tour Or Explore Alone

Self Guided Exploration

Whenever we travel there is always a choice. Do you book a tour to show you around or get out and explore by yourself? I explore some of the benefits and negatives of both options and hope to help you make better informed decisions either way.

Wednesday 5 April 2017
Travel Better With Some Tech Hacks

Virtual City Tablet

With all the technology we have now it is inevitable that we travel with it. So if we are going to travel with the technology we need to make sure we maximise its usefulness. I explore a few options such as electronic guidebooks, downloadable maps and entertainment.

Friday 7 April 2017
The Achievements From My Life List

MS Nieuw Amsterdam in port Katakolo

Many years ago I created for myself a Life List or a list of things I would like to do within my life. While the list had some errant ideas on it there were a few items I have achieved to date. I share a little more of the story behind achieving these Life List items.

What I’m Reading

While it looks like I share a lot of content myself, I do also get a chance to read other people’s blogs as well. Below are just a couple of posts I found interesting and wanted to share with you.

Voyage To The Portuguese Colony

I post little travel questions each day to Twitter, and the question one day was “Where is the most relaxing place you have visited?” The response I got from @AnupriyaBasu123 of simply “Goa, India.” A short conversation ensued and she referred me to this post. I do definitely like the look of Goa and may just visit the area one day. The post has some very nice pictures and easily convinced me to add it to my list of destinations to visit.

10 Reasons To Visit Tajikistan

It would seem that I am rather easily swayed by some great landscape to wanting to visit a country. The more that I read about some of these little-known countries the more amazing places I find within the world that one day I would like to visit.

Works Start in Genoa On The First Ship For Virgin Voyages

It might not be the most enthralling post I have shared but it is definitely interesting for those who like to cruise. On the 22nd of March, 2017 the first steel was cut for the first ship of a new cruise line, Virgin Voyages.

Instagram Top Posts

Coming Next Week

Here is a short teaser for the following week on the upcoming posts. If you have any requests or thoughts on what you would like to read feel free to get in touch via the Contact Me page.

Making Friends With Couch Surfing

Travelling along can be a little lonely at times, but there are ways that you can find some friends on the road. Couch Surfing is one option that I have used and I share some of my experience.

The Advantages Of Travelling Solo

Travelling solo is something that I have done for the majority of my travelling. There are some definite advantages to travelling solo and while there are some negatives I wanted to focus on the positive aspects this week.

Finding Time To Write When Travelling

When I travel I love to write about my adventure and share it especially here on my blog. However, at times finding the time to write can be a challenge and I discuss the challenges a little in this post.

Where Is Your Next Trip

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks roundup of new content and what I am reading. If you have a moment I would very much like to hear about your plans for your next trip. Just head down the page and fill in the form to leave a comment, or you can get in touch with me directly via the contact me page.

Inspiration

The Achievements From My Life List

Posted on April 7, 2017
Holland America Line - Nieuw Amsterdam

Some years ago there was a movie that I quite enjoyed by the name of “The Bucket List”. In many ways, it gave me some motivation to look at creating a list of those things I wanted to do or achieve in my lifetime. But I didn’t like the title of the list being a “bucket list” I wanted something a little more inspiring. I kind of wanted something a little less focusing on the end of my life and something more focused on the now. So a little thinking and some Googling, and I soon had the name, it would be my Life List.

My Life List

Although I did create a life list and it was available online for some time, currently it is not online. I still very much feel strongly about having a life list and pursuing achievements and things on the list. However, I found when I was recently reviewing just what was on the list; some things did not suit what I want to achieve.

You see I think at the time I created it, I got a little carried away in adding some items to build it out. Items that had some appeal to consider having on the list, but when I thought about it did not match what I truly want.

As such I have taken the list down temporarily and will be looking to get it back online soon. But for the moment, I wanted to take a look at some of the items from the list which I have achieved.

Life List Achievements

Fly First Class

For some reason, the very first thing I put on my life list was to fly first class. In some ways, it was a little selfish fun thing to add on. But at the same time, I did not believe it was something I would check off.

I am very conscious of the cost that different forms of travel cost. As such, I saw flying first class as an excessive cost that I did not believe was a true representation of the actual value.

So it was with great pleasure that I discovered a reasonably good price available for a few flights. I was travelling to the USA and found that Virgin America was offering a reasonably good price for first class seats. It was still more than triple the price of economy. But at $220 for a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle, it was a good compromise.

On the 30th of March 2011, I had the first of a couple of experiences flying first class on Virgin America. It is not the sort of first class/business class you fly when travelling internationally. But still provided a taste of full first class service air travel.

Transpacific & Transatlantic Crossing

Along with some other travel-related items on my list, I added the cruise crossing of two of the major oceans. The Transpacific and Transatlantic are the two most commonly crossed oceans by cruise ship.

When I added these journey’s to my life list, I did not consider the option of them being a cruise. I think I added them to a maybe one day adventure if I ever got interested in sailing.

I was more than happy to move the expectations a little bit and consider the option of cruising these journeys. Especially after completing and enjoying my first cruise around Central America and the Panama Canal.

