Mexico - Princess Cruises

JOURNEY
Summer 2014
…across the Atlantic
Mexico
Churches to charros,
immerse yourself in
the local culture
San Francisco
Go to foodie heaven
Panama Canal
Celebrate its centenary
THE CRUISE
SHIP
Travel notes
CONTENTS
the perfect
setting
Sensational
century
Caribbean
Panama
Canal
08
10
enjoy the
mexperience
san fran
flavour
12
13
Mexico
San Francisco
After
dusk
the great
land
14
15
Seattle
Alaska
Welcome to the summer edition of Journey, your
travel magazine from Princess Cruises. As the
destination experts, Princess is proud to visit more
than 350 different ports worldwide. In this edition
of Journey magazine we are looking across the
Atlantic to Central and North America.
This region alone offers a vast array of
destinations all markedly different from each
other. Alaska is, of course, on most people’s bucket
list, or at least it should be! Alaska is a once-in-alifetime destination – it’s not called The Great Land for nothing.
If you’re looking for a cultural cruise, our Canada & New England itineraries
can take you into the unparalleled beauty and storied heritage of the East Coast.
The Caribbean, meanwhile, offers tranquil shores and ultimate relaxation.
Speaking of which, our very own Royal Princess is currently the star of a
behind-the-scenes ITV documentary, filmed as she sailed across the Caribbean.
The four-part series is on consecutive Fridays at 8pm from 11 July to 1 August –
if you’re tuning in, I hope you’re enjoying the show and are suitably impressed at
just how much hard work goes into making sure our ships run smoothly!
We hope you enjoy the latest issue of Journey magazine and its insights into
the diverse region of Central and North America and, of course, we hope you
enjoy The Cruise Ship and all the memories of your own cruises it will evoke.
Until next time, happy sailing!
Paul Ludlow
Managing Director UK & Europe
Princess Cruises
across the
tundra
east coast
charm
16
18
Alaska
Canada &
New England
cruise
information
behind the
lens
20
24
Napa Valley
We
cruises!
The UK remains
Europe’s biggest
cruise market,
with more than
a quarter of the
continent’s cruises
being UK based.
Read all about it…
JOURNEY
follow us:
Editor Tracy Keen | Design Daniel Di Paolo
+ Headfudge Design Ltd | Cover image
Corbis Images | © Princess Cruises 2014
If you have any comments or queries about this magazine, we’d love to hear them! Please email your thoughts
to us at: [email protected] or mail them to: Journey magazine, Princess Cruises, Carnival House,
100 Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1ST. Alternatively, link up with us via our social media channels, as above.
Editorial opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Princess Cruises, nor does Princess Cruises
recommend or guarantee any third-party products mentioned in this publication. Errors and omissions are in no way
the responsibility of Princess Cruises. All information is correct at the time of going to press and is subject to change.
Princess Cruises is a trading name of Carnival plc, a company registered in England and Wales with company number
04039524. Registered office address: 5 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NE.
02 | PRINCESS CRUISES | TRAVEL NOTES
Discover USA
(Lonely Planet, £17.99)
If browsing this magazine inspires
you to plan a trip to America, you
may want to take a look at this.
Discover USA is a comprehensive
new guide, offering in-depth colour
maps and sound up-to-date advice
for making the most of a visit.
Wannabe
blogger?
Travel-loving
bloggers-to-be
can share their
stories in style with
TravelPod, a free
and easy-to-use
blogging app.
Funny money
Golden Princess
Next year, Princess
Cruises celebrates its
50th anniversary with
a special nostalgic
sailing to Mexico.
The golden
anniversary cruise
will round off a year of celebrations,
departing 50 years to the day that the
line’s original ship, Princess Patricia, set
sail to the same region – 3 December 1965.
With the same duration as that first
cruise – 14 nights – the anniversary sailing
will include a blend of classic ports that
featured on the maiden itinerary, such as
Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, alongside
newer ports such as La Paz.
There will be a celebratory atmosphere
onboard, with passengers enjoying special
activities and entertainment throughout
the cruise. There may even be a few
surprise guests to watch out for!
We’ll be announcing more details
of our half-century celebrations nearer
the time. Visit princess.com or follow us
online for the latest updates.
Cast your votes
Princess Cruises has been nominated
for an amazing 10 accolades at the
Cruise International Awards 2014,
including Best Cruise Line, Best
for Activities and Best New Ship
for Regal Princess. You can also
vote for categories including Best
Destination and Best Cruise Blogger.
Voting closes on 20 August, so
there’s still plenty of time to have
your say. Register your votes and
you’ll be in with a chance of winning
a holiday for two to Puerto Rico too!
For more information and to vote,
visit cruise-international.com/awards
Residents in Canada inundated the
Bank of Canada earlier this year with
queries about its new polymer $100
bill, which is said to smell strongly of
maple syrup. One of the country’s
biggest exports, maple syrup is
added to all manner of foods, but
has it been used to imbue bank
notes? “Maple syrup is great with
everything,” says Canadian resident
Henning White. “A lot of items here
come maple-flavoured – biscuits,
beer, baked beans. Even our new
plastic $100 bank notes are said to
smell like maple. Personally, I think it
does…” The Royal Canadian Mint has
denied scenting them, but can that
many Canadians be wrong? Turn to
page 19 for more on maple syrup.
