While aboard your river cruise, you will hear references to many nautical terms. Here’s your handy guide so you too can sound like an expert aboard the ship.

AFT toward the stern of the boat
ASTERN in back of the boat
BOW the forward part of a ship
BRIDGE the location from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled
CLEAT a fitting to which lines are made fast
COURSE the direction in which a ship is steered
DISPLACEMENT the weight of water displaced by a floating vessel
DRAFT the depth of water a boat draws
FATHOM six feet
FLOOD an incoming current
GALLEY the kitchen area of a ship
GUNWHALE the upper edge of a ship’s sides
HELM the wheel or tiller controlling the rudder
HULL the main body of a vessel
KEEL the centerline of a boat running fore and aft
KNOT a measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour
LEEWARD the direction away from the wind
NAUTICAL MILE one minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet—about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5,280 feet
PORT the left side of a ship looking forward; a harbor
STARBOARD the right side of a ship when looking forward
YAW to swing or steer off course

But why stop at just being able to say some of these terms? Knowing the history behind a few of these terms will make your fellow river cruisers think you know just as much as the cruise captain!
OVER THE BARREL
The most common method of punishment aboard ship was flogging. The unfortunate sailor was tied to a grating, a mast, or over the barrel of a deck cannon.
TO KNOW THE ROPES
There were miles of cordage in the rigging of a square rigged ship. The only way to keep track of and to know the function of all of these lines was to know where they were located. It took an experienced seaman to know the ropes.
DRESSING DOWN
Thin and worn sails were often treated with oil or wax to renew their effectiveness. This was called “dressing down.” An officer or sailor who was reprimanded received a “dressing down.”
FOOTLOOSE
The bottom portion of a sail is called the foot. If it is not secured, it is “footloose” and dances randomly in the wind.
GROGGY
In 1740 British Admiral Vernon (whose nickname was “Old Grogram” for the cloak of grogram which he wore) ordered that the sailors’ daily ration of rum be diluted with water. The men called the mixture “grog.” A sailor who drank too much grog was “groggy.”
POOPED
The poop is the stern section of a ship. To be “pooped” is to be swamped by a high, following sea.
TOE THE LINE
When called to line up at attention, the ship’s crew would form up with their toes touching a seam in the deck planking.

For more insiders knowledge of cruising terms visit our nautical terms information pages.

The Danube is Europe’s most popular river to cruise. Yet no cruise is complete without knowing the fascinating history behind the canal through which you are traveling.

The Main Danube Canal is an old dream of humanity. Charlemagne started the construction of its “Fossa Carolina” more than 12 centuries ago, and while his construction effort failed, parts of the canal are still visible in southern areas of central Franconia. King Ludwig I of Bavaria built the first fully functioning Main Danube Canal in only 10 years of construction from 1836-1846. Yet, the Ludwig-Main-Danube Canal, as it was called, with its 101 water locks, was rather narrow and its practical use for shipping was highly limited. Its operation came to an end in 1945, partly due to damage from WWII.

The planning of the present canal dates back to 1922. A project of this magnitude caused a lively debate over the environmental and economic consequences of its construction. Economic planners gravely overestimated its potential, while environmentalists largely underestimated the positive aspects of its construction for the biotope—and the fact that the canal actually provides 1.25 million cubic meters of water to the dry Northern Bavarian region every year.

It was not until September 1992 that the present-day Main Danube Canal opened for traffic. It stretches for a length of 106 miles from Bamberg in Germany via Nuremberg to Regensburg.

The canal reaches its apex 1,332 feet above sea level. Sixteen water locks facilitate safe passage of vessels. Eleven water locks were needed to overcome the ascent of 574 feet between the Main in Bamberg and the apex and five additional locks facilitate descent from the apex. The canal is 180 feet wide and 13 feet deep. All traffic water locks are 40 feet wide and 623 feet long.

