Mary Zarin, Key to the World Travel

10/21/2024

It is finally here! Who is ready plan a trip to see the new Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort?

Universal Orlando sets Epic Universe theme park opening date for May 22,2025. Tickets go on sale October 24, 2024.

09/10/2024

As I sit in the airport returning home to my family and friends, I would like to share some thoughts many of which were penned by my fellow world cruiser and friend, Clayton F. about my amazing voyage. He has put into words what many of the cruisers including me are feeling.

I heard about this cruise within days of it being announced nearly three years ago and I knew that I had to be on it. I have learned life is short and you should jump at chances when they are provided, so I booked it.

I thought that this cruise might be something different, that this trip might be something special, that this unironically could be the trip of a lifetime. This cruise could give me a chance to see places I never thought i would see. It turned out to be that and so so much more.

We came aboard, passengers and crew, from many nations, many cultures, races, life styles, religions and politics, but our group soon coalesced into our own unique traveling village. We have seen and experienced what few will ever have the opportunity to see and do. On a typical trip you may fly into a country for a week or so, on a cruise maybe visit 4 or 5 ports, but this was an experience like none other with scores of stops in rapid succession. before we could catch our breath over what we had seen and done it was time for another port, another country, another continent.

There were places that tore into our souls with the extreme poverty we have witnessed, the avalanches of garbage and human detritus that littered the streets and countryside, an yet, the people still smiled at you, still waved at you, and still laughed with you. Then there were the places where our souls soared with the unimaginable beauty that God has wrought across the world, and marveled and the crowning achievements that man has constructed. The massive chest thumping waterfalls, the wildlife across the continents that we could not get enough of, horizon spanning deserts, the massive icebergs, the deep gashes across the landscape that are the fjords, water in every possible shade of blue, the magnificent voilence of an erupting volcano, and the ever elusive Northern Lights. The sky scratching towers that man has erected, the incredible churches, temples, shrines and mosques, built to show reverence to the divine, and the structures from the very dawn of civilization that defy time and still exist.

How can this journey not have changed you? Some were taken out of their comfort zone, isn't that what travel is? How can you watch school children in villages who live in huts with dirt floors sing and dance and be happy and not be moved? How can you see the frenetic pace of life in Mumbai, Tokyo, Manilla, or Rio de Janeiro and not be fascinated with the clockwork precision with which these cities move? How can you see the level of security and lack of freedoms the people of China live under and not be moved? How can you see the stunning wealth of some cities and the crushing poverty of others and not be moved? How can you visit the former slave prisons of West Africa and not be horrified? How can you feel the thuderous roar and see the veils of mists cast up from Iguzu falls and not be moved? how can you experience the quiet isolation and serene beauty of Antartica and not be moved? how can you snorkel with sea turtles and gaze upon endless herds of elephants and not be moved? My perspective of humanity and the world around me had changed after what I have seen and done?

Long after the farewell lunches, dinners and goodbyes have happened, it will take weeks, months and possibly years to really digest and comprehend what we have been through and the people that we experienced it with. Many of us have formed life long bonds, many we will see over and over again throughout the years. Others we may never see again but all made the adventure what it was . I want to thank each and every one of you for enriching my life during this journey and the memories that it has created.

I also want to thank everyone who followed my journey and sent messages along the way. This has been an amazing experience and I hope it will make me a better person.

09/10/2024

Well, it is time for my last port in my journey and it also was my first stop, Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and what a day it was.

The new Hideaway Beach was reserved just for our ship to celebrate with a big pool and beach party. The weather was perfect and they put on an amazing water show for us.

I spent most of the day in the pool at the swim up bar sharing stories and laughs with my world cruise family. We enjoyed a delicious lunch, i had the coconut shrimp and mozzarella sticks. After heading back to the ship, i enjoyed the farewell cake and fireworks show.

After the evening entertainment show, there was a parade of crew to celebrate and all they have done to make the world cruise so special.

09/09/2024

For my stop in Bermuda, a group of friends walked to the worlds best miniature golf course to enjoy a fun game of golf. The course had 3 sets of 6 holes one set modeled off US courses, one set modeled off of Bermuda courses and one set modeled off courses in the UK.

We had a great time. It was very very warm so we stopped after each set and tried some local drinks. The views from the course of the ocean was spectacular.