Oh Carolina! Charleston in
South Carolina was voted best
US city by readers of Condé Nast
Traveler magazine. Québec City
topped the poll for Canada.
NY rules
New York is home to the USA’s best
parks according to a recent Trip Advisor
survey. The website polled its users to
find America’s top 10 and NYC appeared
three times. Alongside iconic Central Park,
which placed 2nd in the survey, were High
Line (4th) and Bryant Park (8th). High
Line, an elevated railway now transformed
into a public park, boasts fabulous views
of the Hudson River and the famous
NYC skyline, while Bryant Park features
a French-style merry-go-round and
an outdoor reading room.
Images: shutterstock | corbis | Alamy | getty
04
TRAVEL NOTES | PRINCESS CRUISES | 03
‘THE
AS SEEN
ON ITV
DIRK BRAND
Hotel General Manager
CRUISE
’
SHIP
Twitter: @tcsdirk
Nationality: German
meetTHE
stars
of ‘The Cruise Ship’
featuring our very own royal princess
If you’ve been tuning into
ITV recently, you’ll have
noticed that our very own
Royal Princess has become
a star of the small screen!
Already a royal sensation
following her naming by
HRH The Duchess of
Cambridge, our spectacular
ship is now stealing the
limelight once again in ITV’s
new four-part documentary,
The Cruise Ship.
Main image Royal Princess Below right
HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
Filmed as Royal Princess sailed around the
Caribbean, the show features unprecedented
behind-the-scenes footage, giving an insight
into what life is really like onboard for the
1,600 crew members, and how the crew
works together to provide guests with
first-class customer service.
Royal Princess in numbers…
“It’s the crew that
makes the difference.
Passengers come back
for the crew. The crew
create memories and
can really have an
impact on a person’s life.”
What is your favourite destination?
From a travel point of view, Australia
and New Zealand. Otherwise my home
and surrounding area in Spain.
15,500 miles of electric cable – the same distance it takes
of transverse (sideways)
thruster power
9,500 gallons of paint – enough to paint 200 Boeing 737s
200 TONS of marble – that’s more than 30 times the amount
The original Love Boat, Pacific Princess,
had a forward propulsion power
of about 13,500 kilowatts. So Royal
Princess can go faster sideways than
Pacific Princess could travel forward!
to travel from London to Bali and back
of marble in Michelangelo’s famous David statue
Twitter: @tcssam
Nationality: British
What do you like most about your job?
Meeting so many people, making new
friends, the amazing teamwork and
camaraderie, making our guests and crew
happy every day, loving the job you do,
seeing the world and getting paid for it,
can’t get any better than that!
14,000 kilowatts
the amount used to build the Eiffel Tower
Cruise Director
Dirk is Hotel General Manager and grew
up in Munich. He now lives in Spain with
his wife and son.
Royal Princess in numbers…
32,000 TONS of steel – that’s approximately four times
SAM HAWKER-THOMAS
“I love to entertain and to be in the spotlight, so
running the entertainment programme is fab.
And for me it really did turn out to be the love
boat as I met my husband while at work!”
Cruise Director Sam is from Barry, South Wales, where she still lives with
her husband, Denis.
What did you enjoy most about filming The Cruise Ship? The whole experience
was amazing. I loved being able to share a side of me that no-one really gets to see
by taking the film crew behind the scenes.
What do you like most about your job? I love that no two days are ever the same.
Each day you are in a different country and you get to work with so many amazing
people from all over the world who become your extended family.
What is your favourite destination? My bed at home in Barry, there’s no better
place than home! Okay, a serious answer – it’s really tough to give just one place as
there are just so many and because of this job I’ve been so lucky to visit so many. I
love the Mediterranean and in particular Italy. But then also I must say anywhere
that it’s sunny! I love the Caribbean with Aruba and Tortola being firm favourites.
Find out more about the cast of The Cruise Ship at princess.com/thecruiseship
Find out more at princess.com/thecruiseship
04 | PRINCESS CRUISES | ‘THE CRUISE SHIP’
Join the conversation on Twitter #thecruiseship
Find out more at princess.com/thecruiseship
Join the conversation on Twitter #thecruiseship
‘THE CRUISE SHIP’ | PRINCESS CRUISES | 05
DAN APPLEBY
Deputy Cruise Director
Twitter: @tcsdan
AS SEEN
ON ITV
Nationality: British
18,000 bottles of wine and
champagne in the wine cellars
54,600 dirty napkins
washed per week
washed per week
3 tons of ice, used to carve
20 sculptures per cruise
170,000 pounds
of fresh fruit and vegetables
consumed per cruise
900,000 pounds
of supplies loaded
every 10 days
“I love the interaction with people from all over
the world, not just passengers but crew as well.
I now have friends in 20 different countries
which is amazing.”
Dan is Deputy Cruise Director and is from Blackpool, where he still resides.
What do you like most about your job?
