Cruises
Wondering if a cruise is the right choice for your next vacation?
If you are, you may have noticed that there are so many cruise lines out there. It can be hard to know which one is right for you. So, take our quiz and discover your perfect cruise line personality match. Just answer a few questions about your vacation style and preferences and read on to find out which cruise line is the best fit for you.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
1. What’s your ideal vacation destination?
- Somewhere tropical, like the Bahamas or Mexico
- European city like Paris or Rome
- Somewhere in the United States, like Alaska or Hawaii
- Somewhere unusual like Australia or New Zealand
2. What kind of activities do you like to do on vacation?
- Relaxing by the pool or beach
- Sightseeing and learning about the local culture
- Hiking, biking, or other outdoor activities
- Going out at night and partying
3. Which of the following words would you use to describe your ideal vacation?
- Relaxing
- Exotic
- Adventurous
- Grown-up
4. What kind of food do you like to eat on vacation?
- Local specialties that I can’t get at home
- Fine dining and gourmet meals
- Casual dining – I’m not picky; I just want to eat!
- I’m a foodie. Only the best and fresh ingredients, please!
If you answered mostly As: Carnival Cruise Line is perfect for you! They offer both tropical and European cruises, so you can find the perfect vacation no matter what you’re in the mood for. And on the Funship, you’ll be able to enjoy even more onboard activities and entertainment like The Family Feud, themed parties, karaoke, and so much more. Bon voyage!
If you answered mostly Bs: Royal Caribbean International is the cruise line for you! They offer a variety of itineraries all over the world so that you can see everything from glaciers to Great Barrier Reefs – and everything in between! With Royal Caribbean’s newly expanded Adventure Ocean Youth Program, your kids will have a blast while you’re enjoying some much-needed adult time too. Ready to set sail?
If you answered mostly Cs: Norwegian Cruise Line might be right for you! With Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising, you have the freedom to do whatever you want, when you want – whether it’s taking part in an onboard cooking class or exploring ashore on a guided tour of ancient ruins. With 20 dining options available across their fleet of ships, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste buds too! And their Hawaiian itineraries are simply amazing! All aboard?
If you answered mostly Ds: Let me introduce you to Virgin Voyages! And I say introduce you, because Virgin is a relative newcomer to the cruise world. But don’t let it fool you. Virgin has taken the idea of cruising and developed a fleet of modern, chic, and sexy ships. The food onboard is incredible, with some of the best restaurants at sea. And as they grow, they are introducing some really unique itineraries. Oh. And did I mention the cruises are adult-only?
And now that you know which cruise line is a perfect match for your personality, it’s time to pack up your lanyards, pot-pourri, and sea-bands, and get ready to set sail!
Caribbean Destinations, Cruises, Destination Weddings, Group Travel, Honeymoon, Romance Travel
Whether you’re looking to relax, for an adventure, or a little bit of both, a cruise is never a bad vacation! You can choose to head to the spa to relax, indulge in delicious food, explore amazing new destinations, and more! If you’re looking to take a cruise this year but aren’t sure where to head, look no further! Let’s break down the top 10 cruise destinations for 2022.
- The Bahamas
If you love crystal clear waters and lots of sun, the Bahamas is the right Caribbean Destination Weddings place for you. Check out a Perfect Day at CocoCay by Royal Caribbean and Half Moon Cay by Carnival. These gorgeous private islands are home to beautiful beaches, waterslides, wave pools, and some of the best vacation vibes in the Caribbean! If you’d rather explore more of the Bahamas, head into Nassau or Freeport to learn about the island off the beach.
- Curacao
Curacao is one of the most overlooked Caribbean islands, but this destination is not one to be forgotten! Curacao is the biggest of the six islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles. This island has so much rich and fascinating history and stunning architecture. And the best part? You will never be bored while docked in this stunning location! Head down into the deep waters on a scuba diving tour or stay closer to the surface while swimming with turtles. Explore the island’s history in their Christoffel National Park or relax on one of their stunning blue beaches!
- St. Maarten
Did you know that St. Maarten is split into two territories–one governed by France and the other by the Netherlands? This blend of different cultures makes this small Caribbean Island amazingly unique! Go zip-lining, relax on the beach, or head to the famous Maho Beach to see planes flying right above you!
- Barbados
Barbados is another popular cruise destination known for its must-see wildlife and delicious cuisine. In Bridgetown, you can even take a solar-powered tram down into the ground to explore Harrison’s Cave’s limestone cave system. You can also head into the island’s wildlife reserve to spot monkeys, tropical birds, and reptiles. Barbados is also known for its food scene as its cuisine is a blend of Indian, African, and British influences. If you’re a seafood lover, this destination is not to be missed!