Upon returning to the ship, we gathered in the pool deck for a world cruise picture. It was exciting to have everyone together but sad to think we are leaving in a few days.

09/09/2024

For my second date in New York, i went to the 9/11 memorial. We started with a drive through lower Manhattan and then went to the World Trade Center and Memorial complex.

We went to the Top of the World viewing platform where it got dome amazing views and pictures of the city.

I then walked around the twin towers sites and saw the flowing water. The site has a set of trees which are along the boundaries of each tower, one acre each and then the names of all the victims is very overwhelming. Each day, The staff at the site puts a while rose on the name of anyone who would have celebrated their birthday that day. The whole thing was moving.

We returned to the ship for a midafternoon sail away during which, the captain did a 360 degree turn as we passed the Statue of Liberty giving us great views of the statue and of New York. Then we headed to the stormy seas on our way to Bermuda.

09/08/2024

Today is my first of two days in New York and also marks the one week to go on my trip.

We started the day by getting several bags off the ship and on their way home. Sad but necessary. Once we were done, we started off on foot. Our first stop was for a fresh New York bagel. Next, we headed to Times Square for some pictures. Our next stop was Rockefeller center. This is the first time i remember being in New York where there was not a Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

Next we did some window shopping on fifth Avenue on our way to central park. It was such a beautiful day and we enjoyed walking around and exploring the park before heading to enjoy some New York Coal fired pizza. It was delicious.

I headed back to the ship to get teady for dinner. We then headed for a delicious Italian pasta dinner before going ti the Neil Simon Theater to the MJ the musical. It was a fabulous show and we had great seats. If you get to New York, i hope you get a.chance to see this show.

What a great day!

09/02/2024

For my next port, I am in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a relaxing morning, I am taking a scenic journey to two of Halifax's most popular sites— the working fishing village of Peggy's Cove and Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

My tour started with a drive along the coastal road where we saw many coves. The tour guide shared many stories about this area including that they are famous for stained glass and beautiful quilts

We arrived at Peggys Cove where there were amazing rock formations and scenic coast lines. I was able to get some pictures and enjoy a delicious lobster roll. I also got the Peggy Cove stamp in my passport.

Next we headed back into town to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery where 121 victims of the ill-fated Titanic are buried. We had a guided tour of Titanic gravesites learning about the identification of some of the people. The latest identified was the baby who was identified almost 100 years after the sinking. The grave sites/stones are also in the shape of s ships bow.

We headed back to the ship and i headed to the bow to watch the sail away as we were being pulled by a tug boat for the first time as the port did not want us to use our thrusters. It was interesting and beautiful as we left Canada and are now sailing to the big Apple.

09/01/2024

Well, I am back in North America and in St. Johns Newfoundland, Canada. The entrance to the port here is very narrow and one where it felt like you could touch the houses.

My tour took me first to Signal Hill and Cabot Tower. This area which over looks the entrance to the harbor is also where the lookout person would signal using a ships company flag which ship was approaching so that company could meet the ship in the harbor to collect their goods. From this location, you can also see Cape Spear which is the closet point in North America to Europe.

Next we drove through Quidi Vidi, an old fishing village before we stopped at the Royal Canadian Legion where we enjoyed wonderful music and tasted dour different beers and four different rums all with a connection to the Newfoundland area. As we tasted the last rum, we went through the screeching ceremony which made me an honorary Newfoundlander. This involved reciting a short saying, kissing a codfish and enjoying o shot of the Screeches rum. It was a fun afternoon.

Upon returning to the ship, I learned that due to a storm brewing off the coast, so we spent the night in St. Johns and departed the next morning. It was a sunny, bright day and I got some great pictures during our sailaway as we headed off to Halifax.

09/01/2024

My first port of call in Greenland is the village of. Qaqortoq. This village in southern Greenland has about 3000 residents. We were lucky yo get in port as sometimes the glaciers block the entrance to the harbor. I took a tender to the dock and met my tour guide, a young woman who was born and raised in this town.

We hiked up the hill to the home of a local woman to experience the Greenlander kaffemik, a traditional social gathering that includes warm hospitality, sweet snacks and steamy beverages in a cozy, authentic setting.