I really enjoy interacting with people, passengers and crew. I have met so many
people from all over the world and got to see a lot of the world as well. I also really
enjoy being on stage, that is by far what I love to do the most! Making people laugh
for me is a success, it doesn’t always happen but, when it does, it makes it worth it!
What is your favourite destination?
My favourite destination is Dubrovnik, Croatia. It’s an amazing city for so many
different reasons, the culture and scenery are both incredible, as well as the food!
BEVERLEY MAULE
Dancer
Twitter: @tcsbev
Nationality: British
“I’d like to be remembered
as the fun girl who loves
dancing and loves life!”
Dancer Beverley hails from North Yorkshire,
but now lives in Edinburgh.
What did you enjoy most about filming
The Cruise Ship? Whenever I was on
camera with the cast, as they would
always try to make me laugh!
What do you like most about your job?
Getting to dance and do what I love every
day with the bonus of travelling the world.
What is your favourite destination?
My favourite destination is Hong Kong.
Find out more about the cast of The Cruise
Ship at princess.com/thecruiseship
Find out more at princess.com/thecruiseship
06 | PRINCESS CRUISES | ‘THE CRUISE SHIP’
1,083 feet long
– that’s longer than the height of the Shard
217 feet high
– even taller than Tower Bridge
Royal Princess in numbers…
21,200 bath towels
‘THE
Royal Princess in numbers…
Join the conversation on Twitter #thecruiseship
“I always wanted to be
part of entertainment,
since school years I guess,
but somehow stopped
pursuing my dreams
and realised I can be a
great accountant too.”
CRUISE
SHIP’
DENIS BOCKAR
Hotel Controller
Twitter: @tcsdenis
Nationality: Lithuanian
Denis is Hotel Controller onboard and
is from Lithuania. He now lives in Barry,
South Wales with his wife, Sam.
What did you enjoy most about filming
The Cruise Ship? Being on stage, right in
front of the camera, thinking I am A STAR!
What do you like most about your job?
Travelling, meeting new people, seeing
new places, going to bed in Barcelona and
waking up in Greece. It is a romance.
What is your favourite destination?
Bermuda, Boston and Tenerife.
WIN A CRUISE!
We have an amazing holiday for two onboard
‘The Cruise Ship’ to give away. The prize includes
a 10-night Caribbean cruise in a balcony stateroom
onboard Royal Princess including British Airways
Club World return flights, transfers and an
overnight hotel stay.
For more details and how to enter, please visit
princess.com/thecruiseship
PLUS BOOK YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY ONBOARD
‘THE CRUISE SHIP’ NOW & WE’LL THROW IN A
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE ONCE YOU’RE ONBOARD!
Offer applies to new Royal Princess bookings made by 2 August 2014.
Find out more at princess.com/thecruiseship
Join the conversation on Twitter #thecruiseship
‘THE CRUISE SHIP’ | PRINCESS CRUISES | 07
Images, from far left Tom Cruise made waterfalls popular
again; Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom make pirate chic
cool; sailing the seven seas; picturesque Caribbean beach
Below Ursula Andress wearing that famous white bikini
hot
to
spot
the
perfect
setting
Visit the Caribbean and
you may experience an
overwhelming sense of déjà
vu. Feel as though you’ve
seen it all before? Well, you
probably have. As Tracy Keen
illustrates, filmmakers return
time and time again to the
region’s crystal clear waters
and pristine shores – and,
frankly, who can blame them?
08 | PRINCESS CRUISES | CARIBBEAN
W
ith its idyllic scenery and timeless
beauty, it’s easy to understand
why filmmakers are seduced by
the islands of the Caribbean. Indeed, the
islands have provided a backdrop for some
of the most memorable scenes in cinematic
history. Who could forget Ursula Andress as
Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr. No, emerging
from the sparkling Caribbean Sea in that
white bikini? Or, for that matter, Daniel
Craig’s homage to that scene in his own
Bond debut, Casino Royale?
The Bond series has a strong link with
the Caribbean – author Ian Fleming kept a
house in Jamaica, where he wrote the original
novels – and many of the islands have played
host to 007 on screen. The Bahamas has
featured in a handful of Bond movies, most
notably Thunderball and Casino Royale,
where much of the action was filmed in and
around Nassau. Take a trip over to Paradise
Island (aptly renamed – it was once known
as Hog Island) and Bond fans are sure to
discover some familiar sights.
CROC TALES & COCKTAILS
PIRATES’ HIDEOUTS
back to jack
Jamaica, meanwhile, was a key setting for
both Dr. No and Live and Let Die. For anyone
wanting to relive Andress’ most famous Dr. No
scene, Laughing Waters is where she rose from
the waves, while ‘Crab Key’ was in fact various
locations around Ocho Rios.
Interestingly, the Louisiana mangrove
swamp that featured in the Roger Moore film
Live and Let Die was actually Ross Kananga’s
crocodile farm (now Swaby’s Swamp Safari) just
outside Falmouth. The owner lent his name to
the film’s villain and it was the real Kananga
who ran over the crocodiles’ backs during
Bond’s memorable escape.
For lovers of 80s films, though, Jamaica
will always evoke memories of a youthful
Tom Cruise shaking things up in Cocktail.