- Honduras
Ready for an adventure? Look no further than Roatán in Honduras. Roatán is an island in Honduras about 40 miles off the country’s northern coast. While it’s small in size (only about 48 miles long and 5 miles across), it’s packed with natural beauty and plenty of adventure! The island sits on an exposed coral reef, allowing many close-up wildlife experiences. If you want an experience where you can spot sea life during your vacation, Roatán will be your best bet.
- Greece
Greece and the Greek Isles are great destinations to cruise to because you can explore all the charms of the different Greek islands in just one trip! Greece is a fantastic destination for equal parts relaxation and exploration. The country is bursting with stunning views, exciting history, one-of-a-kind culture, and food that cannot be beaten. Depending on your preferences, you’ll even be able to cruise from Greece to Italy to see more of the Mediterranean!
- Bermuda
If you’re ready for blue waters and pink sand beaches, look no further than Bermuda. Because the water is so clear, you can even explore underwater ship wreckage sites and coral reefs bursting with wildlife! Like Tulum, Bermuda also has underground caves lined with crystals and calcite formations. And if you’d rather relax, head to the gorgeous pink sand beaches to sunbathe all day!
- St. Thomas
Many Caribbean cruise ships opt to stop in Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, as it’s known for one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. There are a ton of beaches on the island to visit, and don’t forget about the mountain range for breathtaking views! If you opt for a beach day, check out one of the many beachside bars and restaurants for delicious local food and cocktails or beers!
- Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is ideal for anyone interested in history and natural landmarks. You can see Spanish forts lining the coastline and colorful colonial buildings throughout the streets. If you’re a foodie, you won’t want to miss out on the local cuisine. With its Spanish and African influences, the seafood and meat dishes are not to be skipped over.
- Mexico
Of course, this list of cruise destinations wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Mexico! Cozumel is a popular cruise destination, and for good reason! Cozumel is home to beautiful beaches and ancient Mayan ruins that are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before! Cozumel also boasts gorgeous waters that are perfect for snorkeling with tropical wildlife! Tulum is adjacent to Cozumel and provides endless adventures such as swimming in cenotes (giant caves/sinkholes), fun day parties on the beach, and shopping galore!
When you’re ready to take your next cruise, let’s talk about it. I’ll help you plan the perfect getaway at sea.
Cruises, Europe
You’ll never forget how beautiful Greece is when you experience it firsthand during a Greek Island Cruise. Sparkling waters, black sand beaches, vibrant sunsets, and towering white temples from an ancient Grecian period; are all awaiting you in the stunning country of Greece.
Greece is unmatched in its one-of-a-kind experiences, trendy shops, crystal-clear ocean water, and beautifully unique views. And I haven’t even mentioned the gyros yet…
One of the absolute best ways to see the beautiful sites in Greece is by taking a Greek Island Cruise between Athens and various island ports.
There’s a limitless number of reasons why a Greek Island Cruise is worth every single penny!
Here are just a few:
- The Views!
Stunning. Sensational. Devastatingly beautiful. These are all words you might use to describe the views you’ll witness on your cruise.
You’ll sail through those beautiful blue seas and catch the sun as it sets over nearby islands, casting shades of pinks and oranges through the sky. You will not regret getting the chance to see the beautiful Grecian islands from out at sea.
You can enhance your experience by booking a balcony stateroom that’ll provide you with 24/7 access to the privilege of these views.
cruise ship near volcano on island of Santorini, Greece.
- The convenience!
A cruise will take you from one port to the next. You won’t have to deal with taking a flight, busy airports, or a tumultuous ferry every time you change islands.
You’ll also get to keep your luggage in one place. Packing, repacking, and lugging around heavy bags, is an annoyance you’ll be able to avoid.
- The fun!
When done right, cruises are a big ball of fun. After a long day of exciting sightseeing and activities, you can grab a cocktail with your friends, family, or fellow cruise-mates. You’ll dance at a club, sing karaoke, gamble at the casino, enter a trivia contest, or watch a movie under the stars. And did I mention it’s all included?
Most Greek Island Cruises stop at the following ports:
Athens
Witness the gorgeous view of Athens from the hillside of the famous Acropolis. Learn an in-depth account of ancient Greek history at the Acropolis Museum. Wander around the markets and shopping stalls for the perfect Greek souvenirs.
Santorini
You’re probably already familiar with the surreal white villages built on the rising coastlines of Santorini, overlooking the ocean below. Santorini also has some of the best beaches in Greece, including the famous black sand beach that resulted from nearby volcanic reactions thousands of years ago.
Mykonos
Known as the party island of Greece, Mykonos is nothing if not fun. You’ll be up from dusk till dawn, partaking in the island’s incredible nightlife scene. And during the day, you’ll be able to relax in the brilliant warmth of the island sun.
Book a Greek Island Cruise!
