Happy Hanukkah 2017

Happy Hanukkah ! The Holiday Season has arrived. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins tonight December 12th at Sundown and continues through December 20th. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.   More info....

We love cruising around the holiday time because the ships are decorated for the season.  As you know the ship's crew is made up of many nationalities and faiths.  So too are the passengers that board the vessel for each cruise.  The cruise lines try to make the environment fitting for all regardless of their beliefs and also will accommodate special requests to help you celebrate.



Holiday time is a time for families. Regardless of the holiday that you celebrate, there is one common theme ... spending time together as a family to celebrate the holiday. As we walked along the decks of the ship and saw the decorations, we couldn't help but think about the ship's crew. For the most part, the crew will not be spending time with families this holiday season. They will be onboard providing service to passengers just like they do every day of the year.

Many of out troops have missed several holidays.   Unfortunately, not all military will be home for the holidays, so once again let us keep the troops and their families in our thoughts, that they remain safe and can one year safely return in time for the holidays.

Whether you are together for the holidays or separated by many miles, may this be a season filled with joy and happiness. Thank you to those that serve, both on the ships and in the military - our thoughts are with you and your families during this time. Happy Holidays to All.


Follow Us On

       

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored? 

#FoodTravelChat

Join us every Wednesday evening at 8pm EST for lively conversation about food travel brought to you by @FoodTravelist It's a tasty world & we're dishing it up!

Happy Hanukkah 2015

Happy Hanukkah ! The Holiday Season has arrived. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins tonight December 6th at Sundown and continues through December 14th. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.   More info....

We love cruising around the holiday time because the ships are decorated for the season.  As you know the ship's crew is made up of many nationalities and faiths.  So too are the passengers that board the vessel for each cruise.  The cruise lines try to make the environment fitting for all regardless of their beliefs and also will accommodate special requests to help you celebrate.





Holiday time is a time for families. Regardless of the holiday that you celebrate, there is one common theme ... spending time together as a family to celebrate the holiday. As we walked along the decks of the ship and saw the decorations, we couldn't help but think about the ship's crew. For the most part, the crew will not be spending time with families this holiday season. They will be onboard providing service to passengers just like they do every day of the year.

Many of out troops have missed several holidays.   Unfortunately, not all military will be home for the holidays, so once again let us keep the troops and their families in our thoughts, that they remain safe and can one year safely return in time for the holidays.

Whether you are together for the holidays or separated by many miles, may this be a season filled with joy and happiness. Thank you to those that serve, both on the ships and in the military - our thoughts are with you and your families during this time. Happy Holidays to All.

Final Days Christmas Around the World

Museum of Science & Industry

Chicago, IL

Christmas Around The World

The Museum of Science and Industry’s 73rd annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features more than 50 trees and displays,each decorated by local volunteers and reflecting their ethnic heritage.  The main tree in the museum rotunda has a Disney theme in honor of the temporary exhibit Treasures of Disney.  If you haven't seen them yet, check out these exhibits now through January 4th.

Christmas Around the World

Take the escalator up to the main museum level and enter a world of Christmas trees and other exhibits that transports you to lands far away.   See how trees are decorated in the land of your ancestors.   Learn about cultures and other holiday traditions as you stroll through the trees.

There are also ethnic singers and dancers performing live on stage throughout the day.   Rest awhile while watching one of their shows.

How do You decorate Your Christmas Tree?

This is a family tradition that can be passed down from generation to generation.  When we were children, we visited the MSI to see the Christmas tree exhibit. Years later, our growing family returned to see the trees.   Their children too will someday visit the museum to travel around the world without leaving home.

Guess the Country

Click on the image if you need a closer look ...   based on the decorations on this tree, can you guess what country it might be seen in?


Check out our Twitter profile page for some more images from our visit to the museum.


Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc

Holidays of Lights - Part 1

This week's #FriFotos theme is #LIGHTS and what better example than Holiday Lights.   We were so excited about sharing some of our photos and videos from this special time of year. Here's some inspiration for you. 