The houses we saw along the way up the hill were modest but very colorful. At the doorstep of the family's home I removed my shoes, as etiquette requires, and then came in to see a warm inviting home and wonderful homemade treats including apple/banana cake, cinnamon rolls, scones and berry pie.

After we enjoyed the treats, our guide translated as our host shared the story of her family, her home where she has lived for 53 years. She also showed us her traditional dress handmade. This is used for celebrations throughout life. The view from the house was incredible.

When we left, i walked around the town with my mosquito net on since there were loads of gnats. I saw the old church and the fountain as well the rock carvings. I had to wonder how this little town feels having 2500 people stop and visit their town. They were warm and welcoming but there were a lot of us.

When i got back on the ship, the captain announced we had to miss our next stop as there was a large storm that we had to get ahead of, but they were adding an extra port in Halifax. So we said good bye to Greenland and sailed toward Canada with sad thoughts that there are only two weeks left in my grand adventure.

During the evening, we had a pirate party and even the captain joined in the fun!

08/31/2024

For my second day in Reykjavik, i took a drive through the town to see the Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrimskirkja Church, and Hofdi House - the venue of the "end of the Cold War" 1986 summit meeting between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev.

The main stop on my tour us the Perlan Museum. There was so much to do and learn about Iceland's history and geology. We started on the 360° platform to see the fantastic views of the city, mountains, Atlantic Ocean, and surrounding municipalities. It was very windy and cold so we did not stat out ling, but did see the smoke from the erupting volcano.

Next we headed to the Planetarium that offers a wonderful show about the Aurora Borealis. It started off with some pictures that we could take photos of and then the show started where we learned about this stunning phenomenon.

We then went into an accurate replicate of an ice cave dug through a glacier. Traveling through the cave and its museum, we learned will about the glaciers' dangers, the secrets they keep, and how the disappearance of the vast bodies of ice is leading, to enormous changes, both on the island of Iceland and around the world.

Next we saw the Volcano presentation which highlighted the eruption from 2021 and told about all the active volcanos in Iceland.

While we had enough time to do the highlights, i feel like i could have stayed another couple of hours to read all the information.

After heading back to the ship, we said good bye to Iceland and set sail for Greenland.

08/30/2024

For my next stop, I am in Iceland! Wow I never thought I would visit this country. We are spending two days in the town of Reykjavik. One the first day, I have to Golden Circle tour. This tour will take me to many of the highlights of the area. It was very cold and very, very windy. I haven’t needed my heated jacket since Antarctica, but I was glad to have it.

Our first stop on the tour was Thingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered the crown jewel of Icelandic attractions. This unique location boasts a rift valley surrounded by mountains, a vast lava plain and breathtaking views of the Reykjanes Ridge. Thingvellir is the only place on earth where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which divides the Eurasian and North American plates, emerges above sea level. We walked and drove between the two tectonic plates. It also was the site of the founding of the Althing, Iceland's legislative parliament in the 930s. It was the site of annual meetings of the nation and helped with unification of the Iceland.

Next was a visit to the Geysir area. We saw the Geysir where the term "geyser" originated for all other geysers. We watched as Strokkur, an erupting geyser that puts on a display every few minutes. I was in awe as I watched the power of the boiling water shoot up into the sky. Very cool.

After a nice local lunch, we then went to the Gullfoss, or "Golden Falls". It is said to look gold when the sun hits it just right It is fed by the Langjökull Glacier which you can see from the top of the waterfall. The waterfall has two stages and was very powerful. Since it was so windy, it also provided us with a lot of spray so we could feel the cold water.

Finally, we visited the visit the Hellisheidi Power Plant and learned about Iceland's innovative use of natural resources for sustainable energy. This is a plant which harnesses the Earth's geothermal power. Our guide told us these plants which provide electricilty and hot water are the only inexpensive things in Iceland.

I then headed back to the ship for some dinner and then it was time to head out in search of the Northern lights. We had a guide who was going to take us away from the city lights to see the lights. However, while we were waiting, the Sundhnúks crater row erupted so the driver took us to a spot where we could watch and get some pictures of the fissure that was erupting. It was quite a site. After, we tried for the Northern lights, but it was too cloudy so we headed back to the ship.

