Travel Maven Blog ...... David Molyneaux posts from TheTravelMavens.com

Post-cruise, How 2 people vacationed on the Amalfi Coast and were the only Americans in town

MINORI, ITALY

Lemons, grapes and vegetables fill the terraced slopes behind the town of Minori, Italy (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

A week into our off-season trip to the ancient Amalfi Coast beach town of Minori, my wife and I heard whispers from a doorstep as we walked along a cobbled lane.

“Here come the Americans,” (or something close to that), said one woman to another in Italian. We were making our usual late afternoon shopping jaunt to buy fresh bread, a sack of delightful baby artichokes, a big scoop from a barrel of ripe broccoli rabe, fresh pasta, and a bottle of local wine for dinner.

Unlike the summer vacation season when Amalfi’s seaside resorts, restaurants and streets often are packed with travelers, February was quiet and residential. We were the only Americans in town. We were met with welcoming smiles.

Most vacation travelers tend to follow the sun, perhaps heading to the Caribbean in winter or the Mediterranean in summer. Sometimes a holiday destination offers a different vibe when you move in a direction opposite from the crowd; off-season time is all the better when you rent an apartment and live among the locals.

Our Minori, Italy, seaside apartment, first building in the center.

 

Breezing into a larger fleet of small ships on Windstar Cruises

With two additional ships in the Mediterranean Sea after major drydock renovations this spring, the course is clear for expanding Windstar Cruises.

At a time when many lines are building bigger cruise ships, Windstar intends to be the leader of the world’s small ship fleets.

Star Breeze at Elba Island in the Mediterranean

Windstar now owns and operates six small vessels, ranging in passenger capacity from 148 to 310. Three are predominantly sailing ships, though they use engines as well. Three are motor yachts, with more luxurious accommodations.

If you love the sounds of wind on canvas, choose the sailing yachts. If you prefer a walk-in closet and a big bathroom with marble, go for the motor yachts.

Joys of a small cruise ship, visiting the Med's quiet harbors

Star Pride notes from the Mediterranean Sea

One of the best reasons to choose to cruise on a small ship in the Mediterranean Sea is the opportunity to visit ports with delightful harbors where big cruise ships cannot go, to dock among the stunning pleasure yachts or tender to the heart of town.

 

Harbor at Sanary-sur-Mer, France (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

On a six-night voyage in May from Barcelona to Rome’s port of Civitavecchia, Windstar Cruise’s Star Pride spent a day at each of five ports, Sete and Sanary-sur-Mer, France; Monte Carlo, Monoco; Portofino and Portoferraio (Elba), Italy. We tendered to Sanary and Portofino, parked near the centers of Sete, Monte Carlo, and Portoferraio.

Cruising on Costa Favolosa, a slice of Italy

When chunks of parmesan grace the buffet lines in bowls the size of washtubs.

When dining room tables each burn a red candle for the evening meal.

When a multi-cultural group of cabin attendants greets you in the morning with a chorus of “Buon giorno.”

Then, you know you are cruising on a Costa ship.

If you are looking at a Mediterranean cruise out of Venice yet this summer or a 2011-2012 winter sojourn in the waters near Dubai, you might consider Costa’s newest ship, the 3,800-passenger Favolosa.

The vessel, Costa's largest, is an exhibition of design, materials and ingredients with a “Made in Italy” stamp.

Each time I picked out a chunk from the parmesan bowl, pictured above, I could only imagine the price tag for such an extravagance in the United States.

Read more about Costa and the Favolosa at TheTravelMavens.com.

 

Cruising on new Carnival Magic in Europe

I am headed for Venice, Italy, today to see the new Carnival Magic. The inaugural cruise from Venice to Barcelona starts Sunday, May 1. All new ships are exciting, with new designs and accoutrements. But what has me pumped about the Magic is Carnival Cruise line’s first pub.

And not just a pub. But a pub with its own private label beer. After several tastings, I will let you know what’s on tap in the Red Frog Pub. Preview info from Carnival says the draught beer is called Thirsty Frog Red.

Rome on a budget by the train station

When choosing a hotel room for a short stay in one of Europe’s major travel destinations, location is always the key for me.

Yes, I want a clean room in a friendly place. But I start with location, which, for a budget room, usually is near a train station or a subway stop.

Some of the best sources for budget lodgings are guidebooks such as the Rick Steves series and online sites where you can read the reviews from other travelers, including TripAdvisor and Booking.com. Both have worked for me.

Rome is one of the more expensive cities in Europe, but don’t let anyone tell you that you must spend $350-$400 a night. I recently slept two nights in Rome at Hotel Mediterraneo, a fine old establishment where single rooms start at less than $200. (I found a room on the Internet at $160.)