Maggie's Farm

Time to plan your August cruise. Medium or small ships are the best places, because you can never forget that you are at sea. We are very fond of the Holland-America Line, and have been for fifty years. For all of their trips I have taken, my favorite remains the old NY to Southampton route. Chilly, foggy, and old-fashioned. No need for a fancy suite: being on the ship is the thing. Make that historic crossing before you grow too old to enjoy it. Forget the food: you can see whales, petrels, shearwaters, giant ocean swells, the rare passing ship, mist rolling in and, if you're lucky, a good North Atlantic storm that will stir the soul and spirit (and stomach).

Walking a few miles around the Promenade Deck at 6 AM in the cool North Atlantic mist, on a jerkin' boat, is a very fine thing to do.

Image below: MS Statendam