Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Points Guy Entry Title: Jennifer Lopez didn’t show up for her own cruise, but I did — and let me say, she missed out Entry Credit: Erica Silverstein Judge Comment: The writing moves briskly as it whisks readers through a high-energy program designed to empower women during a cruise packed with inspiration and fun. CEOs and entrepreneurs move through soul-baring panel sessions to decadent breakfasts, to booty burn workouts to piña coladas on the pool deck, to dancing the night away. It’s not their grandmothers’ cruise. Learning to balance career aspirations and self-care is hard work and amazing fun.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Derrik Lang Entry Title: In Search of Calm, I Went on an Alaskan Cruise by Myself Entry Credit: Derrik Lang Judge Comment: Is solo cruising to be dreaded or embraced? The author feared the former yet enjoyed a first-time cruise to Alaska. He isn’t alone: several of the cruise lines have recently added more single cabins to some of their ships. Whale watching, scenic train rides, zip lining and sled dog demonstrations provided “more fun, frivolity and adventure than I could have ever imagined.” Onboard there are games, karaoke and silent disco. Best of all: You can unpack just once and visit multiple destinations.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Mary Jo Manzanares Entry Title: Review: Emerald Cruises Enchantment of Eastern Europe Itinerary Entry Credit: Mary Jo Manzanares Judge Comment: It’s hard to imagine a more thorough, detailed and carefully curated take on this nine-day Eastern European cruise of the lower Danube River. Details on the ship, its decks and cabins, food and beverage, pricing and itineraries are robustly informative. And the author shares mistakes made and recommendations, including books to read about each town, country and region along the cruise route.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: The Points Guy Entry Title: Expedition cruises: The ultimate guide to cruising to remote, hard-to-reach places Entry Credit: Gene Sloan Judge Comment: Expedition cruises are not the floating resorts with amazing playgrounds, gastronomic wonderments, sunbathing and dancing that the travel industry has been historically known for. But what are they? The ships are smaller among cruise fleets and perhaps beefy enough to rival icebreakers. Some have mini-submarines and/or helicopters to explore above and below the ship. They go where the big cruise ships cannot: the Arctic, Antarctica and the Amazon. They focus more on education than entertainment, are more adventurous than leisurely. What are they not? They are not particularly suited for those with challenged mobility. Learn all about them in this article.
