Canada Day 2020 Goes Virtual

The 153rd anniversary of Canada, July 1st, will be quite different than other celebrations.  Due to the pandemic, virtual celebrations will be held across the country.  Some public celebrations are still scheduled at this time - please visit the official websites for any specific venue.  See websites below for some of the virtual activities taking place from coast to coast.

Canada Day, frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday", commemorates the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.

Canada Day is very similar to the  July 4th holiday in the United States.  Most communities across the country normally host organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts.

Canada Day Websites

• Official Website for Canada Day
• Canada Day at Home Calgary
• Canada Day City of Charlottetown
• Canada Day in Halifax Region
• Canada Day in Downtown Kingston
• Canada Day Celebration | Niagara Falls
• Canada Day | Ottawa Tourism
• Canada Day City of Pelham
• Canada Day Quebec
• Canada Day Vaughan
• Canada Day Victoria
• Canada Day Whiterock
• Canada Day at the Forks (Winnipeg)

We have had the pleasure of visiting several Canadian cities during our cruise vacations.  These included ports of call on multiple Alaskan cruises,  Canada and New England cruises, and even Transatlantic cruises.  One of the highlights was when we extended our Alaskan cruise with a pre-cruise exploration of the Canadian Rockies.

Have you ever ridden on a glacier?  You can while visiting the Columbia Icefield Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Specially designed vehicles, Massive Brewster Ice Explorers, take passengers on a remarkable excursion onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier.

Have you smelled flowers or gotten up close to thousands of unique flowers in bloom?  You can at one of Canada's botanical gardens such as the fifty acre Butchart Gardens located near Victoria, British Columbia. You'll see stunning floral show gardens and a National Historic Site of Canada.

British Columbia is known for floral gardens.  Minter Gardens, which has since closed, thrilled us with thousands of flowers and gardens.

Would you like to visit a fishing village, have some fresh lobster, or visit a lighthouse?  Nova Scotia has much to offer including the Bay of Fundy and many beaches where you can build sandcastles, fly kites, take a surf lesson, or just walk barefoot in the sand.

For the maritime lover, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, where you can visit the Titanic ~ The Unsinkable Ship and Halifax, Nova Scotia exhibit and learn about the role the people of Halifax played that fateful day.

Would you like to walk where birds fly and squirrels hang out?  You can in Vancouver, Canada, at Capilano Suspension Bridge and Treetops Adventure.  I'm afraid of bridges, but I had a great time crossing a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver, British Columbia's most popular tourist attractions.  Odds are that unless you extended your cruise vacation in Vancouver, you probably didn't visit this attraction during your cruise vacation.

There is so much to see and do in Canada, I hope that you'll plan a visit in the near future and get to know more about this North American country.   We have only scratched the surface in this article.   There are other Canadian destinations featured in past blog posts and also on our Facebook Fan Page.

To help you plan your day, we are posting this early.  

To all our Canadian friends .... Happy Canada Day 2020.

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Happy Canada Day 2019

Canada Day, frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday", commemorates the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.

Canada Day is very similar to the  July 4th holiday in the United States.  Most communities across the country will host organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts.

Learn more:  Official Website for Canada Day

We have had the pleasure of visiting several Canadian cities during our cruise vacations.  These included ports of call on multiple Alaskan cruises,  Canada and New England cruises, and even Transatlantic cruises.  One of the highlights was when we extended our Alaskan cruise with a pre-cruise exploration of the Canadian Rockies.

Have you ever ridden on a glacier?  You can while visiting the Columbia Icefield Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Specially designed vehicles, Massive Brewster Ice Explorers, take passengers on a remarkable excursion onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier.

Have you smelled flowers or gotten up close to thousands of unique flowers in bloom?  You can at one of Canada's botanical gardens such as the fifty acre Butchart Gardens located near Victoria, British Columbia. You'll see stunning floral show gardens and a National Historic Site of Canada.

British Columbia is known for floral gardens.  Minter Gardens, which has since closed, thrilled us with thousands of flowers and gardens.

Would you like to visit a fishing village, have some fresh lobster, or visit a lighthouse?  Nova Scotia has much to offer including the Bay of Fundy and many beaches where you can build sandcastles, fly kites, take a surf lesson, or just walk barefoot in the sand.

For the maritime lover, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, where you can visit the Titanic ~ The Unsinkable Ship and Halifax, Nova Scotia exhibit and learn about the role the people of Halifax played that fateful day.

