Publisher’s Letter

AN ASCENT INTO THE EARLY MORNING SKY OF CAPPADOCIA BY HOT AIR BALLOON REVEALS THE ENDEMIC LANDSCAPE OF THE REGION’S FAIRY-TALE CHIMNEYS FROM A THRILLING PERSPECTIVE.

AS A FORMER CRUISE DIRECTOR BACK IN MY TWENTIES, I had the good fortune to regularly visit new and exciting ports of call. Even today as editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, reading stories about new cruising destinations and emerging technology in cruising elicits goose bumps. The article on the recently launched Celebrity Edge (page 34) shows why.

In this issue, we drop in on some of my favorite ports in the Caribbean and stir up emotions with a visit to Italy’s romantic Amalfi Coast (page 70). We take you on a spirited, eerie adventure aboard a Strange Escapes Voodoo Ghost Cruise (page 24), plus an expedition cruise to the exotic islands of Eastern Indonesia (page 62), and we’ll pump up the adrenaline with Uncruise Adventures in the Pacific Northwest (page 88).

There are times when one day in port is not enough, and I relish the opportunity to plan pre- or post-cruise extensions that fuel wanderlust. My recent trip to Turkey perfectly fits that bill and resulted in a fascinating experience. The cultural intrigue of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar, plus a journey back in time to ancient Ephesus, all add credence to the country’s re-emerging popularity as a cruise destination.

An ascent into the early morning sky of Cappadocia by hot air balloon (page 42) reveals the endemic landscape of the region’s fairy-tale chimneys from a thrilling perspective, and a stay at the ultra-luxe Museum Hotel crafted out of natural rock caves caps off an incredible getaway.

No matter where your travel plans take you, it never hurts to go off-piste for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.