Tag: boat

Swimming with Manatees – Crystal River, Florida

We are up and out of our hotel room before light touches the sky. At the Plantation Dive Shop, we check in and are placed in a group with two other couples. Per the swimming with manatees regulations, we watch a video about the manatee swim dos and dont’ss. In the outdoor changing area, I…
Chobe National Park-Botswana

The line looks endless as we queue up at the border. “Here, hand me your passports,” says one of our transport staff. We hand them over, and she disappears for a brief time. Reappearing, she hands back our passports, freshly stamped. “Okay, let’s go, follow me,” she instructs, and without fuss, we are in the…
Zambezi River Sunset and Dinner Cruise-Zimbabwe

Being the Obligatory Traveler, I knew I had to do the obligatory, sunset cruise, on the Zambezi River, while visiting Victoria Falls. The question was, which cruise to choose? There are countless options. There are small boats and large boats. There are sophisticated cruises, quiet contemplative cruises, and full on, music thumping, booze cruises. Anything…
A Day in Golfo Dulce-Costa Rica

The morning begins with a border crossing. A small boat approaches, spilling out a group of agents who board our Uncruise ship. The agents are quick and efficient, and soon, we are stamped out of Panama, and stamped into Costa Rica. Since the border crossing takes up a little extra time in the morning, our…
Morning on Coiba Island-Panama

We are up at sunrise, and what a spectacular sunrise it is. We’re not avid bird watchers, more avid animal of any kind watchers, so when the opportunity arises to go on a bird watching hike, it sounds like the makings of a wonderful morning. Light continues to seep into the sky as our skift…
Exploring Isla Iguana-Panama

The morning is filled with excitement, as we board the skift, eager for our first off ship adventure. With Jenny as our guide, our skift cruises around the shore of Isla Iguana, an island, wildlife refuge, in Panama. As red throated frigates circle overhead, Jenny imparts information regarding their nesting and mating habits. As we…
A Day in the Life on Uncruise

I start the day as I hope everyone’s day starts, with waking up. I flip on the television. This isn’t something I normally do at home, but my television at home doesn’t let me know what tasty food I will be enjoying for lunch and dinner. After glimpsing the menu, I prepare for a day…
Cruising through the Panama Canal-with Uncruise

It started as all great things do, with food. So we wouldn’t miss a second of passing through The Panama Canal, the Uncruise crew set up a dinner buffet on the bow of the ship. The food was tasty, especially the sliders. Even dessert, an ice cream sundae bar, was set up al fresco. The first…
Panama Canal Expansion and Embarkation with Uncruise

I was still in awe as we checked in for our cruise with Uncruise Adventures. After months of waiting, it was finally time for me to enjoy my Major Award. Just to re-cap for those who might be reading this site for the first time, I entered a travel essay contest through Uncruise Adventures, a…