Would you like to walk where birds fly and squirrels hang out?  You can in Vancouver, Canada, at Capilano Suspension Bridge and Treetops Adventure.  I'm afraid of bridges, but I had a great time crossing a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver, British Columbia's most popular tourist attractions.  Odds are that unless you extended your cruise vacation in Vancouver, you probably didn't visit this attraction during your cruise vacation.

There is so much to see and do in Canada, I hope that you'll plan a visit in the near future and get to know more about this North American country.   We have only scratched the surface in this article.   There are other Canadian destinations featured in past blog posts and also on our Facebook Fan Page.

To all our Canadian friends .... Happy Canada Day 2019.

Happy Mother's Day 2019

 Happy Mother's Day

Today across America, we celebrate our mothers, both living and deceased.   It is fitting that honor be given to mothers, for without them, we wouldn't be here.   Setting aside a day to honor mothers dates back centuries and can be traced to the 1600's in Greece, where there were celebrations of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.  The history is quite fascinating.  To read more, I'd suggest reading the following article on the web:  The History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day as we know it today was first officially proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on May 9, 1914, when he made an official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. The tradition of giving a Mother's Day Proclamation continues to this day with each President of the United States doing so every year.

Mother's Day isn't only celebrated in the United States, but across the world.  There are several different dates however as can be seen here.

If you are looking for something different to give to mom this year, it's not too late.

Would she like to get away, with or without the family?    Perhaps she would like a few days of pampering and just relaxing on a cruise vacation.  Talk to the rest of the family and see what they think.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on your special day.   We hope that you enjoy your day with family and friends.

So what do you give a mother who has given you the most precious gift, life?   It is pretty common to give moms flowers, candy, jewelry, greeting cards, and dinner on Mother's Day.   Often young children give something made in school or do little things, like cleaning up their rooms.   To the mom, it typically doesn't matter how big or small the gift is.  In fact, they might be just as happy with just the words "I love you mom".

Special Canada Day 2017

The 150th anniversary of Canada, also known as the 150th anniversary of Confederation and promoted by the Canadian government as Canada 150, occurs in 2017 as Canada marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian Confederation.  This would be a perfect time to plan a cruise or land tour of Canada.

Canada Day, frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday", commemorates the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.

Canada Day is very similar to the  July 4th holiday in the United States.  Most communities across the country will host organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts.

Learn more:  Official Website for Canada Day

We have had the pleasure of visiting several Canadian cities during our cruise vacations.  These included ports of call on multiple Alaskan cruises,  Canada and New England cruises, and even Transatlantic cruises.  One of the highlights was when we extended our Alaskan cruise with a pre-cruise exploration of the Canadian Rockies.

Have you ever ridden on a glacier?  You can while visiting the Columbia Icefield Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Specially designed vehicles, Massive Brewster Ice Explorers, take passengers on a remarkable excursion onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier.

Have you smelled flowers or gotten up close to thousands of unique flowers in bloom?  You can at one of Canada's botanical gardens such as the fifty acre Butchart Gardens located near Victoria, British Columbia. You'll see stunning floral show gardens and a National Historic Site of Canada.

British Columbia is known for floral gardens.  Minter Gardens, which has since closed, thrilled us with thousands of flowers and gardens.

Would you like to visit a fishing village, have some fresh lobster, or visit a lighthouse?  Nova Scotia has much to offer including the Bay of Fundy and many beaches where you can build sandcastles, fly kites, take a surf lesson, or just walk barefoot in the sand.

For the maritime lover, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, where you can visit the Titanic ~ The Unsinkable Ship and Halifax, Nova Scotia exhibit and learn about the role the people of Halifax played that fateful day.

Would you like to walk where birds fly and squirrels hang out?  You can in Vancouver, Canada, at Capilano Suspension Bridge and Treetops Adventure.  I'm afraid of bridges, but I had a great time crossing a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver, British Columbia's most popular tourist attractions.  Odds are that unless you extended your cruise vacation in Vancouver, you probably didn't visit this attraction during your cruise vacation.

There is so much to see and do in Canada, I hope that you'll plan a visit in the near future and get to know more about this North American country.   We have only scratched the surface in this article.   There are other Canadian destinations featured in past blog posts and also on our Facebook Fan Page.

To all our Canadian friends .... Happy Canada Day 2017.

What To Do for Summer Vacation

Let's Go On a 
Summer Cruise ....
Where?  How Long? When?
What Cruise Line / Ship?

As Summer officially arrived this past weekend, thoughts turn to vacation time with your family.  The kids are out of school, so you don't need to worry about getting back in time for classes.

