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On the Map: Quantum of the Seas Takes a Quantum Leap to Cabo and Ensenada (VIDEO)
By Mark McNease
Another early morning, another cup of coffee, my laptop, and the Harp & Horn Pub, my quiet writing refuge aboard Quantum of the Seas. Most mornings I settle into a table at the empty pub on the fourth-floor promenade. The coffee is available 24/7 right next door, the restaurant is silent, and for a couple of peaceful hours it’s the perfect place to work. I’m not someone who can travel without writing; it’s how I stay productive and keep that creative momentum going.
As our Mexico cruise winds down, I’ve been thinking about how quickly this sailing has gone by. This trip has been one of my favorites, and the only real drawback is its length. Six nights just isn’t quite enough time to visit two ports and fully settle into the rhythm of cruising. Ten days feels right. Twelve is even better. Six feels like we’re just getting started and want more.
The sea days were relaxed and restorative, the kind that remind me why I love cruising in the first place. Add in good meals, unexpected conversations, and moments of quiet routine, and it all reminds me why I enjoy this kind of vacation more than most.
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On the Map: A Day Trip to NYC’s Bryant Park and Lunch at Chez Josephine
Narration provided by Wondervox.
By Mark McNease
Ever since moving permanently to our home in New Jersey we prefer to visit New York City by bus. After driving back and forth for over a decade, spending most weekends at our little house in the Jersey woods, the last thing I ever want to do again is drive into Manhattan. So we take the Trans-Bridge bus line instead, leaving from Clinton and arriving at Port Authority a little over an hour later. It makes for an easy and stress-free way to visit our old hometown and be back before bedtime.
This trip was to visit some new friends who were in the city for a week’s vacation. It was a shorty, with just a couple hours before lunch and a return in time to have dinner with local friends for a birthday celebration. We arrived around 11:00 a.m. and headed over to Bryant Park to stroll through the booths and vendors they have set up for the holiday month.
From November through early January, New York’s Bryant Park transforms into a festive, and crowded, winter wonderland with holiday stalls and shops. If you’re there on a weekend it can be mobbed, especially once you get past Thanksgiving and head into the December homestretch. These stalls are set up in the heart of the park, creating a marketplace that does its best to capture the spirit of the season.
In addition to the stalls, the park hosts a collection of holiday shops that are often housed in wooden cabins or tents, decorated with lights and ornaments. These also serve as a community gathering space where visitors can enjoy live entertainment, holiday-themed activities, and seasonal performances. And don’t miss the iconic ice-skating rink. I scored a new winter scarf that’s about six feet long, appropriately colorful and warm enough for the frigid temperatures we’ve found ourselves in.
Having planned the visit several months ago, I wasn’t sure where to have lunch. I ended up looking at several restaurants, including a few I was familiar with from my 11 years working at a news agency in the heart of Times Square (it was not the Times!). I saw some photos of a place called Chez Josephine, and without having any knowledge of its history I said let’s eat there. It was a perfect choice.
Founded with the vision of celebrating the legacy of Josephine Baker, a legendary performer and civil rights activist who moved to Paris, Chez Josephine pays homage to her life and contributions through its decor and menu. The restaurant features a selection of French-inspired dishes, including classic escargot, coq au vin, ratatouille, and a variety of desserts suited to the clientele.
Located on 42nd Street just west of 9th Avenue, the restaurant attracts everyone from theater enthusiasts on their way to a show, to tourists to locals seeking a cozy dining experience, to a couple Jersey guys heading into the city for lunch. Our server, Andy, was extremely nice and friendly, and surprised us by telling us he was the owner’s son. Apparently Josephine’s son, who founded restaurant, left it to Andy’s father Manual when he passed away, and it’s been in his hands ever since.
We loved this place! It was quiet, with an old-ish elegance that was cozy without being stuffy. There are portraits and reminders of Josephine Baker everyone, including the paper hand-towels in the bathroom that had her image on them. We will definitely be back.
By mid-afternoon were on the bus returning to Clinton, after an absolutely perfect trip to a city that will always hold a place in our hearts.