08/29/2024

My next port of call is Amsterdam. Our original itinerary called for us to have only one day in Amsterdam, but when our port in Bergen was cancelled, it was an opportunity to get an extra day in Amsterdam. The protestors had other ideas though; when we arrived early in the morning, the protestors had chained and glued themselves to the locks. We had to back out and wait 7 miles offshore while the police and mayor negotiated with the protestors. Ultimately, they were threaten with the swat team and arrest and they finally cleared the lock around 3 in the afternoon. We proceeded through the locks and into the port, but we did not arrive until 8:30pm. Several of us had booked an evening canal ride which the company was willing to move to the last boat of the day if we could get there by 9:15. We were one of the first ones off the ship once it was cleared and we high-tailed it to the area where the evening cruise left.

The cruise was a lot of fun, there were 12 of us. We set off to see Amsterdam all lit up with the evening lights. The different buildings including the incredible train station, the churches, bridges and canals were all beautiful. It really was a great way to see the city and learn about the history of the city at the same time while enjoying some wine, cheese and lots of laughs.

After the tour, we took a more leisurely walk back to the port. It was a fun night.

🇳🇱

08/28/2024

My next stop in Norway is Alesund. This small sea port is known for its concentration of Art Nouveau architecture. Here I am taking my last HOHO bus as my multi pass which I purchased in Stockholm has reached its last day.

We decided to take the bus on the full circuit the first time around to hear the narration about the town and the area and then on the second time around stop at the Aksla viewpoint. This turned out to be a good idea as it was raining the first time around but sunny when we arrived again. We enjoyed some pasties in the café which allowed us to use the restrooms as well as get an inside seat at the viewpoint. After enjoying the view, we walked around outside and saw the old WW2 bunkers as well as some local monuments. We boarded the bus again just as it started raining again.

We took the bus to the city center and found a nice place for lunch and then did some shopping at the local stores as well as see some of the trolls they had around the town. We enjoyed the architecture as well as the character of the town. There was a small festival going on so there were local students performing at several spots around the town.

We then headed back to the ship and learned that we would have to miss our next port of call in Bergen, Norway so we could head early to Amsterdam as there have been many protests against cruise ships in Amsterdam. So after a local folkloric show, we said goodbye to Norway and sailed off to the Netherlands.

08/28/2024

My next stop in Norway is Olden and here I am taking a tour to the Briksdal glacier. This tour is combination of a bus, a troll car and hiking. The weather was a bit cold, but I was prepared.

We started with a bus ride around the scenic lake and saw all the mountains and small homes along the way. It was very green and the houses were colorful and very well kept. We stopped at a picture spot along the lake and then went up to the Briksdal Inn where they had coffee, tea and 15 different types of local cakes and pastries. I tried a few different types.

Next we bundled up as we were starting our trek up the mountain on the troll cars to the entrance to Jostedalsbreen National Park, one of the largest intact wilderness areas in southern Norway. The ride took about 20 minutes and there were many people walking which would have taken 45-50 minutes in the rain!. Once they let us out, we hiked for about 20 minutes to the glacier. It was really beautiful, despite the rain. We all helped each other get pictures and of course put our hands in the glacier water. We headed back down to the troll cars and then back to the Inn.

I shopped a little before taking the bus back to the ship. It was a really fun tour but i was glad to get warm and dry.

08/28/2024

Our next port of call is Haugesund, Norway. In this port, I am taking an independent tour with Viking adventure and going on a RIB boat (Rigid Inflatable Boat) to see some of the island communities. We were greeted at the ship and took a short walk to their office where we put on suits to help keep us warm and dry. We then headed to the dock and boarded our open-air speed boat.

The tour description said we would have an exhilarating ride and we sure did. We sped across the sound (at over 35 knots) and into different straights and near different islands. We stopped at the copper mine which delivered the copper from which the Statue of Liberty was made – very cool. We went to some of the small island villages and met the store keeper/restaurant owner/post master. On the islands people often have more than one job and buildings have more than one purpose. The kids also take small boats to drive themselves to school even at very young ages (5-8).

We sped over to one of the fish farms and were there are the feed vessel was pumping the fish into the tanks. The tanks are huge and the 10,000 salmon only take up 2-5% of the tank.