You've decided a cruise would be something you'd like to do as a family.  This would be your first cruise - so where do you start.

This Week on Twitter:  #cruisechat #FriFotos #summer

Planning your summer get-a-way may seem like a daunting task, but the Twitter cruise community is coming to the rescue.   Today on Twitter, we participated in #cruisechat.  It is a weekly chat that is strictly focused on every aspect of cruising.  This week's topic was #summer.

Later this week,  Twitter event that we participate in, #FriFotos, is also featuring #summer as its theme.  If you view the tweets for these two Twitter events you might get some starting ideas for your own summer vacation.


#cruisechat Tuesday, June 24th 

To get you started with your planning, we'll share with you our responses to the questions posed in this week's Twitter chat.  This is a fun-filled hour that you don't want to miss,

Q1: When you think of a summer cruise, what's the first image that comes to mind? Why?
A1:  first thing that comes to mind is one of the cruise lines private beaches

Q2: What destination is atop your summer cruise bucket list? Why?
A2: #Europe tops #summer #cruise destinations All your favorite ships are repositioned

Q3: What cruise line/ship are you planning to sail for your next summer cruise? Why?
A3: Maybe @CelebrityCruise back to the #galapagos Bartolome Islands pictured here


(Image on left: Bartolome Islands)

Q4: #CruiseChat Photo Break: Share a favorite family photo from a summer (or other) cruise
A4: @SimonTravels @CruiseNorwegian #bermuda Hartley's Undersea Walk #adventure #cruise #summer


Bermuda is one of our favorite destinations.  The people there are so friendly and there is plenty of activities for everyone in the family.

See our Shutterfly share site for more pics.

Q5: Why is a cruise a better choice than other summer vacation options for your family?
A5: #summer #cruise to #Europe is educational & fun for entire family. Easier to get around & see more. #cruisechat   

(Image on left - Mykonos, Greece)

Q6: Which family members do you think enjoy a summer cruise more: the parents or the kids? Why?
Agree with this RT @SimonTravels @MSCCruisesUSA: A6. Trick question! They both enjoy it equally, but in different ways! 

Q7: Why is a summer cruise the perfect choice for a family reunion? Which of your relatives would enjoy it most?  
A7: Family reunions on a #cruise perfect for multi-generational families Time together without the planning fuss


Q8: What food or beverage item would you seek out first on your summer cruise? Why?
A8: If on @CarnivalCruise first food to seek out would be a burger from Guys #summer #cruise

(Guys Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise)


Q9: Lots of ships in the Caribbean this summer mean lower prices. What's the best deal you've gotten on a cruise?
A9: @CelebrityCruise Remember me suggesting #galapagos for #summer We used Captain's Club Elite status discount :)

We've shared our answers with you here, but this was a very active chat, so be sure to check out the recap link above or simply search on Twitter.  #cruisechat will take a break for the 4th of July, but will be back on July 8th, so be sure to check back then for more cruise info.

We hope this gave you some ideas for your summer vacation.  We'd be happy to discuss any of them in detail with you if you'd like to contact us.

Meanwhile, you can Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc for more ideas.