Now that you’ve learned why Greek Island Cruises are unmatched in their beauty, convenience, and fun, it’s time to whip out your suitcase and passport and get packing!
It’s time to sail around Greece and explore all the best destinations it offers- Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Get ready for lots of sunshine, saltwater, and gyros!
Africa, Caribbean Destinations, Cruises, Dubai Travel, Europe, General, Hawaii, Jamaica, Maldives, Mexico, Solo, Spain
Go Solo Safely
Twenty-Five Travel Tips for Female Travelers
Traveling solo is an amazing and liberating experience. But some people, especially women, may be hesitant to travel solo with concerns for their safety. Here are some tips to help you on your journey.
- Start slow. Your first solo trip doesn’t have to be an extravagant European vacation. Taking a road trip to a neighboring state counts too and gets you warmed up for bigger future trips.
- Avoid listening to music in headphones or earbuds while walking about in a city. It will make you less aware of your surroundings.
- RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! Plan out your activities and accommodations ahead of time. Be sure to check out the reviews of each before booking!
- Do not flaunt valuable jewelry, purses, or accessories. They will make you a target for someone intending to rob an unsuspecting traveler.
- Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free service that alerts you of changing travel advisories, natural disasters, or family emergencies.
- Make eye contact with people and walk straight up, always addressing people with confidence and assertiveness.
- Pack light when traveling solo. If you have an unexpected injury, you’ll have difficulty lugging around a heavy suitcase, and you won’t have any backup to help you.
- Make yourself aware of the city or area and if they are having issues with scams or crimes.
- Avoid getting intoxicated while you are in a foreign and unknown place alone. A few drinks here and there are ok, but safety first!
- Stay off your phone. This will help you stay more aware of your surroundings, of course, and will help avoid getting lost.
- At night, while walking, try to stay close to a group or a family. Make eye contact with them so that they realize you are friendly. Stay close so that you are less of a target to someone that could be watching from a distance.
- Avoid traveling by public transportation such as trains, buses, or taxis at night. Uber is an international company and much safer because the app can track the driver and travel details. You can also share your ride information, including driver identity and vehicle details with any of your contacts.
- Take an escorted tour. You’ll have solo accommodations, but you’ll meet up with a tour guide and small group for all activities and some meals. Always keep the contact information of your accommodations on your person. Should you get lost during your travels, you will have the location information as a quick reference.
- Don’t skip on Travel Insurance. As a solo traveler, travel insurance is even more critical in case of injury, trip interruptions, or lost/stolen baggage.
- As a woman, there is an advantage to carrying cash or cards in your bra or in a money belt that fits under your clothes. It’s wise to carry most of your money and cards somewhere on or close to your body.
- Be willing to meet local women. Women tend to look out for other women. So as a solo traveler, it does not hurt to make friends with local women.
- Be careful with social media. Before you “do it for the gram,” consider not posting in real-time or tagging your location while you’re still there.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged when you leave your room. Bring an external power bank to be on the safe side.
- Don’t spend big in public. You never know who’s watching you pull out large amounts of cash or swiping for big purchases.
- You do not have to check with your family or friends every day but let them know the details of your accommodations and the activities you have planned. Schedule calls at specific times so that they are expecting to hear from you. Should anything go wrong, that is their initial indicator.
- While traveling internationally, make copies of your passport and take the documents with you. Always leave your official passport behind at your accommodations, preferably in a safe.
- Do not share your personal information with strangers while out and about in a foreign and unknown place.
- Look into single’s cruises. They often have designated and safe meetups for other single adults
- Don’t be cheap when it comes to your accommodations. Staying in a place with security or a gated entrance is a great option for solo travelers.
At different times in our lives, we all appreciate and need the opportunity to be alone. This desire does not change when it comes to traveling. There is peace and tranquility in exploring a new place with just oneself. So go for it!
Be confident! Be Safe! But most importantly, have a ball and truly enjoy yourself. Let me know if you help planning your next adventure.
Africa, Caribbean Destinations, Cruises, Destination Weddings, Dubai Travel, Europe, General, Group Travel, Hawaii, Honeymoon, Jamaica, Maldives, Mexico, Romance Travel, Solo, Spain
Photo Storage
Message: There is no enough available storage to take a photo
You pull out your phone, and you get ready to take the most epic photo of all time. And then you get that dreaded message. There is no available storage to take a photo. Now, what in the world do you do? You have to decide between deleting your pictures or skipping this photo you were about to take.
In the future, you can avoid this by backing up your photos into a photo storage program. With photo storage, you open an app from your phone and select the images and videos you want to save. Once your media is uploaded, you can delete them from your photo and free up all that space. There are lots of free and paid options. Because most of us are “thrifty,” let’s go over some of the free options.