Transpacific

Ms Volendam and Sydney Harbour Bridge

The first cruise was to cross the Pacific Ocean or Transpacific. The cruise I selected for this trip was onboard Holland America Line’s MS Volendam. The cruise departed from Vancouver on the 7th of September 2011 and arrived into Sydney on the 4th of October 2011.

It was quite an exciting and eye opening experience. I got to visit some small island nations that I may never have visited otherwise. It also highlighted to me how much I enjoyed cruising.

Transatlantic

MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Ironically it was while on board the cruise where I completed the Transpacific that I booked to be onboard a Transatlantic cruise the following year.

I opted to cruise again with Holland America Line and this time the ship was the MS Nieuw Amsterdam. On the 1st of April 2012, I boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale. With the last port for the cruise being Venice on the 30th of April 2012.

Mostly the Transatlantic part of the voyage was completed on the 12th of April 2012, when we arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a fabulous experience, and even with all the sea days crossing the Atlantic something I would do again. The cruise also played a part in my checking off another item on my list, visiting Tuscany, Italy.

Visit Tuscany

Pisa - Piazza dei Miracoli & Leaning Tower of Pisa

There are many beautiful areas of the world that you would never know existed. But Tuscany in Italy is one of those places that often crops up in popular culture, such as movies. After seeing some of the beautiful scenery in movies, I knew I wanted to visit this area one day.

It just so happened that one port of call on my Transatlantic cruise visited this area. Even though it was on the expensive side, there was no question that I would take the most in-depth tour available. The tour made stops in Florence and Pisa, while also taking me through some of the beautiful countrysides.

The area around Tuscany is going to be somewhere that I want to visit one day again. I am sure there is a lot more to explore, and a one day tour never does anywhere justice. But it does check the item off my life list.

Visit Vienna

Vienna - View of The Danube from Danube Tower

To be entirely honest I cannot recall exactly why Vienna made it onto my life list. Unlike some of the other items, I know all the travel related items had some reason behind them. Even if it might have been a trivial one like flying first class.

Either way, when I decided to spend some time exploring Europe, there was no doubt that Vienna would go on the list. I end up giving myself ten full days in Vienna at the start of my trip in 2012. It was great to explore the city and see so many of the beautiful old buildings.

Even though I had ten days in Vienna, I think there is still more I could see and do in and around the city. So it is likely somewhere I might revisit in the future, along with other areas in Austria.

Rebuild The Life List

I am working on putting together a new and more appropriate life list shortly. I do want a life list, but only want to include item’s that I am seriously interested in achieving. As I see no benefit to working on achieving things that I have no interest. Do you have a life list? Why not let me know about it in the comments below.

Travel Tips

Travel Better With Some Tech Hacks

Posted on April 5, 2017
Virtual City Tablet

There is no doubt that technology has significantly seeped into our lives. In some ways, it is for the better and other ways no so much. When it comes to travel, though, I do believe there are some significantly positive benefits that technology provides. We can now carry so much information in such a small device it is hard not to be impressed.

Today I have a few things to consider for the next time you are travelling. Some you might think obvious while other’s might be of interest.

Electronic Guide Books

Travel Tech - Phont

When it comes to travel guidebooks, there is not much need to carry the big heavy physical books anymore. There are more and more options coming for electronic versions of guides for many of your favourite destinations.

Kindle

One option that might be attractive for many people is Kindle for your guidebooks. Depending on the device you are using they might work a little different. While there won’t be any colourful pictures if you are using some of the dedicated kindle readers.

But with that being said there are some significant benefits. One is a weight saving if you are carrying a Kindle or iPad anyway why add the weight of the guidebook. There can also be some potential cost savings. Looking at one of the Lonely Planet guidebooks, it would work out around half the price to buy the Kindle version instead of the Physical book.

Ebook

If you do not own a Kindle or do not want to use the app, there are still other options.

Lonely Planet offers a range of their travel guides for purchase on their website in multiple different formats. There is a smaller range available when you select ebooks over destination guides. However, one benefit is that you have a choose of formats (Pub, Mobi & PDF). You can choose to buy the whole book or select which chapters you would like.

Depending on where you are travelling there are also some other options as well. The brand DK offers real or ebook options on their website. You can also find some rather in-depth independent options as well. All it takes is doing a little research to find your choices.

Downloadable Google Maps

Carrying that big page with a map that you got from the hotel is one of the greatest things that says tourist anywhere. What if you were able to have the maps you need in your pocket without having to connect to the internet.

Google Maps makes this a possibility with the ability to download maps for different localities. The maps will work much the same as if you were connected to the internet. However, are restricted to only providing driving directions. For public transport, bicycle and walking directions you will need internet access.

But still having the ability to look up a map on your phone without looking like a tourist is a big benefit I believe. If you need some help working out how to download the Google Maps visit their website. They provide directions for Android, iPhone and iPad at the Google Maps Help Page.

Travel Apps

There are more and more options becoming available for different apps to help you travel better. There are far too many apps to get into to much detail here, but there are thousands.

You need to consider that they are not all created equal, though. There are a couple of things you can do to find the best apps.

  1. Start with looking for apps that have user reviews. The more reviews, the better as this can help you gauge the value of the app.
  2. Many apps are free to download with In-App purchases, so you are essentially only paying for what you need. Just take a good look at this before getting too involved with one app.
  3. Make sure you look at how often the app is updated or find out how often the content is updated. As you might imagine if the content or app is not updated it might not be the most useful guide.
  4. Look for apps produced by the local tourism office, they might not be super comprehensive, but you may also find they are free.