Mixing and serving drinks on a pristine
Caribbean beach, dancing to reggae beats in
a steamy club, and cavorting with Elisabeth
Shue beneath a thundering waterfall, this film
put Jamaica firmly to the top of the holiday
list for a whole generation.
In more recent years, the Caribbean is famed
for one film series alone – Pirates of the
Caribbean, in which Johnny Depp’s turn as
irreverent Captain Jack Sparrow has now
become legendary (Depp cites The Rolling
Stones’ Keith Richards and cartoon character
Pepe le Pew as his inspiration). Happily,
visitors to the Caribbean today can easily
follow in Sparrow’s shambling footsteps.
If the harbours seem strangely familiar,
it’s probably because Port Royal was largely
filmed on location during the first three films.
The ocean scenes, meanwhile, were filmed in
a partially enclosed marina in the Bahamas,
which helpfully provided an ‘endless’ horizon.
The Bahamas played a bigger part in the
second film too, when the magic compass
sent the cast to this stunning archipelago. If
you need any persuasion as to its appeal, the
Bahamas is where Depp himself bought an
island (for a cool $3.5million – as you do).
Dominica played a starring role in Dead
Man’s Chest where it posed fictitiously as an
island inhabited by cannibals – the crew were
safe enough but their luggage was sent to
the Dominican Republic by mistake. Filming
took place all over this relatively untouched
destination, including the breathtaking Titou
Gorge in Morne Trois Pitons National Park
and Hampstead Beach – where a three-way
swordfight takes place against a backdrop of
coconut palms and lush jungle scenery.
Anyone wanting to witness the impressive
Cadiz fort in On Stranger Tides should head
to Puerto Rico – the Spanish fort was actually
Castillo San Cristóbal in Old San Juan.
With a fifth Pirates instalment pencilled in
for 2016, the Caribbean will be back on our big
screens in a couple of years. In the meantime,
why not discover its allure for yourself?
Be warned, though, you may find yourself
returning time after time too…
Images: corbis | Alamy | getty
The Caribbean is not just popular
with filmmakers – the stars swarm
there for holidays. Perhaps the
best-known celeb hotspot is
Barbados – with Simon Cowell,
Cilla Black, Sir Cliff Richard, the
Rooneys and Princes William and
Harry all regular visitors – but you
may also spot a familiar face or
two elsewhere. St. Barts, long a
favourite with the jet set, welcomes
celebrities including Bruce Willis,
Beyoncé and billionaire Roman
Abramovich, while genteel
Bermuda draws the likes of
John Travolta and Rod Stewart.
Jamaica – once a favourite of
Hollywood royalty Errol Flynn
and Grace Kelly – now plays host
to music royalty instead: Sir Paul
McCartney and David Bowie are
both said to frequent its shores.
CARIBBEAN | PRINCESS CRUISES | 09
W
a sensational
century
One hundred years ago the Panama Canal opened for business, and the world
hasn’t looked back since. Sarah Woods introduces us to this amazing shortcut
and looks ahead to the developments that will make its future even brighter
hen the Panama Canal began
operating in 1914, coal-fired
steamships and wooden sail ships
still ruled the seas, but the construction of the
world’s greatest shortcut soon revolutionised
maritime voyages forever. Today, this very
famous 50-mile cut-through slices the tiny
S-shaped Isthmus of Panama in two, carrying
over 5 percent of all global seafaring trade
through spectacular rocky jungle terrain.
Thousands of cruise ships and cargo
vessels pass through Panama’s trio of locks
each year, journeying from the Pacific Ocean
to the Caribbean Sea (or vice versa). Fuelled
by dreams of linking two oceans, the Panama
Canal raised transcontinental travel to a
new level, shaving 7,872 miles from a voyage
between New York and San Francisco – and
avoiding the tumultuous Cape Horn currents.
The American-led construction of the
canal began in 1904, about 20 years after the
French abandoned their efforts leaving just a
quarter of the interoceanic channel complete.
During the build, more than 25,000 labourers
died from yellow fever, malaria, dysentery and
sheer exhaustion – that’s about 500 men for
every mile. While dynamite was used to gouge
a trough between the vast rocky ridges, much
of the hewing was done by hand. Axe heads
and chisels have left their scars on the rutted,
ragged rock and shale of the Continental
Divide, reached via the skinniest stretch of the
Panama Canal – the Culebra Cut.
This eight-mile run extends from the
north end of the Pedro Miguel Locks to the
south edge of the expansive waters of Gatun
Lake, an abundant haven for exotic bird-life,
soaring ferns, towering palms and capuchin
monkeys. The jungles and the watershed
rivers that supply the canal are species
rich, the endemic flora and fauna of North
and South America blending and evolving
in Panama. The resulting biodiversity is
extraordinary, with the isthmus home to
more than 900 species of birds, 1,500 types
of trees and 10,000 different plants.
Ships from all over the globe transit the
Panama Canal each day, taking between
five and eight hours to navigate the locks.
Traversing each lock is an excitable affair:
flag-waving crowds gather to applaud and
cheer ships through to the sound of bells,
Main image Island Princess enters the great
Panama Canal Bottom left The shortcut
as it was during construction Below Early
days; aerial view; artist Gauguin Bottom
right Take a canoe to an Indian village
More than 4.5 million cubic yards of
concrete went into the construction
of the locks and dams while over 60
million pounds of dynamite was used
to excavate the Panama Canal.
