Stuart Gustafson's Blog

I never thought I’d go to Greenland. Unlike some who think Greenland is an independent country, I know better; it is part of Denmark. It is also the largest island in our world. The idea of visiting Greenland, which is mostly covered with ice, never was that appealing to me. I am not fond of cold weather, and most of what you can see and visit on the island is accessible primarily by ship. And with a total population of about 57,000 — Yes, Fifty-seven Thousand! — there clearly are not many things to do, or there would be more people there doing them!!!

But enough of the negatives; I am excited about going.

The cruise is on Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, a ship that is twenty years old and can hold about 2,500 passengers. We have already booked some shore excursions as well as some specialty dining reservations — more about those on a later post. The cruise departs from Boston this Saturday the 7th. We have one day at sea, followed by two days in ports in Nova Scotia, Canada — Sydney and Halifax.

Then we are back at sea for two more days until we get to Greenland. The places where we are in port are not the easiest to pronounce, so just reading them is a whole lot easier. We will stop at Nanortalik and Qaqortoq before have one more sea day and get to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city.

After our twelve-hour stay there, we will head back in a southerly direction for two days at sea and our final stop in Canada at St. John’s in Newfoundland. That is followed by two more sea days, arriving back in Boston on Sunday the 22nd. There is a total of eight sea days on this cruise, which means we will have plenty of time to explore the ship, make new friends, attend talks and evening entertainment shows — and of course, wonderful meals.

If there is anything in particular you would like to know about the ship we are on, the ports we are visiting, or just cruising in general, please send me an email at stuart@stuartgustafson.com. Thanks for reading!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright ©2024 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

We are currently in a month-long stay in an Airbnb property in the French countryside just a bit north of Bordeaux. When this stay ends, it will conclude a two-month visit to Europe that has already included a twelve-day cruise (Venice to Istanbul) a seven-day river cruise out of Bordeaux, a a few days in the center of Bordeaux. The “house” in which we are staying is a converted barn, and our hosts Fanny and Paul are just fifty feet away in their home.

[Below is an excerpt from my upcoming book A Month in the French Countryside — The true story of two mid-70s widows who wanted to experience the French “joie de vie”]

They invited us one evening to have dinner with them and the family. We started with appetizers outside, the main items being cheeses, meats, olives, and grapes on a charcuterie board that Sharon assembled. We started with a bottle of sparkling white prosecco, and then Paul brought out the pink prosecco that we had given to Fanny for her birthday the previous week. Her Mom and their three children (plus one of the daughter’s friends) joined us briefly outside to grab some eats.

Later we went inside for dinner at a large heavy wooden rectangular table. As we were eating Paul called out their younger son, Maximillian (about 13) to put his hands on or above the table. I looked at Paul, and his response was that the French custom is that your hands are either palm down on the table or above the table with utensils in hand. That is definitely different from what I was taught at a young age by my mother; no elbows on the table EVER, and hands below the table unless using them to eat.

I was now curious. According to The Etiquette Consultant in a 2018 post:

As with most etiquette guidelines, particularly table manners, there is a historical trail behind the rule and in this case, it was a political reason. In the XVII Century, Louis XIV discovered a conspiracy to poison him with arsenic. Concerned that one of his guests at the dining table would try to kill him, he ordered that everyone keep their hands visible and placed on the table throughout every meal. As people wanted to imitate the aristocracy at that time, the rest of the country soon followed suit.

Mystery solved, and a new custom learned!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright ©2024 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

We have been in the French countryside (the two-story converted barn to the right) for over a week, and after a few visits to the grocery store, our European-sized refrigerator is getting full. And the freezer is also. So today I decided to inventory what we had, and then work on a little bit of menu planning.

When I saw that we had five large scallops remaining in the freezer (along with five other “packages”), I started thinking what I could make for a lunch. I have always loved scallops, and our first meal with them here was Rumaki (scallop topped with lemon juice and a slice of fresh ginger and wrapped with slightly cooked bacon (held together with two toothpicks) — and then put under the broiler for a few minutes). They were great, but, IMHO, today’s meal was superb.

Ingredients:
> Scallops (5) Cut in half, sautéed in hot butter along with Tarragon and Herbs de Provence
> Avocado (1) Peeled and cut into 8 wedges; marinated in lemon juice
> Tomato (1) Cut into 8 wedges
> Apricot Jam with a small (!) amount of Cayenne Pepper mixed in, and warmed
> Spices

Plating:
> Place four each of the avocado and tomato wedges alternatingly around the outside of each plate.
> Sprinkle Smoked Paprika (one of the two dozen spices we brought with us) on each of the avocado wedges.
> Sprinkle some Salt and Lemon Pepper on each of the tomato wedges.
> Place five of the scallop halves in a stack in the center of each plate. Drizzle some of the jam/cayenne over the scallops.
> Put a drop or two of Balsamic Vinegar between each avocado/tomato wedge pairing.