Apps can be great combining information and maps and the like. But only if they are good, so if you are unsure I would suggest sticking to the guidebooks.

Entertainment

Travel Tech - Tablet

The idea of entertainment on our phones and tablets is not a new concept, the idea of planning ahead is. More and more these days we are getting to the point where streaming is the way of things.

There are options to stream your music without having to keep it on your phone. The same with movies and tv we are streaming it through internet based services. It poses a problem when you board a plane and suddenly don’t have internet access.

Downloadable Content

What is needed is to plan ahead for when you travel. With some of the services allowing you options to download content. Along with preparing other options before leaving home. I will cover just a couple of options here, but there is more than enough if you know where to look.

  • Apple music allows you to download tracks and albums to listen to offline.
  • Netflix allows you to download select tv shows and movies on both iOS and Android devices.
  • Youtube allows you to download and watch offline if you are a YouTube Red member, with some restrictions.

Entertainment Options

There are also other options for entertainment content when you are travelling. But they all require some time to prepare them in advance.

  • Podcasts – There are thousands of podcasts all on different topics. But it does require finding the podcast you are interested and signing up before leaving home. You will also want to ensure some of the episodes are downloaded.
  • Audiobooks – There is some options for audiobooks, from Audible.com even to your local library. Again these may require downloading an app and ensure you have downloaded the audio book before leaving home.
  • Books – There is nothing like reading a book when you are travelling. While the physical thing may be not ideal to carry, there is always ebook options.
  • Games and Apps – If you are likely to be looking for something a little more fun, consider downloading a game or two.

Enjoy The Journey

However you decide to use the technology to make your trip better, I hope it is a great trip. Just try and not get too tied into the technology that you do not enjoy the journey.

Planning

Deciding To Book A Tour Or Explore Alone

Posted on April 3, 2017
Self Guided Exploration

I have been faced with this challenging decision many times while travelling. The choice between booking a tour and knowing what I will see and getting out there exploring on my own. At times it can be an easy choice, but in other cities, it can be difficult to choose.

Given the time exploring a city on your own can be a great experience. You can find your own way, find hidden gems and go at your own pace. But at the same time, you can also run some risks in safety and lack of knowledge of the area.

Many factors can lead you to go either way when deciding between booking a tour and exploring alone. Things like cost, safety, time, knowledge, ease of access and special access can all come into play.

Cost

Tour Costs or Self Exploration Costs

The cost of a tour can play a significant role in the perceived value of the tour. Likewise, the cost you might incur can impact the value of exploring alone. With this being a variable factor depending on the city and the country every time.

Given the time in a city that has many well-known landmarks and is safe to move around exploring on your own can be great. You can often do so on foot or at a low cost on public transport. However, if you have limited time and want to maximise seeing the important sights, a city tour is an option. It might cost some money, but you are trading money for a more efficient use of your time.

Cruise Tours

An excellent example of this often occurs when travelling on a cruise ship. When I visited the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia as part of a Mediterranean cruise, I happily paid for a city tour. At the time the tour cost me $69.95 (USD) for the transfer from the ship to the town and a four-hour walking tour of the city. I could have covered the same ground on my own, but would have had to work out public transport and would not have received any of the commentary.

Long Distance Tours

Another example can be tours where transport is essential. A tour I took when in Melbourne, Australia to see the penguins on Phillip Island was rather cost-effective. I booked the tour at the cost of $130 (AUD) to go from Melbourne to Phillip Island and see the Penguin Parade. The tour included dinner and entrance to the Penguin Parade.

If I added up the costs involved to do this tour myself I easily would have spent more. Things like hiring a car, the entrance fees at the penguin parade and dinner. But additionally, I would have also missed out on the commentary and additional stops the tour made due to local knowledge by the tour guide.

Getting Access

On some occasions, I have seen the ability to get access to some locations and area’s work both ways. Where private establishments might not allow tour groups but will allow individuals access. Likewise where a tour can either get access or get preferential access to a landmark.

Individual Access

I was on a tour in Europe one time, and the tour guide was taking us to see a particular church. However, upon arrival, the security for the church would not allow the tour group access.

The tour guide had explained this would likely happen, but on rare occasions, they would be allowed access to small groups. It seemed we had too many people in the group on this day. While we were there, the security did provide access to two other tourists that arrived as they were individuals. While it might be a rare occurrence, it can happen and may even be more likely in some countries.

Preferential Access

The opposite can also be true at times where landmarks will give preferential access to tour groups. Primarily as a result of either pre-booking a time slot or booking a regular time slot.

I encountered this in Barcelona when trying to visit La Sagrada Familia. Unless you arrive very early in the morning or are part of a pre-booked tour, you will likely spend a lot of time waiting in line. That is unless you have pre-booked your ticket. But unless you had a chance to research in advance you may not even know about this.

Safety

The safety of yourself and potentially those you are travelling with can be a concern in some cities or countries. While I could not even begin to list which you may want to show caution in, as it can change. Staying safe is always a consideration.

