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The striking thing for me about Iles de la Madeleine is its richness of color. Red cliffs are topped by green grass against a blue sea. Sandstone rocks jut out on the beaches. A red, white and blue Acadian flag flaps in the breeze. Equally as colorful are the people. It's clear that this is an island of fishermen, who made their living from the bountiful sea. But the sea was not always kind. You can visit the home of a fisherman who nearly drowned during a shipwreck. He abandoned his profession to create a miniature village that interprets traditional life in Iles de la Madeleine and also an exhibit that tells his own harrowing story. Rarely do tourists get first-hand accounts of such stories. I enjoyed my visit to La Grave Historical Site, a charming village situated on a spit of sand, with restaurants (where I enjoyed a delicious seafood platter) and boutiques that don't feel touristy. Iles de la Madeleine certainly has a feeling of authenticity — combined with charm and vivid, unforgettable, ...

I never suspected that I would come face-to-face with Canada's aboriginal people, but that's just what happened on the day I visited tiny Havre-Saint-Pierre. On a tour offered to cruise passengers, I visited the Innu people, and it turned out to be one of the most interesting tours of my life. Not to be confused with the Inuits, this sub-Arctic tribe still has its own language and honors its ancient customs just a few miles down the road from the village of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Like cruise passengers visiting the Innu, I learned how the Innu lived and worshiped — and how they live today. It's easy to see why the Innu came here. The Mingan Archipelago is a mystical place. I didn't get to see as much as I would have liked, but I did set out on a boat on a day when the ocean was not so calm to see the odd rock formations known as flower pots. The mysterious monoliths represent only a small part of the natural beauty here in this chain of islands and islets.

The morning that I boarded a boat to Bonaventure Island, Perce Rock was crowned by a wispy cloud. It was an indescribably beautiful sight, one of the world's largest sheer rock formations and natural arches jutting out from the water in all of its sublime splendor. If you journeyed here only to see Perce Rock, that would be enough. But beyond is Bonaventure Island and its bounty. Upon landing, you wouldn't suspect that a walk across the island, with incredible views along the way of Perce Rock, would bring you to a bird sanctuary boasting more than 280,000 Northern Gannets. The spectacle is stunning. The large seabirds come here to eat and to breed. I spent nearly an hour here, snapping photos and more photos and more photos. Every time I turned to leave, my camera wanted one more shot.

Sunrise in Baie-Comeau sheds light on a new and promising day, especially if you're someone who loves nature. In Baie-Comeau, do as I did, and get out on a boat. You may see whales — I did — but you'll definitely see signs of the force of nature, such as the glacial scarring on ancient granite rocks and waterfalls that tumble into the sea. You can be as active as you like in Baie-Comeau. Attempt a daring Tyrolean traverse along the cliffs in the Garden of the Glaciers or buckle up to zip-line through forest canopy and across the water, coming so close if you're daring as to skim the water's cool and refreshing surface. I particularly enjoyed the beach barbecue, where delicious slabs of salmon were roasted over a campfire, along with mouth-water scallops, and all of it washed down by good Canadian beer, some good wine and Acadian folk music inside a yurt, where a welcome fire kept away the September chill. Life hardly gets any better than this.

Regent Seven Seas Mariner features all oceanview suites with private balconies. Suites range from 301 square feet to 2,002 square feet (the totals include the balconies). The two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom master suite, pictured above, measures 2,002 square feet and features two balconies, a side balcony measuring 71 square feet and a forward balcony measuring 727 square feet. The Grand Suite measures 987 square feet with an 84-square-foot balcony. All suites, except for Penthouse Suites Category C and Deluxe Suites, include butler service.

A video inspection of suite 834 on Regent Seven Seven Seas Mariner.

New Year's Eve 2008 launched Linz as the European Cultural Capital 2009.

Crystal Cruises’ Vintage Room pairs some of the world’s best wines with specially prepared dishes. With a capacity for 12, the special dinners are served in a private dining room. Patrons, who pay on average $210 per person depending on the wines they have selected, are attended to by the ship’s head sommelier. Want to splurge even more? Keep an eye out for Crystal’s “Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner.” This past spring, the event, hosted by a celebrity chef and wine expert and costing $1,200 per person, sold out within a matter of hours.

Interview with Sally Pelly, founder of Winsome and Heyword, a Swiss-based gallery featuring art exhibitions on Crystal Cruises.

From Rotterdam, I cycled to Delft, the charming village where I stopped to eat and learn more about Stroopwafels with Wil and Erik Schravendijk.

Not really a challenge, as there's lots of it here, with vineyards on every hill it seems. In Cochem, we visited Rolf Haxel's vineyard and wine shop, where we talked with his sons about regional wines and the vineyard that their family has operated for generations. The hills along the Moselle are famous for producing Riesling. We also learned the two ways to toast in German, one toast for wine and another for beer.

Our cruise ended in Trier, Germany's oldest city and an outpost of the Roman Empire as early as the 3rd century BC. Roman ruins are found throughout the city, including an ancient Roman gate.

Heidelberg's pilot house, where the captain navigated the river vessel, raised and lowered to pass under low-lying bridges. In this scene, you can see the pilot house rising after passing under a low bridge on the Moselle River.

Dark clouds rolled in on the last day of our seven-night cruise, but spirits remained high on board. As passengers head into Trier, Germany's oldest city, we conduct a series of exit interviews on our final full day before disembarking.

Heinhold from Hamburg attempts to teach me a German beer drinking song.

On one morning of each Peter Deilmann River cruise, Bavarian Morning Pint is offered. The buffet falls between breakfast and lunch. On the menu, free beer, brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad, pretzels, music and more.

One of the highest-rated shore excursions in Mazatlan, Mexico, Salsa and Salsa combines cooking and dancing. First, learn to make six different types of Salsa, then learn to dance the Salsa. Available on Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and others.

Highlights from the naming ceremony in Southampton of Cunard Line's newest ocean liner, Queen Victoria.

Cunard Line launched a new queen this week in Southampton, England. The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, and The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, attended a regal ceremony to launch Cunard Line's new $500 million Queen Victoria, a 90,000 ton, 2,014 passenger ocean liner. The Duchess of Cornwall performed the official naming of the ship as part of a colorful and regal ceremony. More than 2,000 VIP guests, celebrities and dignitaries observed the ceremony (including The Avid Cruiser) in a marquee auditorium shoreside at the ship's bow, while several hundred people followed the ceremony on a large screen in a nearby park.