Category: Travel

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Awesome cruise on the Carnival Breeze!

We sailed on the Carnival Breeze September, 2019. The ship leaves out of Port Canaveral. It holds 3,690 passengers and was built in 2012 with her recent refurbishment in 2017.

The first thing we did on the ship was eat at Guy’s Burger Joint. What an awesome burger with amazing toppings and fantastic french fries! A great way to start our cruise.

We found several great places on the ship to just sit, people watch, read and be on the ocean. On both sides of Deck 5, outside of Ocean Plaza, are chairs and tables with umbrellas which are very comfortable. The pool deck aft of the Lido Marketplace Buffet Restaurant is also nice and has some covered chairs and lounge chairs to sit in. The Serenity Deck on this ship is the aft part of the ship, deck 15. Adults only with lots of lounge chairs but not shade.

We were scheduled to go to Bermuda where we had reserved a tandem electric car to explore the island. But, Hurricane Humberto went there a day or so before we left port and Hurricane Jerry was on the way there. So, they diverted us to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Guess that is what you get when you schedule a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season. But, although we didn’t go where we expected, it was still a fun cruise and the ports were great!

What are the odds!?!? We were still on the way to San Juan when Hurricane Karen popped up and was headed directly for Puerto Rico, to arrive about the same time we did. And, the early morning we were to get there, there was a 6.1 earthquake 5 miles offshore of San Juan. Were we  being told something? Fortunately, the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical depression and slowed so it didn’t get there until after we left. The people who were awake felt the earthquake but it didn’t cause any damage and no tsunami. 

We had fun there walking around San Juan. We heard about a coffee shop in Old San Juan, very close to the dock, called Cuatro Sombras. Wonderful coffee and pastries! We highly recommend it!

Next stop – Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. No beach access but the pool was nice with a swim up bar and a water park. Lots of shops, but we thought they were overpriced.

Grand Turk is pretty with the colorful buildings you expect in the Caribbean. There is a Margaritaville there, nice pools and beach access with lots of lounge chairs. The sand is very soft and white. There are also many water activities, paddle board, lots of boat rides, etc.

One day we went to our normal spot on Deck 5. There was a young couple there with their one year old son who was just learning to take his first steps. The kid was cute as a button. There were several of us grandparent types sitting in the chairs. We were encouraging him and clapping for him. He would grin, clap back to us, then try even harder to perfect his walking. Have to say it was the best show on the ship.

Another interesting thing we got to do on the ship – the head chef took us on a tour of the largest galley on the ship. It was a real learning experience. Seemed like miles of stainless steel cabinets, neat as a pin, and busy. There were separate areas for prepping all the food – salads, entrees, desserts, sides, etc. And even separate dishwashing areas for china, glasses, utensils, etc. You should have seen the size of the chocolate bar they use for the Carnival Warm Chocolate Melting Cake! They make 22,000 meals every week, not counting the pub meals, barbecue and pizza. There are 190 chefs onboard. That’s a LOT of cooking!! 

We had both entrees the night we had shrimp and filet; also the night we had lobster and prime rib. Plus we had the Melting Chocolate Cake and Creme Brûlée each time it was offered. They are both awesome!

The Italian Restaurant on the ship, Cecina del Capitano, is fantastic! And if you can get in, on the days they have a pasta bar, it is also wonderful. You get a choice of pasta, sauces and added items such as mushrooms, peppers, onions, grilled chicken, shrimp, etc. Then you pick your bread. It was ready in 5 minutes and was very good. Then you could go to the buffet for dessert.

Speaking of the buffet for dessert,  the last day they had the Chocolate Extravaganza – lots of different chocolate cakes, desserts and there was a chocolate fountain that fruit, marshmallows, etc. could be dipped in. If you like chocolate, this was not to be missed!

In addition to the Guy Fieri’s burgers, the BlueIguana Cantina had a great taco bar, burritos and a few several breakfast choices. Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse had great barbecue, chicken, mac and cheese, slaw, collards and baked beans. The pizza on the ship was good too. You could take what they had or you could ask for specific toppings and they would fix it for you. The Carnival Deli also fixed wonderful sandwiches.

We really had a good time and enjoyed the cruise immensely. We will certainly have no issues putting our clients aboard the Carnival Breeze.

