It's like a giant chunk of chalk tumbled out of the sky, shattering on to a sparkling, turquoise glass floor.

Enter the Panama Canal through the colonial city of Colon, which is home to many descendants of the Afro-Caribbean workers who helped build it.

To mark her return to Australia, Pacific Pearl's four-day cruise will feature a number of friendly Aussies versus Kiwis battle.

The see-food-and-eat-it diet is alive and well at sea, discovers Patricia Greig.

The daughter of a Perth man says her sick father was left to find his own way home after he was kicked off a P&O cruise ship for flicking a cigarette overboard.

Conveniently close to one of the country's top grape-growing areas, visitors can jump off the boat at Picton and head towards Blenheim for a range of wine tastings. O

Lynley Bilby is currently travelling from England to Norway and back on the Emerald Princess. She will be posting updates throughout the trip.

Lynley Bilby is currently travelling from England to Norway on the Emerald Princess. She will be posting updates throughout the trip.

Lynley Bilby is currently travelling from England to Norway on the Emerald Princess. She will be posting updates throughout the trip.

Things are about to heat up on the Azamara Quest when a couples-only, clothing-optional cruise sets sail.

Towering 162m above the Rhine, castles don't come much more postcard-ready than the glorious Marksburg.

Kiwis are cruising more than ever - it's practically becoming a national holiday tradition.

Royal Caribbean's massive Harmony of the Seas vessel will soon be usurped as the world's largest cruise ship.

COMMENT: If you thought that travelling by ship might be better for the environment than flying or driving a car, you would be sadly mistaken.

Kiwis continue to take cruises in record numbers attracted by new ships and destinations in this region and around the world.

Gliding along the river with a cocktail in hand, as stars twinkle above me, I'm certain there is no better way to travel.

Greg Fleming cruises (and sometimes jogs) across the Tasman on Celebrity Solstice

With cruise ships carrying millions of holidaymakers every year, crew regularly come across items left behind by forgetful passengers - and some are stranger than others.

Windows were smashed and passengers were injured after a 'freak wave' hit the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship on Monday.

Cruising the Mediterranean today gave us the entire day to explore the boat - which is quite spacious, with many nooks and crannies to discover.

More than 1200 holidaymakers have taken leading Australian travel company Scenic Tours to court.

Exploring Barcelona by bus today was a fantastic way to get a taste of the city.

The riverside town of Rudesheim, on the eastern banks of the Rhine, is one of Germany's biggest tourist drawcards.

I found that rarest of things: A hat big enough to fit my massive skull.

Three writers share their exciting cruise ship discoveries

This week, Travel Editor and river cruising novice Winston Aldworth is sailing down the Rhine on the maiden voyage of Avalon Imagery II.

PNG is a rare and exotic cruise destination of misty mountains, smoking volcanoes, jungle drums, bare-breasted dancers and shy excited smiles from locals.

The "Easy Pace American Contrasts" holiday is discounted 5per cent for bookings made by April 28.

Experts say expedition cruises are on the rise, even though the cost of such a voyage can easily match that of a new car.

Travellers on an expedition ship have out-of-ordinary cruise experiences, encountering wild animals and pristine nature