Spring Cruise Ideas 1

Where Is Chris - Featured Spring Destination #1 It's a gorgeous May morning where I am.I've just arrived at my destination after an eight hour flight across the Atlantic. The excitement is building. Where Am I? I’m not going to tell you right away. Close your eyes and imagine you are standing next to me while I paint a picture of what I saw today, and we will see if you can figure it out. Arriving early in the embarkation port ... I decided to fly in a few days early before my cruise started to visit a city I had heard about but never visited. It is the starting point for many cruises and is a very beautiful place. There is plenty of entertainment, places to see and things to do. You will not be disappointed in exploring it. Exploring near the hotel ... We arrived at the hotel and registered, but our room would not be available until around 3 PM in the afternoon.   I am sitting in a sidewalk café enjoying the beautiful weather and a magnificent cup of coffee.   There are several attractions within walking distance of our hotel.  We decided to walk to our first site.  It takes us about 20 minutes to get there. A City of Sounds ... From the early morning when the streets fill with cars, taxis, and motor scooters, all blaring their horns and weaving in and out of traffic, the sidewalks are overrun with office workers rushing to their desks with the first coffee of the day.  By 10 am everyone from tourists to shop keepers are awake and making this place an explosion of sound. History Comes Alive ... This port is alive with history and if you don’t have a plan, you can miss out on seeing most of the most important sights. The bulk of the city lies on the east side of the Tiber River which meanders through the town. However, several very important landmarks are located on the other side. The city’s various quarters are linked by large boulevards that have been laid out since the late 19th century. St. Peter’s Basilica; the Vatican; the Castel Sant’Angelo and the colorful Trastevere neighborhoods are among the attractions located west of the Tiber River.   Where am I? ... By now you should have figured out that I am in the eternal city of Rome. It is not possible to see all this city has to offer in 1 day so it is best to schedule the visit for a few days. The list of attractions to see reads like a highlight reel of the ancients. The Coliseum; the Pantheon; St. Peter’s square; Trevi Fountain; Spanish Steps; Sistine Chapel are just a few sights that must be seen.   After you’ve visited the Coliseum, the Pantheon, made a wish at the Trevi fountain, find a café at twilight and watch everything turn from pink to gold and copper. This is the time when a truly different Rome comes alive. Night time in Rome is truly a different atmosphere to experience. Time for you to continue the exploration ... Diary of Cruise with Chris to Greek Isles (click for more posts and photos) Port Blog Posts Photo Albums 1 Pre-Cruise Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy Our Rome Adventure Begins Day 1 Pre-cruise in Rome Exploring Palatine Hill and Roman Forum When in Rome Relaxing at Trevi Fountain Visiting Vatican Museum St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican Special Vatican Exhibit Pope John Paul II Walking Tour of Rome from Vatican As Night Falls in Rome Rome to Civitavecchia by Train Sail Away From Civitavecchia Rome - Colosseum Album Palatine Hill - Roman Forum Trevi Fountain Vatican Museum Line Vatican Museum Part 2 St. Peter's Vatican Pope John Paul II Exhibit Walking from Vatican Piazza Navona  Rome at Night Let me help you plan a cruise vacation which starts or ends in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.  Search:  Cruises that Depart from Rome

Happy Mother's Day 2014

 Happy Mother's Day

Tomorrow across America, we celebrate our mothers, both living and deceased.   It is fitting that honor be given to mothers, for without them, we wouldn't be here.   Setting aside a day to honor mothers dates back centuries and can be traced to the 1600's in Greece, where there were celebrations of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.  The history is quite fascinating.  To read more, I'd suggest reading the following article on the web:  The History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day as we know it today was first officially proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on May 9, 1914, when he made an official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. The tradition of giving a Mother's Day Proclamation continues to this day with each President of the United States doing so every year.

Mother's Day isn't only celebrated in the United States, but across the world.  There are several different dates however as can be seen here.

If you are looking for something different to give to mom this year, it's not too late. 

Would she like to get away, with or without the family?    Perhaps she would like a few days of pampering and just relaxing on a cruise vacation.  Talk to the rest of the family and see what they think.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on your special day.   We hope that you enjoy your day with family and friends.

So what do you give a mother who has given you the most precious gift, life?   It is pretty common to give moms flowers, candy, jewelry, greeting cards, and dinner on Mother's Day.   Often young children give something made in school or do little things, like cleaning up their rooms.   To the mom, it typically doesn't matter how big or small the gift is.  In fact, they might be just as happy with just the words "I love you mom".

What Would You Like to See on Third Oasis-Class Ship

Submit Your Ideas On our Facebook Page

As Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas begin the first signs of visible construction, Two Sisters Under Construction, it would be easy to overlook a third new build that is about to start. Construction of the third Oasis-class ship will begin in September 2013 at the STX France shipyards. The ship is expected to be delivered to Royal Caribbean sometime in 2016.

It is too early for details to be released, but amongst the reader's comments on the blog article Building New Cruise Ships: Unique & Unusual Stories, written by Adam Goldstein, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, he asked readers what they would like to see on the new ship.  You'll have to see that article for some of the examples posted so far.

What Would You Like To See On New Oasis Ship?

As you know, Royal Caribbean has taken the best features from Oasis and Allure and, via the Royal Advantage program, are introducing them fleet wide.  Our assumption is that the new Oasis-class ship will preserve the features of her sister ships, but there's always room for new innovation as well.

We thought it would be fun to build our own list of things we'd like to see on the new ship.  There is so much to do on the current Oasis-class ships, and so many innovations already in existence today... but what is missing?   If you were part of the planning committee, what ideas would you bring to the table?

Submit Your Ideas - Click the Image above to Enter Them via our Facebook Fan Page

We'll Gather Them and Bring them with us to our National Conference next month and share them with the Royal Caribbean Executive Team.