The lowest transit toll paid in the Panama
Canal’s history was the $0.36 charged
to American traveller, adventurer and
author Richard Halliburton, who swam the
waterway in 1928.Tolls are calculated by
weight and Halliburton weighed about 150lbs.
horns and whistles. Each set of sluices bears
the name of the town where it was built:
Gatun on the Atlantic side, and Pedro Miguel
and Miraflores on the Pacific side. Concrete
chambers raise vessels from sea level to the
height of Gatun Lake – 26 metres above sea
level. Nearby, the mighty Gatun Dam forms
a crucial element of the canal’s efficiency:
blocking the River Chagres at its mouth to
form a colossal weir of jaw-dropping force
and magnitude with spellbinding cascades.
At a mind-blowing rate of 8,200 cubic feet per
second, the 52 million gallons of fresh water
used to lift the vessel are discharged into the
ocean with an awesome gush..
Now, in its centenary year, a widening
project has guaranteed the Panama Canal’s
future role in world travel. Larger locks and
wider conduits will ensure that even the
biggest cargo vessels and cruise liners can
pass with ease. The project, which began in
2007, will double the waterway’s capacity.
It has been a mammoth multi-billion dollar
undertaking, in the spirit of the original
construction: a bold and ambitious feat of
engineering set to change the world forever.
Just passing
through
If you love the journey as much as
arriving, try these incredible trips:
•T
ake an aerial tram ride up through
the Gamboa rainforest canopy.
When you reach the summit you’ll
be rewarded with spectacular views
of the jungle and the Panama Canal.
•E
njoy a historic journey on the
Panama Canal Railway in a
19th-century dome car, as you
retrace the route of the world’s
first transcontinental railway.
•B
oard a dugout canoe for a
memorable trip to an Embera
Indian village, within the Chagres
National Park, where you’ll witness
traditional music, dance and crafts.
10 | PRINCESS CRUISES | PANAMA CANAL
Images: Alamy | getty
French post-impressionist artist Paul
Gauguin worked as a labourer on the
Panama Canal in the late 1880s, shortly
before he left to find fame in Tahiti.
PANAMA CANAL | PRINCESS CRUISES | 11
Clockwise from
right Locals in their
sombreros; tequila!; try
a margarita onboard;
calavera souvenirs
for sale; Mexico’s
stunning coastline;
church in Taxco
flavour
san fran
enjoy the
Mexperience
It’s one of California’s most famous cities – home to Alcatraz, the
Golden Gate Bridge and an iconic cable car system – but, for foodies,
San Francisco offers other enticing highlights, as Donna Dailey explains
Immerse yourself in the
cultural wonderland that is
Mexico, says Samantha Wilson
– there’s nowhere like it!
M
exico’s vast lands are awash with its varied
and proud cultural heritage, which is usually
celebrated with a fervent ¡salud! and a glass
of tequila. The balmy and beautiful Pacific coast,
where large resorts give way to secluded villages,
wildlife havens and desert landscapes, is a cultural
melting pot, bringing together all the different
flavours of Mexico for you to sample…
Slow it down Outside of the busy resorts, a
blissful and traditional way of life ambles slowly on. In
shady plazas, outside rustic cafés and in the shadow
of great colonial churches, Mexican locals carry on
with their daily life unchanged for decades – why not
join them? From old Mazatlan’s colonial charm to San
Jose del Cabo and its 18th-century architecture, take
a delightful step back in time to a deep-rooted history
and laid-back way of life. Or, if you fancy a thrill or two
instead, look out for the cliff divers while you are in
Mazatlan – locals dive throughout the afternoon.
Images: corbis | Alamy
Pick it up Mexican markets are the heart of daily
life, combining a dazzling swirl of colour, spicy scents,
fruity flavours and weird and exotic trinkets. Creatures
of the deep make appearances at La Paz fish market,
spiky and ornate fruit decorates the Loreto Farmers
Market and handicrafts from across the country paint
a charming picture of its cultural heritage: silver from
Taxco, glass from Jalisco and hammocks from Merida
can be found alongside traditional leather huaraches
(sandals), calavera skull souvenirs and vibrant pottery.
12 | PRINCESS CRUISES | MEXICO
Go exploring Getting lost amid the region’s
hideaways and experiencing the rustic yet tropical vibe
is to really understand Mexico’s Pacific coast. Pangas
(water taxis) shuttle visitors to the secluded idyll of
Yelapa, a short ride from Puerto Vallarta, where car-free
streets just beg to be walked barefoot. Todos Santos,
an hour from bustling Cabo San Lucas, oozes quaint
village life, unspoilt beaches and surfing bohemia,
while Stone Island is a favourite haunt of locals who
come to lounge on the sprawling sand beaches.
Be entertained
The notes of traditional
ballads waft along on the warm breeze as mariachi
bands entertain locals and visitors in the restaurants,
cafés and seafront promenades. Dressed in traditional
charro outfits the brass and string ensembles perform
to the crowds, adding a sweet and undeniably Mexican
tune to a rosy pink sunset. Zocalos (main squares) are
the heart of cultural and political life in Mexican towns
and a likely place to bump into a live mariachi band.