Serving:
> Serve immediately.
> Enjoyed with a glass of chilled Rosé wine.

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright ©2024 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

June 27 – July 4, 2024
#######FOOD
Ask anyone what they love the most about cruising — whether on rivers or open oceans — and FOOD will be on that list. Great food, variety, and venues are all three present on the AmaDolce. I was able to try many different foods and wines (after all, it is a cruise in the Bordeaux area!), and I found all of them to be very good. That’s not surprising since this is an AmaWaterways ship. But it is smaller than other ships in the fleet, as well as other lines, so to have such amazing food on this ship is an absolute delight that you can expect AND anticipate.

There are three dining venues onboard:
> The Lounge
> The Restaurant
> The Chef’s Table

To the left is the menu, and above is the image, of the Welcome Lunch that was graciously served to us in the Lounge as we were able to board by 11:30 even though our cabins were not going to be available for us until about 3 in the afternoon. The Green Salad was definitely a welcomed item (pardon the pun) as there had not been many greens or other vegetables during the days in Bordeaux prior to the cruise. The dressing was light, but nice. Sometimes there is too much dressing on the salad, making the items swim in it. The Cream Soup was indeed creamy, and tasty, and the pasta was just the right portion. The Parmesan Cheese added the right amount of tang to the dish. And, of course, beer and wine are complimentary with lunch and dinner on every AmaWaterways cruise. Since we are in Bordeaux, it’s easy to guess what type of wines we had — Bordeaux, naturally. Other wines are always available, but why turn down complimentary glasses of Bordeaux wine?

The Lounge is the typical gathering place on most river cruises. It might be called something else — such as The Bar, The Gathering Place, or even The Watering Hole — but it still functions as a lounge (and a bar). Light, late breakfasts were available each morning as well as a Bistro Lunch in the afternoon. Talks from the Cruise Manager, plus evening entertainment, were held there along with the Sip and Sail Cocktail Hour each evening from 6 to 7. There was the drink of the day along with a list of other complimentary cocktails. Of course, a selection of wines was always available, and even if you wanted a specialty drink, it came with a reasonable price tag. [Disclosure – my bar bill for the 7 days was under $100]. The staff in The Lounge were fantastic; more about them in another post.

As with most cruises, The Restaurant is the primary dining venue, and AmaWaterways does not disappoint you here. There is a variety of seating options — tables for two, for four, for six, and more; some booths. While Dinner is served between certain hours, you do not have to arrive promptly at 7 PM, for example. And seating is at your own choice. I had plenty of choices as the ship was only half capacity.
A full ship will see more tables filled, and more people sharing tables — but sharing tables is also a great way to meet new people, and perhaps even a few new friends! I met a couple from London while on a cruise over a dozen years ago. We then traveled together several times, and we still keep in touch.

One of my favorite experiences from the previous AmaWaterways cruise was the appetizers at lunch in the Restaurant. The server brings a small wooden tray that usually holds four small dishes, two small and two large.
There have been times when, after looking at the menu, I just asked for more appetizers. I love to eat, but I am more “into flavors” than full meals. So when I see some appetizers that I think are really delicious, I will focus on them. In the case of the image on the right, I didn’t have to ask for more “Herbed Snails,” as they called them. The waiter saw that I had eaten three of them, and she promptly brought me another dish.
Below are a few of the dinner menus (no, beef wasn’t always the main dish):

Dining at The Chef’s Table is quite the delightful experience. I already told you that I am more into flavors than main meals, so I always enjoy the offerings at The Chef’s Table. It is an intimate setting aft on the third deck with seating for 24 guests along with ample windows for river cruise viewing. The chef is visible as he (I’ve only seen male chefs doing it; hopefully, there will be a top female chef cooking someday soon) cooks your items if you are not too busy enjoying what has already been prepared for you.
While it is a Specialty Dining restaurant (which typically comes with an additional charge on many other cruise lines), each guest is entitled to dine there once each cruise on a complimentary basis — and you should! The seven-course evening was wonderful, and it was at a casual pace — not too fast, and not too slow. Naturally the recommended wine pairings were perfect. But then, everything about the evening was perfect.Here are more posts [in progress] about “The Taste of Bordeaux” cruise on AmaDolce: “Taste of Bordeaux” River Cruise — Intro “Taste of Bordeaux” River Cruise — Food

#######

As an independent travel advisor, I am able to book your travels (and typically get you a better deal than going direct). To inquire about pricing and availability for any travels that I am on, or for your own independent travels, please refer to my Travel with Stuart website — thank you.

June 27 – July 4, 2024

This has been planned for some time, and now it is time to get this amazing river cruise underway!

