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Skip-Gen Vacations

9/7/2022

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​Multi-Gen trips are when Parents, grandparents, grandkids, etc all travel together.   With the Skip-Gen trips grandparents can enjoy some quality time with just the grandkids.  These trips have become more popular due to there being more Baby Boomers ready to travel and share their experiences with family.   It also helps that grandparents and kids have more free time so it is easier for them to travel.

  In my 21 years of booking vacations I have helped a lot of grandparents take their grandkids to Disney.   Sometimes it was a tradition to take one of the grandkids when they hit a certain age.   I always thought it was sweet and something that must be fun for the grandkids to look forward to. These usually tended to be grandparents taking younger kids.  So it might have been they took them before starting 1st grade or maybe after a new baby sibling arrived.  

  More recently I am seeing grandparents taking older grandkids and taking them on more adventurous trips.   Taking a grand kid on a special trip when they graduate high school or middle school have become more popular now.   They are choosing trips like expeditions or river cruises in Europe where the kids are also learning and really immersing themselves in the culture.  On my Alaska expedition cruise this summer there were 2 sets of Grandparents on a Skip-Gen trip with a grandchild that had graduated from Middle School.   The kids were very interested in whales and marine biology so that was why they chose this cruise.  I thought it was great that their grand parents were taking them on a trip that might help them decide what they want to do when they go to college.  Another thing Grandparents are doing is taking grandkids to see where they came from and learn about their ancestors. 

No matter what type of trip Grandparents take grandkids on I think it is a wonderful way to bond and create a special memory for them all.   Happy Grandparents Day to all of my readers that are grandparents and I hope I have inspired you to start a new vacation tradition.
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Staterooms on Disney Wish

8/18/2022

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Let's talk about Wish staterooms today.   The staterooms on Disney Wish might just be my favorite on any ship I have ever sailed.  Sure the nautical feel in the staterooms on the other Disney ships is nice but I personally love the lighter more whimsical rooms on Wish.  Don't even get me started on the way to amazing suites onboard!  Even the lowest priced room - which is a standard inside room - still feels spacious and luxurious.  Of course then you also have the over the top, first of its kind, in the ship's funnel, Wish Tower Suite - which is bigger than my house!   ​
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​Disney Wish has a total of 1,244 staterooms.  70% of those do have a verandah.  Disney is a premium cruise line and you definitely feel that in the staterooms.   Even the smallest room on Wish is bigger than most rooms on the cheaper Mass Market Cruise Lines.   You also feel the difference in the amenities in your room.  Disney puts so many little touches in the rooms that they are more than just a place you sleep while on vacation.  Things like the split bathroom to even the new fridge on Wish that is a drawer just make cruising with a family easier.  

Inside staterooms - Disney Wish changed things up for the inside rooms and does not offer any of the Deluxe Inside rooms so that does mean none of the inside rooms will have a split bathroom.  They also did not bring the virtual portholes from Dream and Fantasy onto Wish.  The Standard Inside Staterooms rooms are 169 sq ft and can sleep 3 or 4 guests.   There are only 121 inside rooms.

Oceanview staterooms - There are 2 Category options for Oceanview either a Deluxe Oceanview (218 sq ft) or Deluxe Family Oceanview (237 sq ft).  The Deluxe Family offers some rooms that can sleep up to 5 guests.  The Oceanview room I was able to tour on my cruise had a very large and easy to sit in porthole.  It was one of the Deluxe Family rooms so I am not sure if all rooms have that large window or not.  There are 170 Oceanview rooms.   

Verandah staterooms - There are also 2 Categories either Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah (243 sq ft) or Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah (284 sq ft).  The Deluxe Family rooms can sleep up to 5 guests.   The room I had on my cruise was a Verandah and while it really wasn't that much different in its layout than the other 4 Disney ships it still felt bigger I think because the room was so much lighter.  My room was one of the ones that was slightly on what I call the bump out so we did have a sort of slanted verandah which seemed to have a little extra space.  This is when it can be important to book your cruise early if you want to try and snag one of these "bump out" rooms.  Sadly though my guess is if Disney realizes those rooms are more popular they might start charging more for them.  There are 877 Verandah rooms.
Concierge rooms - There are a total of 76 concierge rooms which are broken up into 5 Categories and a couple of these are totally new room types for concierge.   I will start with the Category that only has 1 room and that is the Wish Tower Suite (1966 sq ft).   This is also the only concierge room not located inside the concierge area.   Yes it is very cool that is located inside the ship's funnel and yes I did get to tour it.  It is gorgeous and spacious, however I also feel like it might be kind of noisy because of where it is located.  Just imagine the Pirate's night show going on right outside your room.  Also since it is in the funnel it does not have a verandah so that means you have no outdoor area as part of your suite.  Personally I feel like for the price tag Disney put on that it really isn't worth it. 
 My favorite suite was one of the 4 Royal Suites with Verandah.   There are 2 options in this Category either a 1 Story Royal Suite with Verandah (1507 sq ft) or a 2 Story Royal Suite with Verandah (1759 sq ft).  I loved the 2 Story Suite!  It has a beautiful spiral staircase leading to the bedroom and the most amazing bathroom (yes I did hop in the tub for a photo).   The first floor of the suite has another bedroom, dining and living area and a small kitchen.   Besides the amazing bathroom it also has the best verandah ever!   It is sort of a wedge shaped since it is at the very front of the ship but it has a nice size table and chairs, loungers, and a large hot tub.   The 1 story suites are also very nice and have a large wrap around balcony so even though they don't have a second story they pretty much have just as much space and feel just as luxurious.  Both the 1 and 2 Story Suites can sleep up to 6.
Then there are 18 of the 1 Bedroom Suites with Verandah (608 sq ft).  These can sleep up to 5.   Even though their bathrooms do not have a view they are still pretty amazing for a bathroom.
There are 46 of the Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah (296 sq ft).   These are similar to the regular verandah rooms except they have a king bed.  They can sleep up to 5.
Another new category of room for Concierge is the Family Oceanview staterooms (357 sq ft).   These rooms have floor to ceiling windows.  I didn't get to tour one of these but I really wanted to.   There are only 7 of these rooms.
​No matter what category you choose, all the rooms are beautifully decorated and very comfortable.   I love the artwork that is above the headboard of each bed.   There are different themes on the decks and the art in the rooms will match the hallway theme for that deck.  The theme is in the hallway carpet and in the lighting.  Even the little metal critter that is outside each door now also matches the theme of the deck.  So I am thinking we can longer say fish extenders but maybe need to call them Wish extenders.   There are just so many amazing little details everywhere on Wish and I love that Disney puts just as much detail in every stateroom too!
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Disney Wish Dining

8/10/2022

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This week let's talk dining on Wish!  Disney puts so many details into their dining locations that no matter where you choose to eat it is about more than just food.   There are the 3 main dining rooms along with the 2 adult only dining locations, plus the buffet type, and pool deck food court.   There are other places to grab snacks and stuff too.
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​Back in the late 90s when Disney Cruise rolled out their first ship they debuted a whole new way to do the main dining room on a cruise with rotational dining.   On all other ships you ate dinner in the main dining room every night at the same time and same table.    Disney made dining so much more fun by having 3 main dining rooms and having guests rotate each night to a different dining room but their serving team also goes with them.  
Wish still offers rotational dining but it is a bit different than the other ships.  Wish is pulling more characters into dining with Worlds of Marvel and Arendelle.  Then the 3rd option is 1923 which is actually 2 smaller dining rooms with a Roy side and a Walt side.   
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1923
  This is going to be your quiet, more upscale of the 3 dining rooms.   There are so many things to look at all around that you might find yourself wanting to explore instead of eat.   I went back in to walk around during the day when it wasn't serving food just to look at all the art.   Dinner in here was wonderful.   I order the filet for dinner and I have to admit I love a cruise where the main dining room includes stuff like that on the menu.   If you are not able to snag a reservation in Palo or Enchante then 1923 will be the next best thing.   If you are cruising with the kids this is the one you might want to send them off to the kids club so you can enjoy a nice dinner.
Worlds of Marvel
  I will be honest this was my least favorite dining room.   Part of it was all the noise and tvs constantly playing but I was also expecting something a bit different too.   I was hoping there was going to be some kind of cool interactive portion other than just pushing a button.   The food was good and I get that they tried to theme the food to the Marvel characters.   I was thinking of this as being the Animator's Palate of Wish but it is not.   While the kids (and some adults) might enjoy Antman and Wasp making an appearance I don't really like having characters at dinner.   
Arendelle
  If you have been on the Magic in the past couple of years you will notice the similarity between Arendelle and Rapunzel's Royal Table.  Both are themed around planning a party with live singing on a center stage.   Even though it was a bit noisy and also involved characters making the rounds to the tables I did enjoy this one more than Marvel.  The food had a bit of a Norwegian theme which ties in really well and was really good.
Marceline Market
  This is the buffet type dining area.   It is set up similar to Cabanas but yet somehow seemed easier to navigate and just a little more upscale.   I love that Disney made it a buffet type that no one is serving themselves.   Cast Members at each station will plate your food for you.   The one thing that is a bit of a pain is no trays so you might have to either balance a couple plates at once or make a few trips.   Be sure you walk all the way to the back of the market even though each side has the same stuff the back has totally different things, and usually some of the best stuff.   Be sure to check out all of the cool design details like milk bottle lights and colander shades.  The posters all around are fun too.
Mickey and Friends Festival of Food
   This was one of my favorite places to grab food.   While I liked the pool deck food stations on Dream and Fantasy it always just seemed too busy in that area.   Wish has tucked the pool deck food stations into a quieter spot and offers many more options.   There are 5 stations (just like there are the fab 5).   My favorite was Mickey's Smokestack Barbeque.   The pulled pork, mac-n-cheese, and sweet potato fries were just as good as any BBQ place I have been to on land.   I always love the soft serve ice cream station on every ship so I of course stopped by Minnie Ice Cream!   Donald's Cantina almost always had a line so while that wasn't my favorite it was a clear favorite of others onboard.  I was told if you like Chipotle you will love Donald's Cantina.  Goofy's Grill is where you can grab all your usual grilled faves.  Daisy's Pizza Pies served a few different types of pizza.   Personally I would head right to Festival of Foods as soon as I boarded instead of Marceline Market.   
Palo and Enchante
  These are the adult only dining options and I didn't try either on my short cruise so I can't review the food but I was able to tour both and they look like they would make for a lovely romantic evening.   These also have an extra fee whereas all the other locations I talked about today are included in your cruise fare.
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Kid Areas onboard Disney Wish

8/3/2022

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​Last week I talked about the adult areas on Disney Wish and today I will talk about the Kid Areas.   I know the adult areas sounded pretty cool but let me tell you the kids are the ones who get the best spaces onboard Wish!   Don't worry adults, you do get the chance to check out these spaces during an open house (this is usually the first day onboard so be sure to check the schedule).   Yes that does mean you can try out the twisty slide that takes you from Deck 3 down to Deck 2 right into the club (here's a tip - keep your elbows close to your body).   Even if you are cruising without kids you can still check out these fun spaces.


Basically almost all of Deck 2 is dedicated to the kids.  This just makes total sense to me since staterooms on Deck 2 are not as popular on the other ships. 
  • The Littlest Cruisers 
 It's A Small World Nursery for kids ages 6 months - 3 years.  This one is pretty similar to the other Disney ships and same rules apply. 
  • The Largest Kids space 
Oceaneer's Club for kids age 3 - 12
Yes you heard that right on Wish Disney isn't splitting the kids up.  I love this way of doing it.   The Oceaneer's Club is really what takes up most of Deck 2 and while it is a big space it is all set up with totally different themed areas and some that can be closed off from the rest of the club during certain events.  This is the club you will take the twisty slide into if you choose.

The youngest in the club will enjoy Mickey and Minnie Captain's Deck.  It is a nautical themed playground geared towards the smaller club guests.   It also has Minnie's Captain Academy which has some fun challenges tied to STEAM principals so the kids are learning while having fun.

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab - this is a nice open area with lots of places for kids to sit down and do some hands on activities and experiments.   This area also has the Ride Studio where kids can design their own roller coaster and then virtually ride.  For us grown ups there are lots of cool things on the shelves to check out in this area.

Fairytale Hall - All the princess fans will love this area.  You can get comfy in Belle's Library where you can read and act out stories, or test out your powers in Anna and Elsa's Sommerhaus, or get creative in Rapunzel's art studio.

Marvel Superhero Academy -  This is where superhero kids will love to hang out.  They can design their own super suit and then virtually battle enemies.  They will also have time to hang out with some of their favorite heros too.

Star Wars: Cargo Bay - Ok so I am just going to say this area is going to make the adults wish they could be kids again.   Wish added a couple Star Wars areas and this kids area beats the  adult Hyperspace Lounge!   It has the first of its kind interactive experience called Creature Challenge.  Kids get to learn about some of the craziest creatures from across the galaxy.   There are so many cool things to see in this area!
  • The Older Kids 
Edge is where kids 11 - 14 will love hanging out.   Disney was smart and they moved the older kids away from the young kids area.  Edge is hidden on Deck 5 which makes it even a little cooler for tweens.   It has a New York loft feel with lots of space for tweens hang out and make new friends.

Vibe is where the oldest (actual) kids aged 14 - 17 onboard can hang.   Just like with Vibe on Dream and Fantasy Disney chose a prime spot to put this area.  They don't have the front outside deck on this ship since that became the Rainforest room area but they do have a nice spot up on Deck 12 with lots of floor to ceiling windows.   It is designed like a Parisian Loft and has lots of cool retro stuff all around.  I totally would love to hang out here!   Adults might actually get to use a part of this space for some events though since Disney also included a way to close off a portion of Vibe which they call The Hideaway.   When closed off from Vibe, The Hideaway will serve as a place for events for the 18 -  20 crowd and also for some of the tasting events onboard. 
  • Other Kid Favorites Onboard
Besides all the clubs that kids can enjoy adult free there are also lots of other fun places onboard for kids too.   Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is back and looks bigger to me.   Who could forget about the pool deck!   Wish breaks up the pools a bit into a bunch of smaller pools which I personally think is a great idea as it makes it a bit easier to keep an on kids swimming and also spreads out the crowds more.   Kids will also enjoy AquaMouse and Slide-A-Saurus Rex.  Younger kids will love the Toy Story Splash Zone.  

One more area the kids will love is Hero Zone.  This is a multi-function sport zone. What makes it even better than any other cruise sports zone is that it is indoors which means AC!   It will have the usual sports activities like basketball, soccer and things like Jack-Jacks diaper dash.   Plus at certain times it hosts the big event - The Incredi-Games!   This is when a big inflatable obstacle course themed to The Incredibles will appear and guests can race each other through the course.  I did try it and let me just say I wasn't very much like Elastigirl at all.  
  