Tequila time!
Few things are more Mexican
than a glass of locally distilled tequila and a chilli-infused
burrito, and locals are hugely proud of their fiery culinary
ancestry. While the tequila worm isn’t top on everyone’s
list, the region’s seafood should be and local eateries –
from gourmet restaurants to beachfront, thatched-roof
palapas – cook up fresh, sweet shrimps and seafood in
more ways than Mexicans have fiestas. Wash it all down
with a glass of Mexico’s finest, straight up if you can, just
as the locals do. ¡Ay carumba!
take it
from
me
SIPPING RITAS
If downing tequila seems
like a dreadful waste,
you should probably
be sipping margaritas
instead. Enjoy Mexico’s
favourite cocktail with
us onboard, where there
are speciality margaritas
to choose from. From
the 24K Gold Rita made
with 1800 Tequila to the
Melon Margarita made
with melon liqueur, you’ll
be spoilt for choice!
“One of my favourite places
is the Eagle Cafe. When they
wanted to tear it down to
build a parking garage, they
got a big crane and lifted
the whole building across
the street and put it on the
second floor at the entrance
to Pier 39. They serve a great
corned beef hash platter, and
it hasn’t really changed since
the 1920s. It’s a piece
of San Francisco history.”
Rich Ramirez, long-time
Bay Area resident
S
an Francisco is foodie heaven. Whether
it’s just-off-the-boat fresh seafood,
authentic ethnic cuisine or an organic
local snack, the city serves it up in settings
as tantalising as the food itself.
Start at the Ferry Building, a food lover’s
holy grail. This historic venue is chock-full
of cafés and shops selling artisan breads,
cheeses, and everything from oysters to
olive oil. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
(Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
features more regional specialities.
Two blocks away on California Street, the
bustling Tadich Grill is California’s oldest
restaurant, dating back to gold rush days.
It serves fantastic seafood in a beautiful
old-San Francisco setting. Fisherman’s
Wharf and Pier 39 offer more great seafood
options, from casual crab shacks – where
you can sample the local Dungeness crab
– to Neptune’s Waterfront Grill with its
stunning views across the bay.
Buena Vista Cafe is a Fisherman’s Wharf
landmark, right by the Hyde Street cable car
stop. Their BV Irish Coffee is so famous they
serve up to 2,000 a day. Nearby at Ghirardelli
Square, visit the original Ghirardelli chocolate
manufactory and ice cream shop to indulge in a
hot fudge sundae or something equally sweet.
America’s original Chinatown is in
San Francisco, and the choice of Chinese
restaurants in this colourful quarter is as long
as their multi-page menus. Celebrity chef
Anthony Bourdain raved about the crispyfried salt and pepper crab at R&G Lounge on
Kearney Street. It’s best paired with a lychee
martini. For those who have trouble choosing
what to order in Chinatown, let the servers
at House of Nanking, three blocks down,
select the dishes for a delicious surprise.
North Beach, once the haunt of the
bohemian Beat Generation writers, is the
city’s Little Italy. This neighbourhood is
brimming with regional Italian restaurants.
Good picks include Mona Lisa, the Stinking
Rose garlic restaurant and Caffe Sport, which
serves Sicilian specialities. Caffe Trieste
on Vallejo Street was the first West Coast
espresso house. Along with a great cuppa, it
offers jukebox opera. Only in San Francisco!
Main image The iconic Golden Gate Bridge Above, from
left Fisherman’s Wharf offers myriad dining experiences;
sourdough soup; Caffe Trieste offers opera and espresso
SAN FRANCISCO | PRINCESS CRUISES | 13
after
dUSK
Make the most of a latenight trip to Seattle, says
Tracy Keen – it’s when
the city comes alive
W
ELCOME TO SEATTLE,
Washington, known as the
Gateway to Alaska but an equally
compelling destination in its own right. As
well as being blessed with some fabulous
bars, restaurants and clubs, the Emerald
City offers some unique ways to spend an
evening. AT SUNDOWN try to catch one of
the free early evening Shakespeare in the
park performances (during summer) or, if
the Bard’s not your bag, visit the outdoor
Olympic Sculpture Park instead – it closes
half an hour after sunset all year round and
there’s no more pleasant place to wander
at dusk. NIGHT VISION goggles aren’t
required at the iconic Space Needle. Take a
trip up 520 feet to the Observation Deck to
see Seattle lit up like Christmas. It’s open
until midnight and the view is phenomenal.
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY at the Century
Ballroom, where dinner and dancing combine
to create an enchanting evening. Join in with
a dance session (the ballroom covers an array
of styles, from tap to tango, salsa to swing)
then head across the hall to The Tin Table
restaurant, which offers late dining until
1am – try the amusingly titled ‘floozy burger’.
