Ming Tappin

Cruise Travel Writer at Freelance

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Articles

“Our goal is to be the best brand you ever worked with”: NCL on travel advisors and Norwegian Aqua

1 week ago | travelweek.ca | Ming Tappin

ONBOARD NORWEGIAN AQUA — Norwegian Cruise Line officially christened its 20th vessel – Norwegian Aqua – inside NCL’s cruise terminal at Port of Miami by two-time Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (of Modern Family fame). Although following the same blueprint as the first two Prima class ships Norwegian Prima and Viva, Aqua is 10% larger than her sisters and includes several enhancements.
Near Melbourne, Take a Detour to a Quirky Coastal Gem

2 weeks ago | vacaynetwork.com | Ming Tappin

While planning my visit to Australia’s Victoria State, I had briefly read about Geelong and the Bellarine, a peninsula southwest of Melbourne. But I didn’t think there were enough reasons to include it in my itinerary — until Yasmin Paton of Visit Geelong and Bellarine reached out and convinced me. It turned out to be a major highlight of my trip. From Melbourne, the M1 Highway passes Geelong (pronounced Je-long) — gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula, but I took a more relaxing, watery route.
What to Know about Avalon Waterways’ New Itinerary on the Garonne and Dordogne

3 weeks ago | travelmarketreport.com | Ming Tappin

Bonjour Bordeaux! Travel Market Report – along with nearly 70 media and consortia partners – was onboard for a four-night sneak preview cruise in advance of the March 25 inaugural voyage of Avalon Waterways’ Bordeaux itinerary. Sailing out of Bordeaux roundtrip, guests will visit chateaus, wineries, and charming villages.
In search of R&R Down Under

1 month ago | cruiseandtravellifestyles.com | Ming Tappin

Cairns turns up the heat as I seek my version of R&R – Reef and Rainforest – in tropical North Queensland. Spectacular corals and ocean life in the Great Barrier ReefTHE AIRCRAFT DOOR opens to 28 degrees Celsius outside, and the humidity envelopes me like a warm wet towel. As a heat lover, I embrace my Australian welcome. After nearly 20 hours in the air, I'm half a world away from home, and it's more than 20 degrees warmer – in Cairns, Queensland.
Savoring the Tarts, Landscapes, and Charms of Portugal

Nov 15, 2024 | vacaynetwork.com | Ming Tappin

It’s a clear day as my plane flies over the Tagus River on approach to Lisbon. They call Lisbon the City of the Seven Hills, although out of the window, it looks a lot less daunting. But once on ground level, I begin to appreciate the city’s moniker as I stare up the angled streets and watch turn-of-the-century yellow funiculars slowly creep up the slopes.
Canadian market comes into focus for Azamara Cruises

Nov 1, 2024 | travelweek.ca | Ming Tappin

ONBOARD AZAMARA JOURNEY — The chance to tour Azamara Journey in Saint John was such an opportunity that some dedicated travel advisors drove for hours to see the ship in this NB port. One of four ships in Azamara Cruises’ fleet, AzamaraJourney called at Saint John during its repositioning cruise to Miami. Travelweek attended the ship tour along with more than 45 travel advisors.
Sun Princess Has Been Revamped, Already

Oct 21, 2024 | cruisecritic.com | Ming Tappin

Sun Princess in Port Everglades (Photo: Ming Tappin)HomeCruise ArticlesAll about the Revamp on Sun Princess: What's Changed Since the Ship's Early 2024 Launch? Sun Princess in Port Everglades (Photo: Ming Tappin)ContributorMing TappinLast updatedOct 21, 2024Read time7 min readSun Princess - Princess Cruises’ 16th vessel, which recently started its first Caribbean season - was a highly anticipated new ship.
Is the Love by Britto Restaurant on Sun Princess Worth It?

Oct 17, 2024 | cruisecritic.com | Ming Tappin

Princess Cruises has always laid claim to the term “Love Boat.” So it stands to reason that their newest specialty restaurant experience, opened in June and available only on Sun Princess, puts love front and center. Love by Britto is a partnership between Princess Cruises and Brazilian artist Romero Britto, known for his colorful pop art and cubist style. The 68-seat restaurant was the brainchild of Chef Rudi Sodamin, who oversees the culinary program of Sun Princess.
Exploring Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands - Travel Courier

Oct 17, 2024 | travelcourier.ca | Ming Tappin

Main photo of Clonmacnoise courtesy Kevin Griffin for Fáilte Ireland Nestled in the heart of the island, the counties Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, and Leitrim are Ireland’s hidden gems lesser known than their coastal counterparts. While most first-time visitors to the Emerald Isle flock to Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford, the charming towns of Clonmacnoise, Athlone, Strokestown, Tulsk, and Drumshanbo are also alluring and dramatic in their own ways.
“There is great value here”: Travel advisors tour Scenic Eclipse in Halifax

Oct 11, 2024 | travelweek.ca | Ming Tappin

ONBOARD SCENIC ECLIPSE — Branded as “the world’s first discovery yacht”, Scenic Eclipse isn’t your typical cruise ship, says Juna Ueda, Scenic’s General Manager of Sales, Canada. Leading a ship tour of Scenic Eclipse for media and travel advisors when the yacht was docked at Port of Halifax, Ueda was careful in choosing his terminology. “I don’t want to use the words ‘small ship’ because that conjures up tight quarters,” he told Travelweek.