Blog Posts by Elissa Richard

(Photo: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

Alaska showcases nature’s majesty on an awe-inspiring scale: soaring snow-capped mountains, vast stretches of verdant forest, calving blue-tinged glaciers, waters teeming with marine life, and wildlife including eagles and moose and bears (oh my!).

Not to mention captivating cultural pockets anchored on old gold rush towns and indigenous Native American communities. And, come summer, it’s all poised for discovery under the lingering midnight sun.

Yes, Alaska wonders are both beautiful and bountiful, but bearing witness to her marvels doesn’t come cheap. The 49th State is notoriously pricey and travelers’ expenses—food, lodging, transport, etc.—can rack up quickly here, making a cruise vacation, with many of those components already bundled into the upfront rates, a decidedly budget-friendly alternative. (Just remember, shore excursions and airfare are extra, so be sure to factor them in to the total trip cost!)

Happily, the Alaska cruise season is soon upon us, with five full months

(Photo: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

Royal Caribbean, known for their cruise-industry innovation, is at it again. Their next-generation Quantum class of ships, set to roll out over the next two years, will take a big leap forward on wow-factor amenities, including a series of industry firsts, à la onboard bumper cars, a skydiving experience, a soaring observation capsule, and more.

Thrill seekers can take the plunge on RipCord by iFly, the first skydiving adventure at sea. Granted, it’s a simulated experience, but considering that participants will actually get to float and experience a sensation of free fall, it still scores cool points with us. Or, opt in for a whirl in the London Eye-inspired North Star — a top-deck glass capsule that transports up to 14 guests, via a crane-like moveable arm, more than 300 feet above the sea and over the ship’s side for 360-degree panoramas.

The behemoth 18-deck boats, which will include the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas (launching in fall 2014) and Anthem of the Seas (launching

You can sail Alaska with Un-Cruise Adventures. (Photo: Peter West Carey)

For maritime-minded adventure seekers, an expedition cruise delivers voyages dedicated to the cultural richness and natural majesty of some of the world’s most remote locales. Operating on smaller vessels that are largely devoid of bigger cruise ships’ bells and whistles and jam-packed activity schedules, expedition voyages focus largely on off-the-path discovery, with skiff-run excursions that curtail the need for proper ports, essentially opening up the shore-accessible world as your oyster.

With shore excursions taking center stage, only light entertainment and diversions—usually focused on education and enrichment—are offered back onboard. A specialized staff, known as the expedition team, is usually composed of a motley crew of experts like marine biologists, naturalists, anthropologists, photographers, and other special guest lecturers who can offer some special insight into the cruise region’s culture, history, politics, or wildlife.

The expedition vessels themselves are

(Photo: Courtesy of International Expeditions)

The wilds of the Amazon jungle turn over flora and fauna on an unimaginable scale, while fostering the indigenous cultures of some of the most isolated people on Earth. The Amazonian terrain—comprising a staggering third of the world’s tropical rain forest, as well as a third of its animal species—can be tough to tackle via land exploration alone, making it perfectly primed for adventure-minded cruises along the Amazon River, where the heat, humidity, and discomforts of the jungle can be met with considerable comfort.

Though the massive and mighty river—the world’s largest, in fact—spans eight South American nations, most larger vessels’ itineraries are limited to segments of the 1,000-mile stretch between the Brazilian ports of Manaus and Belém (the latter is set at the river’s mouth). Expedition vessels, smaller cruise ships, and riverboats, however, can also venture hundreds of miles further upriver to Iquitos, Peru, incorporating stops (usually made with skiffs) in more

Kayaking past Maori rock carvings. (Photo: John Garay)

New Zealand’s gorgeous geology may get all of the glory, but encounters with this island nation’s indigenous population provide an unexpected cultural richness.

Today, some 15 percent of Kiwis count themselves as Maori and maintain tribal ties related to their ancient Polynesian ancestors, who first inhabited these lands some 1,000 years go. The rich fabric of the Maori experience is woven into the tapestry of the country’s heritage and its contemporary cultural scene, and sampling the Maori’s unique customs and traditions should be an integral part of any traveler’s itinerary.

Most Maori encounters come clustered in cultural centers, museums, and art galleries on the North Island, with the heart of the Maori experience set in the geothermal area of Rotorua. Read on for a quick cheat sheet to the most essential Maori cultural experiences, each vetted and personally reviewed during my recent month-long New Zealand tour, along with a local glossary.

Essential Maori Cultural Experiences

Piloting a stunt plane. (Photo: U-fly Extreme)

For adrenaline junkies in search of their latest fix, New Zealand delivers on the action-packed goods. Adrenaline-fueled adventures abound, with this country’s dramatic landscapes presenting the perfect playground for white-knuckled thrills in the great outdoors.

Think you’ve done it all? New Zealand offers just about every adventure activity you can think of—and many more you’ve likely never even considered. Choose from heart-pumping classics like rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, and more, or amp it up a notch with quick-fix adventure thrills like bungee jumping, sky diving, jet boating, and beyond.

But to really step outside your comfort zone, these five amped-up adventure activities sprinkle on the fear factor especially thick, for brag-worthy outings geared toward only the bravest of thrill seekers. You’ll be telling these tales till you’re old and gray—and might even get some new grays to commemorate them.

1. Pilot a Stunt Plane
Motueka

Ever wanted to be a pilot? Or a stuntman?

(Photo: Courtesy of Hurtigruten)

While you might be missing the sun’s rays this time of year, rest assured that there’s still plenty of solar activity to be enjoyed—in the form of the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis (aka “Northern Lights”) phenomenon.

In fact, the winter and late fall months (from September through March) are the very best time to witness the elusive spectacle light up the night skies, best viewed from points close to the Arctic Circle in spots like Norway, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska.

Cruises offer the perfect platform for sneaking a peek, steering spectators away from land-based light pollution and going out to sea for one of the best perspectives of the colorful flashing swirls and zigzags (the lights are actually electrically charged solar particles passing through Earth’s atmosphere).

Best of all, this year and next are predicted to be exceptional ones for solar activity, so get on deck with one of these ships and prepare to marvel at the mysteries of the Arctic night sky.

Norway

(Photo: Windstar Cruises)

Bridging continents, dividing oceans, and brimming with natural wonders, Central America is perfectly primed for travelers looking to sample the region’s tropical biodiversity and cross-cultural landscape via cruise ship.

Port calls along this generous coastline deliver encounters with remote stretches of sandy beaches, imposing volcanoes, lush rain forests and jungles, and small vibrant villages. From adrenaline junkies (try zip-lining through jungle canopies) to beach bums (lap up sun, surf, and sand with frothy drink in hand), nature lovers (snorkel in reef-rich waters) to culture vultures (jungle-clad Mayan ruins, anyone?), Central American excursions cater to a variety of visitors.

Plus, the burgeoning cruise region is close to home, refreshingly affordable, and offers seven countries to explore in relatively close proximity (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama), along with opportunities to transit the legendary Panama Canal.

Cruise ship