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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A Stormy Cádiz: A Cathedral, a Market, and a Race Back to the Ship
Our stormy port day in Cádiz, Spain — the Catedral de Cádiz, Mercado Central de Abastos, Playa de la Caleta, and a sprint back to the ship.
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Cherbourg, France: An Unplanned Stop Thanks to Hurricane Kirk
An unexpected port day in Cherbourg, France — a rerouted itinerary, the Basilica of Sainte-Trinité, and a stroll around Place Général de Gaulle.
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48 Hours in York: A Weekend Recap
Our 48-hour weekend in York — city walls, York Minster, Museum Gardens, Fish & Forest, Pairings Wine Bar, and Hooting Owl Distillery.
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A Sunday in York, England: Pairings Wine Bar and the Hooting Owl Distillery
Our last day in York — a lazy Sunday of shopping, a charcuterie lunch at Pairings Wine Bar, and a gin tour at Hooting Owl Distillery.
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An Afternoon in York, England: Museum Gardens and Dinner at Fish & Forest
An afternoon in York — Museum Gardens along the Ouse, the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, and a memorable tasting dinner at Fish & Forest.
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A Morning in York, England: City Walls, the Minster, and an Afternoon Sea
A morning in York, England — walking the ancient city walls, exploring York Minster, and a seafood twist on afternoon tea at The Pearly Cow.
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An Ambitious Plan Meets Reality: Arrival Day from London to York
Our arrival day from London to York — a canceled overnight flight, a rail fatality, and a standing-room train ride, capped by fish & chips.
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Norway Fjords Cruise Ports Roundup: Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger, Olden & Stavanger
A port-by-port guide to our five Norwegian fjords cruise stops — Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger, Olden, and Stavanger — hikes, sails, and views.
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Stavanger: A Stroll Through Norway’s Last Port of Call
Our last Norway port day in Stavanger — Breiavatnet lake, and the whitewashed houses and gardens of Old Stavanger.
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Olden: The Hike to Briksdal Glacier
Our Olden port day — the hike to Briksdal Glacier, an arm of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, and a sunny sail back through the Nordfjord.
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Geiranger: The Fossevandring Waterfall Walk
Our Geiranger port day — the Fossevandring waterfall walk, 327 steps along the roaring Storfossen Waterfall, and views at the interior of the fjord.
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Sailing through the Geiranger Fjord
Scenic cruising through Norway’s Geirangerfjord — the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls, onboard narration, and the village of Hellesylt.