The Wish has so many fun places for kids that I won't be surprised to hear back from clients saying they never saw their kids or that the adults were so jealous of all the fun things the kids got to do onboard!
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Adult Areas on Disney Wish

7/27/2022

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​   I have always said a Disney Cruise is great for an adult only vacation.   I know people think I am crazy but Disney really does such a good job at having amazing spaces for the kids that they don't want to leave. Disney also has plenty of adult only spaces too that you really could almost barely see kids on your cruise.   
  Disney Wish changed things up a little with some of adult spaces some good, some bad, and some just too small.   Let's start with the good and my favorite place on all of the Disney the ships -
The Rainforest Room
Disney Wish has my new favorite Rainforest room.  Have you been on Disney Dream and Fantasy and looked down at the outside area of the Vibe Club for the teenagers and thought oh wow they have the coolest outdoor space on the ship?   Well I have, and I am guessing I wasn't the only adult that thought that because Disney Wish has taken that space and made it adult only as the outside area for the Rainforest room.   It is lovely outdoor area with lots of comfy seating and 2 hot-tubs (Mickey's ears in the photo below is where the hot tubs are).   

Inside the Rainforest room has all the things you will usually find - heated loungers, sauna, steam room, showers, and new an ice room!   It is a great place to just relax and enjoy quiet adult time.

The Bars and Lounges
Wish changed the adult distract idea from the other ships and instead of putting all the bars in one spot they are a little more spread out on Wish.  There is not a nightclub on Wish which I think is OK.   The hottest bar right now is Hyperspace Lounge.  It is so popular it requires making a reservation - which at this time you need to do once you get onboard.  I have  feeling Disney is working on a different plan for that so guests can reserve in the app (at least I hope they do that).   
Hyperspace Lounge is similar to Skyline on the Dream and Fantasy but with a Star Wars theme.    The drinks are interesting and there is even on that cost $5000!   As of right now when you make a reservation you get 45 minutes to spend in the Lounge which is pretty much about enough time for 1 drink.   It was fun watching the jump to light speed and seeing where we were next based on the large picture window behind the bar.  

Nightingales is a cozy piano bar with lots of cute little Cinderella touches.   I love the chandelier about the piano that looks like bubbles wrapped in musical notes.  I like that is always has big windows to the outside so you also have a view.
The Bayou is an open lounge with a small stage for live music and entertainment.   It has a nice feel to it but I am not sure if ends up feeling like the most adult only place since anyone could walk walk on either side.   Plus all the shops are around it so it is a busy area.

Keg and Compass Pub is the place to go if you are a pub fan.   It has a classic Norwegian nautical feel with lots of cool hidden touches like be sure to check out what the wooden octopus around the porthole is holding.   I also love all the vintage luggage that makes up the wall of the bar and the atlas drawers.  
Hook's Barbery - yes I know what you are thinking how can a barber shop be adult only.   Well Hook's host some special 21 and up evening events in a secret bar offering whiskey tastings. 
Cove Café is an adult favorite on all ships where you can get your favorite coffee shops drinks along with some adult beverages too.  Cove Café on Wish is located in very aft sort of hidden.
The Rose is up with the adult only dining options.   It is a nice quiet place to grab a drink either along with your dining reservation at either Enchante or Palo or just a visit to bar.   It has a lovely upscale Beauty and Beast theme along with some nice windows to enjoy a nice sunset with your adult beverage.
There are of course the other usual bars scattered around the ship like by the pool or outside the theaters.   

Adult Dining
A Disney Cruise Staple, Palo, is also on Wish but with it's new upscale steakhouse feel instead of that Italian feel on the other ships.   Enchante is the French themed adult dining indulgence.  Michelin Star Chef Arnaud Lallement designed the menu.   You can feel Lumiere's influence on the deco in this dining room while Cogsworth put his touches on Palo.    Snagging reservations for either of these is not going to be easy so be sure to be paid in full before your Castaway window opens (sorry Silver member or first time cruisers but you might have to hope to try and snag something once onboard as the online reservations fill up fast).  

Quiet Cove Pool
   This is where I was most disappointed.   When I heard the adult only pool was going to be an infinity at the very aft of the ship I was picturing a large area with a really cool pool going across the back of the ship.   Unfortunately it is a small pool with not much space around to lounge or anything.   There also isn't much shade back there either.   Don't get me wrong I am still happy to have the back of the ship as the adult only are as opposed to the front but it just seems way smaller than the Quiet Cove on the other ships.   
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Disney Wish Ship Report

7/20/2022

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Disney Wish Facts
Built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany
Maiden Voyage - July 14, 2022
Home Port is Port Canaveral - she will be sailing 3 and 4 night Bahamas cruises
Registered in The Bahamas
The first Liquid Natural Gas fueled ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet
15 Decks
Can hold up to 4,000 Passengers
1,244 Staterooms
Approximately 144,000 Gross tons
341.13 Meters long (1,119 feet)
90% of staterooms have an ocean view.   
121 inside rooms, 170 Oceanview rooms, 877 Verandah rooms, 76 concierge rooms.

First ever Suite built inside the ship's funnel!  Wish Tower Suite can sleep up to 8 guests.
36 mobility and communication accessible staterooms.   56 communication only staterooms.
902 connecting staterooms.
Queen beds in all non-concierge rooms and most concierge rooms have King beds.
3 Main Dining rooms - Arendelle, Worlds of Marvel, 1923
2 Adult Exclusive Dining - Palo Steakhouse and Enchante by Chef Arnaud Lallement
2 Casual/Quick Dining - Marceline Market and Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods.
5 Nightclubs, Lounges, Bars - Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge (reservations required), Keg and Compass, The Rose, Nightingales, The Bayou.
5 Areas for kids in Oceaneer Club - Star Wars Cargo Bay, Fairytale Hall, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Mickey and Minnie Captain's Deck.  Takes up pretty much all of deck 2.  The older kids also still have their spaces in other areas on the ship like with Edge, Vibe, and The Hideaway.   Of course the littlest sailors also have the It's A Small World Nursey.
Grand Hall - 3 deck high glittering castle on the seas.   Instead of having a mid-ship elevator Disney uses this area as an immersive entertainment venue.
7 pools - one that is an adult only infinity pool at the very back of the ship.
2 Movie Theaters that will run both brand new movies along with some old favorites too.
Cinderella is the bronze statue that is the featured in the Grand Hall.
Rapunzel is the character hanging out on the very back of the ship - she is using her long hair to hold her up while she paints the ship's name on.


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I really think the Disney Wish is a gorgeous ship  with a more upgraded feel than the other 4 Disney ships.   It feels more like a floating castle than a nostalgic cruise liner.   Wish is only slightly bigger than Dream and Fantasy but if you ask me it actually didn't feel bigger.   I think having just the 2 elevator areas made it feel easier to navigate and not as long of a ship as Dream and Fantasy.  
Disney continues the rotational dining for dinner.   Even though on other cruise lines I will opt for the anytime dining I do actually really enjoy the set time and assigned dining room rotation on Disney.   I did try all of the dining areas except the adult dining and will talk about that in next week's trip report.  
I know some people might not like the smaller pools but I think breaking up the pools and spreading them out a bit is a good idea.   It also helps that Disney has ways to cove up most of the  pools to use as deck space when needed too.
The staterooms on Wish are about the same size as on the other ships but they have a different feel to them.  They are lighter and brighter and feel a bit fancier if you ask me.  The different art work based on your deck is also a really cool touch.   Even the lighting and the carpet in each hallway matches the theme of that deck.   The little metal critter on the wall by your stateroom will also match theme so it isn't like the other ships where they are different based on the side of the ship your on.  There are some nice display cases in the Grand Hall that show all the different materials that were used throughout the ship which I found very interesting to see.
The spa and fitness area are bigger along with 2 separate beauty salons called Untangled Salon and Hook's Barbery.  I of course loved the Rainforest room which is more  like a Rainforest area on Wish since is has an inside and large outside deck area.   More on that next week though.
 
I really enjoyed my cruise on Disney Wish and really liked all of the changes Disney did to make Wish have a whole new feel from the other ships.
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Trip Report - Alaska Cruise 2022 Vancouver to Sitka onboard Ocean Victory

6/22/2022

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Alaska cruise Vancouver to Sitka
May 27 - June 7 2022
American Queen Voyages - Ocean Victory


Pre Cruise
American Queen Voyages includes a pre-cruise hotel night at the starting city with all of their cruises.  I think this is wonderful since I always recommend getting in at least a day prior to the cruise.  Besides relieving some  travel stress having the day before gives you time to explore the city where your trip starts.  Our cruise started in Vancouver however when looking at flights I found much better options for flying into Seattle.  I had always wanted to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver so I thought this was perfect.   However I was disappointed when arriving at the train station to find that due to staffing shortages the train wasn't running so they were taking us by bus.   Let me just say it was a not pleasant surprise.  The bus took twice as long and requires everyone to get off the bus and get their bags to go over the border.   I do not recommend the bus.  
We made our way to the pre cruise hotel which was the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.   It was a great hotel conveniently located not too far from the port with plenty of things in walking distance.  Transfers to the ship were included but they were in the afternoon so we had the morning to explore.   I realized the nice part about the later transfer was the port was pretty empty even though there were quite a few big ships also leaving the same day.   We boarded our ship and explored a bit before it was time for the safety drill and and sail away.
   
Day 1 and 2 - Inside Passage and scenic cruising
Our first 2 days were sea days where we learned what was to come on our cruise. We got to see the mud room and request boots and raingear if needed.  We also learned about the zodiacs and what wildlife we might see along the way.   There was a leader from the Tlingit tribe onboard that gave a few talks about life in Alaska.   

Day 3 - Ketchikan, AK
 We made our fist stop which was Ketchikan.   I have been there a couple times on bigger ships and was a little disappointed that our small ship that can go places the big ones can't was stopping here.   We were also docked at the port that is a bit of a ways out of town so we had to rely on shuttles to get into town and back to the ship.  There were a few big ships docked right in town so it was a bit crowded, but not as crowded as I have seen in before covid.   The cruise did include an excursion which was a city highlights tour but since I have been there before I chose to skip that.   There were also some premium excursions available for book for a fee but none of those appealed to me.  It was just nice to wander around town, grab some lunch, and do some shopping.


Day 4  - Misty Fjords
This is what I have been waiting for - an expedition day!   We started out with a zodiac ride and got really lucky to have an Orca go past us rather close to our boat.   After lunch it was time to kayak!   They were keeping us travel agents together so our kayaking group was a big larger than the other groups so it took quite a bit of time to get everyone out on the water but it was a nice paddle. Misty Fjords is almost 2.2 million acres of National Monument Wilderness so it is a wonderful protected area for spotting wildlife.   I had been to Misty Fjords on my first Alaska cruise but it was via floatplane from Ketchikan so it was nice to go back and spend time on the water.

Day 5 - Wrangell Island, AK
We are on land again but this time in a cute small town that the big ships cannot stop at.  It is the 3rd oldest town in Alaska.  There was an included heritage tour along with some premium excursions for purchase.   We opted to explore town on our own.  We found a little pizza shop for lunch that has the most delicious crust I think I have had.  Everyone in town was super friendly and genuinely seemed happy to have us.  One local even said that the residents of Wrangell are the friendliest of all Alaska.  There was a Petroglyph Beach that was an easy walking distance so we headed there to check out some of the carved rocks. 


Day 6 - Bay of Pillars 
Another expedition day.   We started with kayak in the morning and this time they split our group up so the more experienced paddlers got to do a bit more.   We came across a bunch of otters and I loved watching them watching us.   After lunch we did a zodiac ride but didn't really see much of anything new.   It was still fun just to be out on the water.  Alaska's cruise season is rather short from May - September but there are big differences in what you will see based on when you visit.   In May and early June you will see a lot of snow topped mountains and floating ice but you also have a lot of melting snow creating lots of amazing waterfalls.   We got to see a lot of them on this cruise some of which looked like they started miles above of us as we looked up from the zodiacs.  Mid June - July is salmon running season so that the time go if you want to see them and the bears grabbing them out of the water.  June and July also tend to be the rainiest and most crowded though.  August tends to offer nice weather and usually clearer skies so if you are looking for those photos filled with flowers and mountain tops instead of clouds August can be better.  You can spot wildlife anytime you visit though.


Day 7 - Petersburg, AK         
On land again, and our first really rainy day (we got really lucky with the weather since SE Alaska is part of a temperate rainforest you usually have rain every day).  This is another town the big ships cannot get to so it was nice to enjoy the small town vibe again.   This town was founded back in 1910 by a Norwegian and it turned out a lot of people from Norway ended up joining him here so you almost felt like you were in Norway when walking around.   I have always thought Alaska and Norway were very similar.   There was the usual included excursion and a couple premium options.   One of the premium was a sport fishing experience.   I did not try it but it did sound like a fun an adventure.  The Sons of Norway Hall is where you can experience a bit of the culture from Alaska's Little Norway.   Here we were treated to a private dance from the local kids and tried a few local pastries.  It was a cute experience.   
Shortly after leaving Petersburg our expedition leader, Jess, announced that there were some Orca off the front of the ship.   What I love about expedition cruises is the Captain can decide to stop or change course if we spot some wildlife.   While keeping a safe distance away our ship pretty much sopped and allowed us to watch these playful Orcas for over an hour!   It really was the highlight of the trip for me.   We later found out it was 3 pods of resident Orcas that were pretty much just playing around and showing off for us.   They were rolling around, tail flapping and spy-hopping (term for when they pop their head out of the water like the photo below).  Then just as the ship decided to turn around and get back on our way one Orca decide to breach!   I of course had walked right to the back of the ship as soon as we started sailing away so I could watch these guys as long as possible so I had a perfect view of it.   One thing I have learned from 4 visits to Alaska is that trying to capture the perfect photo means you really do miss out on just enjoying yourself so I did not have a camera out at all and totally loved just watching!   


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Day 8 - Tracy Arm
This was our last expedition day (if you ask me they need to add more expedition time if they really want to call this cruise an expedition)   Today we were going to be getting close to a glacier.   Unfortunately not by kayak though.   Today was zodiac only.   Our group got really lucky and we saw a lot of calving with some humongous pieces falling off the glacier while watched.  Our guide said the one piece was probably as big as a 2 story building.  It sounds like thunder when it happens and then you will feel the waves is creates as it crashes into the water.  You cannot get too close to the glacier due to this but our zodiac drivers were always within safe distance.  We also saw some momma and baby seals but not as many as I saw last year in this area.


Day 9 - Kake, AK
   Well this was supposed to be our last stop but unfortunately we were not able to go on shore.   They did bring some locals onboard to talk and perform for us though.   Kake is a tribal village and 70% of the residents are of Tlingit heritage.   This is the location of the tallest totem ever carved from a single tree.   We could see if from the ship but it was a bummer not to get to stand in front of it.   