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On the Map: One Day Trip, Three Philly Museums (Barnes, Calder, and the Museum of Illusions
One of the nice things about being over 65 is all the discounts and free passes you’re eligible for. This includes a Senior Pass for Philadelphia’s SEPTA transportation system. It includes busses, and best of all the light rail trains. We drive to Yardley, PA, and catch the train into the city. It’s so much nicer than driving, and we can make a day trip out of it. We just did this again with our friends Beth and Doris. We hit three museums and had lunch at the Barnes. Check them out, along with photographs.
Three Museums, One Fabulous Day in Philadelphia
If you’ve ever wanted to feel cultured, curious, and just a little bit mystified—all in one day—Philadelphia is the place. We decided to stack our itinerary with three very different experiences: the Barnes Foundation, the brand-new Calder Gardens museum, and the Museum of Illusions. By the end I felt like a well-rounded human being who could appreciate both a Renoir masterpiece and a room that made me look six inches tall. That last one made for a great photograph, with Frank standing tall next to me.
Stop #1: The Barnes Foundation — A Feast for the Eyes (and the Brain)
Dr. Albert Barnes collected art the way some of us collect coffee mugs—enthusiastically and a little obsessively. The result is a mind-bending arrangement of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early modern paintings hung salon-style, meaning your eyes dart from a Cézanne to a Modigliani to a random metal hinge all in the same field of vision. The very idea that one space could house so many paintings by a single master, let alone the many artists represented her, is astonishing.
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On the Map: Getting the Royal Treatment on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas
Sailing the Atlantic in Style
There’s something magical about waking up to nothing but ocean on the horizon — a vast expanse of blue stretching endlessly in every direction. That’s exactly what I experienced aboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, one of the line’s most innovative and dazzling ships. This wasn’t just any cruise — it was a transatlantic journey, a voyage that invited both adventure and reflection as we crossed from Europe to the Americas.
A Floating World of Wonder
From the moment we stepped on board in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, we knew this would be among our favorite cruises. Odyssey of the Seas is a marvel — sleek, modern, and full of energy, from the ship sailing through the Atlantic waves to the ever–pleasant presnce of the crew. Its open spaces gleam with glass and light, while its art installations and design details remind you that this is as much a journey of the senses as it is a voyage across the sea.
We quickly discovered that this ship offers everything you could dream of and more: multiple pools (including the adults-only Solarium), high-tech entertainment (my personal favorite was the Nashvill Tenors), and dining options that often rival any fine restaurant. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar or a quick bite from El Loco Fresh by the pool, the culinary experiences were plentiful and pleasing.
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On the Map: Rome If You Want To
We’re almost back to New Jersey aboard the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas, following a 14-night cruise with ports, and storms, and detours, and six nights across the Atlantic. But first, let’s take a look at our Rome trip. We flew there for a three-night stay before heading to the cruise terminal and sailing off. It wasn’t a lot of time, but we saw plenty. Check out my travelogue below with some photos.
We stayed at the Mascagni Hotel, a boutique hotel near the busy central city. I’m not giving it a thumbs up or down. I knew from past experience that European hotels in general are smaller, and that was the case here. But the decor is lovely, the staff was (mostly) friendly and helpful, and it was easy to get everywhere … until you started walking to your destination! Rome’s streets are very pre-grid, and even using Apple Map we got lost. The pathways are winding, in comes cases even seeming tortured, and if you take a wrong turn the map just reorients and takes you another route. Maddening, especially when your walking tour leaves at 10:30 a.m. and you’re sure you won’t make it. But we did! And here’s what we saw …
Say hello to Genny and Paul, the lovely couple from Canada who were among the travel friends we made, and these folks are keepers!
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On the Map: What’s A Repositioning Cruise?
By Mark McNease
We’re leaving later this week for one of the longest vacations we’ve taken – almost three weeks! It begins with three nights in Rome, where we’ve book walking tours of the Vatican and the Colosseum. I’ve had a fascination with gladiators since I was a child. I can’t imagine why …
After our Rome visit, our first to Italy, we board a Royal Caribbean ship that cruises the Mediteranean and ends with a 5 night return sail across the Atlantic. It’s a repositioning cruise, bringing the ship from its season there to its next one home-ported here. The best part? It docks in Bayonne, New Jersey, about 90 minutes from where we live. Given my loathing of all things airports, it’s a real treat to fly only one way. So what’s a repositioning cruise? Keep reading!
