🛳️Cruise Ships🛳️
🫎Alaska🫎
🦅American Eagle🦅
🏺Greece🏺
✈️Vacation Destinations✈️
100
What is the gangway on a cruise ship?
Gangways are the narrow ramps or passages used by passengers to embark or debark from a ship.
On embarkation and disembarkation days, for example, the gangway will often consist of an enclosed raised bridge like a jetway in an airport. That gangway connects the main deck of a ship directly to the cruise terminal. At ports of call where the ship is parked at a dock, the gangway is usually on a lower deck, where a metal walkway bridges the gap between the ship and the dock. At ports where the ship does not dock and passengers are taken to shore in tender boats, the gangway will again be located on a lower deck where passengers are helped across a walkway or platform to the tender boat.
100
What traditional Native name was Mount McKinley restored to in 2015?
Hint: It starts with a D.
Mount Denali
Mount Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. Located in south-central Alaska, this monumental mountain towers at 20,310 feet above sea level. Its traditional Koyukon Athabascan name translates to "the tall one".
100
Why is the American Eagle called the Bald Eagle?
The bald eagle gets its name from an old English word, "balde," which originally meant "white". The name refers to the striking, bright white feathers on the adult's head, rather than a lack of them.
The bird is not actually featherless; its head is fully covered, and the contrasting white feathers make the head look "bare" against its dark brown body. This meaning is still used today in words like "piebald," which describes animals with patchy, black-and-white coats.
100
Greece is the third largest producer of what fruit that doesn't taste like a fruit?
Bonus: What two countries are ahead of Greece in production?
Olives!
Unquestionably, Greece produces the best olives in the world. In fact, Greece is the top producer of edible olives. Greek Olives are an important part of Greek cuisine and Greek culture. Olives are found in Greek salad and in countless other Greek dishes. The Greek town of Kalamata is home to the best olive type in the world, the 'Kalamata Olives' or 'Calamon Olives'. Other important types and known worldwide Greek olives are the 'Black Olives' and the 'Green Olives'. Similar to the Greek olive oil, the Greek olives comprise one of the most basic materials of the famous Mediterranean Diet. Greek olives are exported throughout the world and are considered to be as one of the most sought after nutritional products globally.
Bonus: Spain and Italy
100
This rugged, rainforested Central American country has coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific, known for it's beaches and volcanoes.
Costa Rica
According to the Happy Planet Index, in 2012 Costa Rica held the top position as the happiest country in the world. A lot of factors play into this ranking including the fact that the government invests funds that it would have spent on an army (which was abolished in 1949) into education, healthcare and pensions. It has since slipped from the top position, but it’s still a country filled with smiles and positivity. Costa Rica boasts an average life expectancy of 80 years, making us wonder if a relaxing, laidback lifestyle surrounded by nature might be the secret recipe to a longer life.
200
True or False: The world's busiest cruise port is in Cozumel, Mexico.
False, it's in Miami, Florida!
With more than 20 cruise lines berthing 55 ships, PortMiami is one of the world’s leading cruise destinations. More than 4 million cruise passengers traveled through the port in 2022. Cruise ships sail to points across the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico and other thrilling ports from South Florida’s cultural and economic center. The city is a world class destination for you to enjoy before or after you set sail on your cruise. Iconic views at Miami Beach, lively South Beach, pristine Everglades National Park, bustling streets in Little Havana, beautiful architecture in the Art Deco Historic District, and much more await you.
200
True or False: Alaska has active volcanoes and glaciers.
True!
Two Alaskan volcanoes erupt every year on average. There are around 140 volcanoes in Alaska, with over 50 considered recently active (within the past 300 years). Most are located in the Aleutian Arc, part of the Pacific “ring of fire”. Alaska is home to over 27,000 active glaciers and ice fields, covering about 5% of the state. These dynamic rivers of ice shape mountain valleys and replenish ecosystems, storing roughly 75% of Alaska's fresh water.
200
True or False: Bald Eagles mate for life.
True
Yes, bald eagles generally mate for life and stay with the same partner for decades. They are highly devoted parents that share incubation and feeding duties. However, if one mate dies or vanishes, the surviving eagle will quickly find a new partner to keep using its established nest. To establish these lifelong bonds, they perform spectacular aerial displays, including diving from great heights and locking talons in mid-air while tumbling toward the earth.
200
True or False: Greece is one of the cloudiest places in the world.
False!