There are even periods where a city that may be ordinarily safe is not safe. It is these times where an organised tour, while not removing all the risks, may help to improve your safety. Ultimately this is something you need to look at and consider in your circumstances. Just don’t take unnecessary risks.

Time

Unfortunately when we are travelling time is not always on our side. There are times when we might visit a city for convenience, or as an unplanned side trip. In some cases, you may have a chance to explore in other situations you might want to see something while maximising your time.

There is also the consideration that a tour can save you a lot of time when travelling. On a tour, you are going to be taken from landmark to landmark in a time effective manner. If you are exploring on your own and taking public transport, this rarely takes the most direct and useful route for you.

Cruise ships

One great example which I have already mentioned above is travelling by cruise ship. You often arrive in a city with just a few hours to see and explore. Some areas lend themselves to self-exploration in a small area. But in general if you want to see the highlights in the time you have a tour can be a great option.

Travel Layovers

Often when travelling, you may end up with a day or even just a few hours to fill in a city. Often if you do want to see something a tour can be a great way to do this. I had an overnight stop in Seoul, South Korea when flying to Europe; they offered some short evening tour options here.

Local Knowledge

One aspect of making this choice can be around how much you want to know vs. how much you want to research. When you are exploring on your own, there can be minimal information available in some cases. While with a tour, it might be a fixed set of information but the guide usually has local knowledge of the area.

Self Guided Exploration

Exploring On Your Own

I took this option when I visited the English Countryside on my first overseas trip. I rented a car and headed off to explore. The advantage was many of the sights I wanted to visit were English Heritage sites. Many of these had audio guided tours available, and plenty of plaques with information.

Taking a Guided Tour

When I was visiting the Azores as part of my Transatlantic Cruise, I took two tours. Each time the guide was able to provide information at various locations. The locations had no signage or signage in another language, so it greatly helped to know what we were seeing. Additionally, from my point of view, they were able to provide place names and spelling to help me better identify areas later on for my blog.

Special Access

There is one occasion that tours can be beneficial. That is where particular landmarks might offer some form of special access. But they only offer this access through authorised guided tours. It is unfortunate in some cases that this is the case, but in some countries, it can be a fact of life for tourism. So it can be a consideration at times.

It is also worth keeping in mind that some tours offered are literally the only way you will see an area. Take for example the hot air balloon experience below. You can likely visit some of the area from the ground but you would not get a view like this any other way.

Hot Air Balloon Tour

Planning Ahead

A finally note that I will make for those considering the option of exploring on their own. It is an excellent idea to take some time and do a little research on your destination. More specifically on individual attractions that you may like to visit.

I have come across a few that are good to plan in advance. The first is one mentioned above in Barcelona La Sagrada Familia. While another is in San Francisco to visit Alcatraz Island. A third is the World Trade Centre Memorial in New York City.

For those above and other similar landmarks, it can vary from time of year to day of the week. But taking that time to research ahead of time will save you being disappointed when you are in the city.

Making The Decision

I hope that I have given you some food for thought on deciding whether you should book a tour or make your own plans. Here are the most important points to remember in a quick list.

  • Cost: Think about if paying for a tour will help you to use your time more effectively.
  • Getting Access: Consider if you will find it easier or harder to get access. It can vary between being alone or part of a tour as well.
  • Safety: Is the city or country safe to explore on your own, or would a tour make it safer.
  • Time: Do you have limited time or will a tour save you time.
  • Local Knowledge: How much information do you want to have to find out for yourself vs. the local knowledge a guide can provide.
  • Special Access: In some places, you just might not be able to access specific places without being on an authorised tour.
  • Planning Ahead: Research popular destinations you may want to visit in advance to avoid missing out.

In the end, whether you are exploring on your own or taking a tour, make the most of it. Enjoy the destination and have a wonderfuly time exploring with a guide or by yourself.

Announcments

Travel Explored – The Week In Review

Posted on April 2, 2017

It seems that the week has just disappeared since I was writing a very similar post last week. There was some excellent content I got out in the last week and hope that you have enjoyed it. If you missed it, of course, the links are below for you to take a look at the posts which might grab your attention.

With March coming to a close, I found that even though I had hoped to get away for a few days, did not eventuate. After some off and on bad weather in the previous weeks, this week it certainly did not improve.

The week brought with it not just bad weather but some devastating weather. In the form of a Tropical Cyclone that impacted the area between Town and Mackay predominantly on Tuesday. With the ongoing impact from this weather system slowly moving south impacting Brisbane on Thursday. Bringing the whole city and South East corner of the state to a standstill, with nearly everything shut down.

While this week would have been perfect to visit many different areas, I had not planned ahead. Additionally, looking forward to April the prospect of travelling is not looking good either. At least not in Australia, with every one of the four weeks in April covered in School Holidays for one state or another. I do very much hope to get away somewhere for some part of April, so time will tell.

New Content

Monday 27 March 2017
Making The Most Of Time Spent Travelling

Listen to podcasts when travelling
When I travel I like to make the most of the time that is often otherwise dead time. That time such as sitting on any form of transport getting me to my destination. There are a few ways I fill this time and I discussed them in this post on Monday.