Thanks to the canal, it is now possible to navigate from the Rhine delta at Rotterdam, Holland, to the Danube delta at the Black Sea—a stretch of 2,200 miles.

Whether you’re cruising down China’s mighty Yangtze, floating past antiquities along Egypt’s majestic Nile, or taking in the wonders of Europe, river cruising offers a one-of-a-kind experience you just can’t beat. But which river is right for me, you might ask?

Europe

• Rhine River: Flowing from the Swiss Alps to Holland’s North Sea, the Rhine is one of the most important rivers in Europe, perhaps most famous for its legendary Lorelai rock and the imposing medieval castles that line its banks.
• Main River: Winding across Central Germany, the Main River is formed by the joining of the Red Main and the White Main, meeting the Rhine River at the town of Mainz.
• Moselle River: Flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, the Moselle River is known for the excellent wines produced along its banks as well as for its picturesque medieval castles.
• Seine River: Rising just northwest of Dijon and flowing in a northwesterly direction through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre, the Moselle is one of Europe’s great historic rivers. Since the early Middle Ages it has been considered the river of Paris.
• Rhône River: An important inland trade and transportation route since Greek times, the Rhône River flows south to the Mediterranean, winding through orchards and vineyards of the fertile Rhône Valley in southern France.
• Danube River: As Europe’s second-longest river and a vital means of transportation for 2,000 years, the Danube is the only major European river to flow from west to east. Starting at the Black Sea Canal, it winds itself through the breathtaking sites of eastern Europe until it meets with the Main River in central Germany.

China

• Yangtze River: Flowing from the Tibetan Plateau in the west to the East China Sea, the Yangtze is the longest river in Asia. Travel through the impressive Three Gorges and view the intense dam, China’s largest construction project since the Great Wall. Qutang, the shortest and most dramatic gorge, is an unimaginable place where you can nearly touch the perpendicular mountains rising from the river banks.

Egypt

• Nile River: Journey along the lifeline of Egyptian civilization experiencing incredible sights that include ancient temples, tombs, and local villages. Measuring 4,160 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world, flowing north from Lake Victoria through Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt. Passing rain forests, mountains, savannas, swamps and desert landscapes, it accumulates in the fertile Nile Delta and drains into the Mediterranean Sea.

Your breath will be taken away by the magic that separates you from everyday life on dry land, regardless of which river you choose, a river cruise is certain to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime!

The rivers of Europe, China and Egypt await us on our next journey. We will embark for a tranquil river cruise trip down the Rhine, the Main, the Seine and the Danube as well as the Yangtze and the Nile.

These waterways are home to river cruise ships offering unique experiences completely different from what you get aboard the big oceangoing ships.  Becoming increasingly popular, river cruises take you further inland providing an entirely new set of cities, towns and villages to explore on your vacation.

As the summer approaches, why not sit back and relax as we going sailing through our next series.

When traveling to Dublin, here are some of the must-see Irish sights:

Phoenix Park
For a little peace and quiet in one of Europe’s busiest cities, head to Phoenix Park, home to the Dublin Zoo, the Wellington Monument and the official residence of the President of Ireland. Although cars can go through the park, noise levels are reduced by forbidding buses.

IFC (Irish Film Centre)
Independent film buffs will enjoy the two art-house cinemas and comprehensive bookshop in the Temple Bar district. The café/bar/restaurant is worth visiting in its own right, if only to marvel at the award-winning architecture.

Doheny and Nesbitt
Dublin is filled with over a thousand pubs, most of them fairly noisy and boisterous. If you’re looking for a pub where you can actually have a conversation, head to the intimate journalists’ haunt of Doheny and Nesbitt on Baggot Street, which dates back to the late 1800s.

Octagon Bar
This favorite Dublin watering hole in the Clarence Hotel, owned by U2’s Bono and The Edge, attracts an eclectic mix and is a likely location to spot a local celebrity.

