We’ve built this blog around one very simple belief: food and wine aren’t a side note to travel, they’re the reason to go. Whether we’re peeling off from a cruise ship dock to chase down a family-run trattoria, learning to spot Ripasso from Amarone in a Veronese wine cellar, or working through a tasting menu in York, every post here traces back to something we ate, drank, or learned along the way. You’ll find real-time dispatches from ports of call across the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Norway’s fjords, the British Isles, and closer to home along the Pacific coast — plus the land days, precruise stopovers, and full city stays that bookend them. Read on for shore excursion reviews, food tours, wine country deep dives, and the occasional honest admission that not every “must-try” lived up to the hype.
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Back in London After 21 Years: Oystermen, Sky Garden, and a Michelin Dinner
Back in London after 21 years — Oystermen’s fresh oysters in Covent Garden, free views from Sky Garden, and a Michelin tasting menu.
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Pacific Northwest Cruise Ports Roundup: Astoria, Seattle, Vancouver & Victoria
A port-by-port guide to our four Pacific Northwest cruise stops — Astoria, Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria — food tours, sail-ins, and highlights.
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Victoria, BC: A Sunny Morning Harbour Walk on Our Last Port of Call
Our last port of call on the Grand Princess — a sunny morning in Victoria, BC, with a cab downtown and a walk back along the sea walk.
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Vancouver: A Sail-In Full of Natural Beauty and a Vancouver Foodie Tour of Downtown
Our Vancouver port day — a stunning sail into the city, then a Vancouver Foodie Tours outing through dim sum, oysters, and award-winning gelato.
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Seattle: A Return Visit, Pike Place Market, and a Savor Seattle Gourmet Food Tour
Our return to Seattle — a stroll through Pike Place Market and an afternoon Savour Seattle Gourmet Food Tour through six of downtown’s best bites.
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Astoria, Oregon: A Riverwalk Stroll and a Salmon Cooking Lesson at Baked Alaska Annex
Our first port of call on the Grand Princess — a riverwalk stroll along the Columbia River and a salmon cooking lesson at Baked Alaska Annex.
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4 Days in Napa, Sonoma & San Francisco: A Pre-Cruise Recap
Our pre-cruise stop in Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco — wine touring, a St. Francis Winery pairing lunch, and a day in the city before boarding.
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San Francisco: A Bay Cruise, a VW Bus Tour, and Dinner at Wayfare Tavern
Our San Francisco day before boarding — a bay cruise past Alcatraz, a VW bus tour with Vantigo Tours, and dinner at Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern.
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Worth Every Bite: St. Francis Winery Wine Pairing Lunch
A reserved-in-advance wine and food pairing lunch at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma, built around peak wines paired to seasonal dishes.
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Napa Wineries: Duckhorn, B Cellars, and a Casual Dinner at Oxbow Public Market
A day of Napa wine touring at Duckhorn and B Cellars, followed by oysters and charcuterie at Oxbow Public Market.
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Arrival in Napa: A Feast of Small Plates at Morimoto
Our Napa arrival day — a delayed landing in San Francisco, a river-view room at the Napa River Inn, and a feast of small plates at Morimoto.
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Lanzarote: Timanfaya’s Volcanic Landscape, a Camel Named Margarita, and Our Last Port Before the Atlantic
Our last port of call, Lanzarote — Timanfaya Volcano Park, a camel ride through the desert terrain, Mirador del Río, and Jameos del Agua.