According to MSN Weather, Rhodes, Greece has about 300 sunny days each year! That’s about 3,000 hours of sunshine! On July 10, 1977 the Elefsina and Tatoi suburbs of Athens recorded a temperature of 48.0 °C (118.4 °F)—the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe by the World Meteorological Organization. The heat isn’t just because of the city’s Mediterranean climate, though. Due to various human activities, Athens also experiences the urban heat island effect, further increasing its temperature compared to surrounding areas.
200
This country in the South Pacific is an archipelago of more than 300 islands, famed for it's rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons.
Fiji
The 180th meridian (the International Dateline) runs directly through the Fijian island of Taveuni. This means you can literally stand with one foot in "today" and the other in "yesterday" on the same island. The surrounding waters contain an astonishing amount of marine biodiversity, boasting more than 1,500 species of fish and over 300 types of hard coral. It is globally renowned as a prime scuba diving and snorkeling destination.
300
On which ship were parts of "The Poseidon Adventure" filmed?
a. Queen Elizabeth
b. Queen Mary
c. Queen Victoria
d. Queen Anne's Lace
b. Queen Mary
Parts of the movie were filmed aboard RMS Queen Mary, permanently berthed in Long Beach, California. Paul Gallico had been inspired to write the novel after a vacation aboard the ship in 1937 in which it was rocked by high waves. For scenes set during the storm, cameras mounted on gyros were used to simulate the rocking of the ship. The set for the dining room – the focus of the film as the ship capsizes – was designed to match that of the Queen Mary, but was built in sections that could be tilted by a forklift to simulate the ship rolling over, then mounted upside down for the scenes immediately afterward.
300
What is the capital of Alaska?
a. Fairbanks
b. Juneau
c. Anchorage
d. Nome
b. Juneau
Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is a uniquely remote city nestled between the mountains and the ocean. Accessible only by air or sea, it offers a stunning mix of Native heritage, gold-rush history, and breathtaking wilderness, serving as a gateway to the massive Mendenhall Glacier and the Tongass National Forest. Juneau is located in the Alaska Panhandle along the Gastineau Channel. It has a population of roughly 32,000 residents and boasts a massive land area of about 3,200 square miles, making it physically larger than the state of Rhode Island.
300
Why were Bald Eagles considered an endangered species at one point?
a. Deforestation
b. Overhunting
c. Pesticide use
d. Predator threats
The bald eagle's recovery is one of the greatest conservation success stories. Decimated by the pesticide DDT—which caused them to lay eggs with paper-thin shells—their numbers plunged to just 417 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states by 1963. The Environmental Protection Agency banned most uses of DDT in 1972, which stopped the contamination of waterways and allowed the eagles' eggshells to regain their normal thickness. Thanks to various efforts, the bald eagle was officially removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Today, the population in the lower 48 states has rebounded to over 70,000 breeding pairs.
300
What were tunics called in Ancient Greece?
a. Togas
b. Loincloths
c. Chitons
d. Kimonos
c. Chitons!
Chitons garment worn by Greek men and women from the Archaic period (c. 750–c. 500 bc) through the Hellenistic period (323–30 bc). Essentially a sleeveless shirt, the chiton was a rectangular piece of linen (Ionic chiton) or wool (Doric chiton) draped by the wearer in various ways and kept in place at the shoulders by brooches (fibulae) and at the waist by a belt. Excess fabric (the chiton was longer than the wearer was tall) was pulled up under the belt in blouse fashion. At all times the chiton was worn at ankle length by women.
300
This small South Pacific island is northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia, surrounded by sand-fringed islets and a turquoise lagoon, complete with luxury resorts hosting bungalows perched over the water on stilts.
Bora Bora
It seems impossible, considering the name of the island, but there are only 13 letters in the Tahitian language, and B is not one of them. The island was originally named "Pora Pora", which means "first-born" as the Tahitians believe it was the first island created after Raiatea. When English settlers arrived on the island many moons later, they misheard the pronunciation of the island as "Bora Bora" and the name stuck.
400
What are some common cruise ship lines? Have you ever been on a cruise?
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cunard and MSC.
It is no surprise that one of the most popular cruise lines is Royal Caribbean with its unbelievable and innovative cruise ships, which are basically floating cities. The cruise line sails to the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Alaska. These mega ships have more to do than you can imagine: a waterpark, ice skating rink, promenade mall, central park, aqua theater, and even surf simulators. You can watch a full-length Broadway musical while enjoying world-class cuisine during your sailing. There is so much to do, you might not even want to get off the ship!
