Contemporary Luxury on Uniworld’s Newest Ship
Sail through Belgium and the Netherlands on the sophisticated S.S. Victoria for a Tulip Time Cruise. Read more on page 64 and 65!
Small-Ship Alaska Cruise Adventures
The moment I arrived in sunny Juneau, where my Uncruise “Glacier Country Adventure” would begin and end, I knew this would be no ordinary 7-night Alaska cruise.
Good Vibes: Inuit Arctic
Nothing is guaranteed on an Arctic expedition cruise, and that’s a wonderful thing.
2024 Arabian Travel Market Draws Record-Breaking Attendance
The 31st edition of the Arabian Travel Market was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 5-9. Read along and witnessed record-breaking attendance, with more than 46,000 industry professionals and 2,600 exhibitors from 160 countries.
NATJA Art Month Competition
Congratulations, Judi Cohen, on winning 3rd place in April’s Art Month Competition, where our members submitted photos or art inspired by travels.
From Tundra To Table
Pristine Arctic waters, majestic blue icebergs and the corduroy brown landscapes provide the backdrop for a one-of-a-kind Inuit fusion dining experience. Check out Judi’s article in the Bold Traveller Magazine on pg. 48-49.
A Whole New Uniworld / Flight of Passage
From flying over the notorious Drake Passage to contemporary design in river cruising in Europe. Check out Judi’s article in the Bold Traveller Magazine on pg. 44-45.
Three Unforgettable Days in Taipei – Travel Life Magazine
Follow on the unplanned visit to the lively and fascinating city of Taipei became a memorable journey. Check out Judi’s article in the Travel Life Magazine on pg. 48-49
Navigating Tranquility in Laos – Travel Life Magazine
Follow the intriguing and memorable journey on an Upper Mekong cruise. Check out Judi’s article in the Travel Life Magazine on pg. 34-37
How To Pack For A Quark Expeditions Fly/Cruise to Antarctica
Learn how to pack for the Quark Expedition to Antarctica with only a checked 15kg bag. Check out Judi’s article in the Canadian World Traveller magazine on pg. 64-65
32nd Annual North American Travel Journalist Association Awards
Congratulations, Judi Cohen, on your award in the 32nd Annual North American Travel Association for your Cover or Feature Photo, Illustration “A Guide to Planning Your Antarctic Adventure – Cover Photo”, Big Weekly Blend Magazine -Vol 1, Issue 8
Adventure Canada Arctic Cruise
True to its name, Adventure Canada delivered adventure from the moment we departed Toronto on a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, throughout our 10-day expedition until our last zodiac transfer in Qausuittuq (Resolute), Nunavut, the northernmost and largest territory in Canada.
Antarctica or the Arctic: Which is Right for Your Client?
Have you ever been asked by a client whether they should visit the Arctic or the Antarctic?
Finding Paradise In Tahiti With Windstar Cruises
While I’d always dreamt of going to Tahiti, I could never have imagined how wonderful my time in the remote French Polynesian islands in the South Pacific Ocean would be.
The Joy of Cruising Podcast
This week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am delighted to welcome Judi Cohen, known in the cruise community as Traveling Judi. I featured Traveling Judi in my second cruising book, Cruising Interrupted amzn.to/3seFU8y in a section called “Cruisers Like You and Me… Sort Of.”
5 Expedition Cruises for Mobility-Challenged Travellers (Apr, 2023)
Five expedition cruise ships and finds some of the best for people with limited mobility.
A Guide to Planning Your Antarctic Adventure
Tips and tricks for planning an unforgettable Antarctic expedition cruise.
Adult Family Vacation in India – Judi Cohen on Big Blend Radio
You’re tasked with the daunting job of planning a family vacation with your adult children. Usually, destinations like Florida, Mexico, and France come to mind. Well, what about India!?
From The Eye of a Traveller
Judi Cohen has travelled the world in search of unique experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations. She is also a connoisseur of small-ship cruises that pack big adventures.
Off-Beat Small-Ship Hawaii Cruise with UnCruise Adventures Reveals the Real Hawaii
Having had the pleasure of recently cruising with UnCruise in Alaska’s Glacier Bay, I knew this small-ship cruise would have loads of active adventures, plenty of local homemade meals, and a cozy quiet cabin to return to at night.