The Lord Mayor’s Lounge
Sink into a deep armchair at the Lord Mayor’s Lounge, overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, for an afternoon of tea and pastries. You’ll find this welcoming oasis in the historic Shelbourne Hotel, a Dublin destination all its own.

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Should you grow tired of pub food, and want a meal worth writing home about, visit Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in the Merrion Hotel for modern classic cuisine using Irish produce in season. It is also Ireland’s only Two-Star Michelin restaurant.

St. Ann’s Church
This newly renovated 18th century church features a Romanesque façade and beautiful stained glass windows. Sitting among the pews, you’ll be surprised to learn one of its famous past parishioners was Dracula author Bram Stoker.

Chester Beatty Library
Housing a collection of rare art and religious manuscripts that rival the Book of Kells, this free library is a must.

Grafton Street
Along this pedestrian street, you’ll find some of Dublin’s best shopping, street performers and musicians, not to mention the renowned Bewley’s Oriental Café.

We hope that these Dublin must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway. Start planning your European vacation today!

Wander the cobbled streets of Dublin’s Temple Bar district after 9.30 pm any night of the week and you will hear live traditional music wafting from many of the pubs, ranging in style from the raucously uplifting to the poignantly mournful.  Take advantage of the moment: The “sessions” of Irish musicians are impromptu, so planning out an entertainment schedule is a difficult feat.

This spontaneous element actually dates back for over three centuries.  When the English imposed their brutal rule over Ireland in the late 1600s, the whole Irish landowning class was replaced and the Irish language was suppressed.  The tongue was banned from schools, official correspondence and public encounters in an attempt to wipe it out.  But like an underground resistance, the Irish kept their culture alive though songs, which were performed in secret locales whenever the opportunity arose.

Far from prying English eyes (and ears), the oral history of the land was passed on from generation to generation.  But it was an impoverished, difficult time, and Irish musicians developed a fondness for cheap, simple instruments – the fiddles, accordions, spoons, flutes, harps, whistles and the bodhran, or Irish drums, that are still popular today.  Unaccompanied songs called sean-nos (“in the old style”) developed when there were no instruments at all.

Today, Irish music is world-famous, with U2, The Pogues, The Chieftains, The Cranberries and the singer Sinead O’Connor household names; groups like The Irish Tenors and Riverdance are major operations.  But it is still the spontaneous pub gatherings that capture the spirit of the Irish.  Good places to start looking in Dublin for “the craic” – fun or good times – are Fitsimmons Bar overlooking the River Liffey, Ha’Penny Bridge, Brogan’s Bar and the eponymous Temple Bar itself.

Wine-lovers may flock to the vineyards of France, but for connoisseurs of beer, Europe’s most sacred site is the Guinness Storehouse, a unique museum inside the St James’ Gate Brewery in Dublin.  The hallowed building was derelict when it was leased by Arthur Guinness in 1759 using £100 left by his godfather.  When a craze for a new, heavy style of beer called ‘porter’ began sweeping Dublin about 20 years later, Mr. Guinness decided to beat the English exporters at their own game, and came up with a brew that would ultimately become an Irish staple – the velvety, pitch-black Guinness Stout.

Today, Guinness is an international, US $3 billion-a-year business, but the recipe for “the Black Stuff” is still a closely guarded secret – part chemistry, part mystery.  We do know that Guinness’ unique color and flavor stem from the addition of rolled and roasted barley to beer’s traditional ingredients of malt, hops and yeast.  A substance obtained from fish bladders, known as isinglass finings, are added to help clarify the beer. But is the stout still aged to promote its sharp lactic flavor, as it was in the 18th century?  The current owners of the company, a conglomerate called Diageo, won’t say.  Finally, pouring a Guinness seems to involve as many arcane rules as its manufacture.  Diageo stipulates that the “perfect pint,” with the slow cascade of tiny bubbles and creamy head, can only be achieved in a slightly tipped, tulip shaped glass, with the temperature of the beer exactly 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit.  The famous “double pour,” whereby each glass of Guinness is half filled, allowed to sit before being topped up, should take exactly 119.53 seconds.