Repositioning cruises are unique voyages offered by cruise lines when a ship needs to relocate from one region of the world to another. Unlike traditional cruises that circle back to their original departure port, repositioning cruises begin in one location and end in another, following the movement of cruise ships between seasonal home ports. For example, a ship might travel from the Caribbean to Europe in spring or from Alaska to the Mexican Riviera in the fall. Or in our case from the Mediterranean back to New Jersey!
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On the Map: A Triple Treat with Tarrytown, Mystic, and P-town
Narration provided by Wondervox
By Mark McNease
Who doesn’t need a vacation in these challenging times? We made our annual pilgrimage to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where we have a timeshare at a lovely development called Eastwood at Provincetown. Opened in 1983, it has the feel of a sprawling motel complex that’s very popular with gay men and lesbians. My husband Frank bought our unit not too long afterward, though he and his late partner Michael rented it out most years. We began coming here about seven years ago and now it’s a regular event as August and summer come to an end.
Eastwood is about a thirty minute walk from the center of town, providing us with a twice-daily hike to accumulate at least 15,000 clicks on the step meter. We head over to Commercial Street in the morning and then again at night for dinner and shows. That’s a good two hours of walking each day, helping to mitigate the damage of all the food we eat here.
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On the Map: On the Map: Youngstown Ohio and Fellows Riverside Gardens
Narration provided by Wondervox
By Mark McNease
We just got back from a quick three-night trip to Youngstown, Ohio. We hadn’t seen my in-laws for eleven years, including Frank’s niece Tess who was just 4 at the time. She’s now a 14-year-old, and very much a teenager. Brother-in-law Brett and mother Melanie were as changed as you’d expect two people to be after that much time, yet much the same. Now in their forties, they’re raising Tess as best they can, and it was a pleasure to see them again—except for the grueling drive. When the GPS says it’s 6 hours and 15 minutes, you know that’s a 9 hour trip. Bathroom breaks, meals, gas, and the inevitable bouts of traffic. I personally dread long drives like that, and when we make our annual trip to Provincetown for our timeshare week in August, we split it up by spending a night halfway there and halfway back.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to Ohio, despite having grown up in Indiana. The similarities in the landscape were obvious. Both states, at least Youngtown and northern Indiana, are mostly flat and a little colorless, but it also reminded me of my hometown and the surrounding area.
Now for some scoop on Youngstown and the wonderful park we visited.
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On the Map: Surviving Martha’s Vineyard (A Harrowing Cruise Catastrophe)
On the Map is a feature at LGBTSr for the not-so-weary traveler.
By Mark McNease
We just went on another great cruise, which is my favorite way to vacation. For me it means no cat litter, no chores, no obligations, and no appointments. I get on the ship and go where it takes us. And as much as I’ve enjoyed the different ports we’ve been to over the years, I also luxuriate in sea days. Nothing to do but relax, read books, and of course eat. Food is the one great, irresistible temptation on a cruise for me. Judging by the other passengers, it’s just as much of an attraction for them. The only drawback this time is that I’ve been on a GLP-1 medication since August and lost 30 lbs. I knew it was going to be a challenge not to backslide. Now that we’ve been home for almost a week, I think the damage was minimal.
The cruise went from Bayonne, NJ, where we prefer to leave from so there aren’t any flights involved. We sailed from there to Martha’s Vineyard, then on to Charleston, SC, and finally to Bermuda. We’ve been to Charleston and Bermuda before, and there wasn’t any particular reason I wanted to go again except that’s where the ship went. The real experience this time was Martha’s Vineyard and our near-death experience in a lifeboat masquerading as a tender.
