Norwegian Cruise Lines is known for its flashy artwork and distinctive designs on the ship. Here, NCL's Getaway is photographed on a recent trans-Atlantic cruise from Orlando to Lisbon. The new NCL Viva has an artful design, too, in blues and aquas conjuring ocean waves. NCL's FLEET WELCOME WORLD-CLASS SHIP VIVA WITH MANY ENTICEMENTS Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers leave Orlando recently on a trans-Atlantic cruise.They're excited to be booked on Viva's inaugural. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's note: This piece was reviewed and updated September of 2026. IF YOU'RE a fan of cruising and follow "cruise news," you know about the newest Norwegian Cruise Lines ship, Viva. She's making quite a splash, at 142,500 gross tons and a length of 965 feet, about a fifth of a mile. She's a luxurious floating resort, the latest NCL "Prima Class" vessel. Viva boasts a staggering selection of activities and entertainment, from an array of musical options to a global offering of restaurants, elegantly designed areas to relax and unwind, and a thoughtful itinerary of favorite cities and less visited ports. NCL's Viva offers an Infinity Beach area with inviting places to relax, swim, read, enjoy a beverage and watch the water. OUR RECENT crossing on NCL's Getaway previewed the offerings we'll enjoy on Viva. We booked the inaugural over a year ago when we heard of it from a fellow cruise enthusiast. Special events are planned for Viva's first passengers. Joining us to salute the ship will be Viva godparent Luis Fonsi, five-time Latin Grammy-winning singer. We're excited about this Labor Day cruise because we'll visit favorite cities like Naples and Venice as well as cities not often visited: Syracusa, Koper, and Zadar. ON OUR Atlantic crossing earlier this month, we lazed about our Deck 10 balcony, enjoyed first-rate entertainment including Latin dance and a Broadway show, and strolled deck 8 with its lovely indoor and outdoor dining and relaxing spaces. Fine dining and decadent desserts are part of the allure of an NCL cruise. Viva's welcoming design follows suit with this novelty, also on deck 8. Features include the Ocean walk glass bridge, infinity pools and an inviting space called "Infinity Beach." With its floating resort motif, a firepit and dining options await at Indulge Outdoor Lounge and Indulge Food Hall, billed as an "upscale open-air marketplace." As on our Getaway, NCL prides itself in a range of dining options, several centering in Viva's Ocean Boulevard seaside restaurants. The beautifully designed outdoor promenade is a 44,000 square foot walkway wrapping around the ship. Besides enticing dining options, the area boasts a three-story speedway and pulse-pounding slides for the daring. CRUISE LINES vie for "over the top" offerings, new ways to attract the world's growing cruise clientele. Style, luxury and innovation are the bywords. Wealthy cruisers look for a high staff-to-passenger ratio to increase their service. Dining can be a classy affair on the new Viva, with elegant tables and views of the ocean. NCL attracts these high-end cruisers in the way the liners of yore did. NCL offers quiet, relaxing places to unwind, here Getaway's Vibe Beach Club on deck 17. Viva sports a Vibe, too, for guests 18 and older. While Cunard's classic ocean liners offered first-class areas exclusive to "deep pocket" travelers, NCL ships have a separate "ultimate luxury" area called The Haven. It's the equivalent of Cunard's "Queen's Class" travel, a separate area for travelers who expect the best in luxury cruising. On Norwegian vessels, including the new Viva, the Haven includes personal concierge and butler service, luxurious suite accommodations and many amenities. Haven guests enjoy a private sundeck with its own infinity pool, hot tub, sauna and cold room, lovely lounging areas, a private restaurant and exclusive bars. Top entertainment awaits on Viva, as on Getaway, with Broadway caliber shows, such as "Million Dollar Quartet." A range of entertainment includes ethnic bands, pianists, vocalists and dancers. duos, comedy, game shows and specialty acts including magic. OUR GETAWAY general manager, Mario Markovic, noted that Haven usually quickly sells out but that all NCL guests have access to fine dining options and ship entertainment. Guests in inside cabins save money by utilizing handsomely designed public spaces. NCL cares about environmental impact, and Viva's Metropolitan Bar is Norwegian's sustainably-focused bar. Because dining is a big attraction for cruisers of all budgets, myriad options await on Viva, including the Mediterranean-inspired Palomar, traditional hibachi-style Hasuki, gourmet French fare in Le Bistro, a contemporary sushi house Nama and American fare in Surfside Cafe and Grill. Specialty restaurants cost a bit extra, but some visits are often included in the fare. It's worth it to augment the fine dining available to all cruisers. NCL WAS AMONG the first line to offer "freestyle cruising" where guests dine when and with whom they choose. The globe-trotting line cruises Alaska, Bermuda, Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii, Bahamas, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and more in options ranging from world cruises to weekend getaways. NCL transits the Panama Canal and offers a popular week-long Hawaiian itinerary on Pride of America. Watch for specials at ncl.com Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce Keller aboard a vintage caboose on Dunedin Railways in New Zealand. A mutual love of trains takes them on many fun rail trips. UP NEXT: Train, train, train. Wherever we go in the world, we look for an opportunity to travel by train. Trains get us "up close" to enjoy the countryside, historic sites, rivers, peaks, fields, animal life and gardens. We see how people live in a relaxing and colorful way, and at a slower pace than air travel affords. We "look" without the strain of driving a car, and get a leisurely feel for a new city, state or country. All aboard trains in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe, Japan and San Francisco, where our nephew James is our knowledgeable guide, a youthful aficionado of train travel. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, the arts, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

VIVA HAS IT ALL: VITALITY, GLITZ, STYLE, DECORUM, WITH SPIRIT AND MODERN TOUCHES TO APPEAL TO FAMILIES, ROMANTICS OF ALL AGES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: this piece was updated September of 2026 EACH TIME we book a ship, we research its architecture, art and design. It's important to be surrounded by intriguing artwork and inviting spaces to explore on these floating resorts. Set your sights on something new, daring and exciting for the new year. Here we are on NCL's new cruise ship Viva. The Speedway is a three-level race track with a splendid ocean view. We also look for fun shows and for activities that stretch our minds and bodies. And we avoid noisy "party ships" or those with lots of children. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has a new floating palace. Viva, fills our bill. She's one of cruising's prettiest ships, an artful wonder on the water. Like her sister ship, Prima, Viva doesn't feel huge or overwhelming. Her ambiance is relaxed, understated, with the intimate spaces of a small ship -- despite 3,900 guests. We seldom saw the same people twice, and felt quickly in control of our space in this thoughtfully designed vessel, the latest of NCL's 19-ship fleet. Viva's artful design includes inviting promenades, pools, artwork, pools and many places to relax and view the sea. IF YOU'RE bored on NCL Viva, you lack imagination and have no one to blame but yourself. There is truly something for every taste. I challenged myself on the three-level race track, where young hotshots vie for top scores each day. We enjoyed trivia contests about movies, music and geography, and explored the state-of-the-art gym -- but not nearly enough. A large thermal spa boasts inviting steam rooms and saunas. The roster of activities is huge. VIVA SPORTS both a waterslide and a dry slide, VR games, mini-golf, darts, and a three-level race track. Four swimming pools welcome water buffs. And the ship's sculpture-lined promenade is one of the most attractive we've strolled in our 138 cruises. Inside the Vibe, enjoy your own cabana. AS ON MANY other lines -- unless you're splurging for an all inclusive cruise -- you pay extra for boxed water, sodas, alcohol, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions. Various packages allow flexibility in booking. One option is the adults-only Vibe Beach Club. For an additional fee, you'll enjoy access to this delightful area. It became a favorite haunt, where we enjoyed morning coffee, lunch and sunset cocktails as an option to our balcony which wasn't always in the sun. The open, airy Indulge Food Hall is a favorite dining option in a wide range on the Viva. ONE OF our favorites of the ship's 14 varied restaurants is its popular Indulge Food Hall, where we ordered tasty ethnic, made-to-order items on an electronic menu. It's an appealing, innovative place with a menu at each table. Other fun Viva options: A saltwater pool on the sun deck allows relaxation while happily floating, trading pale skin for a tan. And for solo travelers, a variety of studio suites offers options for single travelers -- avoiding the usual single supplement charge. The Viva offers a choice of slides -- both water and dry. There are beautiful sea views from almost everywhere. Here, Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers enjoy. www.ncl.com/about/contact-us IF YOU WANT even more luxury, try The Haven, an exclusive enclave with larger accommodations, 24-hour butler service and world-class amenities, exclusively for Haven guests. You'll have a separate elevator and restricted space, much like Cunard's exclusive "Grills" accommodations. IF YOU BOOK this option, it's within a centralized all-suite complex on Viva, easy distance to the private elevators. Its elegant public areas and suites are by famed Italian designer Piero Lissoni. Every Haven locale offers stunning sea views. We didn't stay in Haven, but were invited by amiable French born general manager Nelson Martins to dine there. Martins is a "hands on" manager, liked by the staff and a steady presence -- chatting clients up, seeing what they like. We truly enjoyed our time with him. You don't need Haven to be in heaven on Viva. We were happy on back-to-back Viva cruises, in our veranda stateroom on deck 15. We've booked Viva for another pair of cruises in 2024, a trans-Atlantic crossing from San Juan to Lisbon and a Mediterranean cruise. Bruce keller and Christene Meyers at the Statue of Liberty, enjoying one of the CityPASS offerings. UP NEXT: CityPASS is a wonderful, money saving way to enjoy U.S. cities and their major sights and attractions. We've enjoyed it in several cities because it saves time and money. If you want to move to the front of the line and spend more time enjoying rather than planning, it's the ticket. We explore New York City this time with CityPASS, which also goes to Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Houston and a total of 14 U.S. cities plus Toronto in Canada. The program offers a packet of discount tickets to many of each city's major attractions. In New York, we explored on the city's famous ferry system, took in Rockefeller Center's "Top of the Rock," toured the Empire State Building, and Ellis Island, plus more adventures. Check us out weekly, remembering to explore, learn and live. Check us out weekly for fresh ideas on travel.