Day 10 - Sitka
Sitka is where our cruise ended.   You could choose from a couple premium excursions here all of which pretty much got you to the airport.  There are a couple of hotels in town so if you wanted to enjoy Sitka a little more you could stay over.   The airport is very small so not a lot of flight options so that could be another reason to stay over a night.   I however opted for a long day of traveling to get home.   We flew out of Sitka to Seattle and then had a few hours before our red-eye flight back home which connected in Philly before getting us back to FL.  It was pretty much 24 hours of traveling.   This is why it can be easier to get to Europe from the East Coast instead of Alaska.  It was a wonderful cruise though so well worth the time to get there.   
 
Overall Cruise rating
Ship - 5 Stars.   Beautiful small luxury ship with all the extras needed for expedition.
Food - 3 Stars. This was a tough one for me because for a luxury cruise I just do not feel like the food was up to that standard and if you know me you know I am not a foodie person.   The only reason I even give it 3 stars was because there was an option to order steak and lobster for dinner every night.   I am hoping part of the food issues were from supply chain problems.   I really hope they will start including local foods and more variety.
Excursions - 2 Stars.   I think this is an area they really need to work on if they want to be an expedition cruise.   There just was not enough expedition time.   They need to add some hikes, bushwhacking, and beachcombing.   The culture excursions are nice for an expedition there has to be as much adventure as culture.
Ports - 4 Stars.  I loved the 2 small towns we stopped in.  I also understand that things happen so while is was a bummer to miss one port that can happen on any cruise.   I would avoid the big port like Ketchikan and instead build in some time to get to on land on uninhabited islands. 
Crew - 4 Stars.   I would love to give them 5 stars however there was still a bit of learning to do.  Plus I also know there are shortages thanks to covid so that definitely played a part in the service.   The dining staff were always eager to please but without enough of them things were a little slow.   The guides onboard were friendly and knowledgeable.   

I would definitely recommend this cruise.   As a brand new ship and new destination for American Queen Voyages I do think they have some things to work on but it was a true luxury small ship experience in Alaska which is hard to find.   I also believe they will improve on the things that were lacking.  ​
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Ship Report - Ocean Victory

6/15/2022

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Ocean Victory
Ocean Victory is a new and very unique looking ship that was built for sailing in cold waters.   Ocean Victory started her first year down in Antarctica sailing for Albatros Expeditions.  Then American Queen Voyages took over when she headed north to Alaska.   American Queen Voyages is known for its iconic looking paddlewheel boats that sail the rivers of the US but they are branching out into more adventurous waters with Alaska on Ocean Victory.   For the half the year that American Queen Voyages is running the ship they are offering one way sailings from Vancouver to Sitka and reverse.  I will talk more about the cruise portion in my trip report.  Today let's just talk about the ship.

Ocean Victory is a brand new build and really is one of the most modern small ship vessels in the market.  I am going to break this report into 3 sections - Technical Details, Staterooms, and Public Spaces.  

Technical Details
  • Started sailing November 2021  
  • 342 Feet long
  • 6 Guests decks
  • 93 staterooms
  • 186 guests plus 100 crew
  • Registered in Nassau, Bahamas (yes that surprised me).
With the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, Ocean Victory is the ideal vessel for small-ship cruising due to her sturdy construction and X-Bow®-Infinity class, which provides high stability in rough weather and allows for the smoothest movements on high waves, and a Solas 2012 classification which facilitates a safe return to port.
The vessel is part of a brand new generation of low-energy vessels, with 4 diesel engines and 2 electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimize speed and fuel consumption.

Staterooms
  •  93 staterooms (90% with balcony, 100% with a view) 
  • 22 sets of connecting rooms
  • 49 rooms that can accommodate 3 guests
  • 2 accessible rooms however there are parts of the ship where a wheelchair couldn't access so that is something to keep in mind.
  I was in a Category C - Deluxe Stateroom with Private Balcony (213-265 sq ft.)   This is the category that has the most rooms onboard.  It is very spacious with lots of storage areas which is great.   It says private balcony however at first you might not think that when you board as there are partition walls that will need to be locked in place.  Technically if the partition walls were not locked you could easily walk around the whole outside deck.  

The stateroom was definitely the most luxurious room I have had on an expedition ship.  Of course being a brand new build helps with that since the other expedition ships I have been on have been older ships.   The bathroom was a nice size with walk in shower but the best feature was the heated floor!   The ship has no single-use plastics onboard so do not expect to find any take home toiletries.  They do have the shampoo and body wash caddies in the shower that most cruise ships and hotels are using now.  I am used to expedition ships not offering fancy toiletries so I knew to bring my own stuff but some guests did not.  
The room could be set up as 2 twins or the bed put together just like most ships.   I found the bed to be comfy but I will say 2 of the 4 pillows were the hardest pillows I have ever felt.   There is a large TV that even offered a nice selection of movies and tv shows to watch.  Most expedition ships do not have TVs in the room or if they do the TVs only play things like video from the underwater camera on the ship.  Honestly on my other expeditions there just wasn't really time for tv watching but this one was a bit different (more on that in my trip report to come next).
There is also a couch and desk area with plenty of space and then the door out to the balcony.   My room was one of the ones that could sleep 3 so the couch could turn into a bed (more child size I would think).   Rooms also include things like binoculars, hair dryer, and a mini fridge.   The sockets might seem like they won't work for your plugs but pretty much most things were fine without a converter.  The things we heard that were not compatible with the room sockets were hair styling things. 
I did get to tour a few other stateroom categories and to be honest they are all very similar.   The suites of course are larger but that was about the only difference.  

Public Spaces
For a small ship Ocean Victory actually has a lot of public spaces.  There are 6 decks of guest area and there is an elevator to get to most floors.  I am going to start from the top down.
  • Observation lounge - Up on Deck 8 all the way forward on the ship you will find this cozy lounge with 180 degree views.   There is a bar for refreshments and a good amount of comfy seating.   This area also had some nice spotting scopes and microscopes.   The guides and naturalists will do the hands on science stuff  and other talks in this location.
  • Bistro - Also on deck 8 this is a smaller dining location which on our cruise was only open for breakfast and lunch.   There were not many tables in there and we were told on our cruise it was serving the same food as the main dining room so we didn't bother trying to get a seat in there.   There is also a BBQ area with outside seating in this area.   If the weather cooperates there is usually a BBQ lunch served during the cruise (didn't work out on our cruise though).
  • Fitness center - Deck 7 also offered the fitness center which for a small ship was a really good size and quite a few people used it during the cruise (not me in case you don't know me).
  • Spa - Deck 7 is also home to a small spa room which is something you usually won't get on expedition ship.   It offered a nice variety of services.

  • Pool deck - yes even though this ship is doing Alaska and Antarctica it actually has a good size infinity pool at the back of the ship on Deck 7.  There are also 2 hot tubs.  I didn't try either on my cruise but a lot of guests did.  There are also some lounge chairs and other comfy seating options for soaking up any sun that might appear on your cruise.  
  • Observation Deck - Deck 5 is basically all public spaces starting at the front with the observation deck.   This is where the special folding platforms are that can open up so you can do some wildlife spotting from a nice location.  It is a pretty unique feature of the ship.
  • Expedition Lecture room - this is sort of like the theater onboard and it is where you go to learn all about each day's adventures the night before.  There were also other informative talks in here such as when some locals came onboard.
  • Explorer Bar and Lounge - This is where you could grab a drink pretty much anytime during the cruise.   Also this area usually hosted an afternoon tea time with snacks and some nice piano music.  
  • Voyager Library - this is a small room right off the lecture room.  It was a nice quiet location with things like books, puzzles, and other games.
  • The Reception Desk - right in the middle of Deck 5 so very easy to find anytime you need something. 
  • Ocean Boutique -  Yep there was even a ship store with some local items along with branded things.   There was also a small selection of sundry type items that you might have forgotten to pack.
  • Main Dining Room - this took up the back of Deck 5 and had lots of nice windows.   There are mostly large tables but since our cruise wasn't full it was easy to get a table for yourself if you wanted.   The dining room served breakfast and lunch buffet style.  Dinner was sit down and open seating so you can arrive anytime during the open hours and grab a seat.   There is also a small section of the dining room that was separated that we were told will be a specialty restaurant but it wasn't operating as such during our cruise.  
  • Expedition Desk - this is the only publc area on Deck 4.   It is conveniently located where you will many times get off and back on the ship on days when the ship is docked.  Expedition information was posted here and at certain times a guide would be available for questions.   
  • Medical Clinic is down on Deck 3
  • Mud Room - Also on Deck 3 and this was probably my favorite addition to an expedition ship.   This area is sort of like a locker room where you are able to store all of your expedition gear that you don't want to have to lug back to your room each time.  If you do not bring gear with you the ship even has some you can borrow such as mud boots and rain gear.  Your life jackets for going out on the zodiacs are also kept in your locker.  Directly from the mudroom you could board the zodiacs and kayaks easily.   The ship is even able to tilt a bit to one side to help with getting on and off the zodiacs.  One important note about the mud room is that you can only get to that via stairs so anyone that cannot walk down a flight of stairs will not be able to get to this area of the ship.   Since the zodiacs are not only used for exploring but also used for getting into some of the ports we stopped at it could mean some people might miss out on a bunch of stuff.

Ocean Victory really offers a premium experience for an expedition cruise.  If you want to get out into nature on your vacation but don't want to rough it this is the ship for you.   I would call it the glamping of the seas.  If you are ready to explore Alaska or Antarctica on this beautiful ship just let me know.

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Packing for Alaska Cruise

5/26/2022

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​If you are like I was the first time I was going on an Alaska cruise you might only be used to packing for tropical weather on a cruise.   I really wasn't sure where to start but now I have been so many times I feel sort of like a pro so here are my tips.  Of course sticking to your normal packing list will work - yes even your bathing suit since the ship will most likely have a pool and/or hot tub.   Some cruises even offer the chance to do a polar plunge if you are crazy enough.  

#1 - Pack layers!   This is really key for any trip but seriously the weather in Alaska can be all over the place.   You might be thinking oh it's going to be cold so I am only packing winter clothes but that would not be good.  Still don't forget the hat and gloves just in case.   The cruises only happen in summer and with the sun staying up longer it can get very warm in Alaska.   You are also most likely going to be very active when off the ship so while you might start out cold you might warm up quickly and want to shed some of those outer layers.   Also I hate to burst your bubble if you are hoping for perfect sunny weather on your vacation but most likely it will rain while you are in Alaska.   Most of the locations you will visit on an Alaskan cruise are actually part of a rainforest so rain is basically expected.  I like to think of it sort of like Florida in summer and I throw the rain gear in my backpack when I leave the ship no matter what.  That way if rain pops up I am able to put that layer on and keep on going.  I prefer a water resistant jacket along with water resistant pants and a wide brimmed hat.  I have a multi function jacket so it isn't just my rain jacket but also my warm jacket if needed.

#2 - Bring a lightweight backpack so you can have everything you need and a place to put the layers you take off when you are off the ship.  A plus if your backpack is also waterproof just in case.   Depending on the type of adventures you have planned it might be best to be able to keep things dry - for example  kayaking or even a zodiac ride can get a little wetter.

#3 - A good pair of stable shoes is key - preferably waterproof if possible.  A nice pair of hiking boots is a good way to go.   Don't forget to bring a light weight pair of comfy shoes for around the ship too though.   Yes I made that mistake once and really wasn't a fan of having just my hiking boots or dress shoes as my only options.

#4 - Bring Binoculars.   It might not seem like something you will want to take up precious space in your suitcase but they can be very handy.  There is a lot to see from the ship and most times it won't be really close to you.  Some cruise lines might provide ones you can use so you can check on that if you don't have a pair already or just don't want to pack them.   

#5 - A camera besides your phone.   I know we all have our phones everywhere we go and use that camera but in Alaska you might want to bring along a camera with a better zoom or maybe even a waterproof one.

#6 - Sunscreen/bug spray.   You might think why would I need that stuff in Alaska but it is summer and you will be outside and yes the joke is that mosquitoes are Alaska's official bird.  It might not be an issue walking around town but if you are hiking or anything like that you will want it.

#7 - Leave the formal wear at home.   Alaska is very laid back and even on your cruise you shouldn't feel like you need to dress up.   Embrace the ruggedness that is Alaska and save the space in your luggage for all the other stuff I listed above.

Don't worry if you forget anything there are shops and you will be helping the local economy that has had a rough couple years.

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Cruise Ship Thermal Suites

4/14/2022

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When I board a cruise ship the first place I like to head is the Spa.  Well sometimes I grab lunch first but I always get to the spa early on embarkation day.   This is the time when you can tour the spa and check out everything they have to offer.  Sometimes they even have a spa raffle you can enter when you do the tour.   The thing I want to see most in the spa is the Thermal Suite!   If you haven't been to this amazing area on a ship before you are missing out.  
  Almost all cruise ship spas will have some type of thermal suite. They might call it something else, such as Disney calls theirs the Rainforest Room or Princess calls it the Enclave.   Whatever they call it, the thermal suite is an area of the spa where guests can relax and do a little self care on their own.   In the past few months I have been lucky enough to sail on a few different ships and try out each of their thermal suites.  
   
What will you find in a Thermal Suite?
First off I will say they are co-ed so you will find everyone wearing bathing suits.
While it varies from ship to ship most thermal suites will usually have at least a steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy showers.   Many now have a salt room too.
  Some offer hot tubs and/or cool tubs (yep cool water actually feels nice after the steam room or sauna).   If you are lucky they will have a thalassotherapy pool -  these are a bit different than a hot tub as they are larger, use saltwater, the jets are stronger, and they usually have a full body size reclining seat in the water.  I really enjoyed the one in The Enclave on Princess Sky.  Disney Dream and Fantasy have 2 hot tubs on an open air deck portion of the Rainforest room which I also really enjoy.   
Some of the more unique things I have found in thermal suites are the mud room on Virgin and the snow room on MSC and NCL.  I can't say that I am normally a fan of mud or snow but it was fun to try them out in the spa.  I also really liked the crystal room on Celebrity Apex.
  After you've experienced some of the features you will want to just relax and enjoy the zen feeling so most will have some type of heated lounger that you can just melt into.   These are usually my favorite. I say usually because I was not a fan of the heated seating in Virgin's spa.   Some ships place their thermal suite in really nice locations like Celebrity Apex which was at the very front of an upper deck so your view from the heated loungers was amazing, especially around sunset!  The thermal suite on Apex also had nice big window views from the sauna and hanging chairs so there are lots of places to relax and enjoy the view.  Not all thermal suites will be in a location with a view which isn't bad either.  I kind of liked the darker quiet feeling of the Enclave on Sky Princess which is in interior area of a lower deck.

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How do you access the Thermal Suite?
Some spas will give you time in the Thermal Suite before or after a booked treatment.
If you are not planning to book any spa treatments you can usually book a day pass or length of cruise pass to visit the thermal suite whenever you want. 
Some ships even offer a special stateroom category you book that includes access to the thermal suite during your cruise.   Be sure to check pricing since sometimes those spa staterooms are a great deal if you are planning to spend time in the thermal suite anyway.   
Viking Ocean Cruises even goes a step further and includes thermal suite access to everyone.
During covid rules you had to make an appointment for your thermal suite visit so they could control the number of guests in there at a given time.   Disney went as far to make it a private appointment which I really loved even if I didn't love the price tag for that hour and 45 minutes.   Now covid rules are easing so most spas are running pretty close to normal again.   


