WE DID IT AGAIN!!--WE WERE RECENTLY HONORED WITH NATIONAL PRESS CLUB AWARDS FOR OUR CRUISE COVERAGE

I am pleased to announce that my husband Tony and I have been honored again this year by the San Diego Press Club for our work on USATODAY and 10Best.com in the national 2023 Press Club Excellence in Journalism award competition. This nationwide competition honors the best of the best in travel journalism and we are thankful for this recognition of our efforts to bring original photos and first-hand narrative to our readers.

Come Aboard the Seabourn Venture on its Epic Cruise through Antarctica

Words can’t describe what your eyes will see on this epic voyage through the Patagonia Ice Fields as you make your way to the frozen wonders of Antarctica. Every day is a new adventure, which you can choose to enjoy from the comfort of your luxury cabin, or trekking through trails in search of penguin colonies, shipwrecks, waterfalls, and incredible natural wonders.

Photo credit: Joanne DiBona

On board Holland America’s Noordam, you can visit the CITY OF MURALS IN CHRISTCHURCH, NZ

Our Holland America cruise from Sydney, Australia to New Zealand brought us to so many fascinating destinations along the way. One of our most interesting ports of call was the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The central city is filled with cutting-edge architecture, truly amazing street art, a not-to-be-missed botanical garden, a lovely river walk, thermal pools, great shopping, a free trolley through the historic city, and so much more!

Photo credit: Tony DiBona. This red brick mural, created by local artist Rone, is one of the most famous in Christchurch, the City of Murals.

Sail Down the Seine River to Normandy on an Unforgettable Viking River Cruise

There is no better way to see the wonders of Europe than on a river cruise. This particular Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy exceeded all expectations. Not only were the cuisine and ambiance exceptional, but we had the opportunity to experience the history, culture, and beauty of this area from the comfort of our suites, with the opportunity to hike, bike, and stroll through some of the most beautiful areas of Europe on stops along the way.

Follow our story on our USATODAY10Best site.

View our original photos of this trip on our PHOTOGRAPHY SITE

Listen to a candid interview with a couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary on board had to say about their experience.

We’re always happy to answer any questions from our readers. Just send us a message at joannestravels@gmail.com and we promise to respond.

USATODAY 10BEST HIGHLIGHTS A VIRTUAL TOUR OF ISRAEL, PART OF THE VIKING CRUISE "CITIES OF ANTIQUITY & THE HOLY LAND" SAIL

Our virtual tour of the natural beauty and ancient history of Israel, experienced during last winter's unforgettable sail onboard the Viking Ocean Cruise ship, the Viking Sky, is now featured on the USATODAY 10Best website. The "Cities of Antiquity & The Holy Land" itinerary brought us to ancient and stunningly beautiful destinations around the Mediterranean. Enjoy this photo journey of the unforgettable sites of antiquity, and the breathtaking scenery, you can experience onboard this incomparable Viking Cruise.

The magnificent Mediterranean port of Haifa is a perfect starting point for a short virtual tour of the timeless beauty of Israel. Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, its history dates back more than 3,000 years. Photo: Joanne DiBona Photography

#10Best #usatoday10best @vikingcruises #vikingcruises #vikingoceancruises #visitIsrael @Vikingcruises

CRUISE DOWN THE ROMANTIC DANUBE ON AMAWATERWAYS FOR THE ULTIMATE IN VACATION EXPERIENCES

It’s February and it is definitely time to plan your 2019 vacation.

If you haven’t thought about taking a river cruise to some beautiful destination in the world, think again. You can do as little or as much as you would like once you step into your luxurious home for the week (or longer). Sip a glass of wine as you watch incredible landscapes roll by before you, enjoy gourmet meals, hike up 1,000 stairs to a castle wall, bike on river paths through quaint towns and vineyards, and tour ancient city centers.

Unpack once and let the cruise itinerary lead you to destinations and experiences you would be hard pressed to organize and tour on your own within a given time period.

Enjoy a PHOTO TOUR of our experiences aboard AmaWaterway’s luxurious AmaCerto during an unforgettable cruise down the romantic Danube that brought us from Germany to Hungary, with scenic stops at places of outstanding beauty and rich history along the way.

TAKE A PHOTO TOUR OF WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE ON WINDSTAR'S MAJESTIC "VENETIAN PASSAGEWAYS" CRUISE FROM VENICE TO GREECE

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I gathered the best of the photos taken by my husband Tony and me during our simply unforgettable Windstar “Venice Passageways” cruise which initiated in Venice and ended in Athens. We added a few extra days in Venice to not only tour this city, truly one of the most beautiful in the world, but to visit the colorful (and that is an understatement) islands of Murano and Burano.

Other destinations included visits to fascinating destinations along the Dalmatian coast, as well as several ports of call in Greece, where we came face-to-face with antiquity as never before. You’ll even experience the thrill of traversing the Cornith Canal that divides the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, an engineering feat attempted in antiquity, but incomplete for 2,000 years. Not every cruise ship can maneuver through the narrow gorge, so this is a special experience indeed.

Like us, if you find it appealing to unpack once, bask in outstanding service and cuisine while exploring destinations you could never visit on your own in 12 days, we highly recommend this Windstar cruise adventure!

I hope you enjoy our original photos of this magnificent cruise: PHOTO GALLERY, WINDSTAR “VENETIAN PASSAGEWAYS”