Laura - Cruise Specialist Scandinavian Capitals Cruise A peek into my heritage started with a Scandinavian Capitals Cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean's, Legend of the Sea. We sailed out of Harwich, England across the North Sea to Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Copenhagen. We also had the added pleasure of spending 2 nights in St. Petersburg and 1 night in Tallinn, Estonia. I fell in love with Tallinn and would love to go back there. It is a clean and charming city that has emerged from the Soviet block and is well on it's way to becoming a great commerce city. The old city center is a maze of streets leading to a large square with outdoor seating for cafes and shops. The people are very friendly and are anxious to make everyone feel welcome. This cruise is perfect for Americans, as many of us have roots that began in this area and it gives you a snapshot of the countries. The shore excursions were all well done and very informative. Panama Canal Cruise Have you ever wondered how it would be to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in a day? Well, the Panama Canal Cruise is the best way to do it. I sat on our veranda and watched as we inched through the locks with very little room to spare. The Norwegian Cruise Line maiden voyage on the Norwegian Star was a thrill of a lifetime. The tropics of the Canal Zone are very impressive. This voyage had many wonderful ports of call. We spent Thanksgiving in Aruba. Other ports of call were Caracaras, Columbia, Acapulco, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, San Diego and ended in Los Angeles. Alaska Cruise The 7 night Gulf of Alaska cruise out of Vancouver was a delight. We took the Quick Shuttle from SeaTac Airport to the cruise terminal in Vancouver. What an easy way to travel. The Amtrak out of Seattle is also a fun way to get to Vancouver for a cruise. The beauty of the Inside Passage and Alaska shores amaze me each time I travel this route. The ports of Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka and Seward are all interesting and different in many ways. One of our most unforgettable sights was the vast Hubbard Glacier. We saw it calf a number of times and the "crack" sound that the ice makes as it breaks away from the glacier and falls into the bay is unique. Alaska can be reached so easily from Seattle. We have ships leaving from Seattle and Vancouver every week through out the late spring, summer and early fall. Do not miss this opportunity to see our 50th state and its beauty. I recommend that you consider a cruise/tour and explore the interior of Alaska. What a difference it makes in your view of Alaska. Caribbean / Mexico Cruise One of the best ways to experience the Caribbean is to cruise its waters, stopping in different ports and going to the beach or touring the islands. I have been on many Caribbean cruises and have loved all the different ports and cultures that you have a chance to experience. You have the chance to experience Mexico as well, depending on the cruise you choose. I have taken cruises from Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Pt Canaveral, Houston, New Orleans, San Juan PR, Los Angeles and San Diego. (206) 283-1565 / (800) 294-8747 FAX (206) 282-6180 Hours: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, Monday - Friday | Saturdays 11:00 am - 2:30 pm E-mail: susan@magnoliatravel.com