Bonus
  Going to the thermal suite can also come with a bonus.   You will be able to use the changing room area before and after so you will get a robe and can store anything you don't want to bring into the thermal suite.   That area usually also has showers you can use which tend to have some upgraded bath products and lotions.  
Another bonus - no kids allowed in the spa!

If you are like me and love to find nice quiet spots to relax when you cruise I highly recommend checking out the Thermal Suite in the ship's spa.  
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My Celebrity Apex Cruise Report

3/10/2022

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The Ship Overall
Apex is a mid-sized ship holding around 2900 guests which is typical of Premium Cruise Lines.  It has a beautiful modern and whimsical feel about it. When you first see Apex the thing you probably notice most is the bright orange rectangle shaped piece attached to one side of the ship.  This is the Magic Carpet which Celebrity introduced on the Edge Class ships.   It is a moving bar/dining area that will go up and down to be on different decks during your cruise.   Don't worry it doesn't move up and down while guests are on it.   It has all the typical things you would expect to find on a Premium Cruise ship - a couple pools (one outdoor and one indoor), hot tubs, multiple dining locations and bars, a theater, casino, and spa and fitness center.  Some other cool features onboard are Eden,  The Rooftop Garden, and the jogging track that spans 2 decks so you get to walk uphill and downhill.   Apex also has the Retreat which is Celebrity's version of the ship within a ship for guests booking suites.

Dining Onboard
There are so many wonderful dining and drink options onboard with 29 distinct restaurants, bars, and lounges to choose from.  There are 7 specialty restaurants but don't worry if you want to stick with the food that is included in your cruise cost there are 8 options. There are 4 main dining rooms each with their own theme along with a wonderful buffet that in my opinion serves the best pizza at sea.  The buffet of course serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and I did try all 3 meal options at least once in there.    There are a lot of made to order food in the buffet which is great.   There was also a different theme in the buffet each day which even the pizza would offer something that went with the theme such as French Pizza on the French day.
  The 4 Main dining rooms have an interesting menu set up.   Each dining room has its own theme - Greek, French, Italian, and Contemporary American.   Each dining room has what is called their Exclusive menu items and those will be offered every night of your cruise in that dining room only.  Then there are the classic menu items which are also served every night but in all 4 dining rooms.  Lastly there are the Celebrity Signature items and these changed nightly but were offered in all 4 rooms.   So that means if you want French Onion Soup every night you could get that no matter which dining room you chose because that was a classic item.  I always looked at the Celebrity Signature items first since I knew those were only offered that night.   If I didn't like those I would then look at the ones that were exclusive to each dining room to see if that would help me decide which room to choose.  Besides the 4  Main Dining rooms and the buffet there are also 2 cafes and a burger spot that were available for free eats.  I really enjoyed all of the food I ate onboard and that says a lot since I am a pretty picky eater.  

Entertainment
  There was a lot of great entertainment onboard and not just in the main theater.   The shows in the theater were good but I enjoyed the shows in Eden more even if I didn't really care for the seating arrangements in there.   Eden is in the very back of the ship and spans a couple decks in a sort of sphere shaped room with a seating walkway that wraps around and up the outside of the room.   Since it was just random tables and chairs all around there was no easy way to get good seating for a show without arriving early.  When there isn't a show going on Eden is a bar/lounge/cafe area that is great for relaxing.   There is also a room called The Club which hosted a show and some other other activities when it wasn't a dance club.   The problem with seeing a show at the club is that it is a 2 story room and the seating is tucked into a lot of corners so you really couldn't watch a show unless you snagged one of the front of the room seating areas.  Some of the other entertainment onboard were the fun activities to choose from each day.   I really enjoyed the artist onboard that did a couple sessions where he walked you through step by step doing a sketch.  

Staterooms
  No ship review would be complete with a stateroom overview.   Since this was a regular guest cruise I did only get to experience my own stateroom firsthand.   I had a Concierge Class infinite verandah room.   The room was a good size with lots of great storage options.  The sheets and amenities were all premium and very nice.   I especially enjoyed the Lavender Mint soap, lotion, and bath products.  Concierge rooms come with some nice extra perks too like a pillow menu and other items in the room to use like an umbrella and binoculars.   Our room did have a slightly obstructed view as it was next to the room that the Magic Carpet went by which also bumps out from the ship so we really couldn't look towards the back of the ship at all.  I have heard some people do not like the infinite balcony rooms and I can see why after having one but to me it made the room feel bigger.   The way they are set up is that you do not have a sliding door to open to go out to your balcony but instead it is more like a french balcony like you find on a lot of river cruise ships.  So you have a floor to ceiling window that you can push a button and the top half of the window will go down so that you will feel like you now have a balcony.    There are folding doors you can close to section off the balcony from the rest of the room but we really never used those.   It can mean your room could get a bit breezy and the AC will shut off when the balcony window is down but we were OK with that.   There was a nice shade that you push a button for and it would go down over the window so your room would get plenty dark for sleeping.   The shade will not go down if the window is open though.   Also if it starts raining or window cleaning is happening or something else where your window should be closed it will automatically close so you don't have to worry if you left it down when not in the room.

I really enjoyed a lot about Apex and I do feel the Edge Class ships on Celebrity would make a nice romantic vacation for couples.   

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Galapagos BIG 15

2/24/2022

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​Hurtigruten Expeditions teamed up with Metropolitan Touring for their Galapagos expeditions.   Metropolitan has been doing tours in Ecuador for over 65 years so they are experts.   They do also partner with other cruise companies so if you go to Galapagos there is a good chance a Metropolitan guide will be with you.   They really are amazing guides full of knowledge and a passion for the wildlife.   They taught us that just like when you visit Africa on safari you look for the Big 5 in Galapagos you look for the Big 15.   

Here are are few shots of the Big 15 we did see:
1.  The Galapagos Giant Tortoise which is the animal the islands are named after seems like the best to be first.   We got to see these large creatures both in the wild and in a preserve.   The country is doing a lot help these guys thrive.   They can live to be over a 100 years and get huge!
​It is hard to believe that this little guy grows up to look like these guys !


2. Galapagos Sea Lion - these guys are my favorite and they are pretty much everywhere in Galapagos.   They are friendly and curious.  After seeing them everyday on the beaches during our trip I know thing it is disappointing when I go to the beach here in FL and do not see any laying around on the beach.​
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​3. Galapagos Fur Seal - while we did see these guys and they look similar to the Sea Lion they are not as friendly and preferred to hide out more.  The only photos I have them are up on rocks and it is hard to see them.

​4. Marine Iguana - there are 3 Iguanas on the list but these guys have adapted to be able dive and swim to survive.
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​5. Santa Fe Land Iguana and 6. Land Iguana - These guys look similar but one is only found on Santa Fe Island.  They both prefer to hang out under the cactus and eat what falls.
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If you are a bird lover you really need to get to Galapagos to see some of these amazing species.   ​
7. Galapagos Albatross - We got very lucky to see a few of these guys still hanging around since they do not live in Galapagos all year.   They only come back to the island to mate and lay eggs.   The wingspan of this bird can be 7 - 8 Feet!
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​8. Red Footed Booby - There are 3 types of Boobys you will find in Galapagos.   The Red Footed are harder to find since they are a bit more picky about where they nest and are not on all the islands but thier bright red feet help identify them.
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9. Blue Footed Booby - These guys were fun to watch especially when doing their mating dance.   Apparently the bluer the feet the more attractive the male is to a mate.
​10 - Nazca Booby - We got to see so many of these guys with their chicks.   It was so amazing to be able to get so close to a bird with a chick and the birds were not afraid at all.  
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​11- Frigate birds - The males have an impressive red chest they use to puff up and attract a mate. 
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12 - Galapagos Hawk - We did get to see one of these scooping up the afterbirth of a baby sea lion.   
We knew at the start of our cruise that we wouldn't be seeing 2 of the Big 15 because they only lived on islands we would not be visiting on our itinerary.   There are multiple itineraries to choose from from short cruises to longer ones which is nice.   It also means I have a reason to come back so I can see the places I didn't get to on this cruise.
  The 2 we wouldn't be seeing were the Flightless Cormorant and the Galapagos Penguins.   There was one of the 15 that we saw but it flew by so fast we didn't get the chance to get a photo and then didn't see anymore and that was the American Flamingo.   As for the other 12 we got to see lots and lots of them.   You really will be amazed by how much these animals really do not care that you are around.   Some seemed curious about us while others didn't even budge as we walked by.   If you are an animal lover Galapagos has to be on your must visit list.

*some of there photos were from our ship's photographer Dennis Ballesteros.  There was a wonderful slide show of photos he took during the cruise and then we got a link to be able to download them.
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Snorkeling in Galapagos

2/16/2022

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 When you think about Galapagos the first things that pop into your head are probably Charles Darwin and the giant Tortoises.  The BIG 15 that you search for while in Galapagos are basically land animals.  Some might swim a little but none of them live underwater.   As excited as I was see all of those endemic species I was also very excited to get in the water and explore who lives there too.  The leaders of Central and South America want to protect the underwater creatures just as much as the land living ones.  On the day we were leaving Galapagos they signed a decree officially creating the new Galapagos Marine Reserve.   ​https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/galapagos-marine-reserve-ocean-highway

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 I would not call myself an expert or even an avid snorkeler.  I really had only done it a couple times in the Caribbean and honestly didn't enjoy it that much.   Then when we cruised Sea of Cortes 2 years ago I was very excited to snorkel with the sea lions which meant I did need to take a refresher course on how to snorkel before we got to the sea lions. 
 ​I realized that part of the reason I didn't enjoy snorkeling was that I just didn't like having the snorkel in my mouth.  I also hadn't snorkeled in a a wetsuit before so I learned that it is so much easier in a wetsuit since that does all the work of keeping you afloat.   I will be honest when our guide said you will always float in a wetsuit I didn't believe her so at first I kept feeling like I had to tread water.   Once I got comfortable enough to convince my brain I wasn't going to sink I finally started to enjoy snorkeling.   
When I booked the expedition cruise to Galapagos I knew snorkeling would be a must do - mainly because there would be sea lions and I had so much fun swimming with those little guys in Sea of Cortes.  I already knew I wanted a wetsuit since it made it easier but then I read how cold the water would be I knew it was a must have.  You would think being on the equator would mean warm water but it doesn't.  The average water temperature all year is 75 degrees.  So I also added scuba gloves and socks to the list to keep me warmer.   
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​  With all the covid stuff I thought the ship might not be lending snorkels and masks so I figured best to buy our own.  I did some research and so glad I did since I found the best mask and snorkel.   I had seen some people wearing these recently on other cruises and I kind of thought they looked silly.   After reading  the reviews I realized those people were the smart ones.   We ordered a couple from amazon and so glad we did.   This new mask goes over your whole face and no need to hold anything in your mouth.  The snorkel also has a great way of keeping water out of your mouth too.   It made snorkeling a breeze.   I was able to stay in the water for hours and never felt uncomfortable.  
    If you really want to snorkel in Galapaogs an expedition cruise, like the Hurtigruten one I did, really is the best way.   I think we snorkeled almost every day in new locations and one day even twice in the day.   The first time we walked in from the beach but after that it was what they called deep water snorkel where you get in the water from the zodiac.   I had never done that before but it was easy and actually better than walking in from the beach because you get the cold part over fast. 
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​There are a lot of amazing animals on land in Galapagos but also a ton underwater too.  It was just so serene to be floating on the water and all of a sudden a school of fish would dart your way and next thing you know you were right in the middle of them.  Sometimes I would swim along with them and it was just such a cool feeling.  The sea lions are also very curious and will come check you out.  Some also like to nibble on your flippers.  One time I caught a sea turtle out of the corner of my eye so I turned towards him but he didn't want to be friendly I guess because he swam away but it was fun to swim after him for a bit.  We also saw lots of different types of fish along with some starfish, rays, and skates.  On the last day the guides said they saved the best for last and then they told me it was the best because there are sharks.   I wasn't so sure but I figured if the guides were excited to find them it must be safe.   When I saw the first one I had a little panic moment but then realized he didn't care about me.   I kept watching and found there was actually a bunch of them and some looked like they were sleeping.   Every now and then you might see one of the birds dive in and pop back to the top of the water which was also very interesting.   
Getting to snorkel somewhere like Galapagos where there just is never going to be a lot of people in the water makes it so much better than snorkeling anywhere else (ok so I haven't been to the Great Barrier Reef yet but that is on my list). 
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4 Reasons Your Next Cruise Should Be An Expedition

2/3/2022

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I have been on 3 expedition cruises since February 2020 and I am totally addicted now.  You might hear the word expedition and think it would be strenuous or too expensive for you but I am here to tell you they are not.  I will say they won't be the most relaxing trip you will ever take but it will be worth it.  Sure, lounging on a big ship is still a great way to vacation but I just love getting out there and exploring more when I am on vacation.   Here are 4 reasons why I think Expedition cruising is better than regular cruising.

#1 - THE SHIPS
Expedition Cruises are always going to be on smaller ships.   The expedition ships will usually average around 100 guests but also can be smaller or bigger.   In my opinion any ship under 1000 guests is perfect.   Even though they are smaller ships they offer different categories.   I like to call them - Basic, Premium, and Luxury.    The Basic ships are going to be just like it sounds, they have all the basics but not many extras.  Your room will be small and your bathroom might be really small and may even be what I call a typical boat bathroom where your toilet and shower all share the same square room.   The rest of the ship will have what you need but without any frills.   The Premium shpis will have a bit more than the Basic and will be a little more comfortable with upgraded bedding and a better bathroom.   You will also most likely have more public spaces to choose from.   The Luxury are just like they sound basically anything and everything you could think of for a luxury expedition (we are talking things like helicopters and submarines onboard).  

#2 - THE ADVENTURES
Expedition Cruises are all about exploring and just about all excursions will be included in your cruise.   Just be prepared to be tired every day!   If you would prefer a more relaxing sit by a pool and sip umbrella drinks kind of vacation than an expedition is not for you.   However if you may not be as energetic or maybe have difficulty walking do not feel like an expedition cruise is too tough for you.   The cruise lines do a great job of offering some less physical excursion options too.   For example on my recent Galapagos cruise there was the option to snorkel but if you were not up to that they had a glass bottom boat for you to enjoy seeing the underwater world as well.   No matter what your abilities are, you will see and learn a lot on an expedition.

#3 - THE CREW
An expedition cruise will still have the typical crew that you interact with on a normal cruise plus a whole other set of crew that are the guides/naturalists.   These are the people that are going to accompany you on your daily adventures.   They are going to share their knowledge and passion for what you are seeing and doing  everyday.   You will get to spend time with them in small groups so you will really get to talk with them.  Plus since the ships are smaller you really will get to know the other crew onboard and most times you end up feeling like one big family by the end of the cruise.'

