Countries Archives - Sophisticated Travel

A Seine river cruise from Paris through the French countryside

A river cruise along the third-longest river in France, Seine, offers a fulfilling experience of history, art, food, and wine. Rising at Dijon, in the north-east of France, the river flows 775 km through the picturesque countryside, passing by many fascinating towns and cities until it finally empties into the English Channel. The highlight of the river cruise is Paris, the famed capital where you can experience wondrous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as you enjoy the beautiful cafes and parks. The river’s stretch through the capital alone boasts 32 bridges – Pont Neuf being the ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-11-17T12:26:07-07:00October 17th, 2020|

French river cruises on the Rhône and Saône

Lyon, France Rhône River Passing through many of France’s elegant cities and eye-catching landmarks, the Rhône River offers a rich historical experience. Starting from the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps – at the magnificent capital Lyon – it flows through the south-eastern region of Provence before emptying into the Mediterranean near Arles. Wonder at the grandeur of Lyon – its many cobblestone streets and medieval architecture give you an authentic taste of the middle ages. As you get lost in the magnificence of the Notre Dame Basilica, don’t forget to try out the exquisite French cuisine. Journey ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-11-17T12:25:03-07:00October 14th, 2020|

River cruising on the Danube

Passau, Germany on the Danube River Ranking below the river Volga in Russia, the Danube holds the title of Europe’s second-longest river. This magnificent stream of water flows gracefully through 10 countries – connecting some of Europe’s most renowned cities. A journey across the Danube provides an amazing way to experience the historical, natural, and cultural beauty of the gorgeous European landscape. Budapest, Hungry on the Danube River Starting with Hungary’s capital – dubbed as the “Paris of the East” – the picturesque city of Budapest offers a truly romantic experience. As you visit St. Stephen’s ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-11-17T12:25:30-07:00October 6th, 2020|

The magical river cruises of Germany – the Rhine, Moselle & Main Rivers

Burg Eltz, Germany The Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers offer a magical tour of Germany’s history and cultural elegance. The best way to take in the captivating beauty of the vintage German towns, historic castles, and elegant vineyards is through an amazing river cruise. Each river provides its own set of scenic attractions and adventures that will take you back in time. Rhine Besides being one of the longest rivers in Europe, the Rhine River has unmatched cultural and natural beauty. The Rhine borders the fabled lush and fertile Black Forest to its south and west, while miles ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-11-15T16:42:34-07:00October 5th, 2020|

The haunting ruins of Pompeii

During an Azamara Cruise we had a port stop in Sorrento, Italy, and while Sorrento is a charming old city perched on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, we wanted to visit the once thriving ancient city of Pompeii. As you’ll soon learn, it is a visit that everyone should take. Steep cliffs in Sorrento, Italy I should note that the drive from Sorrento to Pompeii is not for the faint of heart. The road hugs the mountain cliffs with steep vertical drops. We had expected Pompeii to be a lot like many ruins we have seen before - ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-10-16T08:37:09-07:00December 8th, 2019|

Killarney Ireland – a must see excursion

Muckross House, Killarney National Park Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because of its luscious green landscapes and rugged coastline. Several cruise lines offer multi-day pre- or post-cruise land vacations that include a day or two in Killarney Ireland or you can easily visit on your own. Visiting the Killarney area it is a great way to experience authentic old Ireland and explore its beautiful geography. TOWN OF KILLARNEY The first settlements in the area began around 650 A.D. with the establishment of the monastery on Innisfallen Island. The monastery was active for 850 years. Over these years, ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-10-16T08:52:33-07:00October 10th, 2019|

Venice redirects large cruise ships

What it means for you Italian officials announced this week that they will start redirecting large cruise ships away from the historic center of the city. These ships will no longer be able to cruise through the Giudecca Canal. As you can see from the picture above, these huge ships are so massive they obliterate the view of this charming city. Locals worry that the wake caused by these massive ships undermines the wooden poles which hold up this city. Others are concerned about the overcrowding these ships bring to Venice. Regardless of your position on these issues, the ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-10-16T08:50:46-07:00August 10th, 2019|

Stari Grad Croatia – A step back in time

One of the many joys of cruising is visiting ports I’ve never been to before and discovering incredible places I’d never knew existed. This happened on one of our Azamara cruises out of Venice which included a port stop in Hvar, Croatia. Hvar itself is very interesting, and I’ll write about it in a later post. But what amazed us and captured our hearts was Stari Grad, Croatia. It is a place that should not be missed if you like history and architecture. AN IDYLLIC LOCATION Stari Grad is about a scenic 30-minute drive from Hvar (which is located ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T13:27:46-07:00August 8th, 2019|

Ponant’s Antarctic cruise on climate change

Sometimes a cruise is more than just a vacation. It can be an opportunity to learn more about the world we live in. This cruise is ideal for those who want to learn about and experience the effects of climate change on Antarctica while sailing on Ponant's L'Austral. Renowned New York Times science writers Henry Fountain and James Gorman will lead lectures and discussion sharing their knowledge of how climate change is affecting Antarctica. LEARN FROM CLIMATE CHANGE MASTERS Henry Fountain's topics will include: "The State of the Cryosphere" "The Corrosive Ocean" "Fixing the Climate" James Gorman will cover ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-10-16T08:54:54-07:00July 23rd, 2019|

Trump ends cruises to Cuba immediately

Updated 6/15/2019 The Trump administration issued new regulations which end all cruises to Cuba effective today. While initial reports indicated that some cruises which had been previously paid for would be exempt, the final regulations end cruises from US ports to Cuba immediately. Cruise Industry Scambles as Trump Cancels Cruises Already Booked "Without warning, CLIA cruise line members are forced to eliminate all Cuba destinations from all itineraries effective immediately. This affects nearly 800,000 passenger bookings that are scheduled or already underway. All these bookings had been made under a general license previously issued by the United States Government ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T13:52:38-07:00June 15th, 2019|