 |
 |
 |
Ports and Shopping
This website will allow you to visit our planet as it's meant to be experienced...
region by region, country by country, port by port.
This site has been created so that you, the traveler, can experience the history and cultures of fabulous ports of call in the diversty in which they were meant to be appreciated. Each port must be viewed within its historical context, the various ecological zones in which they are located and by understanding the local cultures which helps to make up the unique regions of our planet earth. This site showcases the unique diversity our planet has to offer, allowing you to experience the ports the cultural way, as well as offering a view into various unique cultures, exotic local foods and the very best in regional shopping.
It is through understanding local cultures that we better understand our unique diversity!
Here you will find information based on years of experience traveling the globe from one exotic ports of call to another. In most of these regions I had the opportunity to shop for the best regional products and shopping venues in order to provide cruise ship passangers the opportunity of what to buy in many of today's most popular port of calls. With over 15 years experience in the duty-free industry I have gained the know how to help you get the most out of your trip abroad. Let me be your professional bridge between being just a tourist and being the individual who has the knowledge to get the most out of your travels abroad. So much of what you find on the web today really does not give you the true essence of the places you'll visit or is just too corporate to really care. It is my hope that you'll find what you are looking for here with a bit of a spirtual and holistic twist. I am excited that you have decided to join me for a mixed perspective of today's most popular ports of call, regional destinations, cultural perspectives and today's best shopping opportunities. So sit back and let's enjoy our world, port by port.
 |
The Ports and Shopping Experience
Traveling is an experience and much like a double edge sword. Experience is the key word and to do it right preparation must meet a combination of spontaneous flow and full engagement. Travel can be an extremely exciting and positive experience or it can be an extremely difficult and negative experience based on this concept of preparation. Each and every time we travel the experience tends to be a bit different as well and of course varies from person to person. It's how we see and feel things that changes this experience. To top it off, for the majority of us, time is a limiting factor as our days are generally filled with numerous obligations and constant restraints. This leaves us with little time to gain local knowledge and even less time to discover what to buy and why. After retiring from the duty-free industry where I managed high-end jewelry stores as well as setting up destination shopping venues aboard major cruise lines I decided that it was time to put this information at the hands of each and every one of you. Thanks to today's Internet it is now possible to convey this information freely so that you can have the opportunity to know before you go. Make sure to bookmark Ports and Shopping because were your insiders guide to the many wonderful ports of call around the world and more importantly your guide and resource to the exciting world of international shopping.
This guide can be used by the independent traveler as well as the general cruise addict who wishes to experience the world first-hand. Our experiences in duty-free shopping (jewelry and watches), onboard port and shopping programs as well as destination merchandising will give you the opportunity to know before you go. It is without a question that cruising is a wonderful way to travel, though it is only one of many ways to experience the many exotic and wonderful ports of call. The experience begins with each port of call and must be understood prior to disembarking so that you'll have the ability to bring home a piece of the heart and soul of where ever you’ve just visited, with a chance to buy a memory that will last you a lifetime. This is where we come in. At ports and shopping we’ll take you to new heights as you travel the world, destination by destination, with unique and interesting knowledge to help you feel like a veteran of each amazing port of call. We've discovered over the years that one of the best ways to prepare for your trip is make sure that you know the general history of where you’ll be visiting, what sights to see and the what opportunities there are in destination shopping before embarking on the seven seas. With a combined 45 years experience in the port and shopping industry we’ll make sure you have the knowledge, skills and facts, all before leaving home. With ports and shopping you’ll feel like a seasoned veteran of cruising even before you board the ship and reach your first exotic port of call.
If you’ve never cruised before I would like to welcome you to the exciting world of fine dining, world-class entertainment, exotic ports of call and some of world's best shopping opportunities. Regardless if this is your first experience or 100th cruise there’s always something new to learn before embarking. Over the years we have had the wonderful opportunity to answer so many questions about each of the ports of call as well as what to buy and what to look for while shopping with each and every port. As you'll discover there is so much to see and do in each port that you won't want to miss a thing. One great thing about cruising is that it gives you the opportunity to travel from port to port quickly and efficiently while providing you the luxury of having a traveling room as well as being able to relax amongst great people, fabulous food and wonderful entertainment each and every night. Here at ports and shopping we know that there’s so much to do onboard but we also believe that there’s more to cruising than just the ships. It's about the experience you create!
As you become familiar with us you'll discover that our approach is more on the educational side with a logical flow highlighting such things as travel, ports of call and destination shopping. The site you're visiting is divided by geographical areas with relevant information about the countries you will visit as well as important information regarding each city as well as each local port you’ll likely visit. Each section will also have additional detailed information about what to expect, what to see and do as well as what shopping opportunities there will be and how to buy the best items from each port of call.
When I first began traveling the world in search of the best destination products I would always begin my journeys by trying to get as much applicable information as possible about the places I was about to visit before embarking. I always found it absolutely amazing how difficult it was to get straightforward and relevant information about the ports of call without a bunch of editorials about someones cruise experience, being sold to or feeling at a loss with the overwritten amount or lack of relevant information.
Our goal at ports and shopping is for you get the very most out of your vacation, simply by being informed. With each destination and port being so incredibly different from one another doesn’t it make since to have the inside track before you go.
So get out there and explore one of the many exotic ports of call you might have the opportunity to visit as well as learn about the very best in shopping abroad.
Caribbean | Central America | Mexico | South America | International Shopping | Regional Shopping | Contact Information