American Cruise Lines' vessels come close to land for beautiful scenery and fascinating ports. AMERICAN CRUISE LINES OFFERS BALCONY ROOMS WITH STELLAR VIEWS, CHANGING LANDSCAPE, GOURMET DINING, SAFETY AND SURPRISES We could touch the locks from our balcony aboard American Pride on the Columbia River. Pride on the trail of explorers Lewis and Clark. Great educational fun. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This piece was reviewed and updated July 2026. American Cruise Lines operates 28 small ships and riverboats with no more than 180 passengers in 35 states. THE PLEASURES of river cruising are many. First, you're close to shore. Because of your ship's size, you easily tie up at surprisingly beautiful -- even enchanting -- places. Instead of waiting in line to get off the ship, you walk in minutes from your stateroom to your shore adventure. In a few quick strides, you're embarking on a leisurely independent stroll or a fascinating land excursion. Your transportation awaits, a smiling guide greets you and the day is yours to explore historic venues, museums, parks, to begin a new experience. YOU MIGHT be docked in the center of historic towns and places, as we were on our recent Columbia and Snake rivers cruise on the Lewis and Clark trail. We had to pull ourselves away from the changing landscape of our river sojourn. Yet we enjoyed the equally interesting land tours. We scarcely wanted to leave our balcony for the wonders we witnessed there. Coffee or cocktail in hand, we were "up close" to locks and lighthouses, dams and lavish private homes, farms and parks. Each turn of the river offered changing landscape, bird life, deer, cattle, even a fox. There they were -- right off our balcony stateroom, our home for a week aboard American Cruise Lines' American Pride. On land, we discovered surprises aplenty: lavish gardens, museums, water sportsmen, intriguing architecture, even a xylophone for music-minded me to play at an Oregon riverfront park. Cookie in sunhat and cardigan plays on a colorful outdoor xylophone in an Oregon park. A Columbia River shore excursion in Astoria features a ride on a 1913 red-and-cream trolley. WE ENJOYED and appreciated the homegrown aspect that personifies ACL. The fleet is American made and American staffed. Workers are trained to reflect that spirit of confidence and pride. ACL's are the largest riverboat staterooms afloat. While many lines are just recovering from the purgatory of the pandemic, ACL with its variety of domestic cruising options has been back in business for months, specializing in sophisticated cruising and intriguing activities to enjoy on land. Our options included a chance to hop aboard Astoria's Riverfront Trolley, a delightful 1913 heritage streetcar using former freight railroad tracks near the south bank of the Columbia River. Transiting the dams and locks is fun on a small ship, too. We joined fellow travelers to touch the moist side walls as we passed through. We transited through several kinds of locks including the aptly named "Guillotine," which -- like the French execution implement -- lifts up, then comes down. We could feel the drips of the water! Fascinating way to climb and descend as we travel, explore and learn. EACH AMERICAN Cruise Line itinerary tailors its stops and lectures to life on the specific river. In the South, there are trips to plantations and the food reflects the locale -- barbecue in Memphis, gumbo in New Orleans. New England voyages may feature fall foliage. Mississippi River cruises feature Cajun cuisine, Civil war battles, wildlife, jazz, etc. So there is a river cruise for every taste -- and one can be as busy or as laid back as one wishes. Repeat cruisers like to sit on their balconies and admire the scenery, while others prefer to get some exercise -- walk into the various towns, or hop aboard conveniently located transportation for tours or museum visits. Bruce Keller steps inside a tule mat lodge, a replica of ones used by native people. We witnessed the same raw beauty the explorers saw on our 350-mile transit. But instead of building forts in the rain and sleet, we toured a lovely museum and stepped inside the "tule mat" lodges, clever, tightly woven structures which protected the native people from cold in the winter and kept them cool in summer. Small boats can anchor near land, and welcoming committees often greet, as in The Dalles, Oregon. NEW FRIENDS were excited to be heading to a recently introduced ACL itinerary, "Music Cities," a few days after our Pacific Northwest adventure. They, too, are music lovers, eager to learn more about the variety of musical genres explored on the "bluegrass to jazz" itinerary. View from the gorge: Bruce Keller and Christene Cookie Meyers enjoy Maryhill Museum of Art. If you're a Mark Twain buff, you can satisfy your yearning for the history, art, folklore and literature spawned on the Mississippi -- enjoying a one-man show by an actor impersonating Samuel Clemens. The boat stops north of St. Lewis in Hannibal, Mark Twain's boyhood home so cruisers can tour a fascinating museum in his honor. Keller, Cookie and driver-guide Mike became friends during the couple's week on the rivers. As art and history buffs, we never miss an museum jaunt. The Maryhill Museum of Art, a beautifully designed, small museum with an eclectic collection, offers a stunning room of Rodin sculptures plus artifacts from Queen Marie of Romania, Orthodox icons and unique chess sets Who'd expect to find these treasure in rural Klickitat County, Washington? But there they are. We enjoyed the museum's" thrones" on a bluff atop the east end of the Columbia River Gorge. MEETING CHEERFUL drivers, who double as knowledgeable guides, is another benefit of traveling with ACL. These history-minded native sons and daughters know the territory and share their knowledge and stories because they follow the ship. We had the same lovely guide, Mike, all week, and developed a friendship with him -- enjoying his anecdotes as we retraced parts of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition 216 years later. We enjoyed superb accommodations and comforts of modern day cruising, while learning of the hardships faced by the daring explorers who shaped western expansion so long ago. americancruiselines.com or 1 800 981-9149 A painting of Sacajawea at Sacajawea State Park Interpretive Center in Pasco, Wash. UP NEXT: So remarkable a contribution did Sacajawea make to the 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition that she is remembered and revered today throughout the West. We hopped on and off American Pride to visit several sights paying homage to the brilliant guide, interpreter, lay doctor and linguist, with a side-trip to a luxury inn named after her, the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, Montana. The influence of Sacajawea is felt today, nearly 220 years after the journey, in museums, parks, and the hotel we visited is one of many places to honor Sacajawea throughout the west. We pay homage to her and enjoy the hotel, reminding readers to explore, learn and live, and catch us weekly for a fresh look at travel, nature, the arts, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This article was reviewed and updated Sept 14, 2026 The Best Cruise Is the One That Matches the Way You Like to Travel Choosing a cruise can be exciting. And challenging. With so many cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and price points, it can also feel overwhelming. The secret to finding the right cruise isn't about choosing the newest ship or the lowest fare. It's finding a cruise line that matches your travel style, interests, budget, pace and expectations. Whether you love elegant dining, entertainment, relaxation, adventurous shore excursions, family activities, or exploring several destinations, there's a cruise designed with you in mind. Cruise ship and smaller boats in St. Thomas on a sunny day, with passengers off on shore excursions, shopping and a variety of activities. How to Choose a Cruise Line: Look for One that Fits Your Style A cruise vacation can be many different things to many different people. For some travelers, the ship itself is the destination. For others, the ship is a comfortable way to get from one fascinating port to another. That's why the first question to ask isn't, "Which cruise line is the best?" Instead, ask yourself: "What do I want my cruise vacation to feel like?" Once you know the answer, choosing becomes much easier. A ship's lobby is in the center of the vessel, showing off the line's design, colors and style. Decide What Kind of Traveler You Are Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, entertainment, culture, food -- a bit of all? If you enjoy exploring cities and museums, trying local restaurants, experiencing different cultures, look at cruise itineraries and the amount of time spent in port. If your idea of a perfect vacation is sitting beside a pool with a book, enjoying a spa treatment, watching sunsets from your balcony, the ship itself may trump ports. If you prefer an active vacation, look for ships and itineraries offering excursions, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife encounters and other outdoor adventures. Knowing your travel personality is the best place to begin. Consider the Size of the Ship Cruise ships range from intimate vessels carrying relatively few passengers to enormous ships that feel like floating cities. Large ships often offer more restaurants, entertainment, pools, activities, shopping and nightlife. They can be wonderful for travelers who enjoy having lots of choices. Smaller ships can provide a quieter, more intimate experience and may visit ports that aren't accessible to the largest vessels. Neither is automatically better. The question is: Which sounds more like you? If you enjoy meeting people and lots of activity, a large ship might be perfect. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere and fewer crowds, consider a smaller vessel. MS Queen Victoria, a Vista-class cruise ship operated by the elegant Cunard Line. Think About Dining Food is an important part of any vacation, and cruise lines have very different approaches to dining. Some travelers enjoy traditional dining rooms and scheduled meals. Others prefer casual restaurants, specialty dining, buffets or the freedom to eat whenever they want. Before booking, look at the dining options included in your cruise fare and find out what costs extra. If trying different restaurants is one of your favorite parts of traveling, a ship with a wide variety of dining choices may be worth considering. Look at the Entertainment How to choose a cruise line depends, for some people, on the entertainment. Live theater, comedians, musicians, production shows, dancing, movies, lectures and other activities can fill your evenings and sea days. Other travelers would rather have a quiet dinner and be in bed early. Think about how you like to spend your evenings. If you enjoy getting dressed up and going to a show, make entertainment an important part of your comparison. If you prefer a peaceful evening on your balcony, you may care more about the ship's atmosphere than its entertainment schedule. Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers return from a wildlife viewing shore excursion in Alaska on NCL. Consider Your Age, Preferences and Travel Companions Your perfect cruise may be very different from someone else's. Families usually want children's programs, water attractions and activities for several generations. Couples may prefer romance, fine dining and fewer children and families. Solo travelers may look for socializing and ways to meet other passengers. And don't assume that a cruise line is "for older people" or "for younger people." Cruise demographics vary by itinerary, season and length. The best choice is the one that feels comfortable for you and your companions. Pay Attention to the Itinerary A beautiful ship doesn't make up for an itinerary that doesn't interest you. Consider where the cruise goes, how long it stays in port, how many sea days are included. Cruising offers value, variety, safety and more... you pack and unpack once! Do you want to see several countries in one trip? Are there destinations you've always dreamed of visiting? Would you rather have several relaxing sea days? Also remember that two cruises visiting the same region can provide different experiences depending on the ports. For us, one of the great advantages of cruising is the ability to unpack once while waking up somewhere new each day and embarking on a fresh adventure. Don't Choose Based Only on Price The advertised cruise fare is only part of the cost. Before booking, consider taxes and fees, gratuities, shore excursions, specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, transportation to the port and airfare. A cruise that might look inexpensive may not be cheap when everything is added. At the same time, a cruise with a higher initial price may include more of the things you would otherwise pay for separately. Look at the total vacation cost, not just the headline fare. Decide How Important Luxury Is to You Some travelers want a luxury experience from the moment they step aboard. Others are perfectly happy with a comfortable cabin, good food and an interesting itinerary. Cruise lines offer a wide range of experiences, from casual and contemporary to elegant nd highly personalized. Ask yourself what makes a vacation feel special. Is it a large suite? Fine dining? Exceptional service? A quiet atmosphere? Or is it simply having a comfortable place to sleep while you explore the world? We don't mind paying extra for a balcony because we love the view and spend a lot of time there. Think About the Cabin Don't overlook the importance of choosing the right cabin. An inside cabin can be an excellent value if you don't plan to spend much time there. An ocean-view cabin provides natural light and a view. A balcony is wonderful for morning coffee, evening cocktails, watching the scenery, enjoying time at sea. Your cabin location also matters. If you are sensitive to movement, you may prefer a cabin closer near the middle of the ship and on a lower deck. If you want convenience, consider how close you'll be to elevators, dining areas and entertainment. A little research before booking can make your cruise much more comfortable. Read Reviews -- but Know What to Look For Cruise reviews can be helpful, but remember that every travel writer has different priorities. One writer may complain that a ship is too quiet while another considers that a plus. One traveler may love a busy itinerary while another thinks there are too many port days. When reading reviews, look for comments about what matters most to you. Pay particular attention to recent reviews, because ships change, restaurants change, entertainment changes and cruise lines regularly update their offerings. Consider how much time you plan to spend on the ship. If you like long leisurely sea days, a crossing is a good option. Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises typically offer many ports. Consider the Length of the Cruise A three- or four-night cruise may be a fine introduction to cruising, but longer cruises offer a very different experience. Seven days is a popular choice because it provides enough time to settle into the ship while visiting several destinations. Longer cruises can be ideal if you enjoy the journey as much as the destinations. We love trans-Atlantic crossings -- no ports, plenty of activity, time to relax and fine dining. Cruising offers beauty, relaxation, adventure and choices. You, the sea, ports and your preferences. And if you really love cruising, there are longer voyages and back-to-back cruises that allow you to explore an entire region without constantly packing and unpacking. Match the Cruise to Your Pace This may be the most important consideration of all. Some cruises are packed with activities and ports. Others are designed around relaxation. Ask yourself whether you want to return home feeling you did everything possible, or whether you want to truly relax and slow down. It's possible to combine both. That's the beauty of cruising. There is a cruise style for every kind of traveler. Do Your Homework Before You Book Before putting down a deposit, compare cruise lines and itineraries. Look at the ship. Read about the cabins. Study the ports. Check what is included. Review dining choices. Consider entertainment. Think about how the cruise fits the way you like to travel. Don't let a beautiful photograph or a great promotional price make the decision for you. The right cruise should feel like your kind of vacation. Why We Love Cruising Amenities are part of the fun, here a welcome basket of fruit and sweets. One of the reasons cruising has become such a favorite way to travel is the simplicity of it. You unpack once, settle into your cabin and let the ship carry you from one destination to the next. There are meals, entertainment and activities onboard, while each port provides a new opportunity to explore. We've found that cruising can be especially appealing for travelers who want to see a lot of the world without moving hotels every few days. But the real trick is finding the cruise line and ship that fit you. Consider these points: *Are the ship and amenities more important than ports? Prefer to sail the Norwegian Fjords or wander the streets of a Sicilian village? *Must you have an ocean view or balcony? Happy with a cheaper, inside cabin? What's your budget? Decide, then choose the right cruise for your wallet. *Do you want history lectures, Broadway revues, samba lessons, Mayan ruins, cobblestone streets, boutiques, wine tastings, a butler? Or just a cheap cabin you'll use mostly to sleep. * Will you buy a cruise-fly package? Are you embarking in one port and disembarking in another? Narrow the field. Here are nine favorite options. Follow WhereIsCookie.com for More Travel Tips Travel is too important to leave to chance. Whether you're planning a cruise, a road trip, an international adventure or a weekend getaway, a little homework helps make better choices. A private balcony is a must for Cookie! Here leaving Florida on a crossing to Barcelona. That's why we invite you to visit WhereIsCookie.com, where we share travel experiences, practical tips, destination ideas and the highlights -- and sometimes the surprises-- we discover along the way. We love travel and we believe e best travel advice comes from experience: what is worth seeing, what is worth skipping, where to spend your time and how to get the most from every journey. Before you book your next adventure, check WhereIsCookie.com for travel tips, stories and inspiration to help pick a destination to make your next trip memorable. Travel is our life and we love to share our knowledge. whereiscookie.com