Wednesday 29 March 2017
Staying Fit While On Board A Cruise Ship

MS Statendam departing San Diego
Having recently returned from ten days on a South Pacific Cruise staying fit while on board is a great topic. Many people just resign themselves to coming home a little heavier, but with a couple of little things in mind, this does not have to be the only way.

Friday 31 March 2017
Top 5 Cruise Ships I Would Like To Travel On

Holland America Line - MS Koningsdam

Continuing with the theme of cruising this week, I took some time to think about the ships I would love to travel on. I looked at the top five ships I would like to travel on if money and time were no object of course.

What I’m Reading

While it looks like I share a lot of content myself, I do also get a chance to read other people’s blogs as well. Below are just a couple of posts I found interesting and wanted to share with you.

A Bamboo Theme Park on Geoje Island

I think it was the name of the website (The Soul of Seoul) that caught my attention as much as the title of the post. A Bamboo Theme Park is definitely something a little different and it sounds like a rather interesting place to visit. Maybe one day I will get back to South Korea and have a chance to visit myself.

This Is What Happens When You Take A Paintbrush Hiking In Vail

Hiking is one hobby that I very much love to partake in, although more so in Winter than summer, here in Australia. But the mountains in Colorado and the scenery you can see in this post does look very inviting. Also, an interesting twist for this hike is the Painting as a feature of the experience.

A Lesson In Japan On Being Kind To Strangers

Sometimes the lessons we learn when travelling can be some of the best lessons. It caught my attention more so because Japan is a country I would love to visit. But the lesson of having the time to help a stranger can be something for everyone’s benefit.

Instagram Top Posts

Coming Next Week

Here is a short teaser for the following week on the upcoming posts. If you have any requests or thoughts on what you would like to read feel free to get in touch via the Contact Me page.

Deciding To Book A Tour Or Explore Alone

There are many factors that go into the decision of booking a tour or exploring the city by yourself when travelling. I take a look at some of the considerations that you might think about the next time you are travelling.

Travel Better With Some Tech Hacks

The more technology becomes part of your lives, the more technology is going to be a part of travel. There are plenty of ways that it can help to improve the experience instead of destroy it.

The Achievements From My Life List

A number of years ago I created a Life List. In the years since I created that list, there are a number of things that I have achieved, and I thought it might be nice to share a little about these achievements.

Where Is Your Next Trip

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks roundup of new content and what I am reading. If you have a moment I would very much like to hear about your plans for your next trip. Just head down the page and fill in the form to leave a comment, or you can get in touch with me directly via the contact me page.

Cruising

Top 5 Cruise Ships I Would Like To Travel On

Posted on March 31, 2017
Holland America Line - MS Koningsdam

Travelling by cruise ship is one of my favourite ways to travel. When you take a moment to look at some of the cruise ships and the facilities, it is not hard to see why.

Some of the cruise ships now are so much more than a five-star hotel. They include top restaurants, entertainment venues, and some even push the limits as a theme park.

Top 5 Cruise Ships

With nearly 300 cruise ships sailing the world’s oceans those who cruise are spoiled for choice. However, many factors influence just which ships you might want to sail on. Either way here is a little look at the five cruise ships I would love to sail on.

I will just add that I hope you don’t mind a slightly different approach to the photos today. I have embedded some images from Instagram since I don’t have my own photos of these ships.

Royal Caribbean – Harmony Of The Seas

In some ways, I questioned adding the Harmony Of The Seas to my list. The reason it is on my list is that it is the biggest cruise ship on earth. Which of course leaves you with some positive and negative points to sailing on board.

On the positive side, it leaves you with the ability to say I have cruised on the biggest cruise ship on earth. I also highly doubt at any time you would find yourself bored, with such a large ship to explore. Plus I think you would find yourself keeping fit just getting around the ship, especially if you get lost.

On the other hand, there are also some negatives. You may be on the biggest cruise ship on earth, but you are sharing that space with up to 9,000 other people including guests and crew. The only other downside I can think of is getting access to favourite activities.

Either way, I believe that it would be interesting to at least give sailing on board the biggest cruise ship on earth a try. Although depending on when I cruise, it could be Royal Caribbean’s next Oasis Class ship Symphony Of The Seas. It will be just that little bit bigger again.

Holland America Line – MS Koningsdam

Holland America Line - MS Koningsdam Cruise Ship

Photo Courtesy of Holland America Line Cruise Image Library

In the past, I have cruised with Holland America three times. On board the MS Statendam, MS Volendam and MS Nieuw Amsterdam. So to me, it is only natural to want to try their newest ship.

The MS Koningsdam is the first Pinnacle Class ship in the Holland America Line fleet. Also placing her as the largest ship in the Holland America Line fleet.

It is also a case that the particular ship in this place may change depending on when I cruise. The next Pinnacle Class ship for Holland America Line will be the MS Nieuw Statendam. Which would make this slightly more of an iconic experience considering my first ever cruise was onboard the MS Statendam. The Ms Nieuw Statendam is due to start sailing from November 2018.

Windstar Cruises – Wind Surf

Wind Surf and the other ships owned by Windstar Cruises are something of a unique experience. Wind Surf itself is one of the largest sailing cruise ships in the world. Meaning that rather than using motors like most modern cruise ships, Wind Surf can cruise purely under wind power.

