It's a common question, but one that has a rapidly changing set of answers — particularly where river cruising is concerned.

In the past, you could typically predict which sailings would sell out well in advance: Theme cruises or time-sensitive itineraries, like the spring Tulip Time river cruises that depart from Amsterdam, are historically some of the first to go. And as river cruising gains in popularity, the need to book sooner rather than later has only become more important.

The various regions of Italy offer a cornucopia of food to delight our senses and the regions of Tuscany and Umbria offer some of the best.

Savour its famous delights...freshly made pasta, fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, exquisite extra virgin olive oil, double baked biscotti, aged fine local wine, homemade tiramisu and cannoli pastries and its rich espresso and frothy cappuccino! And let's not forget the best gelato in the world!

As we sailed along the Croatian coast onboard Windstar Cruises ms Wind Surf, the Captain turned off the engines and at once we were floating on air or so it seemed. Nothing in sight but ocean, the emerald water mesmerizing and the only sound the occasional sail flapping in the warm breeze. For the past six days, we'd been living like royalty and on this last day at sea, we savoured every moment as Wind Surf made her way back to our starting point of Venice, Italy.

It was Christopher Columbus who, on returning to Europe after his forth voyage to the New World in 1502, named his latest discovery, Costa Rica, the rich coast. Who knows what types of riches he was anticipating finding in this lush, tropical paradise, but surely he must have been speaking, in part, of the lands stunning natural beauty. Today, Costa Rica remains one of the world's most ecologically intact and environmentally proactive countries.