This is my second river cruise on AmaWaterways (the first was on the Danube River from Bucharest into Lower Bavaria). I have been on over a dozen other river and ocean cruise lines, and I am really in love (get the Latin “Ama” in the name?) with cruising on AmaWaterways.

I will be telling you about different aspects of the cruise: the ports and places we’ve visited; the exquisite meals (the appetizers at lunch are breath-taking and mouth-watering); the local entertainment, and the talks about this famous wine region.
#######
I’ve been in Bordeaux for a few days already; the city is vibrant and exciting. The weather has been on an upward warming trend, but it is not as bad as other parts of the world that have been in the news because of horrible heat waves. I am packed and ready to get on AmaDolce.

Here is a one-minute introduction video to the AmaDolce in Bordeaux, France.

https://stuartgustafson.com/wp-content/uploads/ShipVideo-0627.mp4
Here are a few facts about the ship:Built in The Netherlands, the ship is 360 feet long (this is about 70 feet shorter than most other Europe river cruise ships)Its maximum passenger capacity is 140 passengers (some ships carry up to 190 passengers) — we had only 72 on our weekly cruiseThe are 45 crew members on board to manage the sailing, cook, feed, manage staterooms, and clean up after usThere are bikes onboard for those so inclinedThe Lounge usually offers a continental breakfast plus a Bistro Lunch most days. The Dining Room is also open for most meals every day.There is a Chef’s Table Restaurant at the rear that serves intimate tasting menu dinners; reservations are typically neededThe sun deck has plenty of deck chairs under an awning as well as tables and chairs, AND a whirlpool for relaxing under the evening starsThere are massage services and a hair salon

So what is not to love about the beautiful AmaDolce? Nothing, of course.Here are more posts [in progress] about “The Taste of Bordeaux” cruise on AmaDolce: “Taste of Bordeaux” River Cruise – Intro

#######

As an independent travel advisor, I am able to book your travels (and typically get you a better deal than going direct). To inquire about pricing and availability for any travels that I am on, or for your own independent travels, please refer to my Travel with Stuart website — thank you.

June 27 – July 4, 2024

This has been planned for some time, and now it is time to get this amazing river cruise underway!

This is my second river cruise on AmaWaterways (the first was on the Danube River from Bucharest into Lower Bavaria). I have been on over a dozen other river and ocean cruise lines, and I am really in love (get the Latin “Ama” in the name?) with cruising on AmaWaterways.

I will be telling you about the cruise each day: the ports and places we’ve visited; the exquisite meals (the appetizers at lunch are breath-taking and mouth-watering); the local entertainment, and the talks about this famous wine region.
#######
Day 0 – June 26
I’ve been in Bordeaux for a few days already; the city is vibrant and exciting. The weather has been on an upward warming trend, but it is not as bad as other parts of the world that have been in the news because of horrible heat waves. I am packed and ready to get on AmaDolce tomorrow.

I will post pictures of the ship tomorrow once I get to it, but here are a few facts about the ship:

Built in The Netherlands, the ship is 360 feet long (this is about 70 feet shorter than most other Europe river cruise ships)Its maximum passenger capacity is 140 passengers (some ships carry up to 190 passengers)The are 45 crew members on board to manage the sailing, cook, feed, manage staterooms, and clean up after usThere are bikes onboard for those so inclinedThe sun deck has a whirlpool for relaxing under the evening starsThere are massages services and a hair salon

So what is not to love about the beautiful AmaDolce? Nothing, of course.

I’ll be back tomorrow with photos and details about Day 1 on this iconic river cruise!
#######

As an independent travel advisor, I am able to book your travels so you are on the same trip (and typically get you a better deal than going direct). To inquire about pricing and availability for any travels that I am on, or for your own independent travels, please refer to my Travel with Stuart website — thank you.

I definitely outsmarted myself on my current trip to Cabo San Lucas. It’s my 24th trip to the Los Cabos area at the absolute southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, and it’s a place that I know well and am quite comfortable visiting. I am here for three weeks this time; started years ago with just one week, and have even stayed here for four weeks on three different occasions.

You don’t need a whole lot while here unless you are going to undertake some specific activities such as diving, fishing, hiking, etc., and you want some specific clothing and/or gear for your adventure. No, some shorts, shirts, shoes, and swim trunks., along with long pants and shirt for cool evenings. That’s it. Of course, the toiletries are also in the bag.

That bag, that suitcase, is a small carry-on bag that easily fits into the overhead compartment on the plane. I have traveled down here many times with just the carry-on bag and a backpack. And I’ve gone on four weeks of cruises with just the same carry-on bag and the backpack. It can be done. I know how to do it, and I’ve done it many times.