A cruise on Wind Surf for me would be about the experience. It is not every day that you could get the opportunity to sail on board a wind-powered cruise ship.

Silversea Cruises – Silver Whisper

To me, a cruise with Silversea Cruises would be a small bit of indulgence. The Silver Whisper would offer a unique cruise experience being a ship on the smaller side. But also along with her sister ship, Silver Shadow provides the highest space to passenger ratio of any cruise ship.

While the price to cruise with Silversea Cruises is considerably more than I am used to, the price is all inclusive. It may be the only thing that might stand in my way of cruising on board Silver Whisper, but only time will tell.

Cunard Line – Queen Mary 2

A post shared by Cunard (@cunardline) on

The Queen Mary 2 is something of a unique ship in the current cruise industry. It is currently the only ship classed as an Ocean Liner. Although I was not able to find much in the way that truly defines the differences. Some of it comes down to the way in which she was built and some of it the Transatlantic itineraries.

Either way, it would be a great experience to sail the Southhampton to New York route on board Queen Mary 2. The traditional route that the Titanic was to take. Alternatively, the world cruise would be an equally exciting experience.

Which Ship Do You Want To Cruise On?

In some ways maybe some of the ships I have listed above are a little bit of a guilty pleasure. But in the end, if you have the opportunity to cruise on them I would say why not.

If you had the chance to cruise on any cruise ship which one would you choose? Let me know in the comments below, which ship and why?

Lifestyle

Staying Fit While On Board A Cruise Ship

Posted on March 29, 2017
MS Statendam San Diego Sailaway

For anyone who has ever been on a cruise ship, you will know there is almost an endless supply of good food. Which likely is part of the reason why so many people come home from a cruise with just a little extra weight.

If you are willing to make an effort though there is no need to go home with any extra weight. Possibly you could even find yourself losing weight in the right circumstances.

My Last Cruise

I recently spent ten days cruising the South Pacific on board the Sun Princess. While I stick to my regular walking routine every day. I did manage to come home from the cruise with a couple of extra kilograms on. Mostly due to enjoying maybe a couple too many desserts.

The primary exercise that I did while on board was walking and stairs. On a daily basis, I currently walk 15,000 steps which I continued while cruising. At the same time, I made an effort whenever possible to choose to take the stairs over the lift.

I must say the stairs were the most difficult part. I cannot be certain exactly how many I did each day, but 40+ flights would be a low estimate I think. Four flights between my cabin and the buffet. Seven flights between the main Promenade Deck and the Buffet Deck.

How To Keep Fit On A Cruise Ship

There are some different options for how you can approach fitness on a cruise ship. Unlike a regular hotel while there are more options, at the same time there are some restrictions.

Gym

Fit and Healthy Cruise Travel - Treadmill

Unlike many traditional hotels, many cruise ships have a fully fitted gym. There are treadmills, bikes, weights, and various other machines. The actual facilities will vary between ships, but at least you have options.

In addition to the traditional gym equipment, you will also generally find numerous options for fitness classes. The fitness classes might include Yoga, Spin, or Tai Chi, just to name a few. But of course, again may vary between different cruise ships.

Walking

When it comes to getting around a cruise ship, it ends up being a lot less walking than you might imagine. There is something a little deceptive about the long narrow hallways between cabins.

One day onboard I put in minimal effort until quite late in the day and found that I had only walked around 4,000 steps. I had to find a way to get in some walking, and it came down to a prolonged visit to the Promenade Deck.

On the Sun Princess deck seven (The Promenade Deck) is an open deck that encircles the ship. One full circuit of this deck is around 530 metres, or three laps is 1 mile (1.6 kilometres). Some 20 or so laps later (I lost count along the way) I had made my daily 15,000 step target.

If you are on the ocean and have the opportunity to walk with the ocean breeze, it is recommended. Although the conditions are not always ideal and I would not advise going out on the deck in high winds or rough seas. But watching the ocean pass by while walking is just magic.

Get Moving In Port

Another great way to see a port that the ship is visiting is to get out and take a walk. All too often the process is relaxing all day in a deck chair and then once in port walk off the ship and onto a tour bus.

In some ports, you might find this unavoidable, but there is often some time where you will get a chance to walk. Most tours I have been on in some way offer free time to explore either a village, town or historic site. I take full advantage of this and have found all to often spots that many others miss.

In one case, while visiting the Old Walled City of Dubrovnik, in Croatia, the tour had some free time. Many of the others on the tour stuck to the main street. On the other hand, I followed various laneways, and stairs and found some great spots with no more than a couple of other people around.

There are just a couple of things to keep in mind when exploring. Pay close attention to the time; you don’t want to be the one left behind if you miss the all aboard time. The second is be sure it is safe to explore; you can either sense this from your observations or ask the tour guide.

What Is Your Plan

Have you cruised or are you planning to? I would love to hear what you have done in the past when you have cruised. Or what your plan is to help you stay fit while on board. Why not consider letting me know by leaving a comment below.

Travel Tips

Making The Most Of Time Spent Travelling

Posted on March 27, 2017
Listen to podcasts when travelling

When it comes to travelling the destinations we get to visit can keep us busy all day long. But we also at times seem to spend a lot of time getting there that can seem like wasted time. We might spend some time resting, but wouldn’t it be great if you could make full use of this time.