#4 - THE DESTINATIONS
Obviously an expedition cruise is all about the destination.  These are those once in a lifetime amazing locations like Antarctica, The North Pole, and Galapagos, plus a ton of other amazing places with so much to explore that you could only get to on a small ship.   I had been to many Mexican ports on other cruises but when I took my expedition cruise to Sea of Cortes I saw a whole other side of Mexico!  On an expedition you are going to get an in depth and authentic experience wherever you go.   You will come away with so many unforgettable memories that you will be ready to book your next expedition just like me!
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What to Pack for an Expedition Cruise

1/27/2022

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Packing for an expedition cruise is different from packing for a regular cruise.    While I usually try to pack light it can be harder on an expedition.   The one nice thing about an expedition cruise is you are definitely not expected to dress up at any point.   Clothes onboard are casual and it is actually OK to rewear most of the clothes you bring which I will admit was something hard for me to do at first. 

​On my recent Galapagos cruise many of the other guests commented that I was a super smart packer for the choices I brought with me so today I wanted to talk a little bit about what I packed for my Galapagos trip and how to decide what to bring for almost any expedition.    The 3 key things are Weather, Terrain, and Activities. 
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   Planning what to pack for any vacation first starts with your own comfort level.   I know that I am always cold so I like to make sure I pack things to keep me warm.   I research what the weather is generally like where I will be traveling and that is where I start with what I will need to pack.   Next I will look at what activities I will be doing on this vacation and then I decide what I will need to make those activities the most comfortable.  I also learn from each vacation and try to pay attention to what my guides are wearing for certain types of things and I plan to get those things for my next trip.

Clothes
For the Galapagos I did my research on the weather and the terrain.   That told me that I would need to plan for layers which really does work best for almost any travel.    It is always better to be able to take off a layer if you get hot.   I also read that we would be visiting Galapagos in the wet season so I packed a light rain jacket.    We didn't end up really needing the rain gear but that was OK.    Galapagos is on the equator so I knew the sun would be strong no matter what time of year it was.   I prefer to wear lightweight clothes that have an SPF vs lathering on the sunscreen.   My go to for clothes like that is Columbia.   I like to have pants and a button down shirt so I can have another shirt layered underneath but if it will be hot I go for one of their cooling shirts.   Also do not forget a good hat to shade your face and neck.   These clothes work for either hiking, kayaking, or riding around on the zodiacs since they are light and will shield you from the sun and also dry fast when they get wet. 

Shoes
  Shoes are one of those things that take up a lot of suitcase space and can be heavy so trying to take the least amount of shoes but still be comfortable is key.   I read about what kind of hikes we would be doing and as is typical on most expedition type cruises we would be taking zodiacs over to land and many times it would be a wet landing.   I tend to be a flip flop person so if it was just going to be a beach walk that would be fine however most of the land in Galapagos is rocky so hiking type shoes work best.   Having been on a couple expedition cruises  I had seen the guides wearing hiking sandals and those seem to work nicely since they can get wet on the landing but still protect your feet for rougher terrain.  I will be honest I have never been a fan of the way tevas look so I researched some other options and I found Chacos.  I liked the way they looked and they got great reviews so I ordered a pair.   They worked perfectly for me on this trip so I was very happy.   Very important - if you buy new shoes for any vacation be sure to break them in before leaving home.   Some others on our trip brought hiking sneakers and would either go barefoot off the zodiac or would wear other shoes that could get wet and then dry off their feet and put on the hiking shoes.  To me that seemed like too much extra.    

Accessories
  Galapagos is one of those places where the snorkeling is amazing and you don't want to miss the chance to do it.   The water isn't as warm as you might expect though so if floating in 75 degree water for an hour doesn't sound appealing then you will want to be like me and bring a wetsuit.    Many expedition boats might also carry some wetsuits you can borrow however you might be surprised to find the wetsuits are shorties like on our boat.  I was very happy to have my full length wetsuit since it allowed me to spend way more time in the water than the guests that were wearing the shorties.   Our previous expedition in Sea of Cotes did loan us full wetsuits so that is also how I knew I really preferred a full length but I also wasn't super crazy about wearing a loaner for something that is so close to so much skin.   Another snorkeling item that you might not feel too comfortable using a loaner is the mask and snorkel.   With all the covid stuff I wasn't totally sure the ship would be offering the snorkels to use so I figured best to buy my own anyway.   When I did my research I found many people were raving about this new type of snorkel mask that gives you a much better view and you didn't have to hold the snorkel part in your mouth.   I am so glad I found that mask for this trip as it really was as great as the reviews said!   Also being someone that gets cold very easily I also had a few other accessories like diving gloves and socks to keep me warm.   
A few other accessories that come in handy on expeditions are a good camera/underwater camera for snorkeling, a small backpack/dry bag, binoculars, and a refillable water bottle (our ship gave each guest a nice bottle and had filling stations onboard).   

I have learned the hard way that on an expedition it really doesn't hurt to pack those things that you normally might not want to waste precious suitcase space on since most expeditions are probably once in a lifetime trips so you don't want to miss out because you don't have the right gear. 

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My Galapagos Expedition Trip Report

1/18/2022

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  I know Galapagos is one of those places on many people's bucket list.  It was definitely on mine so when I got the opportunity to take advantage of a special offer I couldn't pass it up.   It was going to be Hurtigruten's First time offering a cruise in the Galapagos and they were inviting some agents to join them.   I had just 2 weeks to get prepared for this trip of a lifetime.  Sometimes it can be better that way but I usually prefer a little more time to enjoy the anticipation.    Anyway what I quickly learned is that getting to Ecuador really isn't as bad as I thought.  I guess in my head I always thought of the Galapagos as been this exotic far flung place to visit.  In reality it was just a 3 and half hour flight from Miami!   OK sure I had to drive about 3 hours to get to Miami but to me that was worth it to get a non-stop flight (especially in winter).   Two other unexpected things I realized were Ecuador is in the same time zone as FL and they use US Dollars as their currency.   To me that was a double bonus - no jet lag and no having to exchange money.    

Day 1  Arrive in Ecuador and explore around Quito
   Everyone going to Galapagos does have to stop in Ecuador first.   Our cruise package started with a visit to Quito.  It was nice to have a pre-cruise tour around Ecuador included in the package.  The first morning we had to be up early to meet the group and take a bus up to Cotopaxi National Park which was a chance for us to get to see some of the Volcanos that make up this area of the world.   Cotopaxi means "neck of the moon" which I think is a pretty cool name for it's half moon shaped peak.   After our visit to the national park we went to San Agustin De Callo for lunch.   It a little known colonial Hacienda that was built on the site of an Inca palace, which is one of the 2 most important archeological sites in Ecuador.  They had set up with a tent and tables in the courtyard for our wonderful lunch.  After lunch we were surprised by a group of lamas that came to visit for a snack.   It was a lovely afternoon and we then headed back to the hotel.   
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Day 2 - Fly to the Galapagos - Baltra Island and Mosquera Islet
 This morning we were up early to head back to the Quito airport to catch our flight over to the Galapagos.   It was about a 3 hour flight over to the islands from Quito (mainly because we had to make a stop in Guayaquil).   We stayed on the plane but many other guests got off.   Even thought it was only about a 35 minute flight from Quito for people to drive between the 2 cities it would be many hours due to the mountains.    As we were making our decent into Galapagos I was very surprised by how brown and dry the islands looked.  I know they were formed by volcanos but I figured Hawaii was as well so I guess I was kind of expecting more lush and green.  It was just the beginning of wet season and I guess they hadn't had any rain yet.  I am quickly realizing what makes the Galapagos so unique other than the animals.   The weather here is influenced by the ocean currents vs the air flow so that really makes it hard to predict what it will be like.  Being on the equator does mean temperatures are generally close to the same all year.   Another big surprise that I had learned in my research before leaving home is that the water temperature here is always around 74 degrees (which if you ask me is too cold for normal swimming).   Having learned from our Sea of Cortes trip we bought wetsuits this time so we were ready for the cold water.  
   The Galapagos are very strict about what things can and cannot come onto the islands so luggage is inspected and locked with a zip before your flight over to the island.   Once your bags are taken off the plane they first have to be inspected by a K9 team and if he sniffs out anything that might not be good your bag is pulled from the belt.  It is good to pay attention so that when you are allowed to go collect your bags you will understand why yours might be missing.   After the dog is done someone else goes along and cuts off all the zip ties and you can go get your bags.   We were met representatives with Hurtigruten signs at the airport and they directed us to the bus that would take us over to the dock.   They did tell us the day before that the boat will be anchored out and we would all be taken over via zodiacs.  That was good to know so that you can make sure to not only pack but dress appropriately for the journey.   Our checked bags were taken over for us but we would need to take our carry on bag onto the zodiac.   There was another ship that was taken it's guests over to their boat ahead of us and I saw a lady wearing heels and I thought she must not have used a travel agent that would have told her that was not the type of shoes for this trip.
Once on the boat we were able to stop by our room and then head to lunch.   After lunch we had a talk that went over what to expect during the cruise.   When going on safari in Africa there are the Big 5 that are the must see animals when you are there - Galapagos has the Big 15!  They let us know first up would be a beach walk in about an hour which was a great way to kick off the cruise.    We were split into groups and along with a guide hopped into a zodiac and over to the beach.   One very important rule of the Galapagos is that you are never allowed on land without a National Park Guide. Right away we were greeted by a bunch of sea lions so we could cross off the first in our search for the Big 15 already.   It was great getting to pretty much share the beach with them and take some photos.   Animals are not afraid of humans in the Galapagos so the seal lions could have cared less that we were walking around and taking photos.   The rule is that people need to stay 6 feet from the wildlife but there is no rule for how close the wildlife can get to humans if they choose to.   We also saw some of the marine iguanas sun bathing so we are up to 2 of the 15.   They are the only iguanas that have adapted to be able to swim and dive for food.   They can stay under water for up to 30 minutes.  After exploring the beach a bit we headed back to the boat where our next thing was the safety drill.   Just like any cruise you need to know where you muster station is and how to don your life vest.   We did all that and then we were told what to expect the next day.   
Day 3 - San Cristobal Island / Punta Pitt
  Another early morning and we had the option to hike or ride the zodiacs both options were basically so you could see some of the birds on the Big 15.   Our expedition guide said the hike would be what he calls difficult and since it started at 6:15 am I opted for the easier zodiac ride.   We got to see lots of birds and were able to cross of 4 more things of the Big 15 - all 3 types of Boobies - Blue Foot, Red Foot, and Nazca.   We were told today's island was the best for spotting the Red Foot Booby since they are a bit more particular about where they nest and this area provided what they like most.   The Red Foot Booby are also the smallest of the 3.   We also saw a Frigatebird to round out the 4 birds from the list.   The Frgatebirds are big and look sort of prehistoric.  We got to see an owl having it's breakfast which our guide said is very rate to see in this area.   He did also explain that owls here have a lot of competition from the Galapagos Hawk so they have switched from being nocturnal to diurnal and that was why we were seeing an owl hunting during the day.  We got to see some Galapagos fur seals so up to 8 out of 15 animals and it is only day 2!   
  After our early morning activity we grabbed breakfast (yes this morning had an activity before breakfast so it was a 6:00 am off the ship kind of day- can you see why I didn't choose a hike?).   After breakfast it was out again for another activity.   This time we opted for snorkeling over kayaking since the weather was so nice and you just never know what the other days will be like.  I didn't want to waste an opportunity since snorkeling was at the top of my to do list on this adventure.   We were so glad we had brought our own wetsuits since the boat only offered shorties (short sleeves and shorts) which would not keep me warm enough.    We also bought a newer version of the snorkel mask which gives you much better vision and easier to breathe ( I will do a what to pack for the Galapagos blog next).  I was so glad I had read about these masks when researching what to bring to Galapagos since they were amazing.   We ended up snorkeling for over an hour and half and were the last 2 people in the water - I know that our wetsuits and masks are what made the difference.   We got to see so many cool fish and of course the playful sea lions came out have fun with us too.   After that believe it or not it wasn't even lunch time yet so we had a jam packed morning.   While eating lunch the ship was moving to the other side of San Cristobal Island so we could go to the breeding center for the highly endangered giant tortoises.  That meant we were up to 9 of the 15 after seeing the tortoises.  This was not the only day we would see the giant tortoises but these were in captivity so you were pretty guaranteed to see them here.  It also helped that it was feeding day so there were out close to the trails.
Day 4 - Santa Fe Island and South Plaza Island
After breakfast we all hopped into zodiacs to head over to a white sandy beach with lots of sea lions.   The most interesting sighting of the day was a sea lion that had just finishing giving birth - it was really amazing!  Watching the baby make it's way down to the water just after being born was just a WOW moment.   Bonus was there was a Galapagos Hawk waiting to snack on the afterbirth so that means we are up to 10 of 15.  We walked around the island and got to see many other things including the endemic Santa Fe Land Iguana which is another of the big 15 so we were up to 11 of 15.   We saw one that was in the middle of eating his breakfast which was a piece of the prickly pear cactus.  It was hard to believe they could eat it spines and all!   They basically just hang out under the cactus waiting for food to fall.   We went back to the boat to make a change into snorkel gear and went back to the same area where we just walked.   The Galapagos National Park has a lot of rules and one is that the number of guests walking on certain islands is limited to a certain amount of people at the same time.   We had our turn to be on that beach earlier so this snorkel was done from the zodiac and we floated around the lagoon and then climbed back onto the zodiac to get back to the boat for lunch.   There are also rules about how many boats can be in an area too and we could see the next boat coming in to take our spot as we were headed back.   After lunch and a siesta it was back in the zodiacs to explore another small island.   This one was covered in a scarlet succulent which made for some colorful photos.   We also saw more sea lions and this area was a sort of day care for the sea lion pups while the moms would go out to hunt.   On the other side of the island there was a large cliffside where many different species of birds were nesting.   We also spotted another version of Land Iguana which is also part of the big 15 so we are up to 12 of 15 now.  
Day 5 - Puerto Ayora
  Today was pretty much an all day off the boat day.   We took zodiacs into port where we boarded buses to go to the Charles Darwin research center.   There  were different species of Giant Tortoises from all different islands in Galapagos together at the research center.  We learned about all the efforts going into protecting these guys.   After that we hopped back on the bus to head to our next tortoise destination.  Along the way there was an option to take a brisk bike ride or stay on the bus to make a pit stop at a local farmer that showed us how they use some of the island's resources like coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane.   Coffee is the #2 economic source for the islands - Tourism being #1.   After that we made our way to our lunch stop which was at a ranch where the tortoises also like to flock to that area to mate during this time of year.  After lunch we were able to roam around the land of the ranch and walk amongst the  Giant Tortoises.  This was very different from when we had seen them in captivity.   They gave us boots to put on since we would be walking through a bit of mud and tortoise poop.  All of these tortoises made their way to this ranch on their own because it just happens to be the perfect spot to find a mate.   After they successfully mate the females will make their way back down to the beach to lay the eggs.   We did see and hear a few couples taking care of business.   It doesn't look like an easy task and the males might have had a little stage fright after seeing a few people come to watch.   Of course these guys on land seem to have it a bit easier than the sea turtles we saw mating the other day.   
Day 6 - Espanola Island
  Today was going to be another jammed packed day.  The morning started with what our guide called a long walk but one that was definitely worth it.   We were in Punta Suarez on Espanola Island.   The path had lots of boulders so it wasn't an easy walk so having the right footwear was important (I will include more on that in my what to pack for Galapagos blog).  First we saw a whole lot of Marine Iguanas - like piles of them.  These guys are nicknamed the Christmas Iguanas because they can be all kinds of shades of red and green due to the type of algae they are eating.    As we walked on we passed another sea lion day care area which I never get tired of seeing those little guys.   Then the trek took us over to the birding area.   Our first encounter was with a pair of courting Nazca Boobies.  We got to see the male present the female with some nesting materials to try and win her over.   It was very cute.   As we walked on we saw some Nazca Boobies that had already nested and were either sitting on eggs (one or two only) and some that already had chicks.   We learned that if the female lays 2 eggs only one chick will survive even if that means the parent choosing which one they want to keep and which they do not.   They will not keep 2 chicks because it is just too taxing on them.  If they all kept 2 chicks the species would die out.  Our next mission was to see if any of the Waved Albatross were still hanging around.   They come to this island to nest generally between April - December but our guide said there might still be some stragglers.   We were in luck and found a few adults and some juveniles.   Our guide said if you visit in March the whole island is pretty much covered with Waved Albatross.  He explained after the chicks are ready to fly they will leave Galapagos and head south where they will just float around for 5 years before they are ready to return to the Galapagos to nest.  
After our walk it was back to the boat for lunch while we were eating lunch the boat had moved over to Gardner Bay on the other side of Espanola.   You could see the amazing beach right in front of the boat!   We opted for a quick kayak before heading over for the beach time.  It was a bit windy but still fun to get to kayak a bit.   It was interesting transferring from the zodiac over to a kayak out in the water but it was easier than I had expected.  On the beach you could either hang out and do some walking and swimming from the beach or you could do deep water snorkeling.  Since we brought all our snorkel stuff on this trip we were not going to pass up any chance to snorkel.   We hopped back on a zodiac from the beach and they took us about a 1/4 mile off the beach to snorkel around a big rock formation.   We saw lots of fish, rays, and a skate.   After hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling I was wiped out I couldn't wait to eat dinner and get to bed!   That is very typical for an expedition cruise.  

Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island - Eden Islet and North Seymour Island
  This was our last full day in Galapagos and it was another jammed packed day.   We had seen so much already but there is always more to see here.   After breakfast we hopped on zodiacs to explore Eden Islet.   We got to see our #13 (and our zodiac was the only one that saw it) since it was a Flamingo that just happened to fly over us while we were looking for other things.   No one really expected our cruise to see 13 of the 15 so we were very lucky.   The 2 we knew we wouldn't see were the Galapagos Penguins (yes there are wild penguins living on the equator) and the Flightless Cormorant.  We knew we wouldn't see those because they live on islands that our itinerary didn't include.    There are 13 major islands and a handful of smaller islands that make up Galapagos so it would be hard to do them all in one cruise.   I guess we will just have to go back again.   There was actually a volcanic eruption on one of the Western islands while we were there.  We were not close enough to see it but it was a good reminder that all of these islands were formed by volcanoes.  
Today actually offered 2 snorkeling opportunities and our guide had told us the last one is the best.  There is also a glass bottom boat that guests can opt to do if they want to see what snorkelers see without getting wet.  We chose to snorkel both times today since it really has been so amazing each time.   So we snorkeled in one spot went back to the ship had lunch and that it was back out to snorkel again.  Our guide was right the last snorkel was the best!   At first I was a little worried when the ship's photographer said this was the spot for sharks but I figured if he thought it was safe it must be.   We got to see so much in this area and yes even a few small sharks.   At first I had a freak out moment but then I just watched them go by and realized they really didn't care about us.  That wasn't the end of our day though we got back on the boat and quickly changed into dry clothes for one last hike.   It was another one that went over a lot of large rocks but we got to see so many nesting birds it was great!   They nest right on the path and do not care at all that you are walking by just a few feet from them and taking photos.   We got to see the Blue Footed Booby dance a few times and it really does seem like something out of a cartoon.   It was fun to watch these blue footed males try to win over a lady.    Apparently the bluer the foot the more attractive he is to the ladies.   Sadly that was our last exploration for this expedition and it was back to the boat.   We did top off the night with a slide show of photos from the ship's photographer.   We will get an email link to those in a couple weeks so I will share some of those.


   Our last morning it was back in the zodiacs to get back to the airport.   There was some nice shopping at the airport which was good since we really didn't see much of civilization all week.   The flight would make the same pit-stop along the way back to Quito but this time if any guest wanted to they could fly home from Guayaquil.   We chose to go back to Quito to fly home.  The cruise line does include admission to the VIP airport lounge which is a nice way to spend a little time if you have awhile before your flight home.  This trip of course required a covid test to get back into the US and it was nice that company escorted us all over to the testing site at the airport and made sure we were all set.  Thankfully we were good to head home.    Hurtigruten did such an amazing job with this expedition and part of that is thanks to their partnership with Metropolitan Touring who is celebrating 65 years in Ecuador!   Starting in 2023 Hurtigurten will offer even more options in Galapagos including 4 night sailings which would be great for combining with other South American locations.​
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8 Fun Facts about Galapagos Islands

1/6/2022

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​8 Fun Facts about the Galapagos Islands
#1 97% of the Galapagos is a national park. 

An astonishing 97 percent of the Galápagos landmass is designated a national park. Established in 1959, Galápagos National Park protects more than 3,000 square miles of islands and islets, while the Galápagos Marine Reserve protects an additional 50,000 square miles of ocean around the islands.


#2 Wild animals have little fear of humans

In the Galapagos, there is a lack of natural predators. Thus, the creatures found in the islands have very little natural fear of people. The Galapagos National Park has established key rules to help protect the animals and their habitats. Visitors must always remain at a minimum safe distance of 6.5 ft (2 m) from wildlife.


#3 The only place in the Northern Hemisphere where you can see penguins in their natural habitat.

The Galapagos hugs the equator, which is why one might consider this place tropical. However, the islands’ climate is unique thanks to the intersection of various marine and air currents.  The Galapagos penguin is the second smallest species of its kind and is typically observed on the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina. Some colonies can be found within the central islands and as far south as Floreana.

#4 Marine iguanas are excellent swimmers.

Nearly 20% of the marine life in the islands is endemic to the area; this includes marine iguanas. These are the only lizards in the world who enjoy water so much that they’ve learned how to swim in it! They feed almost entirely on seaweed (algae).

#5 Brilliant boobies

 The three species of boobies that inhabit the Galápagos can be distinguished by their color. Red-footed boobies are the smallest of the trio; blue-footed boobies flaunt their strikingly-hued feet to attract mates; and the Nazca booby, the largest of the three, can be identified by its brilliant white plumage and black-tipped feathers.

#6 Gentle giants

The islands’ giant tortoises—after which the archipelago is named—can survive up to one year without food or water. Tragically, this unique adaptation was a leading factor in their demise over the centuries, as thousands of tortoises were captured and stored onboard ships to provide fresh meat for sailors. More than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been lost, leading to the extinction of several species and pushing others to the brink.

#7 Stars in your eyes

Unobscured by light pollution, the night skies over the Galápagos are some of the most dazzling on the planet. With its unique position straddling the Equator, the archipelago also offers a rare opportunity to view the constellations of the both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time.


#8 Any time is a great time to visit.

Located near the equator, the islands experience a year-round temperate climate. There are, however, two markedly different seasons: a hot season, which sees warmer, humid weather from December through May, and a dry season, which is slightly cooler and extends from June through November. Depending on the season, the islands are either lush, green, and tropical or slightly barren, colorful, and arid. The islands see more rainfall in the hot season, which also features calmer seas and slightly warmer ocean temperatures around 79°F (26°C). Meanwhile, the dry season experiences southeast trade winds, which provide a wonderful breeze and signal an increase in marine activity.  While you would expect the temperatures on the islands to soar, given their proximity to the equator, they actually remain quite comfortable. Throughout the year, average land temperatures range between 79° and 86°F (26.1° to 30°C), while ocean temperatures along the island coasts hover between 71° and 78°F (21.7° to 25.6°C).
Another cool feature of the Galapagos Islands is that the days and nights are of equal duration, so you’ll have plenty of chances to see the diurnal and nocturnal animals. Because of its tropical location, there is no need for daylight savings. Throughout the year, the Galapagos Islands see an average of 12 hours of sunlight each day


I will have a full report on my visit to the Galapagos when I return but I hope these fun facts have inspired you to want to visit and see them for yourself!
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Disney Cruise Line - Classic VS New Ships

12/30/2021

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​  Compared to the other major cruise lines Disney's fleet is considered small with just 4 ships.   I personally think Disney was pretty smart with the way they built their fleet.  They started out with 2 ships back in the late 90s and waited to see how that went before building more.   The next 2 ships came a little more than 10 years later.  Now here were about another 10 years after those 2 ships and Disney will be adding a couple more starting with the Wish in 2022. 
 
The First 2 Ships
Disney's first ship was the Disney Magic which set sail on her Maiden voyage on July 30, 1998.   Having just been onboard the Magic this month I can say for sure she doesn't look her age at all!   Disney does an impeccable job of keeping their ships fresh and new looking all the time.   Honestly at times I didn't remember which ship I was on since they all look just as new.  The Disney Wonder followed the next year with her Maiden voyage on August 15, 1999.   The Disney Magic and wonder were almost identical when they debuted.   Both have 875 staterooms and 11 decks and are 984 feet long (that is longer than Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom!).  Both ships were built at Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy (Palo was inspired by the Italian roots of the ships).  Over the years they have each gotten some modifications that make them a little more unique.  For example the Disney Wonder started doing Alaska so in one of her refurbishments Disney added some more indoor viewing areas.  

Did you know that Disney had to get special permission from the Coast Guard to have the yellow lifeboats?   Before Disney all lifeboats were bright orange and Disney really wanted to keep the Mickey color scheme so they had to prove to the Coast Guard that yellow was just as easy to spot as orange.

Did you know that Disney was also the first to offer a rotational dining system where guests moved between 3 different themed dining rooms during their cruise and their dining team moved with them too?  This meant guests kept the same servers but got to experience a different dining room.  

Did you know Disney was the first cruise line to be able to dock their ships right at their private island?  All of the other cruise lines were using tenders to get into their private islands and some still do.

Did you know that Disney was the first cruise line to offer a split bathroom in most staterooms?  Having a separate room for the toilet and shower is really convenient for families.. 


2 More Ships
  The Disney Dream set sail on her Maiden voyage January 26, 2011.  The Disney Fantasy followed the next year with her Maiden voyage on March 31, 2012.   Just like the Magic and Wonder the Fantasy and Dream were built as sister ships almost identical to each other.  They both have 1,250 staterooms over 14 decks and are 1,115 feet long.   These ships were built at Meyer Werft in Germany.   Dream and Fantasy debuted the first water coaster at sea. 
Even though the Magic and Wonder were over 10 years old when the new ships came out all 4 ships still looked very similar.   Disney kept the same look for all 4 ships and even though they are bigger, not a whole lot else inside was different from the classic ships.   You still get 3 main dining rooms which guests rotate through but since Dream and Fantasy are bigger and  hold more guests you will notice that the dining rooms also are much bigger.   All 4 ships have the Cabanas buffet which is always in after of the upper deck.   Dream and Fantasy also added another adult only dining option with the addition of Remy. along with Palo.
If you are a spa person you will have noticed that Disney greatly improved the spa on the new ships.   They realized on the classic ships that putting the spa under the basketball court not a good idea.   One of my favorite places on any ship is the Rainforest Room and Disney did so much better with that space on the new ships.  I love that the Rainforest room has 2 hot tubs on an open air verandah included.   I am very excited to see what Disney does with the spa on Wish!

Did you know that the Magic and Dream are both done in art deco style inside and the Wonder and Fantasy are done in art nouveau style?  That is one subtle way Disney connected the Classic ships with the New ships.

Did you know that all 4 ships each have a different character statue in their atrium?  The Magic has Mickey, Wonder has Ariel, Donald is decked out in his Admiral attire on the Dream, and Minnie is dressed in her vintage best along with her luggage on the Fantasy.   The Wish will have Cinderella waiting to greet guests in the atrium.

Disney you know all 4 ships have different characters that look like that are busy painting the ship's name on the very aft of the ship?  Magic has Goofy, Wonder had Donald and his nephews, Dream has Fantasia Mickey with the brooms doing the work, and Fantasy has Dumbo.   Wish will have Rapunzel using her hair to keep here hanging on the back of the ship.


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While I love all 4 ships I am partial to the Classic ships mostly because I like smaller ships but also because the Wonder was the first Disney Cruise I took and was also what inspired me to become a travel agent 20 years ago!
Which is your favorite ship?   
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My MerryTime Cruise Onboard Disney Magic

12/22/2021

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​  I was in need of a little Holiday spirit after finding out my Christmas Market cruise was canceled last minute so a Disney cruise seemed like the next best thing.   Since I had already been on the Dream and Fantasy this year I loved the idea of getting onboard the Magic.   It had been so long since I sailed on the Magic so I was so excited to get to see her again!  The Magic is currently sailing out of Miami - which for me is about the same amount of driving as Port Canaveral so that didn't play a part in deciding.   However I always forget how much I hate driving around Miami.   
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Port of Miami 
  There are other drawbacks to cruising on Disney out of Miami.   Since Disney doesn't have their  own terminal in Miami that means you are using a shared one (I am so happy Disney announced plans for their own terminal in Fort Lauderdale).   I wondered how the pre cruise testing would be different.   In Port Canaveral as I reported we were able to do the test in our car after entering the garage and then just hang out until the test results came back.   In Miami the first issue came when finding out the parking garage closest to the ship was closed so we had to go park in one that was at least a mile away.   Disney of course had shuttle buses ready to take us back to the terminal.   
Having already experienced check in at Port Canaveral I knew that you should only arrive at the time you were given for your port arrival - however in Miami no one even asked or checked our reserved arrival time so it seemed we really could have arrived anytime.   In Miami you will go into the terminal building through security and then you arrive at the testing location.  After your test you will head upstairs to wait on your test results.   This is the area with all the chairs where you would normally wait for your boarding time.   Disney has a few large screens set up and they were posting the reservation numbers that were clear to check in as the test results came in.  This was helpful since wi-fi in the terminal didn't seem to be working and even my cell service was very spotty.    TIP - always print out any important papers since you just never know if your phone will work.  After you get the good to go test result you can head into the next room where you will get to check in for the cruise.   I was disappointed that they did not have a separate line for the different Castaway levels but it wasn't very crowded so the line wasn't too bad.  We got checked in and like the Dream and Fantasy we were told our room keys would be waiting on the door when we get to our room.  