Cruising is making a slow comeback, since this popular mode of travel was abruptly halted in the early days of the COVID-19 virus. Here, in St. Thomas, cruise ships large and small move in and out of the picturesque harbor. The Mediterranean will be opening up for cruising in late autumn, at least with some lines. Each line has a different policy, so do homework. CRUISING'S CAUTIOUS COMEBACK: INDIVIDUAL STATEROOM AIR FILTERING AND MANY MORE SANITATION PRECAUTIONS Editor's Note: This story contains projected sailing dates from various cruise lines. Please note that cruise line suspensions can be extended at anytime. Our research is based on interviews and websites, but the volatile changing times require each traveler's daily research. Keller and Cookie aboard the Celebrity Century. Some sailings are cancelled, others postponed. Celebrity and other lines cancelled sailings in Canada, Alaska, and New England following a ban on cruise ships from the Canadian government. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" THERE'S GOOD NEWS for lovers of ships and cruising. But it's slow to emerge. When the industry lurched to a halt in March, a result of COVID-19, millions of dollars were lost, thousands of cruises cancelled and legions of travelers were nervous and disappointed at radically changing travel plans. Slowly, the world's embattled cruise lines are making a comeback and passengers will again be riding the waves -- as soon as this weekend. Paul Gauguin, which corners the Polynesian market, will resume sailings July 11, with two voyages for the local market. International passengers may sail as of July 29. Many new guidelines are in place. Paul Gauguin offers a ring-side view of the Polynesian Islands aboard a French owned 332 passenger luxury ship booking now for late summer and autumn. The industry has spent more than $40 billion to prepare ships and train crews for the new "Covid protocol." American Cruise Lines' small, sleek ships can access ports and coves not available to larger vessels. Its New England cruises resume in August. A leader in the "Covid precaution" arena is American Cruise Lines, offering the attractive possibility for Americans to reach a cruise ship without flying and exposing themselves to airport crowds and recycled cabin air. Cruising close to home is the line's specialty and bookings are brisk. American will be back on the waters in August, with cruises scheduled around New England. An earlier date of July 22 was scratched just before this article's publication. With its liberal refund policy, the cruise line is creating good will. Travelers disappointed at the postponement will receive a 100 per cent cent refund or a 125 per cent future cruise voucher if the line cancels. This liberal policy also allows 24-hour pre-cruise cancelation with 100 per cent voucher for a 2021 cruise. The line also navigates several of America's prettiest rivers, with leisurely transits of the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake Rivers. Keller and Cookie aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. The revered line will resume some sailings in November, including Elizabeth and her sisters, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary. Those cruises will resume, too, in 2020, with the line's popular Alaska cruises back on the 2021 docket. American's river and coastal waterways cruises operate in over 25 states so many guests can skip flying entirely and drive straight to the ship." We are doing our best to keep adjusting as things progress and change," says Alexa Paolella, public relations manager for American Cruise Lines. American's popularity -- especially now, with the virus fears -- is high, in part because it offers guests a 100 per cent cruise voucher credit and the ability to cancel for any reason 24 hours before a cruise. Further enticement is, says Paolella, "We visit only small U.S. ports and cruise within sight of land." This appeals to cruisers concerned about the possibly having to leave the trip for medical care. American’s ships are also small -- 100-190 passengers max -- and sail at reduced capacity of 75 per cent. LIKE AMERICAN, many other cruise lines are introducing independent air systems to staterooms, so there is no shared duct work in cabins and some lounges. One of our booking agents said her balcony rooms are going first, which is usually the case. Now more than ever, though, balconies are appealing for the fresh air and privacy. Lines are also making properly distanced outdoor cafe tables available. Indoor dining will have distanced tables. Here is a partial list of cruising's revamped schedules: Viking resumes Oct. 1, followed by Carnival's Spirit for Hawaii and trans-Pacific cruising. On Oct. 7, Holland America, Disney, Princess and other popular mid-priced lines continue staggered resumptions which are slated as early as late September. Norwegian Cruise Line announced an Oct. 1 resumption, as did upscale lines Regent and Oceania. Seabourn's Sojourn is back on the water Oct. 14 and Crystal's Symphony is booking for an Oct. 23 sailing. Cunard's Queen Victoria resumes operation Nov. 2. Sunset over a harbor with a white cruise ship, docks, and calm blue water. Some lines are resuming operations, after COVID losses Keller and Cookie in Europe, awaiting a tour on a sunny day off the ship. Europe is slowly opening up to cruising. INTERNATIONALLY, many countries are opening domestic cruise and ferry lines to their countrymen. Genting Cruise Lines restarts its Asian luxury Dream Cruises with Explorer Dream, July 26. The 1,867-passenger ship offers two and three-night "Taiwan Island-Hopping" itineraries, departing from Keelung and calling at Penghu, Matzu and Kinmen islands -- just for the domestic Taiwanese market at the moment. COVID-19 caused many countries to impose travel restrictions and close their borders to outside visitors. Early on, dozens of cruise ships were turned away from various ports as countries acted aggressively to prevent ships from docking. While passengers were brought home, crew were stranded for weeks and some are only now getting returned to their homes. Cruising into northern Europe's capitals, including Oslo, above, along with Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and the Baltic Republics, is slowly resuming. SO WHICH other lines are back in business? Norway's Hurtigruten is offering enticing savings to book a lovely Norwegian coastal cruises, or venture to Antarctica. It restarted its coastal sailings July 16 for Norwegians and Danes, on vessels carrying 500 passengers.Sea Dream also resumed cruising from Norway with just 112 passengers. THE INTERNATIONAL cruise industry, including Royal Caribbean Cruises, is making radical changes to adjust to COVID-19. The line's marketing department calls the changes "evolutionary," aimed at still giving passengers a consistent experience, according to CEO Richard Fain. Cookie often plays piano during dinner on the couple's frequent cruises. She hopes to be back on sea and at the 88s within the next few months. RCCL has four cruise lines:: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises. All are currently on pause, due to a "no sail" order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Azamara have suspensions through Aug. 1, while Silversea has taken a ship-by-ship approach to resumption. EVEN IF there had never been a COVID-19, cruising would be different today than it was a year ago. One of the things we're proudest of is that the industry is constantly changing and adapting to people's needs," said Fain. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers don their masks for all outings and hope their fellow humans do the same. It's a mater of safety and manners. UP NEXT: Should you wear a mask or not? Of course! Really, it shouldn't be an issue. It's healthy, respectful and necessary. As we travel, shop, traversing new territory, we find it essential to wear a mask -- for our protection, and others'. We appreciate that most of our comrades follow suit, for it's mandated in California that masks be worn and distancing observed in all public places. We explore masking and how it's helping fight the virus. Remember to explore, learn and live, and please wear a mask for your sake -- and for the rest of us. Meanwhile, explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at travel, nature, the arts, family and fun. www.whereiscookie.com

On a road trip, the Tetons are in full fall glory with horses grazing contentedly beneath them. AUTUMN COMES TO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES OFFERING SPLENDID PHOTOS, SUNNY HIKING, FROST ON THE PUMPKIN BUT WARMTH IN OUR HEARTS Photographer Rick Cosgriffe takes aim on one of the last road trips before autumn then winter. AUTUMN LEAVES BEGIN TO FALL, DAYS GROW SHORTER, SHUTTERBUGS TAKE AIM ON THE GLORIOUS CHANGING SEASON STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This story was reviewed and updated September of 2026 The road to High Chaparral, north of Nye, awaits fall's golden touch. IF, AS the great poet T. S. Elliot said, "April is the cruelest month" then September is the kindest. Days are still long and leisurely, with cool mornings and evenings accented by hours of dappled sunlight and moon beams. The critters are on the move -- hummingbirds are taking their last gulps of nectar before heading south in a journey that can be hundreds or even thousands of miles. A hike to Sioux Charlie finds autumn cloaking the source of the Stillwater. Woodpeckers and eagles, camouflaged by the density of summer foliage, are more visible on the telephone poles and branches. A woodpecker finds a snack, to help him through the harsh days of winter. HIKING OUR parks and national forests is a rare pleasure because the summer hoards have vanished. Gardens produce zucchini the size of footballs. Corn, pears, plums and apples are sweetened by frost. It's my favorite time in the northern Rockies, probably because I'm a hopeless romantic, and there's nothing like fall to bring out the romantic. I'VE RETURNED to my favorite poets -- looking for poems celebrating the fall season, I've found classics by William Shakespeare, William Blake, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Emily Dickinson and John Clare. Their poems speak to the gorgeous contrasts in color celebrated by painters over the centuries: brilliant purples, crimsons, oranges, scarlets, golds as the green fades. Add one of those favorite painterly colors: cadmium, a word I've always loved. Montana autumn can bring 'melancholia' With colors so bold and inspiring, why do we feel a bit sad, "afflicted with melancholia," as my grandmother Olive used to say? Sunflowers and crab apples at High Chaparral -- the night before the first freeze. Perhaps we're reminded of our own mortality, and brief spin on glorious planet Earth. WHEN I TRY to outrun my demons, I turn to nature. It's difficult to be too depressed in the beauty Montana autumn brings. But because the days are growing shorter, I also turn to Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson and their eloquent "September Song," sung memorably by Weill's wife, Lotte Lenya: "Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December, but the days grow short when you reach September. When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, One hasn't got time for the waiting game." DESPITE the backdrop of increasingly dreary gray, nature takes on a brilliance and energy. Just like my Irish gran Olive before she passed away and we played two-handed Mozart and ragtime on the piano. Cookie enjoys the last sunflowers, the night before the season's first hard frost. The harvest moon last week was stellar -- showering its glitter on the aspen below our bedroom window, bathing the berm in a halo of silver light. Mornings are gorgeous -- clouds disappear like fairy dust. The showers come and go, and thunder sounds like the sputters of a campfire. SO WITH temperatures dropping, one spends more time by the fire -- safe and warm inside -- a good time to read poetry, or play that bittersweet "September Song." "Oh the days dwindle down to a precious few, September, November...... and these precious days I'll spend with you..... And the wine dwindles down to a precious brew...these few vintage years I'll spend with you, these precious years I'll spend with you." COMING SOON: The beloved Queen Mary celebrates 80 years with a bang-up party in Long Beach. And we're on the road again, enjoying this changing season and its gorgeous landscape. Stay tuned for tips on fun digs, eats and theater in Jackson Hole and Teton Village, and a look at real live cowboys moving their cattle to winter pasture. Plus Wapiti Valley near Cody, and Livingston's historic Murray Hotel. Remember to enjoy, learn and live, and check us out weekly at: www.whereiscookie.com Queen Mary turns 80 years old later this month; everyone's invited! xxx