If you are looking to maximise the unused time when travelling this post is for you. Whether I am travelling internationally or just down the road, I hate to waste time. Below are some of the ways that I make the most of the time that would be otherwise wasted.

Podcasts

Podcasts have been around for some time. With the term podcast dating back to 2004 when popularised in association with the iPod. However, the concept dates back to the 1980’s.

It is only as recent as 2016 though that I started to dive into listening to podcasts. I must say though I am totally hooked and find it a fantastic way to fill in time you have little chance to use any other way.

Whenever I am in the car alone, there is always a podcast playing. If I am walking by myself, I can have my earphones in listening. Likewise when I am travelling on a plane is another very good time to listen.

Depending on your interests and the podcasts you may find. Accordingly, this idea may or may not work. Podcasts can vary in length from 10-minute episodes through to one or two hours. It just depends on, what approach the creator of the podcast has taken. I am lucky most of the ones I enjoy sit around the one hour mark.

Being Prepared

When it comes to podcasts and travelling, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

  1. Most podcasts will only download the most recent episode by default. You will want to go and ensure additional episodes are downloaded, so you do not run out.
  2. If you are on a plane, you likely won’t have access to the internet. So having episodes pre-downloaded will be beneficial.
  3. Likewise, on a cruise ship, the internet can be slow and expensive. In this case, you will want to have a lot of episodes pre-downloaded.

But don’t worry about finding enough podcasts to download. Unless you find a brand new podcast that has only just started, there is likely a lot of episodes in the backlog. Two of the podcasts I listen to on a regular basis both have over 300 episodes in the backlog. Easily enough to keep you occupied for weeks.

Ebooks

I cannot even remember the last time that I had less than a dozen unread books in the Kindle app on my iPad. Kindle has been my go-to app for keeping any books that I am interested in reading, ready for travelling or when I have the time.

I find that making use of Ebooks is so much more convenient than carrying physical books when travelling. I will be carrying my iPad anyway so adding some extra books is not going to affect the weight of my bag.

Plus another benefit of ebooks is that you can have as many available as you want. You can have a mixture of fiction and non-fiction on different topics or from different authors. Just because you never know what you might feel like reading. If you have time to concentrate an in-depth non-fiction book might be fine. But if you are on a plane where there could be constant distractions a light fiction novel might be better.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks can be another great alternative. Especially if you don’t like the idea of reading on an electronic screen. Depending on just what you are after there are a couple of options for getting audiobooks.

If you are looking for fiction, there is a potential that some local libraries may offer the ability to borrow an audiobook electronically. It would be something that you can always ask about and may need to find out which app they use. But it can be a great source of free audiobooks to listen to.

If you have specific titles in mind, you might be better seeing if they are available on a service such as Audible.com. There is an app available which connects with your account on their site if this is the way that you go. You have two options here, you can sign up for a monthly subscription which gives you a set number of credits to use towards audiobooks each month. Or you can buy individual audiobooks as you wish.

Finally, you may find that some people also offer audiobooks or courses independently. Often these are focused on a relatively specific topic and it will require you specifically going looking for them, but can also be a great option.

Enjoy The Travelling That You Do

The one key thing you need to keep in mind is that when you are travelling it is is the destination that matters. You need to focus on the destination and spending your time there to relax or explore. Maximising the time that you spend getting to your destination isn’t essential just an option.

Announcments

Travel Explored – The Week In Review

Posted on March 26, 2017

I hope that you do not mind some of the minor changes that have been happening over the last few weeks. At the moment I am working to get into a regular schedule of bringing you new content every week. But while I am getting started with this you may notice things change a little from week to week.

The biggest difference this week is you might notice this post did not happen on Friday. I have moved it to Sunday, to reflect the whole week. However, that gave me a gap on Friday which has been filled with more content for you.

In the coming weeks, I will be working to get what is in this post coming out via email as well. If you would like to receive, the Travel Explored – Week In Review via email you will need to sign up. You can do so on the right-hand side of the page.

So thank you for stopping by and let’s get into what is new this week on Travel Explored.

New Content

Monday 20 March 2017
Sun Princess – A Tour Of The Ship
Sun Princess - Champagne Bay

For ten days in February, I had the opportunity to cruise on board Princess Cruises Sun Princess. While I was on board, I could not help taking some photos of the ship and the public spaces. I put these photos together into a little tour of the ship for you to enjoy.

Wednesday 22 March 2017
Getting Connected To The Internet When Travelling
Getting connected when travelling

One of the more frustrating things for me when travelling is getting connected to a reliable internet connection. In some countries getting access is quick and easy if you own a mobile phone. But in other countries, it can be a challenge just to get wifi at your hotel. I discuss the challenges and some thoughts on planning ahead.

Friday 24 March 2017
Top 5 Countries Where I Want To Travel
Travel Top 5 Countries

What country would you visit if you had the chance? I asked myself this question and shared some thoughts on the top five countries I would like to visit. I won’t spoil the surprise if you want to know mine you will need to read the post.

What I’m Reading

While it looks like I share a lot of content myself, I do also get a chance to read other people’s blogs as well. Below are just a couple of posts I found interesting and wanted to share with you.