Onboard the Magic
   We were welcomed onboard in usual Disney fashion except this time the atrium was also decked out in holiday decorations too since this was a MerryTime Cruise.   It was just the holiday pick me up I needed with the large tree and gingerbread house greeting us in the atrium!    Rooms were not ready yet even though it was after 2 pm.  We were told we need to wait until 3 so we figured we would go grab a bite to eat in Cabanas.  On our way up the crew was really encouraging everyone to do the safety drill check in so we figured might as well knock that out of the way now.   Just like the other ships you use the app and find your meeting location and take a photo. We were done with that quickly and back on our way to food.   We hung out in Cabanas until our room was ready so that we could drop off our carry on bags before exploring more. 

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​Dining and Shows
  When checking out our schedule on the app I saw that on this 5 night cruise we would be in Lumiere's the first 2 nights and then Animators the next 2 nights with just the last night in Rapunzel's.   I had not been onboard Magic since Parrot Cay was changed over to Rapunzel's so I was a little bummed to only get 1 night in there.  I was happy that I hadn't booked Palo for that night at least.  I got lucky and had picked Palo night for the same night as Pirate night and was so glad since that is my least favorite night in any dining room.  Sorry pirates but I am over you.   
  Lumiere's and Animators are very similar to their counterparts on the Dream and Fantasy.   I was so happy that my husband got to experience the drawing part of Animator's this time since I had really hoped we would do it on Fantasy and they didn't.   Rapunzel's was a new experience for me and I have to say right away walking in I just loved the whole design of the restaurant.   It has very cozy feeling and I love the purple and the lanterns!    This is a dinner and a show type dining room and the storyline is that it is Rapunzel's birthday so you have appearances by her and Flynn of course along with a couple of the Snuggly Duck regulars.   It was fun but make sure you stay until the end so you don't miss the lanterns.

  For the shows on this 5  night cruise Disney was offering 2 main shows that would each be performed 2 nights in a row.  So the first 2 nights there was Tangled and then the 3rd night they showed a movie in the theater and the last 2 nights were Enchanted Dreams.  I was excited to get to see Tangled the Musical for the first time!  I have seen Dreams before but it has changed a bit since last time I saw it.  I found myself trying to remember which song was taken out to make room for Frozen.  I also noticed that Annemarie got new PJ's since last time I saw it.  Even though Disney was doing them each 2 nights to make sure there was enough room for everyone to get to see them and be socially distanced  there seemed to be a lot of people saying that they went both nights and saw each show twice.   Our sailing wasn't very full which I was very happy about.   It also appeared that there weren't many families with kids over age 12 and I am not sure if that was due to the vaccine requirement or just that school was still in and it isn't as easy to take the older kids out.

Merrytime Cruise
Since this cruise was in December it was a Merrytime themed cruise - which was one of the main reasons for picking it since I had just lost my holiday travel plans.   Besides all of the beautiful decorations around the ship and also on Castaway, there were holiday activities offered each day.   Storytime with Mrs Claus was very popular and there were also holiday crafts you could make.   Santa was in the atrium posing and waving in front of the tree - you did have to take a distanced selfie or photo but that was OK with me.   While we did see a good amount of characters at different times during the cruise but I was disappointed to never see them dressed in any holiday outfits.   Maybe we just missed those times but on our Halloween cruise we were always seeing the characters in costumes.   Character meets are still kept distanced and on the schedule they are listed as character appear and wave events.   The ship photographers have come up with a way to add some characters to your photos too.   I was happy to try it out and let the photographer direct me on what to do.   He had me pose in funny ways like dancing and when I saw the photo Daisy had joined me dancing.   There were others too and you might feel silly doing the poses but the photos are cute. 

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​Stops - Cozumel and Castaway
Our cruise stopped in Cozumel and Castaway Cay.   For me I have been to Cozumel many times and this cruise was about enjoying the ship so we opted to stay onboard instead of getting off in Cozumel.   Many people did opt to get off and at the time of our cruise if you were vaccinated you could go off on your own but if you were not you did need to be on a Disney excursion.  That did mean that any families with little kids would have to be on a ship excursion to get off.   It might sound funny but I was very happy to see 3 other ships in port with us that day!   Of course during normal times there probably would have been double that in Cozumel. 
Our cruise ended up with an extra visit to Miami as the night before our Castaway day the captain came on to tell us that unfortunately a guest needed to be medically evacuated so we had to head into Miami to do that.   He assured us we would still be getting to Castaway the next morning but maybe just a little later.   I liked the idea of watching us pull into Miami since I am always asleep when the ships return to port at the end of the cruise.  I enjoyed watching the city get closer from our balcony.   It was also a bonus to have cell service again for about an hour.   
Castaway is always my favorite stop and this visit we were greeted by a rainbow over the island as we pulled in!    Of course a rainbow meant there was also rain close but we lucked out and besides being a bit windy the sun came out and it was a wonderful day!      We headed right to the adult beach to grab a spot and enjoy the day.   The water was so shallow that we could walk in only about knee deep water all the way out to the buoy that marks the furthest out guests can go.  It was fun walking all the way out there and we even found one of the famous Castaway starfish.   I have seen one every time we have been there and if I hadn't seen someone pick one up last time I would maybe think they were not real.   The lunch at the adult beach always offers some better options than the family buffet but I do wish they would find a better way to do it.   As of now you have to go all the way through the line to find out what the main course options are and then it can get kind of confusing and crowded in there.   This time around they were grilling rib-eye steaks to order so that meant a long line of people waiting on their steaks.   I feel like if they just posted the main menu outside so you could see it before walking in that would really help a lot.   Then you could put your entrée order in and then make your way through the line so that it might be ready once you get down there.   I like the way Blaze pizza does the ordering process in Disney Springs so I think the adult buffet on Castaway could work well like that.   

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It was a great cruise and I really enjoyed being back on a classic ship again!   I love the smaller ships and have always felt the Magic and Wonder were designed very well.   Next blog I am writing will be a comparison of the Classic and New Disney ships so I will talk more about  that then.   

It was great to get to soak up some holiday excitement while cruising!   If you would like to add a little holiday magic to your next cruise you might want to think about going in November or December.

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Disney Cruise Line's Rainforest Room VS Virgin Voyages Redemption Spa

11/4/2021

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​I have recently sailed on Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages and both offer an amazing spa.  Disney has the Rainforest room and Virgin has Redemption Spa's Thermal Suite.   They are very different and are also dealing with covid differently. Here is my experience with each -  


 Disney Dream's Rainforest Room.   On the Dream the Spa area and fitness are all together on Deck 11 all the way in the front of the ship.  This is also where most of the adult only stuff is located so it is a nice quiet area.  There are 2 hot tubs, 4 different types of showers, along with a steam room, sauna, and heated lounges.  Disney has decided to change the rules for the Rainforest Room due to covid so that only one party is allowed at a time.  You reserve a time slot for a flat fee of $175  and you and up to 10 people in your party are able to have the Rainforest room all to yourself!   Yes it is a little pricey but after the year and half I had I knew it would be worth every penny for me!  I couldn't wait to book my slot as I always enjoy a visit to the Rainforest Room and thought alone would be even better!  I understand that eventually they will go back to normal operations but I would love it if maybe Disney would still offer a few times each day where guests could book a private experience.  
 The Rainforest Room includes a semi-enclosed outdoor section with the 2 hot tubs.  Inside it has heated loungers, a steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy showers. The heated loungers are my favorite place to read a little and nap a lot   I also really love that outdoor area with the hot tubs as there is just something relaxing about having a sea breeze and hearing the ocean.   The showers and steam room and saunas are also nice.  You do have the option to purchase some scrubs to use in the showers but I opted out of that for this time.  The area is a bit small and used to get kind of crowded before covid so I do wish it was bigger.   Either way it is a nice little sanctuary to just unwind and de-stress even if only for an hour and 45 minutes.

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Virgin Voyages Redemption Spa  Virgin's spa is down on deck 5 mid ship.   The thermal suite is pretty big and offers a mudroom, salt room, sauna, steam room, along with hot and cold plunge pools  There are also some heated marble hamman benches.  It is $70 for a day.   As with all things Virgin the covid policies seemed to be much more relaxed than Disney.  While they are not doing private time bookings they did say they are limiting the number of guests due to covid.  The funny thing is when you book your day you don't have to pick a time in advance and so I am not sure if they are just limiting the number of guests per day or if you book the day and arrive when too many people are already in there they would tell you to come back.  
When I went there were a few people but there was plenty of space to spread out and usually have one of the rooms to yourself.  When I checked in at the desk I was told hold on let me get your mud.   I wasn't really sure what to expect since I hadn't tried a mudroom before so when she handed me this shot glass size cup of mud I had to laugh.  I am not sure what I was picturing but this wasn't it. 

​  I figured since I had my mud might as well go for the mudroom first.   The little sign by the door said go in let your skin warm and then apply mud and relax and let it soak in and then wash off.   Sounded easy enough.   It was a little strange at first but I just thought of the mud like any other scrub I might use on my skin. It actually felt pretty good until it was time to rinse off and the water was a bit chilly.  I figured ok now I will go warm up in the other rooms.  I tired out all of the rooms along with the pools.  I skipped the 2 coldest ones which looked like hot tubs but I knew from watching others get in that they were pretty cold.  I was disappointed that the one that was most like a pool didn't have any jets and the water was a bit too cool for me.   I was also disappointed by the heated benches as they were very uncomfortable.   I tried a few different spots and as much as I love the warmth they just do not seem to be designed for relaxing.   Another thing I would  recommend do not pick a port day to visit.   Being down on Deck 5 meant you were close to ground level and we were parked right next to another ship so the view wasn't that good and it was a bit noisy.   Even though I could go as much as I wanted to during that day I didn't end up going back after my first visit.  


I enjoyed my visit to both of these spas and highly recommend you check on out on your next cruise!
I didn't mention this but  in case you haven't been to one of these things before they are co-ed and you do wear your bathing suit.  You will also be provided with a robe and plenty of towels.   

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Virgin Voyages Beach Club at Bimini

10/21/2021

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​Every cruise out of Miami on Virgin Voyages will make a spot at Bimini in the Bahamas.   One important thing to note is that Bimini is not a private island for Virgin Voyages but offers a private Beach Club that guests on the cruise can enjoy.   For me the private island stops are always the highlight of any cruise in the Caribbean.   I have been to pretty much all of them too.   Disney and Holland America have my favorite private islands but I have also been to NCL's, Princess, and both of Royal Caribbean's.   Technically Royal Caribbean's Labadee isn't a private island since it is actually part of Haiti so I was kind of expecting the Beach Club at Bimini to be sort of like that.  The big difference is that for Labadee the ship pulls up right to the private beach area so you walk off the ship and you are there.  The Beach Club at Bimini is not really walkable from the ship but they do offer a tram all day.   It is at least a 15 minute ride and there really aren't sidewalks which is why I say not walkable from the ship.   The tram also makes 2 stops along the way at an area where shore excursions will depart from and also a casino.  I heard some guests say they were hoping for a small town to explore but all we really saw were resort type areas and some homes.  Golf carts were clearly the way most people on the island get around and I heard you could rent one for the day so I guess if you wanted to go off on your own you could.

​My main focus was to check out the Beach Club.  When you pull up you can tell that most of this is very new - which made me wonder would this have all been ready back in March 2020 when Scarlet Lady was supposed to start.   Either way it was a nice welcome area which reminded me of what you might find in an open air lobby of an all inclusive island resort.  Right away you see the big pool area and there are plenty of places to sit and get comfy everywhere.   The Beach Club kind of reminded me of the way the ship is also designed with lots of smaller areas to enjoy instead of just one huge area.    There are lots of cozy sitting areas around the resort but too bad that doesn't apply to the beachfront. To either side of the pool area there are places to grab lunch (which is included) and drinks. Of course there is a swim up bar and there are also some self-serve soda stations as well.     
​The pool area seemed to have music and stuff going on most of the day and for me that is not what I am looking for on a private beach day so I headed right for the sand!   This is where I was let down though.   The beach area is not very big and felt very crowded with lounge chairs and umbrellas all on top of each other.   Our ship was only about a 1/3 full so I cannot imagine what this beach will be like with a full ship.  There was also a roped off area with nicer lounge chairs but that was for Rockstar guests only.   There are of course cabanas that you can rent but honestly they didn't seem to offer much for the price.  
 I prefer a little more space on my beach day so I can really just relax but you won't really find that here (definitely no social distance).  The other thing I love to do at the private island stops is to float in the gorgeous turquoise water.  Yes the water was that lovely color here but there wasn't a lot of swimming space and the water was a bit rough.   There also wasn't an option to rent a float which I am guessing is due to the small area and not really floatable water.   Along with no floats there weren't really any water toys either.   We usually like to rent a hobie or something like that to go out and play but this beach area really wasn't designed for that.   I guess in my head I was thinking the Beach Club at Bimini would have some fun things in the water like maybe some of those large inflatables or something like that so maybe that is something they are still working on.  Right now the focus seemed to be more on the pool area for activities.  
​The one thing Beach Club at Bimini does have that no other cruise ship private stop does is a late night stay which includes bonfires!   I was very excited for that as I have always wished the ships would stay late and do a night party type thing on their islands.   We spent a couple hours on the beach in the morning and then headed back to the ship to eat and shower and then went back over closer to sunset to enjoy the bonfires and the cooler temperatures.   I found I loved the Beach Club much more at this time of day.  Most people had left so you could grab a lounge on the beach and relax.   They had 3 large metal balls that they used for the fires and they were very cool.   They lit them one by one and each lighting came with some music from the Phantom Folktales which I really enjoyed.   We hung out for a bit and then headed back to the ship to catch the show.   The ship was staying in port until 11:59 pm so it was a really late departure even though I am not really sure how many people even stayed on the beach past 9:00.     
​I know they cannot change the location of the Beach Club so I don't think there is a lot they can do for the swimming on the beach but maybe other times of the year will offer calmer water.   I will be back in January and see what I think then.
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My Top 6 Favorite Things on Virgin Voyages

10/14/2021

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​Scarlet Lady was supposed to make her US debut back in March 2020 and I was supposed to be on that first voyage so I am glad that finally about 18 months later I got set sail onboard!   I think when Virgin Voyages first started advertising there were some mixed messages about who Virgin was really targeting.  A lot of people thought they were going after the millennials but I can tell you as someone who is a parent of a millenial I think I enjoyed this ship way more than anyone half my age!  There were so many 80s things that I really feel like the target market for this cruise is my generation, the Gen Xers!    