Canal du Midi Anjodi Hotel Barge Cruise with European Waterways
For many years I dreamed of travelling on a luxury barge in the south of France, and in October 2021, my husband and I made remarkable memories on a Canal du Midi hotel barge cruise aboard European Waterways 8-passenger Anjodi.
Review: Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine – An Outstanding, Action-Packed Canadian Arctic Adventure
In mid-August, I had the opportunity to board the Quark Expeditions Ultramarine in Iqaluit, Nunavut, for an expedition in the Canadian High Arctic.
Champa Pandaw on the Upper Mekong
Nearly a decade ago, my husband and I discovered Pandaw Cruises. Over the past 10 years, we’ve travelled throughout Southeast Asia on their small river boats in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
6 Best Restaurants in Niagara Falls According To a Local | Food Haven Amidst Natural Beauty
The famous Niagara Falls, Canada, attracts visitors from around the world to see the thundering Horseshoe Falls, walk in the Fallsview area, and play on Clifton Hill.
7 Best Hotels In Niagara Falls With A View Of The Falls
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world. One of the best ways to experience the sheer magnitude and beauty, and even feel the thunder of the falls, is to stay at a hotel with a view of them.
Viking Octantis Great Lakes Cruise
Sometimes the most beautiful things can be found right in your own backyard! Living in Toronto, on the shores of Lake Ontario all my life, I never thought much about exploring the Great Lakes.
A ship within a ship: Finding my happy place in MSC Seascape’s Yacht Club
Big ships can be intimidating for passengers like me who enjoy quiet time watching the sea and a smaller, more intimate and less crowded experience.
Le Boating on Canada’s Rideau Canal Again
In 2021, my husband and I, our daughter Alison and her playful Samoyed puppy Joni, enjoyed captaining a luxury houseboat with Le Boat Vacations on Canada’s Rideau Canal so much that for Father’s Day in 2022 that we decided house boating would be ideal for another family getaway.
French Polynesia Feels Like Paradise
Struck by wanderlust while still a little nervous about venturing too far from home as the COVID pandemic lingered on, I finally decided to travel to one of the most remote and exotic paradises imaginable: Tahiti in French Polynesia.
3 Fabulous Small Ship Cruises To Try In Ontario, Canada
Are you curious about exploring Canada in the summer months? From May through September, the inland waterways of Ontario (my home province) are a paradise for slow travel by small ships to discover quaint villages, enjoy the natural beauty, and immerse yourself in Canada’s living history.
The New Viking Octantis: Re-imagining Expedition Cruising in Nordic Style and Comfort
As a connoisseur of small ships and adventure travel, cruising on the newly minted expedition ship, Viking Octantis, for a 10-day “Caribbean Connections” itinerary, ahead of its inaugural season in the Great Lakes was like a dream come true.
Canadian Staycation: Cruising in Ontario Without the Crowds
Ready for an adventure, but not comfortable with crossing the border? A small-ship experience right here in Canada might be just what you’re looking for.
Rideau Canal Houseboat Adventure in Canada
After 17 months of COVID lockdowns here in Canada, I jumped in with both feet to plan a Rideau Canal houseboat adventure just a two-hour drive from my hometown in Toronto.
Small Cruise Line Review: St. Lawrence Cruise Lines’ Canadian Empress
As we’ve had a moment of calm in the pandemic storm, I’ve finally been able to start travelling again. I’ve been reluctant to go far from home, so we’ve been determined to experience as much of Canada as possible on small ship cruises.
Cruising Canada’s Rideau Canal on Kawartha Voyageur
With only a handful of cruise lines operating in Canada due to COVID restrictions, I was on a mission to cruise on every small ship in the Province of Ontario, close to home in Toronto.
Brahmaputra River Cruise to Remote Northeast India
I booked a river cruise on the Lower Ganges with Pandaw Cruises six months prior for my family of four and a couple of friends. You can only imagine my shock at receiving an email a few weeks before departure that the cruise was cancelled.
Quark Expeditions: What Travel Advisors Should Know Before Booking
Judi has cruised from Iqaluit to Resolute, Nunavut, along the coast of Baffin Island to Lancaster Sound, following the route of storied explorers in the Northwest Passage. This was her sixth polar expedition north and south of the Arctic Circle.
Review of Viking Octantis Great Lakes Cruise (Jan 2023)
Sometimes the most beautiful things can be found right in your own backyard! Living in Toronto, on the shores of Lake Ontario all my life, I never thought much about exploring the Great Lakes.