Shutterfly
You may have heard about Shutterfly for their wide variety of photo gifts, but they also have a storage element to make it easier to make your photo gift. There are no catches. You can store an unlimited number of photos with Shutterfly. They do not require a purchase, and they do not purge your files. You only pay if you print photos or create a photo gift. The only catch is photos only here. Don’t expect to save your videos to Shutterfly.
Dropbox
With DropBox, you can save any file. Photo, video, documents, it all goes here. Dropbox does have limits, though. Here you get 2GB of free storage per email account. After that, you will have to pay a monthly rate of at least $9.99 per month. But if you upgrade to a paid version, you’ll get a terabyte of storage. If you don’t know, that’s an incredible amount of storage.
Google Photos
Who doesn’t have Gmail? Well, if you have Gmail, then you have a google account. With that Google account, you get access to google photos. And yes, google photos will allow you to save your photos and videos. There are some limitations. Google Photos gives users free, unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels and videos up to 1080p resolution. I don’t really know what those numbers mean (honest moment), but I can tell you I have never had an issue. Now there is a rumor that they will institute some paid options at some point, but who knows how accurate those rumors are.
Amazon Photos
Do you pay for Amazon Prime every year? Well, it’s not just for free 2-day shipping, you know! One of the many benefits to a prime user is Amazon photos. Store an unlimited amount of pictures and up to 5GB of video and other media. Not interested in all the Amazon Prime Hooplah? Well, then you just need to pay only 20.00 per year for 100 GB of photo storage. Not a bad deal at all.
See. There are lots of options that will keep your precious memories stored. And as a bonus, know if you lose or change your cell phone, you will still have all of your photos!
So the next time you get ready for that epic shot, you can just snap away! Want more travel tips? Feel free to send me a message.
Cruises, Destination Weddings, General, Group Travel, Honeymoon, Romance Travel
Should I Purchase a Drink Package?
Whether you’re sipping Mai Tais poolside or hanging out by the bar for an evening nightcap, for many vacationers’ alcoholic drinks are synonymous with a cruise vacation. But those costs quickly add up.
On the typical 7-day cruise, it’s estimated that each passenger drinks an average of 4.7 alcoholic drinks per day. With the average cocktail costing around $10, you could be spending upwards of $50 a day on drinks.
In order to save money, consider getting a drink package. You’ll know upfront how much you’ll spend on drinks, and if you like soda, specialty coffee drinks, or fancy bottled water options, it’s also convenient.
Do I Have to Buy One?
No, you don’t have to buy one. The best way to figure out if it’ll work best for you is to look into the costs of drinks and tally how much you may end up spending without the package. Remember, once you purchase the drinks deal, you won’t be able to change your mind and get a refund.
How Much Does It Cost?
On average, the standard drink packages cost 55 to 65 dollars per person, per day. Cruise lines offer packages with different drink options. The cheapest package may have limited options with maximum per-drink prices, while the more expensive packages include more options, including more premium liquors. Drink packages are often more affordable before arriving on the ship.
What if I Don’t Drink Alcohol?
On most cruise lines, you’ll be charged for almost all drinks besides tea, coffee, lemonade, and tap water. If you enjoy drinking soda, freshly squeezed juices, or want to kick back with a mocktail, you’ll still be able to get your money’s worth from a drink package. There are indeed nonalcoholic drink packages available for you too. These packages are generally less expensive.
What are the General Rules of a Drink Package?
- Drink packages are per person, not per family or stateroom.
- The package only applies to beverages purchased on board the ship (and the cruise line’s private destinations)
- The package may exclude room service and in-room minibars.
Can You Share Drink Packages on a Cruise?
No, guests who are caught sharing a drink with someone who doesn’t have a drink package can risk having their drink package benefits revoked with no refund. In many cases, all adults in the stateroom have to purchase the same package. More and more cruise lines are moving towards this policy.
What’s Included
Each drink package varies by cruise line. Royal Caribbean has one package offer that’s between $63 and $89 per person, per day. It includes Cocktails, Wine by the glass, sparkling water, soda, and discounts for wine bottles. Some cruise lines even offer “unlimited drinks,” but read the fine print. Carnival and Princess limit you to 15 alcoholic drinks per day with unlimited nonalcoholic beverages.
So, Is it Worth it?
That depends on your needs. If you’re only interested in getting one or two drinks per day or you’re sailing a port heavy itinerary, you might be better off just paying per drink.
But if you drink a lot of juice and intend to drink various alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks on vacation, you’ll see that you’re going to save money in the long run. To make ensure you’re getting your money’s worth check out drink prices online, figure out how much you’re likely to order, and keep in mind that days you’re in port cities, you won’t be ordering as much. And if you need help planning your next cruise trip, don’t hesitate to message us.