At the St. James’s Gate Brewery, a self-guided tour allows you to discover these and other eccentric facts, and revisit some of the company’s historic advertising campaigns.  “Guinness is good for you!” was one famous slogan in the 1920s, when it was discovered that the brew contained antioxidants that ward off heart disease and contains less calories than orange juice or skimmed milk.  The price of admission includes a free Guinness.  You can try pouring your own in the Source Bar, or be served in the top-floor Gravity Bar, which has splendid 360-degree views over Dublin.

Ireland is rich with literary history and every vacation to Dublin promises to full of prose, verse, drama and song.

The most entertaining anniversary in Dublin falls every June 16th – the date in 1904 when the fictional action takes place in Ulysses, the greatest novel by Ireland’s greatest writer, James Joyce.  Every year, thousands of literature fans descend on the city and follow the exact route taken by Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising salesman, and Stephen Dedalus, an aspiring writer, as they meander across the city.

True devotees like to wear Edwardian period dress – the men in straw boaters, tinted spectacles and striped blazers, the women in bloomers and corsets in homage to the hero’s lascivious wife, Molly Bloom.  But even if you do not travel to Dublin for the June extravaganza, you can follow the key points of the Ulysses walking tour.

Start at the James Joyce Center (35 North Great George’s Street), a Georgian townhouse where the door to Leopold Bloom’s fictional home, which once stood on Eccles Street in Dublin, is kept on display.  Proceed to Davy Byrne’s pub (21 Duke Street), one of Joyce’s favorite drinking spots, where Bloom lunched on a gorgonzola cheese sandwich and glass of burgundy.  (“Nice quiet bar,” Bloom notes approvingly in Ulysses. “Nice piece of wood in that counter…Like the way it curves.”)  Finally, take the short train ride to Sandycove, where the imposing Martello Tower was the setting for the novel’s first chapter.  One of 15 defense posts set along the coast to protect against an invasion by Napoleon, it has today been named James Joyce Tower with a museum that displays, amongst other gems, a rare edition of Ulysses illustrated by the French Impressionist painter Matisse.

True Joyceans should then take a dip in the Forty Foot swimming hole beside the Tower, named after the 40th Regiment of Foot once stationed here.  In Joyce’s day it was male-only venue and swimming was only in the nude.  Today the hole is co-ed, and swimsuits are “required by order” – although literature fans will be delighted to know there is still a nude section.

The Emerald Isle is our next stop as our travel series takes us on a vacation to Dublin.

Full of history and rich with Celtic tradition, the lush green country side of Ireland and the busy metropolis of Dublin promises breathtaking views and memorable experiences.

During our two-week series we will immerse ourselves in the history of James Joyce, discover the must-see sights of Dublin and maybe find the luck of the Irish.

No trip to Ireland is complete without a tour of Waterford, the world-famous crystal factory, a stop in Avoca, the oldest handweaving mill, or a drive through the Wicklow Mountains.  So sit back, relax, and enjoy your Ireland vacation!

When traveling to Madrid, the Spanish capital here are some must-see sights:

Church of San Francisco El Grande
Visit this neoclassical masterpiece with the largest dome in Madrid. Its walls and ceilings are decorated with superb frescoes.

Austrias Old Madrid
Wander in old Madrid—a delight to explore with its squares and churches.

El Retiro Park
For some gentle relaxation, stroll in El Retiro. Dating back to the 1600s, the park features a lake, statues, and fountains.

El Botin
The oldest restaurant in the world, El Botin specializes in lamb and roast pork suckling dishes.

Tapas Tour
Enjoy the Spanish specialty in typical taverns in the old part of Madrid. Tapas are an excellent way to taste small portions of different foods. Also sample local wines, Sangria, or Spanish lemonade.
We hope that these Madrid must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway. Start planning your European vacation today!