For this trip, I decided to start packing early. I set items out on the table that I use just for this purpose. Sandals, swim trunks, shoes, shorts, etc., It all went into the carry-on. I added my toiletries bag, my prescriptions and vitamins — everything I was going to need. Because the resort has a deep tub in the master bsthroom, I added a bag of epsom salts for soaking after a hard day of relaxing and enjoying the sounds of the ocean waves.

And then I added a few more things, and I was ready five days before my trip. I closed the bag, or at least I started to, and then realized I had to open the expansion zipper. Not a problem. Once that was opened. The bag closed, and I locked it. I was ready to go. The only problem was that the expanded bag might not fit into the plane’s overhead compartment. That’s okay, I’ll just check the bag. I’ve never had a problem with checked bags, so there was no need for concern.

There were two things I did not take into account when checking the bag:
1. My bag might not get there on time with me
2. If #1 happened, my meds were in tat bag, and likely sitting, or going, somewhere else.

Well, that did happen. There was a mechanical malfunction at the connecting airport, and many bags did not make it on to our flight to Cabo. Instead, they went on a later flight to Houston, and then on a next-morning flight to Cabo. I finally got my bag at 7:30 PM, about 29 hours after I arrived in Cabo.

Lesson learned: if you are going to pack early, leave your meds out for the last minute just in case you decide to check your bag!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, sends out a monthly newsletter, is an avid TripAdvisor reviewer, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2023 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

Monday — June 5, 2023
Yesterday (Sunday), I was Doug Petcash’s guest on his weekly “Viewpoint” show on KTVB – Channel 7 here in Boise, Idaho. He invited me on the show to talk about the outlook for travel this summer. The attached video has been trimmed to only include my portion (the other 10 minutes was about the station’s 70th anniversary that is approaching).

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, sends out a monthly newsletter, is an avid TripAdvisor reviewer, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2023 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

Over two years in the making, the Danube River Cruises are finally going to happen! The first cruise is on the Viking Ullur from Bucharest, Romania, to Budapest, Hungary. Then there is an open day in Budapest (but wait until you read what’s going on that night!).

After that “open day,” it’s boarding time for the AmaSonata to continue up the Danube from Dudapest to Vilshofen, Germany (in the lower Bavaria region). Following that will be a few days in Prague. Overall, these trips will include some new counties visited for me, bringing my total to 68.

Among the many awesome and exciting adventures on these cruises, a MAJOR highlight will be dinner in Budapest at Michelin-starred Babel Restaurant, my first time at such an amazing restaurant! The evening will consist of a 13-course dinner with wine pairings. I’m definitely going there with an empty stomach!

Overall, it will be 3+ weeks in Europe, and one question I am frequently asked has to do with my clothing (which then leads into questions about luggage). I will be traveling, as I typically do, with just a carry-on bag and my backpack (that will include my laptop computer, cords, other essentials, etc.). So, how do I manage for that long with just the backpack? It’s simple: TAKE THE RIGHT ITEMS, AND ONLY THEM!

For me the right items are two pair of casual pants (one worn on the plane); two dress pants; three casual shirts; three dressy shirts; sports jacket; one tie; pocket scarves; dress shoes (casual shoes are worn on the plane); socks, underwear, bathroom needs, etc. It works; I’ve done it before, even when speaking on cruise ships for 30 days (and requiring more dress shirts, ties, pocket scarves, etc.). The best clothing I’ve found for this minimalist packing list, yet while also enabling a dressy look, is Bluffworks. Their slacks and blazer are virtually wrinkle-proof, and they are very comfortable.

Traveling with just the carry-on bag and my backpack makes it much easier on flying (I don’t worry about lost bags), and for taking trains (no bulky suitcases to trudge along), etc. Sure, I have to wash out a few things, but that’s a whole lot less inconvenient that lugging along a couple of big bags with some items I’ll never even wear!

If you are interested in hearing more about my travels (there is even a mega-cruise later in the year), or if I can help you plan an amazing trip like this one, send me and email, and let’s talk!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, sends out a monthly newsletter, is an avid TripAdvisor reviewer, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2023 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. Ownership of images and content from other sources remains with those sources or their attributions; no ownership by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, is implied or claimed.

Yes, it’s been three years since I was last in Cabo (2020). The pandemic kept us out in 2021, and then my wife’s Alzheimer’s Disease kept me home in 2022. She then passed away in July of 2022.

BUT — I am coming down to my (and Darlene’s) favorite vacation spot in the world. It will be my 23rd visit to Cabo!

Aside from vacationing, I am also there to write articles for a major magazine that will have tens of thousands of eyes reading the articles.

I’m arriving soon, in about 16 hours as I write this.

I love Cabo; I just wish my wife could be there for one last time. ♥ (or maybe she will)

Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2023 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.