SPOOKY OR SINFUL stories are revealed
at Seattle’s themed night tours at Pike Place
Market. The Market Night Ghost Tour offers
a ghoulish look at the city while the Seattle
Lust Tour divulges details of Seattle’s seedy
past. COFFEE AND COCKTAILS are Seattle
staples. Enjoy them both at Liberty in Capitol
Take a trip up 520 feet
to see Seattle lit up like
Christmas. It’s open
until midnight and the
view is phenomenal…
Hill; in addition to serving every cocktail
known to man (and then some) all made from
scratch, this late-night favourite also brews
coffee until 2am every morning. If you fancy
mixing your drinks, pitch up at Dilettante
Broadway instead – the hot chocolate and
cakes are to die for, and the espresso martinis
are nothing short of spectacular.
Images: corbis | shutterstock
Main image Seattle skyline
at dusk, featuring the
Space Needle and Mount
Rainier Inset images, left to
right Explore the Olympic
Sculpture Park as the sun
sets; Pike Street Market by
night; coffee plays a large role
in Seattle culture – after all,
it’s the home of Starbucks
14 | PRINCESS CRUISES | SEATTLE
Main image Driving a pack of huskies
across the crisp Alaska snow Right A
carved totem pole Below A sled dog
deep in concentration; an Alaskan child
dressed for the winter Inset images
From whales to rails, Alaska offers
some incredible experiences
across the
tundra
Roger Norum takes us along for the ride of
his life, driving huskies in the wilds of Alaska
“The dogs were
still raring to go,
but first they would
have to get a taste
of that very human
pastime – taking
things easy”
16 | PRINCESS CRUISES | ALASKA
out with ice-white Siberian huskies, beautiful
beasts who share their home with brown
bears, muskrats, lynx and moose. This part
of the world is just breathtaking, the graceful,
mesmerising countryside beckoning with
gorgeous blue light, warm camaraderie and
myriad outdoor activities, all set amid a
wintery white playground of glaciers,
fjords, forests and frozen lakes.
Dog sledding, Alaska’s state sport, is best
around gold rush towns Dyea and Skagway
near the 76-mile-long Hubbard Glacier, North
America’s largest tidewater glacier. These parts
of the state are renowned for their wildlife: the
Denver Glacier dog camp, for example, is home
to nearly 300 Alaskan Huskies and puppies,
some of which have competed in world-famous
races like the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.
While not physically strenuous, mushing
requires that you use your entire body to
steer and drive; concentration, alertness and
peripheral vision are necessary throughout
the day – holding onto the reins is harder
than you might think. These tours can last
anywhere from a several-hour light drive
across nearby meadows to longer, more
involved journeys where you really get to
know your pack and take full responsibility
for your team – from mushing, taming and
prepping to feeding and caring for the dogs.
As our group pulls over for a snack, a
tall pine tree sends a bright white blanket
of snow onto the trails, covering a pair of
fresh fox tracks. A family of Alaskans trudges
past us on foot as they head towards their
cabin. The only sound to break the eerie
silence of the North is the swish-swish of the
sled’s runners breaking the clumps of snow
and excited panting from the pack.
The dogs were still raring to go, but first
they would have to get a taste of that very
human pastime – taking things easy. I wanted
a moment to just take it all in. After all, it’s
not every day you take the ride of your life.
Five of the best… Alaska adventures
1.
2.
ead out onto Alaska waters for an exciting Auke Bay
H
whale-watching cruise – with whale sightings guaranteed!
3.
4.
5.
Hop onboard a high-speed catamaran into Prince William
Sound to witness incredible wildlife and spot 26 glaciers.
Take a thrilling flightseeing tour over Wrangell St. Elias
Park for a birds’ eye view of its immense mountains,
valleys, glaciers and mud volcanoes.
mbark on a railway journey with a difference, rising nearly
E
3,000ft to White Pass Summit for incomparable views.
trap on a set of crampons and take a memorable hike
S
across the ice blue Worthington Glacier.
Images: 4corners | Alamy
O
utside the lodge, the huskies are
getting restless in their pens; the
mushers are busy rigging, feeding
and prepping the pack for the day-long safari.
“Are you ready for four-paw drive?” asks Bruce,
our guide. And in a few minutes, we’re off,
thrashing through an otherworldly boreal forest
of old-growth cedar, hemlock and Sitka spruce.
I was in the middle of steering a pack of
sled dogs across the tundral plains of Alaska’s
vast wilderness. Each of us was at the helm
of our own dog sled, and though a guide was
showing us how to drive and tend to our dogs,
learning how to work as a team had come on
its own. There is an unforgettable, distinctive
wind-in-your-face exhilaration that comes
from co-mushing a team of huskies through
Alaska’s snowy hinterlands – a shot of Arctic
adrenaline in which you’re almost as excited
as the giddy, yelping canines you’re driving.
Home to the long-distance Iditarod Trail
Sled Dog Race, Alaska is perfect for a day trip
ALASKA | PRINCESS CRUISES | 17
Clockwise from main image Lighthouse at Acadia
National Park, Maine; maple syrup on fruity pancakes;
beautiful Cape Breton island, Nova Scotia; Boston’s
Faneuil Hall; maple tree sap is boiled into maple syrup
Sweet and sappy
From the characterful cities of Canada to the Old World elegance of New England, it’s impossible
to resist the truly unique allure of the East Coast. Louise Harvey challenges you to try…
E
very autumn, a remarkable display of
colour works its way along the East
Coast of Canada and New England.