Autumn colors out our window make a beautiful photo: chokecherries, wild rose, ornamental willow, aspen. POETS PAY HOMAGE TO COLORFUL FALL IN FULL GLORY NOW IN MONTANA Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on a walk near their Stillwater home. "Life starts all over again, when it gets crisp in the fall..." --F. Scott Fitzgerald STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This piece is timeless -- except for the COVID references. Let's hope that's permanently behind us. NOWHERE in all my global jaunts have I seen autumns as lovely as Montana's. Yes, the Swiss Alps beg one to stay a while with their dramatic dips and peaks. Norway's birch and pine forests charm with a brilliant canvas of yellow, orange, deep green. The first scarlets and golds of autumn blanket the forests of Montana. But Montana's fall takes a towering top place in my seasonal book. Right now, we're relishing those first mornings when there's a change in the air. The mornings are crisp, sun warms the days and evenings are cool. Swaying aspen, pirouetting leaves and the distinctive, autumnal feel reminds us that winter will soon knock on the door. CRITTERS are on the prowl, making nests, stockpiling food, planning for their long winter as we take down screens and replace them with storm windows. Seasonal birds are gone. The rare migrating grosbeak visits the feeder as the faithful chickadee remains. I hope to fulfill F. Scott Fitzgerald's encouragement, that "life starts all over again....in the fall." Boy, howdy, could we use a new beginning to this lousy year with political unrest, riots, looting and that pesky virus signaling absence of theater, travel, dining out. Oh, sure, we're still upright, "on the right side of the dirt," as my grandfather Gus said. But won't we all welcome New Year's Eve, as we flip the calendar from 2020 to a new year of promise, 2021? MEANWHILE, we'll share a few more favorite autumn quotes. Poets wax about autumn's splendors, here in the golden valley of the Stillwater River, near Nye, Montana. Rocky Mountains Autumn Splendor -- Poets Wax on Fall William Cullen Bryant called autumn "the year's last loveliest smile." Emily Bronte waxed poetic with "Every leaf sings bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." My favorite autumn quote is from Emily Dickinson, who observed that autumn was "A little this side of the snow, and that side of the haze." MYSTICAL poet, Albert Camus, called autumn "a second spring, when every leaf is a flower." Shira Tamir, who writes about nature and the human condition, said “Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.” Philosopher, poet Rainer Maria Rilke said of autumn, "At no other time does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.” Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers enjoy an autumn walk this week. We had not experienced a Rocky Mountains autumn Montana autumn for more than a decade. So we're enjoying the colors, warmth and transformation of nature as it unveils its changing canvas. It won't last long, so take it in before it vanishes under that frosty white stuff. HERE IN Montana, the trees will soon be bare and our driveway will accumulate several feet of serious snow. The good news about winter's much needed moisture is it diminishes fire hazard for next summer and makes the spring grasses all the greener, the first blooms of columbine, wild geranium and lupine all the lovelier. Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” --Poet Stanley Horowitz UP NEXT: Road trip time. As many of us continue to avoid air travel, we offer updated tips on traveling by auto in Covid times. Make certain everyone in the car is equipped with tissue, individual hand sanitizer, snacks, blanket and a mask for rest stops. The parks are uncrowded, gas is reasonable and it's a good time to appreciate the changing colors. More tips await next week. Meanwhile remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at travel, nature, the arts, family and more: whereiscookie.com

At the Museum of American Art in Long Beach, the eye-catching works of Latin American artists from around the world are displayed indoors and in an outdoor sculpture garden. A variety of intriguing installations contributes to the charm and allure. At left, Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers in front of the museum is a sculpture titled "Infinity," created by artist José de Rivera. This kinetic sculpture was installed as part of the museum's outdoor art collection and is notable for its unique design and movement, one of many engaging pieces. LONG BEACH MUSEUM SHOWCASES LATINO ART IN BEAUTIFULLY CURATED EXHIBITIONS The Museum of Latin American Art's impressive collection extends to an artful sculpture garden. Global range of work includes pieces by exiled Cuban artists. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" ON THE grounds of California's first movie studio, imagination continues to reign. In the enchanting Museum of Latin American Art, contemporary works by acclaimed artists from around the world challenge viewers to ponder and offer fresh perspectives. Friendly, inviting, interactive, MoLAA welcomes, tests and teases the viewer -- urging participation in a fresh, new vision. Judithe Hernandez makes a bold, graceful statement in the museum's sculpture garden. She is an acclaimed Chicana artist. The museum draws from its extensive permanent collection to present deftly curated exhibitions -- while inviting new artists to explore their own worlds and stimulate our senses. Works run the gamut from whimsical to provocative, from classical to avant-garde. THE SPACE is unique -- open and airy -- lending itself to a colorful landscape indoors which leads to a calming and intriguing outdoor sculpture garden. Long before Hollywood existed, pioneers in the film industry were at work in this unassuming space on Alamitos Avenue in Long Beach. In 1913 in a barn near the corner of Vine and Selma, Jesse Laskey and C. B. DeMille rented the space to make movies. Fragments of the original building still exist on the grounds where Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford got ready for their close-ups. Job Garcia's imagination is front and center in works at MoLAA. They were instrumental in forming what would become United Artists, through negotiations on the museum's present grounds. Surely their spirits are smiling down on this unique, engaging museum. IT IS ONE of the premier Latino museums in the country and is dedicated to modern and contemporary Latino art. The museum's mission is to educate, collect, preserve, present, and interpret art for cross-cultural dialogue. Knowledgeable and motivated docents are part of the charm of the museum.. Here, Paula asks viewers what they see, and responds with insightful commentary. THE MUSEUM has an impressive docent program, with highly skilled volunteers eager to express their interest in the museum's history and extensive holdings. Our excellent docent explained its merging of art, science and technology. Our visit was enriched by Paula's erudite explanations of individual pieces. She explained the often complex layers of a painting or sculpture, questioning us to draw our impressions. This interactive approach gives the visitor a genuine feeling of participation and is gratifying to both guest and guide. Sculpture is represented in the museum's eye-catching and varied exhibitions, both inside and in a lovely garden. PAULA SHARED her pride in the museum's impressive permanent collection and in a cutting edge installation, "Arteonica," which explores an obscure but fascinating Latin American art movement begun 60 years ago. Waldemar Cordeiro is the muse behind the exhibit which explores the state of electronic and cybernetic arts, "a verbal synthesis featuring the computer as an instrument of positive social change influencing both art and culture." Intriguing multi-media exhibitions at MoLAA invite the visitor into the artists' imaginations. The museum's overriding focus is to create a dialogue between art and people, much as Cordeiro's exhibition does. MANY OF the museum's pieces carry political and social messages, conveying the turbulent and often tragic consequences of dictatorships, thousands of "disappeared" persons, corruption, violence and political turmoil. A "don't miss" feature of this internationally known museum is its gorgeous garden. The Robert Gumbiner Sculpture and Events Garden showcases an extraordinary exhibition of sculpture from MOLAA’s permanent collection. Gumbiner, who passed away in 2009, was a beloved physician and philanthropist was a major force behind the museum's permanent collection and laid the groundwork for the sculpture garden. Bruce Keller "listens" to this Lucia Monge installation a fascinating study of nature by the noted Peruvian artist. It includes drawings, real plants connected to a microphone. The museum is rightly proud of both its indoor space and its outdoor space, internationally recognized as the most important collection of contemporary Latin American sculpture in the nation. The collection has grown due to the generous donations from artists and collectors, as well as from long-term loans. The sculpture garden now presents a permanent display of over 15 abstract and figurative sculptures representing almost one artist per Latin American country. WE WERE fascinated by the variety of bronze, wood, metal, stainless-steel and polychrome metal. The diversity is impressive, reflecting an intriguing mix of Latin American art. Abstract works include a bronze sculpture by Peruvian artist Fernando de Szyszlo, a stainless steel sculpture by Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman and a polychrome metal sculpture by Argentinean artist Perez Celis. Figurative works of note include bronze sculptures by Guatemalan artist Max Leiva, Panamanian artist Guillermo Trujillo and Cuban artist Carlos Luna. The museum showcases art by a "Who's Who" in Latin American talent. It is truly a fascinating place. More information: www.molaa.org -- The museum is free on Sundays. Ask about docent tours, well worth the time. The Palms at Indian Head offers a relaxing respite, a calming and lovely escape from summer's heat. ON TAP: With summer around the corner for most of the United States and the Northern Hemisphere, we begin a series of summer enticements. A fascinating hotel awaits in southern California, the Palms at Indian Head in the fascinating desert of Borrego Springs. It was home to stars of yore -- Charlie Chaplin Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and other luminaries escaping the rigors and demands of the Hollywood studios. You can book a stay there today to relive their glamour days with an Olympic size pool, beautiful hiking and a gourmet restaurant on property. The Palms at Indian Head is a quiet, restful getaway and we'll take you there to enjoy. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more. Please share the link: www.whereiscookie.com

Bruce Keller poses in one of the many intriguing spaces in the SCAD Museum of Art, where constantly changing exhibitions feature established and emerging artists from around the world. Editor's Note This story was reviewed and updated in September of 2026 STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Kiem Kids" VISIONARY SCHOOL'S MUSEUM MIXES INNOVATION, IMAGINATION IN ARTFUL WELCOMING SPACE An installation by Patrick Dougherty is part of the landscape at the SCAD Museum of Art. Its weaving and bending of sticks is in a way a metaphor for the museum's intent. Savannah College of Art and Design is 'SCAD' to the arts world SCAD IS A WELL known acronym in Savannah, known to arts minded people around the world. People recognize Savannah College of Art and Design, because it is internationally famous. Art students from Iceland come here. So do budding artists from Peru, Japan, Italy and many other countries. Multiple Oscar winners studied in SCAD's creative halls. Christene "Cookie" Meyers examines an interactive, playful piece using oranges to challenge the visitor. You can't walk a block in Savannah without seeing some SCAD reference, because the enterprise is museum, school and community presence. With an emphasis on art and design, it has more programs than any other university in the country. This piece focuses on the lovely museum, which challenges the mind, bends notions and knocks stereotypes into the stratosphere. WE FOUND during two visits an intriguing array of exhibitions, all designed to challenge the mind and refigure our ways of considering the old-fashioned meaning of "museum." Take for instance, the work of Patrick Dougherty. I first saw one of his graceful nature inspired installations in my native Montana at the Tippet Rise Art Center, a magical indoor-outdoor forum for art, music and nature. We were delighted to discover another of his installations in Savannah. "Making the Birds Proud," which -- like the Montana piece -- uses vernacular building techniques and tree saplings to create a welcoming, site-specific sculptural building that twists, towers, bends, coils, and soars. "Walk right in, have a look," it seems to say. At both Tippet Rise and the SCAD Museum of Art, Dougherty mixes his carpentry skills with his love for nature. Other exhibits do this, too, in unique ways. "Challenge" is the byword at the SCAD museum, where art, craftsmanship, and design open doors to the imagination and power of art, often encouraging participation from museum guests. This Erwin Wurm photo challenges the viewer to reconsider many things: style, fashion, balance, always with a sly sense of humor. SCAD's buildings encompass a sweeping architectural range. WE STOPPED AT many works which invite touching and imagining in playful yet challenging ways. Just as Dougherty bends and weaves twigs and sticks into tangible shapes, SCAD Museum of Art weaves and bends the imagination, encouraging excellence and high standards. Among SCAD students, guest artists and lecturers are "audacious artists and fashion phenoms," Academy Award winners, Grammy Award recipients and Pulitzer Prize winners, all dedicated to SCAD's mission of exploring the arts in thoughtful, novel ways. GENDERQUAKE, for instance, invites viewers to acknowledge ways in which fashion influences culture. Students find new ways to view and create, whether the medium be photographs or jewelry, music, film, television or furniture -- almost everything the human experience encompasses. SCAD pushes the envelope, whether in its classes and projects and in the provocative exhibits at its museum. Consider Erwin Wurm, our favorite guest artist. His amusing and thought provoking pieces push the envelope, eliciting smiles even laughter. In one piece, a perfectly dressed, high-fashion male model balances artfully barefoot atop a horse -- reins in one hand, briefcase in the other. Among other varied and ever changing SCAD museum exhibits is one by Korean born artist Cindy Ji Hye Kim. Her "Silhouettes in Lune" is an intriguing installation of paintings, sculptures, and a striking hand-drawn mural. The open, airy exhibition spaces at SCAD's museum encourage taking time to reflect. NEARBY ATLANTA is considered by many the Hollywood of the South, and that is due in great part to SCAD. Its role in Georgia's growing film and television industry can't be over emphasized, because it is partly generated by an enthusiastic group of students and alumni from SCAD. SCAD's influence reaches around Savannah, including a fun "Beach" retreat visited recently by Keller & Cookie. Founded 45 years ago, SCAD has spent decades guiding and grooming students for Hollywood. The school proudly reports 43 SCAD grads from seven disciplines contributed to 11 Emmy-nominated shows, including "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Ted Lasso" and "Succession." SCAD's film alumni have also produced many Oscar winning and Oscar nominated films including "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Avatar: The Way of Water." BEST BET: If there's a way you can beam yourself to San Diego, an absolute "must see" is the Scripps Ranch Theatre. Broadway quality all the way. scrippsranchtheatre.org Tony DeSare headlines with the Desert Symphony UP NEXT: A musical oasis in the desert! Come with us to Palm Desert, where 35 years ago a group of culture loving music fans organized a symphony orchestra. Through the years, Desert Symphony has grown to produce a five-part season of popular performances featuring some of America's best known performers, from Andy Williams and Jose Feliciano to the March 7 hit duo, Daniel Emmet and Pia Toscano, who rose to fame in "America's Got Talent" and headline the Symphony's gala. There's still time to book tickets to the Feb. 29 concert by Tony DeSare, noted singer-songwriter, known for his wide-ranging repertoire of Frank Sinatra favorites, with a bit of Billy Joel and Elton John in the mix. Remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us weekly for a unique spin on music, travel, nature, performance, family, the arts and more. For tickets: desertsymphony.org or 760 773-5988. Daniel Emmet, Pia Toscano promise an evening of fun at Desert Symphony's March 7gala. If this destination sparked your wanderlust, there’s plenty more waiting for you - explore more travel stories and inspiration over at WhereIsCookie.com