Antarctic Expedition Cruise on Swan Hellenic SH Vega (Jan 2023)
We were one of the first expedition ships to visit during the Antarctic summer season, and it was just the second time the SH Vega cruised in the Antarctic region. Late November is an ideal time to visit Antarctica by small ship, with seas iced-up from the harsh winter, glaciers and mountains glistening with brilliant white and shades of blue.
A ship within a ship: Finding my happy place in MSC Seascape’s Yacht Club (Dec 2022)
Big ships can be intimidating for passengers like me who enjoy quiet time watching the sea, and a smaller, more intimate and less crowded experience. However, you may be surprised to learn that big ships, such as MSC Seascape DO offer an array of opportunities for intimate cruising or a romantic getaway. You can get that “small ship feeling” aboard a big ship!
Welcome Aboard Swan Hellenic’s Chic New Expedition Ship SH Vega (Nov 2022)
I was invited aboard Swan Hellenic’s newest ship, SH Vega, for a short cruise from Halifax to Boston. I immediately felt at home in this swanky and stylish boutique hotel.
11 Fantastic Activities During A Fall Weekend In Thunder Bay, Ontario (Travel Awaits, Oct 2022)
Autumn is a great time for outdoor adventure on land and water in Thunder Bay, Ontario (and the surrounding region along the north shore of Lake Superior). Packed with important Indigenous history and art alongside an eclectic culinary scene, Thunder Bay is perfect for history buffs and those who prefer to stay indoors as well.
Le Boating on Canada’s Rideau Canal Again — Family Houseboat Adventure (Quirky Cruise, Sep 2022)
For Father’s Day in 2022, we decided house boating would be ideal for another family getaway. And with Joni again too. (Remember, Le Boating is dog friendly!)
I Sailing the Great Lakes Aboard the New Viking Octantis (Northern Ontario Travel Magazine, Sep 2022)
Here are some of the highlights of my adventure across the awe-inspiring lakes, picturesque provincial parks, and welcoming communities in northern Ontario on this game-changing expedition ship.
My 7 Favorite Meals On Viking’s New Expedition Ship (Travel Awaits, Sep, 2022)
Wondering what the food will be like on a Viking cruise? Let me just say you have nothing to worry about. I recently cruised aboard the new Viking Octantis on the Great Lakes Explorer itinerary from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Thunder Bay, Ontario, and enjoyed my dining experiences immensely.
Falling In Love With Slow Travel in France – Our Cruise on the Canal du Midi aboard Anjodi
This was our first international trip since the start of the pandemic, so my husband and I were a little nervous about dipping our toes into hotel barge cruising in France.
Adult Family Vacation in India – Judi Cohen on Big Blend Radio
You’re tasked with the daunting job of planning a family vacation with your adult children. Usually, destinations like Florida, Mexico, and France come to mind. Well, what about India!?
Viking Jupiter, a “Small Big-Ship” in the Baltic
I am a small-ship “connoisseur” accustomed to ships under 300 passengers, which is how QuirkyCruise.com defines a small-ship cruise. However, when presented with the opportunity to cruise on Viking’s new 930-passenger Viking Jupiter in the Baltic Sea I immediately said “yes!”
Viking Cruises Names 7 New Riverboats in Basel, Switzerland
I am in the beautiful city of Basel, Switzerland, the headquarters of Viking Cruises, for the naming celebration for seven new river boats on March 19. The sweet sounds from a trio of alpenhorn players surrounded by red and white balloons and flowers summoned the commencement of formalities on the top decks of two connected new vessels,Viking SigrunandViking Einar.
New Victory II Great Lakes Adventure
Having lived on Lake Ontario for my entire life, it never crossed my mind that the Great Lakes could be a cruising destination.
Explore Antarctica on Russian Research Vessel Akademik Sergey Vavilov
You’ve probably seen a ton of documentaries about Antarctica on the Discovery Channel and loads of National Geographic photos of penguins, vast untouched vistas, huge icebergs, and rugged early explorers, but how often have you actually thought about going to the great white continent?
Japan: A Mysterious Blend of Modern & Traditional (World Wide Quest, Jan 2017)
Timeless temples and shrines, gorgeous scenery, futuristic space-age towers and bullet trains…What I love most about Japan is that it is a country of opposites: blending the ancient with the modern and the exotic with the familiar…
I want to share with you some of my most memorable moments in Japan that have inspired me to return again and again in search of new and unique experiences.