There were so many things I loved about this ship!   Here are my Top 6 -

#1 - I LOVE that it is ADULT ONLY!   I have been on other adult only cruises and there are some I haven't tried yet but generally I tend to be the youngest person on those cruises. There used to be a saying that cruising was for the newlywed or the nearly dead but then came along Disney Cruise Line and some of the other cruise lines realized the family market was a huge untapped one.  While it is great that there are now lots of ships filled with things to attract families with kids, there are many of us that really do not enjoy sharing a cruise ship with hundreds of other people's kids.  I love that Virgin went adult only but yet added so many things that really let adults feel like a kid again.
  Another bonus to adult only right now is that it means everyone onboard is vaccinated.   This made for a much more relaxed vibe onboard and things really almost felt like pre-covid times.   Where else could you go right now and know that every single person you will come in contact with is vaccinated?  

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#2 - I Love the way they do Dining!   I really am not a fan of always having to eat in a huge dining room every night.   Sure some limes have changed it up a bit and got rid of the traditional set dining times and others added some smaller dining locations but those usually come with a fee or can be very hard to get a reservation for.   On Virgin there is no main dining room but instead they have a bunch of smaller places to choose from and not a single one will cost you more to go to.   There might be a few upcharge items on the menu but those are very few.   At first I got worried when I couldn't find many reservation times available but then I realized each day I could make one day of without any problem so I really liked that you can be a bit more spontaneous.   They also don't technically have a buffet but let's be real it sort of is a buffet / food court type location.   It is called The Galley so if you know boat terms you know that is the kitchen on a boat so it is a good name for this spot.   It has a bunch of stations all offering something different to choose from.  No reservations needed, just walk in, grab a table and a server will come take your order.   We were told that the servers taking orders are a covid thing in place temporarily but my hope is they will get the app upgraded and offer the option to order your food on there.   There was a bit of a learning curve when everyone goes to The Galley the first time as all us of seasoned cruisers are just used to walking up to a counter to order our food and take back to a table ourselves so once I realized that wasn't what you did I realized I liked it even more.  I also loved that there is an ice cream shop onboard with lots of great flavors and waffle cones and it doesn't cost anything!   There is a candy shop (again no extra cost) and you wouldn't believe the line it had everyday!  I had to laugh watching all of these adults picking out the candy they wanted from the candy jars - for me that is my life everyday.  

#3 I Love the Staterooms!   We had a Terrace room which is Virgin's fancy way of saying balcony room.  There are so many things I love about the rooms it is hard to pick a favorite but I I think I will have to go with the hammock on the terrace (every terrace room has one).  It was my most favorite spot to sit anywhere on the whole ship!   The room itself has a lot of very cool features such as when you leave the room goes into eco mode and it automatically turns everything off and shuts the curtains to keep it cool.   As soon as you return the curtains will automatically open and the lights will go back to which setting you had them on when you left.   Yes I said setting as in there are more than one option for the lights in your room.  There is a tablet in each room that controls all kinds of things like the tv and the lights and there are a few preset settings for the lights to set a particular mood.   There is one setting called "Get It On" which of course closes the curtains, puts on some pink lights and plays a quick little bit of music to set the mood.   I thought it was cute and I liked the pink lighting.   I also really enjoyed the 2 carafes of chilled water that were refilled in our room everyday.    I try to drink more water but usually when on vacation I forget so this was perfect.   I also really liked the shower it has a nice rainshower option and the water pressure was great.   I got to tour the Rockstar suites on my agent preview day and you will definitely feel like a Rock Star if you stay on any one of those!

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​#4 I Love the Entertainment!   I always like being in the very aft of the ship when we leave port so as we pulled out of Miami we were back there just taking it all in and then all of a sudden there was someone with a guitar and he started singing a sailor type of song and then a few other random people sitting around chimed in with him.   At first I thought what the heck is going on.  Are these just some guests wanting to sing a song but then they finished their song and moved to another deck and started again so we figured oh they must be part of this new type of entertainment Virgin has been talking about.  We ended up catching a few more of their pop up performances throughout the cruise and the last night there were actually a couple scheduled times where you could be sure to catch them do a few songs.   There was a lot of pop up stuff like them and other stuff that you just needed to be in the right place at the right time which was fun.   There are also 2 theatre type venues onboard but they are much smaller more intimate than the huge big production show theaters you get on the other ships.  I really prefer these smaller spots.   We missed a few of the shows but we caught the best one in my opinion which is the headliner show for this cruise called Duel Reality.   I had already seen it on my sneak peak day and loved it so was so happy to get to see it again.   It is one of those type shows where you end up holding your breath so much during the show that even seeing it again a week later I was still holding my breath and not believing they could do the things they did.  It is a can't miss show!  There was also a VHS 80s workout that I had assumed was going to be more of a show type thing poking fun at the seating to the oldies but it turned out it was actually a workout!   It was a lot of fun though and sadly I realized that sweatin to the oldies now means working out to 80s music.  I had flashbacks to highschool PE where the girls usually opted for the Richard Simmons workout instead of playing a sport.   

#5  I Love all the Included in your cost items.   Virgin includes a lot of things in your basic cruise fare.   Like I already mentioned they include all the dining locations onboard - even the ice cream and candy!   They also include basic beverages in your cruise cost.   If you have been on some of the other lines you know you will shell out $10 a day for a soda package per person!   I really am not a big soda drinker but on vacation it is nice to get a cold soda a few times.   I also like that they have the self service drink locations open all the time so you can get one whenever you want.  Yes I was a little surprised that they were actually self service but I was happy.   Adult beverages are not included and they do not offer a drink package which I also actually think is better.   The adult beverages are reasonably priced though so for someone like me that might only have 1 or 2 I would prefer cheaper prices vs  the cruise lines with the drink packages that jack up the cost of the drinks so those of us paying per drink end up making up for the people who maximize their package.   It was so nice to have free wifi!   I know not everyone wants to be connected whole on vacation but let's be real we are all so used to being connected all the time that it is just nice to have the option without paying for it and also without having to worry oh no did I log off or am I wasting all my paid minutes.   Some people said it was slow but honestly I thought it was just fine for doing things like checking email and popping a few photos onto social media.  All fitness classes are included which I thought cool I will try to do some but that didn't happen - unless you count my sweating to the 80s.   The couple classes I wanted to try were already full before I could make a reservation.  Next cruise I will know to try getting on the ship earlier so I can go right in the app and grab those.  I am assuming covid rules might have really limited the number of guests they could allow this cruise so hopefully getting into those will get easier.   I saved the best for last - Gratuities are included!   It was nice to know you didn't have to worry about either pre-paying or having that charge on your account at the end of the cruise.   I was a little worried that service might not be as good since all the crew knew they were already tipped no matter what but I didn't find that at all.   

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#6 - I Love the Design of the Ship.  Even though the ship is what I would call a large ship with the capacity to hold about 2800 guests it never feels like a big ship.   The whole design is set up with lots of smaller nooks and comfy spots to hang out that you never feel like you are in some large open area that could be full of a lot of people.   Despite the fact that there isn't a lot of signage once you find your way around you realize it was all very easy to get to.   One of my favorite places is the very back of the ship on Deck 7 (there are 17 decks total so this is towards the bottom).  Deck 7 goes all the way to the back of the ship whereas all the decks above are back a bit so when you are on deck 7 you can see all the way up to the bottom of deck 16 and the big net.   The area is called The Dock and it has some comfy spots to sit and just enjoy watching the wake of the ship as we cruise.   There is also a real tree back there which I think is a really nice touch.  I love when cruise ships have real plants and flowers onboard.   You can of course get some snacks or drinks delivered to you while you are enjoying this comfy area.  The pop up entertainment even made some stops there.   

That is my top 6 and really I could have written more but it has been a busy week and I am already getting this sent out late today. Stay tuned next week I will give some more information on the cruise in general and a few of the things that I didn't love as much.  ​
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5 Things Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages Have in Common

10/5/2021

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I know you might think I am crazy to say that an adult only cruise line and the most family friendly cruise line would have anything in common but they do.   Here are 5 things I have found already - 

#1 Both Disney and Virgin were already big in the Entertainment and Travel industries before going into the Cruise business and they both changed the way people thought about cruising.

#2 Both cruise lines really switched up the way dining is done onboard a cruise.   Disney introduced their rotational dining where you get to enjoy the 3 main restaurants and your serving team goes with you to each one.   Virgin has done away with main dining rooms and also a buffet (which technically was perfect timing since we have probably seen the end of the buffet as we knew it anyway).  Instead Virgin offers over 20 different places you can eat onboard and it will not cost you anything extra.

#3 Both cruise lines brought their entertainment knowledge to their cruise ships.   Disney was the first to really bring theatrical shows onboard and Virgin is also doing entertainment with their own Virgin twist.   The show I got to see while onboard for the day was nothing like what I had seen on a cruise before and I cannot wait to see what else they are doing.

#4 Both cruise lines include basic beverages like soft drinks in your cruise fare.  I know it might sound like a small thing but most cruise lines will charge you extra for a soda.   Virgin is also including Wi-Fi and Gratuities in their cruise fare.  It would be nice if Disney did the same, especially the wi-fi since that would mean crew could use it too.  I found out by talking to a lot of crew lately that it really is the most important thing to be able to talk to family at home.

#5 Both cruise lines had the same President  when they started.  Tom McAlpin did so many things to make Disney Cruise Line what it is today and now he is doing the same for Virgin.     PS - That is Tom in the photo with me above.

Maybe I will find even more similarities while I am cruising - stay tuned for a full report when I get back in a few days!
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Safer at Sea - Why I Think Cruising is the Place to Be!

9/30/2021

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 In the beginning of this pandemic cruising got a bad rap and then sort of became the scapegoat.   Airlines and hotels had no problems getting back to business but yet cruise lines had to wait and wait and then had to jump through crazy hoops to get approved to restart.  Personally I have always felt that cruise ships were 100 times cleaner and safer than airplanes or hotels and now I feel even more so. 
​    ​I have been on 3 cruises since June and I felt safer than ever onboard each time.  Heck I felt so safe in August that I turned around and booked another cruise for just 3 weeks later!  In my opinion cruise ships have always been cleaner and better maintained than most airplanes or hotels.  Let's not even talk about buses or trains that people use to get from one place to another!
   I am not sure why it was made to hard for cruise ships to get back to business but now that they are let's talk about how much more they are doing to keep guests safe than any other vacation option.   You might even decide a cruise ship is even safer than going out to your local restaurant!

#1 First off every crew member has to go through a quarantine and be vaccinated.   They will also be tested regularly.   You cannot say you know the same for every airline or hotel employee you might come into contact with that is for sure!

#2 As of right now all adults and kids 12 and older are required to be vaccinated get onboard just about every cruise.   Ok so this is in part due to the Bahamas making it a requirement that every person 12 and old has to be vaccinated in order to visit any Bahamian island (even the private ones that no one lines on).   I will say I find this very unfair that the Bahamas can require just cruise visitors be vaccinated when they will allow anyone vaccinated or not to fly into the Bahamas.   Since the majority of major cruise lines are registered in the Bahamas and therefor required to make a Bahamian stop it seems very suspect that the Bahamas is also the only island making this vaccine rule for cruise visitors.   Anyway that is rant for another time.

#3 Every single guest must be tested before boarding the ship.   I applaud the cruise lines that are providing the testing at the port free of charge to those that are vaccinated (Disney and Virgin shout out to you both!).  

#4 Cruise Line have been required to make a lot of changes onboard.  Mostly to allow for social distance.  This means lower capacity onboard and the removal of some tables and chairs to make space between.   The cruise lines have also made great use of technology to make things as touchless as possible.   Masks are also being required in any indoor areas and I know at least where I live no one is requiring masks inside so that already makes a cruise ship safer than my local store. 
 
I know that I am not the only one that feels cruise ships are the safer since I saw The Points Guy wrote something similar recently.  

So are you ready to say Bon Voyage to stress and get away on cruise now?
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My 2nd Disney Cruise in Less Than A Month and What Has Changed

9/23/2021

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 I am back from my 2nd Disney Cruise in less than a month!   This time I sailed onboard the Fantasy and it was Fantastic!  There have been a few changes to cruising since I went in August though.

The biggest change was the Bahamas announcing that all guests age 12 and older must be vaccinated to sail to any Bahamian port, even the cruise line private islands.   This went into effect on September 3 but was only announced 8/20.   I am sure this changed things for a lot of families especially since the Bahamas didn't allow enough time to get everyone vaccinated if they were already booked on a cruise.  

Next up the CDC updated their requirements for cruising starting September 13.  
  • Beginning Sept. 13, all Guests, regardless of age and vaccination status, are required to take a COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal before boarding.
  • Disney Cruise Line will cover the cost.
  • Due to recently updated technical guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Guests 11 years of age and younger are not required to be vaccinated, but must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours prior to the date they set sail.
  • The window in which Guests 11 years of age and under must take and submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test result has been reduced. Instead of between 5 days and 24 hours prior to the sail date, tests must be taken and submitted between 3 days and 24 hours prior to the sail date.
  • The test should be a rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.
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This did mean that we had to take a test when arriving at the port when we didn't last time.   The process was pretty simple though.  We drove our own car over to the port so we entered the parking garage like before but this time we were directed to a parking space where someone gave us the test kits and explained how to do them.   They were an easy test and you do not have to go as far up your nose as the other test.   You put the swab in the vial and hand back the sealed baggie and then are directed to go park in the garage and hang out until your results come back which should be within 45 minutes.   We parked went to the bathroom and then found a cooler spot to hang out in the parking garage while we waited.   I can understand why Disney hasn't set up a seating area in the garage but having somewhere other than your car would have been nice.  We got the message on our phone that we were clear to board so we headed over to the terminal to check in.   This process was the same as before however what we hadn't factored in was that it would take pretty much an extra hour from our scheduled port arrival time to when we were actual able to get on the ship.   By the time we did we were very hungry so next time we will plan our time better.  Please note that while Disney is providing this test at the port not all cruise lines are offering that so if you are sailing with another line be sure to check if you will need to acquire your own test before boarding.  

Besides these big changes we did see a few smaller ones.   There was only one night for fireworks this time.   We were up on the top deck for the fireworks and there seemed to be plenty of space for anyone wanting to watch up there so I am guessing that is why they went back to just 1 night.   
Even though all adults had to be vaccinated the mask rule seemed to be more enforced than before.   While on Castaway you are pretty much always outdoors except for the bathrooms and when getting lunch.   Even though the food area is an open air area they were really strict about having your mask on and even had a box of disposable one handy as you entered for anyone that might not have brought a mask to lunch.   We ate at the adult only lunch location so it really surprised me that they were so strict about it.  I was glad to see hand wipes come back to all dining entrances instead of having to always use the sanitizer stations that squirt way too much for me.  

This cruise was a Halloween on the High Seas so it was nice to see how Disney was handling that with new protocols.   I had been on a Halloween sailing a few years ago and I honestly didn't notice that much of a change this time so the new policies did not take away from any of the festivities.  

Even with the new rules in place I had an amazing time and would go back and do it all again without thinking twice!
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Stress Free Vacations, Inc.
Orlando, Fl
Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST15578 
California Seller of Travel No. 2090937-50 
Washington UBID No. 603189022 

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