A striking white sculpture sits on a pedestal, a focal point of the Museum of the Rockies exhibit on the village of Oplontis, destroyed in the Vesuvius eruption, discovered during a construction project. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This story was updated September of 2026. It was a popular changing exhibit at the museum. The people of Oplontis, near Pompeii, lived well in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, until 79 AD, when they were buried by tons of falling ash. We viewed art and artifacts of leisure and luxury detailing the life of Rome's privileged citizens. Museum of the Rockies gallery features a display on a luxurious villa, Oplontis, destroyed by the Vesuvius eruption -- here white sculptures and busts found in the rubble One of the most opulent of Rome's luxury villas was Oplontis, the summer home of Emperor Nero's second wife. Parts of it are on view through Dec. 31, Museum of the Rockies has an intriguing related show in the Planetarium, exploring possibilities of the lost Atlantis. A WEALTHY VILLA UNTIL VESUVIUS: LUSH LIFE OF ROME'S PRIVILEGED BEFORE ERUPTION OF 2,000 YEARS AGO LIFE WAS GOOD for the people of Oplontis. Running water, prolific crops, lovely architecture and artwork, the comforts of civilized life. Even the servants seemed content. That is, until Vesuvius erupted, spewing tons of molten lava, burying the wealthy little village beneath 50 feet of ash. When ruins of the 79AD disaster were discovered recently during preparation for building of a gymnasium, scholars determined that the public would benefit from an exhibit sharing the remarkably preserved discovery. Dining salons which seated 100 people, private chambers with spectacular frescos, marble columns rising from elaborate mosaic floor were uncovered. A "living history" exhibit features a detailed exhibit on farm life as it was more than a century ago. Museum of the Rockiesin Bozeman: much more than history The Museum's Living History Farm offers a unique opportunity to experience life as it existed decades ago in rural Montana. Volunteers dress in period costumes to discuss gardening, homemaking, cooking and crafts. THE MUSEUM of the Rockies is one of three fortunate venues to host a remarkable new traveling exhibit, "The Villas of Oplontis." It details the splendid, privileged life of the aristocratic Roman enclave which lived well and happily in a lavish villa -- until Mount Vesuvius' catastrophic eruption. To warm us up for that, we spent a wonderful afternoon at the museum's other components, starting first at the Living History Farm, where a docent greeted us in a garden of raspberries, squash and lettuce, and invited us into the restored vintage farmhouse. Precious bracelets illustrate privilege and wealth. Beautiful jewels, here bracelets with asp heads, were found clutched in the hands of the long buried dead. There, another volunteer in period dress crafted potholders from scraps of coats and dresses, explaining how homesteaders cooked and sewed and survived a century or two ago. WE'D PLANNED our afternoon to take in the Planetarium show, which ties in nicely with the Oplontis exhibit. It explores the possibilities of the location of the lost Atlantis. Sitting back in the comfy chairs and gazing to the heavens, we discovered anew why this wonderful place is an internationally respected planetarium. A creative bison -- made of recycled objects including car parts, musical instruments and more, is part of a children's area upstairs. A creative bison -- made of ropes, tools, car parts, musical instruments and other recycled objects -- is featured in a children's area upstairs. It combines whimsy with creativity and education. Then a stroll through the homage to the West, and a look at researchers working on artifacts behind a glass screen. WE WATCHED a short, well crafted "overview" video narrated by Dr. Regina Gee, an expert on frescoes and one of three primary researchers involved in the Oplontis excavation. Based at MSU in Bozeman, Gee was instrumental in getting the exhibit to Montana. "Leisure and Luxury in the Age of Nero: The Villas of Oplontis near Pompei" is the elaborate handle of this fine show. Many talents helped make it a reality. Watching the careful process of working on fossils and other finds is part of the fun and learning. These two essential elements are part of any visit to the museum. MSU STUDENTS assisted in recreating elaborate frescoes which adorned the walls of the luxury homes. Jewelry was discovered, taken hurriedly along with money by citizens as they fled for hoped for safety and rescue in vaults which were not discovered until recent times. The lavish dining rooms and private chambers were destroyed, along with their spectacular mosaic floors and grand marble columns. The people left behind wines, oils, strong boxes of coins and artwork of a sophisticated civilization. The wealthy took their prized objects with them to the vault, hoping for a rescue that never came. The servants were found with their tools of trade, hoping to rebuild a life, should they be found before they perished. MSU and Dr. Gee deserve kudos for bringing this impressive exhibit from Italy. It remains on view through Dec. 31. We found it both moving and enlightening to share the life of these sophisticated but doomed citizens. We ended our day upstairs in less ponderous surroundings. Above the Oplontis exhibit, we watched children romp in the museum's cleverly designed play area with whimsical animals of the forest -- assembled artistically with found household and garage items. Come with us next to Rio, with a look at this exciting city of the current Olympics. We share photos and insights into lively Brazilian culture. UP NEXT: With all eyes on Rio, we share a recent trip to Brazil. Come with us up Sugar Loaf, to Ipanema Beach, a rock-folk concert and a spectacular spice, fruit and vegetable market. Then while we're enjoying time in Montana and a particularly beautiful summer, we take a trip down Memory Lane to a fabulous restaurant in the shadow of the Beartooths above Red Lodge. Old Piney Dell still delivers a superb meal, at Rock Creek Resort. Remember to explore, learn and live and check us out weekly for fun, fresh travel ideas and pieces on performance, nature, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

"Big Mike" greets visitors to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. BOZEMAN's BOOMING: MONTANA'S FASTEST GROWING CITY BLENDS BOHEMIAN FLAIR, COLLEGIATE AND CITY INFLUENCES, ART, FINE FOOD STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note This article was reviewed and updated September, 2026 If you're traveling through southwest Montana, don't miss the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Home to one of the world's finest collections of dinosaur fossils including spectacular Tyrannosaurus rex discoveries - this Smithsonian-affiliated museum brings prehistoric giants, regional history, and the story of the American West to life. Whether you're heading to Yellowstone National Park or exploring Bozeman, the Museum of the Rockies is an inspiring stop that's well worth adding to your itinerary. I SPENT the first months of my life in Bozeman, where my parents were university students. They lived in a World War II Quonset hut, recycled to provide married student housing. I've nurtured a lifelong fondness for this lively and picturesque town of 40,000 with a world class museum and other plusses. Beautiful Bozeman's population has increased by 20 per cent since 2012 making it the state's fastest growing town. What attracts people to this place? Perhaps the call of nature, for one can hear elk bugle in the suburbs. The occasional black bears wanders into town and terrific fly fishing attracts both tourists and locals. Restaurants offer variety, including tasty ethnic fare as well as good old western cooking. Since the 1860s when prospectors opened up the Bozeman Trail, this lovely Gallatin Valley city north of Yellowstone has been a popular road trip stop-over. The drive from Bozeman, past Big Sky to West Yellowstone, offers many scenic stops. BOZEMAN, MONTANA is frequented by tourists in both summer and winter. Direct flights come from many major U.S. cities including Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Denver, Newark and Houston. The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade is a quick eight miles northwest of Bozeman. It's owned by the Gallatin Airport Authority and is the busiest airport in Montana. Bozeman's is the county seat of Gallatin County, famous for gorgeous views of the mountains, spectacular sports and nature access. It also hosts the wonderful Museum of the Rockies, Gallatin County Museum and the American Computer and Robotics Museum. Bozeman's International Airport is in Belgrade, busy with many direct flights to big U.S. cities. It offers easy access to the town of Bozeman and its famous Museum of the Rockies. Museum of the Rockies Highlights, Time You Need There, Family Friendly Tips The Museum of the Rockies is on the campus of Montana State University, a convenient stop for exploring southwest Montana and Yellowstone Country. It is known for its world-renowned dinosaur fossil collection, including some of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex discoveries ever found. It houses one of the most significant paleontology collections in North America. . Families enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on learning opportunities, dinosaur displays and educational programs designed to engage visitors of all ages. Most visitors spend between two and four hours exploring the exhibits. History buffs spend more time exploring the state's lively history, Native American culture, changing exhibitions, and Taylor Planetarium, a favorite part of the museum, offering immersive astronomy programs and a relaxing way to end your visit Families enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on learning opportunities, dinosaur displays and educational programs designed to engage visitors of all ages. Museum of the Rockies has one of the world's largest fossil collections and an extensive dinosaur display, world renowned for its size and scope. The paleontology exhibits are the largest in North America. Tie in Your Museum Visit with a Yellowstone Park Trip Another draw is Bozeman's proximity to the country's oldest national park, Yellowstone. .Bozeman is only about 90 miles from Yellowstone's North Entrance, making the museum and a Bozeman stop a popular addition to Yellowstone road trip itineraries. Hollywood and Motion Picture Ties to the Gallatin Valley Hollywood has discovered the Gallatin Valley, too. Many award winning, big budget films have been shot there, including scenes from "A River Runs Through It" and "Far and Away." Fittingly, film star Gary Cooper was born in Helena and finished high school in Bozeman. In 1864, English born W.W. Alderson described Montana’s Gallatin Valley as “one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys the eye beheld, abounding in springs of clear water.” In the late 1800’s people called it “Montana's Egypt” or “The Garden Spot of Montana.” The Gallatin Valley has attracted an array of film makers. Motion pictures shot here include "A River Runs Through It," above. The region's fame dates to April, 1805, when captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the Corps of Discovery entered what is today Montana. For five months, they traveled the Missouri and Jefferson rivers, along the Bitterroot Mountains, making some of the most significant discoveries of their odyssey. Clark made a map of the Gallatin