Cruise ships are too large to actually dock at the Vineyard so they transport you from ship to land using small boats (tenders). Most times the ship hires a local third party to provide the tenders, but this time they used lifeboats. We knew the weather was going to be raining the day we were there, but no one expected what happened. We got on land in about 15 minutes, and discovered that on offseason there’s really not much happening at Martha’s Vineyard. We didn’t venture far from the ship, just walked around the little town area that’s there and bought some souvenirs, followed by lunch. The weather was getting worse so we decided to head back, and that’s when the harrowing experience began.
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On the Map: A Trip to Eastern State Penitentiary and the Barnes Museum, Philadelphia
On the Map is a feature at LGBTSr for the not-so-weary traveler.
We took the train to Philadelphia with our friends Beth and Doris for a day of sightseeing and lunch at the Barnes Foundation museum. First stop: Eastern State Penitentiary, which was open for over 140 years, from 1829 until 1971! It was started by the Quakers and revolutionized incarceration at the time. It was the first to confine every prisoner in a single cell – today known as solitary confinement and a huge contributor to mental illness among the incarcerated. Back then they thought it was a better way to rehabilitate prisoners. They were allowed nothing to read but the bible, and they spent 23 hours a day alone in their cells. This could be something the architects of Project 2025 may want to look into …
After touring Donald Trump’s future lifestyle, we walked over to the Barnes Foundation museum, where we saw an art collection that is among the most unique in the world. I have never imagined seeing so many Cezannes, Picassos, and other modern masters in one location. Dr. Albert Barnes was an astute collector, purchasing works by artists in their un-famous prime that would later be with tens of millions of dollars.
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On the Map: Stroudsburg Here We Come (Again)
Narration provided by Wondervox.
On the Map is a feature at LGBTSr highlighting travel experiences and destinations of interest.
By Mark McNease
We just got back from one of our two-night ‘surprise trips,’ when one of us makes travel plans and the other doesn’t know what they are. We’ve been doing this for many years, and it was my turn to be surprised.
It was a return visit for us, to a town in the Poconos we enjoy spending a couple days in: Stroudsburg, PA. It’s not a fancy place, and it doesn’t have the kind of tourist vibe you’ll find in a lot of other locations in that area, but we like it.
We stayed at the local Hampton Inn, my favorite hotel chain. Maybe it’s the 24-hour coffee, or just the middle-brow feel of the place, but I like it there.
We had dinner one night at Marita’s Bar and Grill, a local Mexican favorite, and the next night at Garlic Restaurant and Bar, a slightly upscale eatery with superb (and expensive) food, much of which has – you guessed it – a garlic theme. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop, where you can pick from a dizzying selection of candies, chocolates, and dime-store souvenirs.
The only mitigating factor? It was the beginning of the first heat wave of the summer, and it was hot! But whether it’s hot, cold, or somewhere in-between, I recommend a trip to Stroudsburg. And if you go to the Stroud Mall, make sure you get a spa pedi at Nail Trix. Ask for Annie. It was the best spa pedi I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of them.
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On the Map: Cruising on the Symphony of the Seas
On the map is a travel feature at LGBTSr offering experiences, recommendations, and interesting ports of call.
By Mark McNease
We just went on another cruise, with three booked for 2025. Needless to say, we love cruising as a vacation. No chores, no cat litter, no cooking or cleaning, and no appointments! Unless you consider dinner and a Broadway-caliber show an appointment.
We took this ship for the experience of being on one of the largest cruise ships currently sailing. It’s massive, and we soon discovered why there were so many children on board: water slides, a zip line, a miniature golf course, and a lot of activities designed for families with kids. There’s even a ‘Boardwalk’ section on the 6th floor that has a carousel and hot dog stand.
About the Cruise
If you’re looking for a cruise vacation that has it all, the Symphony of the Seas is your ticket. One of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship, the Symphony offers a floating city that can accommodate up to 6,680 guests and 2,200 crew members. It features 18 decks, 24 pools, 22 restaurants, 42 bars and lounges, a 10-story slide, a zip line, a surf simulator, a laser tag arena, a mini golf course, a carousel, a theater, an ice rink, a casino, a spa, a gym, a library, a nursery, a kids club, a teen club, and much more. Just telling you what’s on board is exhausting!