Leaves turn from a rich green into myriad
fiery shades, the spectacle blazing its way
along the coastline, drawing in visitors like
a flare. Phenomenal foliage aside, this region
has more than enough to attract people year
round: stunning natural scenery, fascinating
heritage, and a charm all of its own.
HIGHLAND HIGHLIGHTS
North of the border, Nova Scotia has a
culture that sets it apart from the rest of the
East Coast. Halifax, its capital, is a city built
by seafarers and is aptly filled with many
examples of its maritime legacy. Overlooked
by its imposing citadel, the city’s historic
waterfront properties have been lovingly
restored and wandering round them gives
a fascinating insight into times past.
Cape Breton, meanwhile, has a mystical
atmosphere, its Celtic heritage evident in
the look and feel of this magical destination.
Accessible from the port of Sydney and the
only place on the continent where Gaelic
is still spoken, visitors to Cape Breton can
immerse themselves in Celtic song, dance
and storytelling, or explore Bras d’Or Lake,
with its sparkling waters, coves and islands.
18 | PRINCESS CRUISES | CANADA & NEW ENGLAND
THAT JE NE SAIS QUOI
Take a trip down the coast to Québec and the
atmosphere is more Gallic than Gaelic. In
fact, wander through Québec City – taking in
the Normandy-style architecture, the turrets
of Château Frontenac and the animated
chatter of local francophones – and you may
think you have stepped straight into France.
Old Québec is the only walled city north
of Mexico; stroll its cobbled streets or take
a horse-drawn carriage through town for a
real sense of Québec’s je ne sais quoi.
Nearby Ville Saguenay also offers Old
World appeal, the picturesque towns leading
to a region of outstanding natural beauty:
scenery and its lighthouses, designed to
warn sailors of its rocky shores. The iconic
Portland Light Head is the state’s oldest
lighthouse, built in 1791. The real star of
Maine’s coastline, though, is the local lobster
– visitors rarely leave without having a taste.
New England is characterised by
its quaint architecture, white clapboard
storybook houses rubbing shoulders with
great mansions built from brick and stone.
The buildings here are some of the nation’s
oldest, a testament to the history of the
region. Further down the New England
coast lays one of its most historic cities –
Boston, often described as the Athens of
America for its cultural significance.
today. Indeed, like much of the East Coast,
past and present blend harmoniously here to
create places with true character and charm.
And if that’s not enough to draw you in?
Well, there’s always the leaves…
PAST AND PRESENT
Saguenay Fjord National Park. Here a
65-mile-long fjord, carved by ancient glaciers,
cuts through Québec, its waters home to fish,
seals and four species of whale while its
surrounding forests shelter wolves, black
bears, beavers, moose and more.
MAINE ATTRACTION
Across the border too, natural wonders
abound at Acadia National Park near Bar
Harbor, Maine, where 47,000 acres beg to
be explored. Maine is known for its rugged
The city that began the American Revolution,
Boston is filled with significant spots; see
16 of them on the Freedom Trail, a two-anda-half-mile stretch that takes in key historical
sites. An equally fascinating, if somewhat
darker, history awaits in nearby Salem, where
the infamous witch trials took place.
Far from being stuck in the past, though,
Boston and its surrounding towns are vibrant
destinations, with much to excite today’s
visitors. You only have to wander around
Harvard Square in Cambridge, with its
bustling shops and cafés, outdoor chess
games and general air of academia, to get a
glimpse of the contemporary culture there
CANADA & NEW ENGLAND | PRINCESS CRUISES | 19
Images: corbis
East
Coast
charm
Maple syrup is synonymous with
Canada and New England. In
fact, the maple is so significant
to Canadians that the national
emblem is a maple leaf. The syrup
is created from the sap of the
maple tree – in colder climates,
the starch that collects in the
trunks and roots of the tree before
winter turns into sugar in the
sap during the spring. The maple
syrup capital is Québec – about
three-quarters of the world’s
maple syrup originates there.
It’s well known that maple
syrup is a perfect partner for
bacon, sausages, pancakes and
waffles, but have you ever thought
of having a maple cocktail? Or
maple butter on your toast? They
have on the East Coast! You can
even buy maple tea there. And
hot maple milk is allegedly even
better than hot chocolate. Real
aficionados head to a sugar shack
– aka sap houses or sugar cabins
– for delicious maple taffy made
the traditional way: molten syrup
poured directly onto cold snow.
By Charles O’Rear
Nikon FE2 (film) / 85mm lens
In the foreground are the vineyards of Franciscan Estate along Silverado Trail near St. Helena, California,
where I live. In the distance are the eastern hills of Napa Valley, which reach up 1,600 feet. Napa Valley
is surrounded by hills which, along with the influence of marine air from San Francisco Bay, bring ideal
temperatures to grape growing and the great wines of Napa Valley.
Charles is a renowned photographer and author of Napa Valley: the Land, the Wine, the People. For
more of his work, visit wineviews.com or go to visitnapavalley.com to learn more about Napa Valley.
PC2991
BEHIND
THE
LENS
wine country
napa valley, california