Author Archives: travelbynatasha

About travelbynatasha

I am a retired attorney who loves to travel. Several years ago I began working on a Century Club membership achieved by traveling to 100 "foreign" countries. Today, at 49 years of age the count is at 82. Many were visited on land based trips. Some were cruise ports. Some were dive sites. Most have been fascinating.

An Alaskan Cruise-Icy Strait Point

Posted on August 3, 2026 by travelbynatasha

Our final port of call is Ice Strait Point, one of those made-up cruise destinations like the private islands in the Caribbean or Costa Maya where a cruise stop was created in a remote area of Mexico to allow better … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, domestic travel | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, cruise, Huna Totem Corporation, Ice Point Strait, Tlingit, travel | Leave a comment

An Alaskan Cruise-Juneau

Posted on July 31, 2026 by travelbynatasha

Today we are docked at the Alaska’s Capital City, Juneau. Juneau has been the state’s capital since 1906 when the capital was moved from Sitka. The city is named for a gold prospector from Quebec, Joe Juneau. Although it has just over 32,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, domestic travel | Tagged adventure, Alaska, Alaska Brewing Company, Celebrity summit, cruise, cruising, Gold Rush Sled Dog Tours, Goldbelt Tram, Juneau, Kara Grangroth, Kyle Marlett, Red Dog Saloon, travel, True North Sled Dogs | Leave a comment

An Alaskan Cruise-Sitka

Posted on July 29, 2026 by travelbynatasha

Today is a big day. Not only is today’s port, Sitka, new to us, but it is also my birthday. This is the first time we are taking an excursion using an independent operator recommended by the company we book cruises with. We … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, domestic travel | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Raptor Center, Bald Eagle, Baranof Castle, Baranof Tours, Baronof Island, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Celebrity summit, Centennial Hall, Crescent Harbor, cruise, Fotress of the Bear, Sitka, Sitka National Historic Park, Sitka Sound, Sitka's Burger and Crab Shack, St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral, St. Peter's by the Sea, Tlingit, Totem Pole, Totem Trail, travel, War Canoe | Leave a comment

An Alaskan Cruise-Ketchikan

Posted on July 24, 2026 by travelbynatasha

Our first port of call is Ketchikan, Alaska, The Salmon Capital of the World. Visit any of these southeastern Alaskan cities and you will learn all about the five species of salmon found here. Using your hand, your pinky represents Pink Salmon; … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, domestic travel | Tagged Alaska, Blueberry Island, Canoeing, Creek Street, cruise, Dude Mountain, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan, Mt. Dude, Old Man's Beard, Sitka Spruce, Sundew, Tongass National Forest, travel, usa | Leave a comment

An Alaskan Cruise-Setting Sail and a Sea Day

Posted on July 23, 2026 by travelbynatasha

Boris and I were originally scheduled to go on a cruise to the South Pacific to see some exotic islands we had never been to on a unique new ship. Ah, the best laid plans. When a medical issue required us to … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, domestic travel, international | Tagged Alaska, Canada Place, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Celebrity summit, cruise, cruising, Disenchantment Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Port of Vancouver, travel, Vancouver | Leave a comment

A River Cruise in the Bordeaux Region of France: Wrap Up in Bordeaux

Posted on August 13, 2025 by travelbynatasha

This post should have started with details on my tour of Libourne with an outing to either a flour mill, chateau, bike ride along the river, or an in-town villa along with a trip to the farmer’s market. Instead my … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Bassin des Lumieres, Bordeaux, europe, France, German Submarine Base, Libourne, mascaret, SS Bon Voyage, tidal bore, travel, Uniworld, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Leave a comment

A River Cruise in the Bordeaux Region of France: Saint-Emilion

Posted on August 11, 2025 by travelbynatasha

Today we travel by bus only 8 km (less than 5 miles) from Libourne to Saint-Emilion which our cruise director referred to as a hill town. If you are thinking Tuscan hill town, you will need to adjust. Saint-Emilion is … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Chateau Grand Mayne, Collegiate Church, europe, Fabrique de Macarons, France, French hill town, history, L'Envers du Decor, Libourne, macaroons, mascaret, Monolithic Church, Saint-Emiliion, SS Bon Voyage, tidal bore, travel, Uniworld, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Ursuline sisters | Leave a comment

A River Cruise in the Bordeaux Region of France: Blaye, Cognac, and the Route de la Corniche Fleurie

Posted on August 7, 2025 by travelbynatasha

Today we see another element in the estuary fortification known as the block of the estuary. We sailed to Blaye to see the fortress of the same name. There is a market in town today we can visit after our tour and … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Blaye, Blaye Fortress, Cognac, France, La Citadelle de Blaye, Libourne, Remy Martin, Route de la Corniche Fleurie, SS Bon Voyage, Uniworld | Leave a comment

A River Cruise in the Bordeaux Region of France: Cadillac and the Cancan

Posted on August 4, 2025 by travelbynatasha

On our second full day aboard the SS Bon Voyage, we are once again sailing out of Bordeaux this time headed to Cadillac. We have two included tour options, a tour and tasting at a former royal residence and a … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged caberet, Can Can, Chateau Royal de Cazeneuve, Comte Louis-Elzear de Sabran-Ponteves, europe, France, King Henri IV, Queen Margot, Sabran-Ponteves, Sauternes, SS Bon Voyage, travel, Uniworld, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Leave a comment

A River Cruise in the Bordeaux Region of France: Fort Medoc and Pauillac on Bastille Day

Posted on July 31, 2025 by travelbynatasha

Our first full day on the river cruise ship, Uniworld’s SS Bon Voyage, we left Bordeaux headed down the Gironde Estuary in route to Fort Medoc. The three forts that make up the ‘”Bolt of the Estuary” were developed to … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged bals des pompiers, Bastille Day, Bordeaux, Chateau Lamothe Bergeron, europe, Firemen's Balls, Fort Medoc, France, French 75, Garonne River, Gironde Estuary, hate Cosd' Estournel, Pauillac, SS Bon Voyage, travel, Uniworld, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Leave a comment