We posted this image taken at the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, IL.   Each November - December, they feature "Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Lights" exhibit.  This image lighted house was part of Ecuador's tree.

Nashville, TN

Our next example is a video taken at Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland in Nashville, TN.  This selection features Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Wizards in Winter.  This is one of Nashville's holiday traditions.

    Gaylord Opryland Nashville, TN  

Another holiday tradition can be seen at Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN.  The hotel has an expansive interior holiday light display in their 4.5-acre indoor garden.  Guest's rooms overlook this expansive atrium.   You don't need to be a guest at the hotel to see this exhibit, but they do have some Christmas in the Country packages that you might be interested in.

Outside the hotel cars line up to view the nativity set which tells the story of the first Christmas.  

Finally they have ICE! which takes chunks of ice, some talented artists, and brings to life an indoor exhibit to thrill the whole family.  The theme changes each year but the finale is the nativity scene made out of ice.

All of these activities and more are fun for the entire family.  If you aren't staying at the hotel, plan on spending several hours there exploring the holiday lights and other attractions.

 

We hope we've given you some ideas for #FriFotos and perhaps for some holiday traditions you can add this year or next.    Contact us if you'd like more information.


If you like Travel & Photography join us each Friday!

Follow #FriFotos on Twitter and Facebook



(For those that don't know:  #FriFotos is a weekly photo forum by @EpsteinTravels @TravelDesigned @CharlesYap. Theme is revealed every Tuesday 12pm ET.)    Recently, @spencerspellman joined the team as a permanent co-host.  We even had the chance to co-host one week earlier this year.)



Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc


 

Happy Hanukkah 2014

Happy Hanukkah ! The Holiday Season has arrived. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins tonight December 16th at Sundown and continues through December 24th. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.   More info....

We love cruising around the holiday time because the ships are decorated for the season.  As you know the ship's crew is made up of many nationalities and faiths.  So too are the passengers that board the vessel for each cruise.  The cruise lines try to make the environment fitting for all regardless of their beliefs and also will accommodate special requests to help you celebrate.





Holiday time is a time for families. Regardless of the holiday that you celebrate, there is one common theme ... spending time together as a family to celebrate the holiday. As we walked along the decks of the ship and saw the decorations, we couldn't help but think about the ship's crew. For the most part, the crew will not be spending time with families this holiday season. They will be onboard providing service to passengers just like they do every day of the year.

Many of out troops have missed several holidays.   Unfortunately, not all military will be home for the holidays, so once again let us keep the troops and their families in our thoughts, that they remain safe and can one year safely return in time for the holidays.

Whether you are together for the holidays or separated by many miles, may this be a season filled with joy and happiness. Thank you to those that serve, both on the ships and in the military - our thoughts are with you and your families during this time. Happy Holidays to All.

Happy Hanukkah 2011

Happy Hanukkah ! The Holiday Season has arrived. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins tonight December 20th at Sundown and continues through December 28th. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.   More info....

We love cruising around the holiday time because the ships are decorated for the season.  As you know the ship's crew is made up of many nationalities and faiths.  So too are the passengers that board the vessel for each cruise.  The cruise lines try to make the environment fitting for all regardless of their beliefs and also will accommodate special requests to help you celebrate.

Holiday time is a time for families. Regardless of the holiday that you celebrate, there is one common theme ... spending time together as a family to celebrate the holiday. As we walked along the decks of the ship and saw the decorations, we couldn't help but think about the ship's crew. For the most part, the crew will not be spending time with families this holiday season. They will be onboard providing service to passengers just like they do every day of the year.

This past week we saw troops leaving Iraq, some of which were heading home to families and friends in time for the holidays.  Many of them have missed several holidays.   Unfortunately, not all military will be home for the holidays, so once again let us keep the troops and their families in our thoughts, that they remain safe and can one year safely return in time for the holidays.

Whether you are together for the holidays or separated by many miles, may this be a season filled with joy and happiness. Thank you to those that serve, both on the ships and in the military - our thoughts are with you and your families during this time. Happy Holidays to All.