400
What animal heavily outnumbers people in many areas?
Hint: It's very large.
Moose!
Throughout many Alaskan cities and towns, moose have adapted to living in urban environments alongside humans. While you can certainly book an excursion into a National Park to look for moose and other wildlife, it’s also entirely possible that you may encounter moose as you explore downtown areas in whichever cities you are visiting.
400
What does the diet of a Bald Eagle consist of?
Fish, waterfowl and birds, small rodents, reptiles and amphibians, carrion and scavenged food.
Bald eagles are opportunistic feeders that primarily consume fish, which make up 70% to 90% of their diet. However, they will also hunt or scavenge a wide variety of other animals and food sources depending on what is most readily available.
400
What is in a Greek Salad?
A traditional Greek salad consists of sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell pepper, red onion, olives, and feta cheese.
It was created in the late ’60s or early ’70s in Plaka, a picturesque area in Athens. There, local caterers found ways to get around government fixed prices on tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables. To a salad made of fixed-price vegetables, they added feta cheese and so created a “new” dish. However, this dish could charge significantly more to tourists. It seems it was created as an attempt to exploit a loophole in the law at that time. There is a similar salad in Cyprus and, of course, it is called Cypriot Salad. In addition to the usual Greek salad ingredients, capers, parsley and lemon juice are added to this. Thanks to Greek emigration, this salad has become famous in America as well. There, it has many variations, to the point where they have almost lost the original version. In America, it can be found with lettuce, pickled hot peppers, radishes, beetroots and even anchovies or sardines.
400
This province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands is situated 1 mile east of the island of Java with many mountains, flora and fauna.
Bali
Besides white beaches, Bali has multiple beaches with black sand as well. Thanks to the island's two active volcanoes, you can have a one-of-a-kind experience at black sand volcanic beaches such as Lovina and Amed Beach during your Bali trip. Bali's waters are teeming with marine life with at least 2,000 species of fish and other creatures including coral reefs, dolphins, turtles and much more. This is due to the fact that Bali sits in the centre of the Coral Triangle, the world's centre of marine biodiversity, also dubbed "the Amazon of the seas".
500
What are some of the most common places to travel to on a cruise ship? Where would you like to travel to on a cruise?
The Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Europe, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada and Hawaii.
The world’s most popular cruise destination is the Caribbean, which offers vibrant cultures, white-sand beaches and tropical sunshine. Vacationers can sail between idyllic islands on a ‘big ship’ – stay at a luxurious, entertainment-packed floating resort; or try a ‘small ship’ to visit smaller, quieter islands, have more flexibility, or to simply drop anchor in secluded bays.
500
What is the official state fish of Alaska?
Hint: They spawn in rivers and are known for leaping up small waterfalls.
King Salmon
Alaskan King Salmon (also known as Chinook) is the largest and most prized of the Pacific salmon species. Renowned for its rich, succulent flesh and exceptionally high healthy fat content, it is highly sought after by chefs and seafood lovers worldwide. They hatch in freshwater, migrate to the Pacific Ocean to mature, and return to their birth rivers to spawn and die.
500
Are male or female Bald Eagles larger?
Bonus: How many eggs do Bald Eagles usually lay?
Female bald eagles are significantly larger than males, a trait known as reverse sexual dimorphism. Females are typically about 25% to 33% larger than males and tend to weigh up to 50% more.
Biologists believe this size difference evolved to aid in the species' division of labor and widen their hunting variety. Because females handle the majority of nest protection and incubation, their larger size is a defense mechanism for offspring. Conversely, the smaller size of the males makes them more agile and adept at fast hunting.
500
Who was the author of "The Odyssey"?
The Odyssey.
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the Iliad, the poem is divided into 24 books. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. After the war, which lasted ten years, his journey lasted for ten additional years, during which time he encountered many perils and all of his crewmates were killed. In his absence, Odysseus was assumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus had to contend with a group of unruly suitors who were competing for Penelope's hand in marriage.
500
This Caribbean nation shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west, known for its beaches, resorts and golfing.
Dominican Republic
The pirates of the Caribbean aren’t just in the movies! The beautiful islands and secluded bays provided the perfect location for even the most famous real-life pirates to rest and restock their ships. One of the most famous pirates of all time, Blackbeard, was especially fond of the Dominican Republic, and spent a lot of time there.