My Favourite Cities And Fjords Along The Norwegian West Coast

In doing my research for a post from last week I came across this wonderfully inspiring post at Mapping Megan. I would want to visit everywhere mentioned in this post when I visit Norway, and I am sure there are plenty more. It is a good read and some very nice images as well.

Viennese Coffee Houses And Dining

If you have followed along on the Travel Explored Instagram, or read my post two weeks ago, you might remember I enjoy coffee. While I had a chance to visit a few Coffee Houses when I visited Vienna, I would probably visit a few more if I was there now. World Travel connector shares a few places that look great, and I am sure I would love to visit.

How I Spent Only $6K in One Year of Travel and Lived in the Lap of Luxury

Every now and then I come across an interesting post about the way travel does now have to be expensive. I like this idea because, to be honest, I would love to travel a lot. The less it costs to travel of course the better. I am not quite sure that I could get it quite this cheap, but would love to give it a go sometime.

Instagram Top Posts

Coming Next Week

Here is a short teaser for the following week on the upcoming posts. If you have any requests or thoughts on what you would like to read feel free to get in touch via the Contact Me page.

Making The Most Of Time Spent Travelling

Does it ever feel like you are wasting time sitting on the plane, train or bus? Well, I have a few thoughts on how you might be able to better use that time more effectively.

Staying Fit On A Cruise Ship

Travelling by cruise ship often leads to enjoying plenty of good food. With this post, I have a few ideas on how you can avoid that food finding a permanent place with you.

Top 5 Cruise Ships I Would Like To Travel On

The way I most like to travel is by cruise ship. Besides it being much easier to access from great locations, you also get a great range of facilities to enjoy. Here I am the top five ships I would like to try.

Enjoy The Weekend

It has been a big week here, and look forward to sharing some more travels with you shortly. Don’t forget to sign up to receive the Week In Review by email by adding your email address below.

Inspiration

Top 5 Countries Where I Want To Travel

Posted on March 24, 2017
Travel Top 5 Countries

When I travel, it is rarely about picking a bunch of random places without some desire to visit. Almost every city or country that I have visited is because I wanted to visit the area for some reason.

Then thinking about the reasons why I have visited some countries got me thinking. What countries have I not visited yet, that I want to visit? There are quite a few countries on this list, but I decided to narrow it down to just my top five.

Just one note before I get started about the pictures below. I had to find some stock photographs to include since I have not visited the countries I have not been able to capture images myself.

Japan

Travel - Japan

Japan is one of the first countries that I ever had a real desire to visit. I have spent a little time trying to figure out what might have triggered this early on, but cannot recall. For some reason, though Japan does keep popping up as somewhere I want to visit.

When I look at Japan as a country to visit there are plenty of reasons why. If you were to do a Google Image Search for “Japan” the list of reasons quickly mount up. Just a few that have caught my attention from a similar search or through seeing other people’s travel include.

– Mount Fuji, which overlooks Yokohama
– The temples and pagodas
– The cherry blossoms
– The overwhelming cityscapes

I can be certain that there is plenty more to discover beyond these few points. Come to think of it I imagine the coastline would be quite interesting as well. I think you could easily fill in a considerable amount of time in Japan and would love to be able to spend a couple of weeks exploring.

Norway

Travel - Norway

Norway to me, would be sort of a starting point to explore the area more loosely defined as Scandinavia. But to be specific Norway is the country in this region that has more so caught my attention.

My interest in Norway very much starts with the countryside and fjords. The way that the mountains just dive into the water, creating some rather dramatic scenery. The images that you can find in much of the promotional material for the area do a much better job of describing the area.

Of course, there are the little villages that find a small piece of land to reside on in this dramatic landscape. I could easily see myself spending weeks if not months exploring the countryside.

French Polynesia

Travel - French Polynesia

One of my favourite ways to travel is by cruise ship, which only developed a few years ago after my first cruise. It has to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways to travel. As a result, I have found that there are many small island nations I would love to visit.

I know that there is plenty of beauty to be found in some of the areas around French Polynesia. Especially when you start to look at some of the promotional photographs for the county. However, I am not sure if it is the idea of being able to cruise here or seeing the beautiful area that is more appealing.

China

Travel - China

To be honest, my desire to visit China at some point in the future is only a recent development. In the past, I was more than happy to take it or leave it. However, the more I read about the country and see some of the beautiful scenery in the countryside, the more I want to visit China.

It could be something of a similar experience to when I visited Hong Kong. I visited with the expectation I would be exploring a concrete jungle, purely seeing another city. However, as part of a tour called The Land Between, I discovered a small but beautiful area of countryside.

South Africa

My desire to visit South Africa lands very much in the same boat as China. It is a country that in the past I have had no true desire to visit. That is until I started to see some of the amazing countryside that other bloggers share on a regular basis. You do find it difficult to resist wanting to visit.

Even still in some ways, I am a little torn on whether I want to visit or not. Having known plenty of people who have lived in or visit South Africa it does not sound like the safest place to visit. There would have to be some planning and organising to make it happen, but one day you never know.

Where Do You Want To Travel?

There you have it the top five countries that I would love to visit one day. I am very interested to know what are your top five or even the top country that you would like to visit and why? You can let me know in the comments below or share with me on Social Media.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This