We then headed back to the dock – what a fun ride. After we returned all the gear, we walked back to the ship to grab some lunch and then a few of us go onto the Hop on Hop off bus to head over to the Viking Village. This was another open air exhibit where they have preserved or re-constructed an old Viking farming village. We first saw one of the old churches and then walked to the Village which was about 20 minutes from the bus stop. It was interesting to see the town witch doctor’s hut, the cooking areas and also the gathering hut. The Vikings knew how to make boats very well and all of the roofs looked like boat hulls.

After seeing the village, we went to the Cultural center and were after to learn about the history of the area, then we went back to the church to catch the bus so we could return to the port. Like all HOHO busses, they are narrated and share information about what we are seeing along the way. Since we were on the last bus, we asked the driver for a quick stop at the Haraldshaugen national monument to get a picture. He was very happy to give us a chance to get the picture. It was built in the 1870s and it commemorates the Battle of Hafrsfjord which dates back to the year 872. The Battle of Hafrsfjord is known as the point in which western Norway was for the first time unified under one monarch. It is believed to the burial site of King Harald I, who died around 933 but there is no real evidence of this. After the stop, we went back to the ship to continue on our journey.

08/28/2024

My next stop in Norway is Kristiansand which is the fifth largest town in Norway and has population of about 73.000 people. I am taking a land and sea tour today as this area has a lot of small islands and villages.

The tour started with the boat where we sail along the coast, passing the Varodd bridge, the Lighthouse of Oksøy and saw many typical Norwegian summer cottages. The cottages were so cute and reminded me of the type of cottage you might see in a Hallmark movie.

Next, we transferred to our bus and headed to the waterfront town of Lillesand. This town was built in the later 1800s to early 1900s. Here I walked up to the town church and also went to the town gazebo which had a lot of the area history on plaques inside the Gazebo. Like many areas in Norway, the sea, the harbor and fishing played an important role in the town. I looked in the different shops and enjoyed some local ice cream.

On our way to Lillesand, we saw the Christianholms Fortress and the old town of Posebyen, which had very narrow streets are lined with white painted wooden houses. These are typical for southern Norway.

After a relaxing day seeing the area in and around Kristiansand, we headed back to the ship for sail away and a chance to see the Northern Lights.

08/27/2024

My next port is the first of six stops in Norway and we start with the capital, Oslo. Olso is not only the capital, but also the most populous city in Norway. Like many cities in this area, its roots are with the Vikings.

Today, I am again going to use the Hop on Hop off bus. I had purchased a 12 day pass to the buses in Scandinavia. Here we reviewed all the stops and decide to start with Frogner Park which is a well-known sculpture park. It is the largest sculpture park in the world with sculptures made by the same artist. We walked through the park and view the different statutes. It was interesting, that is for sure.

Our next stop was the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. This is an open air museum and they have taken different houses, building and villages from around Norway and re-located them to this museum. We saw old farm villages, old churches, old school houses and much more. We even saw an area that told about the history of knitting in Norway. It was very interesting and a wonderful way to preserve the history of the country.

After the Museum, we got back on the bus and headed to the palace. Here we walked up to the palace grounds and walked through the central part of town and saw several buildings including the old train station. We found a nice restaurant to have some dinner and then walked back to the ship. A great day.

08/27/2024

My port today is in the city if Aarhus, Denmark. It is the second largest city in Denmark and is located on the eastern shore of Denmark about 3 hours from Copenhagen. I have been in ports 11 days in a row so I decided to sleep in today and take an afternoon walking tour in the city. I met the guide right off the ship in the early afternoon and we started our tour. The first thing I noticed was all the cross walks have Vikings on the Walk/Don’t walk signals – very cute.

The guide was showed us some of the history of the Vikings who founded the city more than a thousand years ago. We started in the harbor area and like many cities in Scandinavia, the water is and always has been an important part of the town.

We made our way to two historic churches, located in the city center. First we saw the Church of Our Lady, dating back to 1060, but the current red-brick outside was built in 1240. The church has a vaulted crypt of the original church, which was discovered in 1955 – we did not see this as the church was closed. We also visit the city’s cathedral which is more than 800 years old. We then made our way to the City hall which was built more recently and was a square concrete building with a look out tower. There is a lot of controversy in the town as to whether this build fits in. It is more functional that decorative for sure.

As we headed back to the ship, we took a short cut through the sculpture park and saw an unusual moving sculpture. A great introduction to this historic city. We sailed off and said goodbye to Denmark.