Valley, showing the three forks of the Missouri, the valley's “level open plain,” and the snow covered Bridger mountains. (Lewis and Clark split their party on the return trip, so Lewis could explore north of Great Falls, while Clark explored the Yellowstone.) Not far from Bozeman is West Yellowstone, one of five entrances to Yellowstone National Park and bison viewing. BIG SKY, that booming resort where Montana born TV newsman Chet Huntley broke ground in 1967, is only 32 miles away. It opened with a flourish in 1973. The award winning anchorman of Huntley-Brinkley fame had suffered a midlife crisis, moved to the mountains of Montana and created this resort town under the dreamy banner, Big Sky. He said in an interview with Life magazine, "Maybe where there's clarity of air, there's clarity of thought." . It's only 82 miles from Big Sky to Old Faithful, and an hour's drive to the closest park entrance, West Yellowstone. Many tourists base in Big Sky to tour the park, and it's a favorite drive of locals. The foliage is beginning to turn golden, with splashes of red as Montana and the northern Rockies head into autumn. UP NEXT: Autumn imagery in the west is a spectacular blend of oranges, yellows, and bits of red. As leaves are turning, ranchers are moving their cattle to their winter pastures. Bears are feasting on the last of the chokecherries and there's a definite nip in the air. Explore this changing time, with sunrises and sunsets, and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery wherever you area. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at nature, travel, family, the arts and more: whereiscookie.com

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is an architectural, cultural and artistic wonder. Wellington's delightful complex entertains, educates and engages thousands each year. We left our balcony room on Celebrity's Eclipse to enjoy a day in this marvelous free museum. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers explore Te Papa's treasures from Celebrity's lovely ship, Eclipse. Wellington is an engaging stop on a fine and varied Celebrity itinerary. WELLINGTON MUSEUM OFFERS SPLENDID EXHIBITS, WEALTH OF ART, CULTURE, HISTORY,USER FRIENDLY WONDERS Great day tour for Celebrity cruisers STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Walking into Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington is like opening a door to the story of New Zealand. Located on Cable Street along Wellington’s waterfront, the Museum of New Zealand combines history, culture, art, and natural science in a way that makes the experience interesting for travelers of all ages. What makes Te Papa especially memorable is its strong emphasis on the Māori heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand, along with exhibitions that explore the country’s people, landscapes, wildlife, and place in the Pacific. Whether you have only a few hours in Wellington or are staying several days, Te Papa deserves a place on your itinerary. A WONDERFUL MUSEUM with myriad exhibits and inspiring insights into New Zealand's rich culture awaits visitors to this small, intriguing country. You'll find a stunning array of displays as varied as the country itself when you visit this six-story masterpiece on the waterfront. We highly recommend this for cruisers. Wellington's Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongerewa is truly "a container of treasures." It's one of many exciting stops on Celebrity's New Zealand itinerary, a 12-day immersion in fjord country and the contrasting cities that make New Zealand appealing. OPENED IN 1998 after the merging of the National Museum of New Zealand and National Art Gallery, the Te Papa museum has an auspicious, older pedigree. Its holdings go back more than a century, to a collection established in 1865. In those days, the museum was known as the Colonial Museum. It was renamed the Dominion Museum in 1907, and in 1936 it was relocated to a new building. More change, mergers and moves were to come before its present incarnation. THE MUSEUM building is itself an architectural wonder, befitting the marvels inside. We toured the museum with a family of fellow travelers we befriended on our Celebrity cruise, which includes a stop in Wellington. It was fun watching their grade-school kids delight in the spirit of invention and innovation the exhibits offer. Scholarly research forms the basis for myriad exhibits, but a sense of fun and discovery prevails. A Maori meeting house, for instance, was built to specific detail. It is watched over by a proud Maori docent who stands sentinel and answers questions from curious kids and adults. Our new friends also learned how to hold a ukulele and guitar. They practiced on a Maori drum, and wandered nearby to experience the sounds and vibrations of an earthquake. Rugby, gay rights and rock 'n' roll all share the spotlight in this marvelous place, which also takes a look at the Commonwealth's influence through the years. Birds play a part in the museum's exhibitions, too, where the beloved kiwi's life and times are described and vividly displayed. A Maori meeting house is kept watch over by a Maori docent, who answers questions and keeps vigil as Celebrity Cruises guests explored. Gallipoli's horrors are described in detail in an emotionally charged exhibit. Celebrity's Eclipse provides a way to see New Zealand's varied cities in style, comfort and smooth sailing. WE DIDN'T HAVE time to browse all 800,000 artworks, photographs, collection objects, and botanical and zoological specimens -- that would demand several more visits. But did take an hour to see one of several changing exhibits, an intense study of World War I's Gallipoli campaign, which brought the horrors of war home in huge sculptures, recordings and artfully curated displays of soldiers' personal effects. The rich history of New Zealand as a point in the Pacific Island "triangle" involves many religions which are artfully explored at Te Papa. New Zealand's kiwi is the focal point of an intriguing exhibit. Emphasis on indigenous and contemporary art honors the heritage of the complex. For many years, the museum shared space with the National Art Gallery, which had incorporated into the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Bruce Keller hams it up inside one of many exhibits which encourages visitor participation. DURING ITS name changes, quality has reigned -- from its 1972 morph as the Dominion Museum to the National Museum, then years later when a parliamentary act in 1992 merged two institutions -- museum and art gallery -- and the present name emerged. Besides a history, art and culture lesson -- from refugees to dinosaurs -- the museum expertly combines learning with fascination and fun. You can step inside various masks and armor, pretending to be a knight or an extra in a science fiction film. Witness a giant squid in an enormous display. We enjoyed the museum with families, school groups and couples from all over the world. Don't miss it if you're anywhere near "Kiwi Country." It's awe inspiring. And Wellington has other treasures, including the home and garden of groundbreaking modernist writer Katherine Mansfield. www.katherinemansfield.com/ www.tepapa.govt.nz/ A visit to Te Papa is more than checking another museum off your travel list. It is an opportunity to better understand New Zealand through the stories of its people, its Māori heritage, its remarkable natural world, and the events that helped shape the nation. As you plan your New Zealand adventure, remember that the best travel experiences often come from taking time to look beyond the obvious attractions. Keep checking back with WhereIsCookie.com for more travel stories, firsthand experiences, helpful tips, interesting museums and attractions, and the special places that can make your next journey even more memorable. The "Lost in Yonkers" cast is tremendous, a gifted ensemble directed with empathy and tenderness by Jacquelyn Ritz. This top-notch production is a must-see for theater lovers for its terrific timing, and artful blend of humor and pathos. BEST ON THE BOARDS: What a pleasure to recommend Scripps Ranch Theatre's flawless production of Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize winning "Lost in Yonkers," a highlight of San Diego's spring theater bounty. A brilliant cast, beautifully directed by Jacquelyn Ritz, delivers a first-rate interpretation of Simon's masterpiece. The story, set in 1940s Yonkers, centers around the struggles of a complex family: two motherless teen-age boys, their earnest and grieving father, a hardened immigrant grandmother, wisecracking mobster uncle, intellectually stunted but charming auntie and another auntie with a comical speech disorder. The engaging production unfolds on an eye-catching set which gives the perfect spin to Simon's moving yet funny storyline. It's a rollercoaster of loss, courage, independence, loyalty and yearning, with winning period costumes. Don't miss it for the hopes and dreams we all have, and characters we've known and loved. The run is through June 11. Consider tickets for yourself and favorite theater loving friends. scrippsranchtheatre.org New York City 911 Memorial and One World Trade Center UP NEXT: Memorial Day approaches and with it, an opportunity to remember and pay homage to those lost in war, tragedy or terrorism. We share our visits to memorials around the world that have touched us -- from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, to Yad Vashem in Israel and the memorial to "9-11" in New York City. We explore the meaning of the word "memorial," whether honoring a person, tragedy or historical event. The influence of memorials exists in all of us. Then we're on to a month-long celebration of equality in PRIDE, with some of our favorite photos and commentary on a celebration that began at Stonewall years ago. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on nature, performance, history, nature, family and more. The memorial to the tragedy of "9-11" at the new World Trade Center building is a striking architectural accomplishment: www.whereiscookie.com