I'm so excited about the opportunity to take Norwegian's 7-night island cruise!  Steve and I have been to Hawaii 4 times, but we always said if we got a chance to go back we would like to take the Pride of America cruise. It just sounds SO much better and easier and cheaper than island-hopping.  I mean, to see 4 islands in 8 days would involve a lot of bag-schlepping and sitting around airports -- no thanks!  Only one or two islands is really practical to cover in a week -- so the cruise should be just perfect. Plus, with the meals included in the cruise price, we won'...

I use leftover grilled boneless chicken breasts for this (2 or 3 ought to do for 3 or 4 people): Other ingredients: 1 can white beans 1 can diced green chiles, mild 1 can white hominy 1/2 small yellow onion, chopped 1 teaspoon diced garlic 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground chili powder 1 chicken bouillon cube A few fresh cilantro leaves chopped up, optional In a soup pot, saute the onion and garlic in a couple of tablespoons of oil (I use olive oil).  When tender put in the canned items and add enough water to make the consistency that you want (2 or 3 cans).&n...

I know I write about it all the time, but it's my favorite topic, really -- where  do you want to go?  The world is so big and there are so many fascinating places to see and people to meet. I have friends who want to sail an Eastern Mediterranean cruise and spend some time in Istanbul.  I want to do this, too.  I'm not sure if my travel budget can support it next year, but it's worth exploring all the options.  The thing is, if we do it, I want to do it right and have a balcony stateroom on whatever ship we choose.  Our favorite right now is a Nautica sa...

My sister Becky painted this from a photograph I gave her.  The shot was taken from a balcony at the back of the Celebrit Century as we sailed away from Miami... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=30576709&id=1445804272

When Steve grills chicken outdoors, I have him cook a BIG package -- then I make these delicious subs with the leftovers: Sub buns of your choice (I get these wonderful "tomato hoagie rolls" at the Kroger bakery) Leftover chicken breasts or steaks from the grill Tomatoes, onion, green pepper, avocadoes, and stone-ground mustard Provolone cheese slices Heat oven to 350 degrees Slice up some green pepper and onion and saute in a tablespoon or two of olive oil.  Slice up the chicken or steak and add to the pan.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a teaspoon of dried oregano f...

I think I'm getting pretty good at this -- once the airlines starting charging to check bags, I went down to one checked bag and one carry-on.  It wasn't easy, because I am a shoe lover, but I will share how I do it now: First, a few basics to keep in mind:  * A 7-night cruise means you have 8 days of clothes to figure out. * You can pack for 5 days: do laundry on the ship on day 4 of the cruise.  I wash a pair or two of shorts or slacks, 3 tops, underwear, a couple of pairs of socks, my pajamas or sleep t-shirt, work-out wear, and maybe my swimsuit.  Keep it to...

Great news!  With these small-ship cruise lines, you can't wait too long to book -- they fill up fast and the prices just keep going up the closer you get to the sailing date. We don't have catalogues yet, so just give us a call for more details and let's start taking a look at the right Azamara Club cruise for you...