Patricia Vanikiotis

Associate Editor at Global Traveler Magazine

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Articles

The Many Charms of Dunedin

2 weeks ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

Dunedin, New Zealand, was our final port call on our December cruise Down Under, and we arrived on a beautiful sunny, breezy morning at Port Chalmers, the city’s main port, located about 8 miles from downtown Dunedin. Once again we decided we would explore on our own, and that began with our transportation into the city.
Christchurch, New Zealand

3 weeks ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

I’m picking up my travelogue of my December cruise to New Zealand today with our first port on the country’s South Island, Christchurch. It is the largest city on the island and New Zealand’s second-largest city by urban population, after Auckland. It also boasts of being the oldest city in New Zealand, being officially incorporated in 1856. As with our previous stop, Wellington, we decided to forego any formal shore excursion and instead planned to explore on our own.
Supporting Youth Theater

1 month ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

As a former theater major, I like to support theater at every level, from Christmas nativity plays to Broadway productions and everything in between.
A Festival of Chocolate

1 month ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

Every March here in Southern Oregon, just when the residents are growing truly weary of the cold, wet days of winter, along comes an event that brings a smile to everyone . . . or, at least, to everyone who loves all things chocolate. Last weekend, being lovers of chocolate, my husband and I visited the 21st edition of the Oregon Chocolate Festival in nearby Ashland, Oregon.
A Taste of Walla Walla in Portland

1 month ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

On a recent weekend trip to Portland, Oregon, my husband and I attended an annual event that brings more than 50 Walla Walla wineries to the city for a great winetasting party. Walla Walla Wine on Tour has been making the rounds of Pacific Northwest cities for at least 15 years, giving the producers of Walla Walla Valley Wine a chance to bring their wines directly to their admirers at events in Portland, Boise, Spokane and Seattle.
Wandering Through Windy Wellington

2 months ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

Our last port visit on New Zealand’s North Island on our Princess cruise was Wellington, the country’s capital. With a population of less that 500,000 in the metropolitan area (and 215,000 in the city proper), it offers a quite walkable, very attractive city center which ranges along the waterfront and is backed by lushly forested hills.
Chef's Table Lumiere - Global Traveler

2 months ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

Shortly after we booked our 14-day cruise on Royal Princess, we learned about one of the special dining experiences offered on the ship and knew we had to book it. As it turned out, my husband, Harry, would be celebrating his birthday during the cruise, and we decided the Chef’s Table Lumiere would be the perfect way to mark his special day.
Culture, History and Geothermal Delights

2 months ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

After a fairly soggy visit to Auckland during our 14-day Princess cruise aboard the Royal Princess, we awoke the next morning in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, to a brisk breeze and lovely sunny blue skies. Here again we chose to embark on a Viator shore excursion, as the sights we wanted to see were quite a distance from the immediate port area. The Bay of Plenty is known (as you might have guessed from the name) as a fertile agricultural area, particularly for its cultivation of kiwifruit.
Sailing in the City of Sails

2 months ago | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

After an overnight sail from Bay of Islands, we awoke to find ourselves tied up at Princes Wharf in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. Unlike so many cities where the cruise terminal is located in an industrial harbor at some distance from the city center,Auckland boasts cruise facilities right in the heart of the city, making it easy for passengers to walk right off the ship and into a vibrant city scene with lots of great restaurants, shopping and attractions right there.
Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Jan 18, 2025 | globaltravelerusa.com | Patricia Vanikiotis

After three days sailing the Tasman Sea, we were rested up and ready to explore our first port of call in New Zealand. Bay of Islands is exactly as the name suggests: a large bay dotted with islands. There are several small communities scattered over the islands and the mainland here, but none have a deep-water pier, so our ship, Royal Princess, would anchor in the bay, and we would tender to the local yacht club’s pier in Waitangi.