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Impressions of the Sky Princess

Sky Princess

In our business, we get to try lots of ships and preview many more. We do our best not to sail on any given ship more than once or twice. It’s important that we have a broad base of knowledge about the offerings from all the cruise lines. In this way we can speak from personal experience about the ship, crew, dining, and entertainment.

During the first week of December this year, Deedee and I had the privilege of being invited to an inaugural sailing of the new Sky Princess and to attend the naming ceremony after the cruise. This was a short three day cruise for the travel advisor and trade press community, so they were obviously putting their best foot forward. Having said that, this is an awesome ship.

In many ways it is a new look for Princess. Much cooler colors tending towards blues and muted tans instead of the dark woods and browns of the older ships. A very pleasing new color scheme without moving away from the understated elegance that Princess has always eschewed. 

  • Public Spaces

Our cabin on this cruise was a balcony on deck 17 mid ship on the port side. A category BD for those of you that follow such things. Again a much cooler color scheme than before. First thing is the bed. Not sure what they have done, but it was the best sleep we have had in a long time. Not to stiff, not too soft, just right. The duvet has a sheet under it which made Deedee very happy. The bathroom was not huge, but the shower was a reasonable size, although still with that damn shower curtain. The closet and drawers were redesigned, with much better ability to organize stuff. This is one of the better additions to the cabin. A decent sized desk with lots of outlets and USB ports plus some beside the bed. Yeah!! No couch in the balcony cabins, you have to go to a mini-suite or above for that. Decent sized balcony fo two people. Overall, very pleased with the cabin.

A unique feature with Princess is the Ocean Medallion. This little disc comes to you a couple of weeks before you board and is your ticket to everything that is available on the ship. Boarding is so much simpler, because you just walk up to the desk, the system reads your medallion and its done. From there, you show it at the ship and you’re in. The medallion opens your cabin door when you get very close. The little screen welcomes you and as you approach the door the door handle has a red ring. When recognition is complete that ring turns green and the door is unlocked. The medallion is your onboard purchases device, and works with the ocean medallion app. We were at the adult pool and wanted a drink. We called up the app, ordered the drinks and the waiter brought them right to us a few minutes later. This works because the system knows where you are. Meeting up with friends is also a snap, as the app can tell you where other folks in your party are on the ship. Very cool tech, and it works as advertised the majority of the time.

I also have to comment on the ship’s wifi. Best I have ever had on a ship. Now compared to land based broadband, thats not saying much, but it is reliable, and Princess doesn’t charge by the hour or gigabyte. It’s open and running 24/7. Wifi calling on the phone worked perfectly, and email and most online websites did as well. It is still satellite based, so there is a good deal of latency. When lots of people are on it, it can get SLOW, but that’s just how the technology works. 

All of the mainline large cruise ship providers now spend a lot of time and funds on the entertainment piece. Princess is certainly no exception. The broadway shows we saw were outstanding. Full of energy and great dancing. Singers were first rate. There was a show based on video games that I wasn’t certain I would like, but in fact was dazzling with the sets and visuals, and very entertaining. Comedy shows were excellent with several very good comics highlighted.

On a three day cruise, there wasn’t nearly enough time to try all the dining venues, plus we had some times we had to eat with our Cruise Planners group. We did try the buffet on the Lido deck, and it was very good. Pretty much like every other buffet on a ship. Two pizza places. One in the atrium, and the other on Lido. Of course an ice cream spot. The specialty restaurant we did get to try was Sabatini’s. We are both suckers for great Italian food. Our previous encounter on the Crown Princess left a bit to be desired. Princess has revamped the menu, and it was excellent. The dishes leaned a bit towards the Tuscan region with a smattering of Southern Italy and Sicilian available. Well prepared with great presentation, along with a wonderful wine selection. Excellent, attentive staff. Hopefully the Crown Grill measures up.

The main dining rooms were very stylish with the new color schemes and decor. Excellent service for dinner and breakfast. The menu’s were very good with delightful pairings of dishes and wines. No issues at all. 

A common problem on most ships is the lack of deck chairs around the pools and decks. On the Sky, we never felt like we were squeezed out of finding a couple of places to sit, even on sea days. The adult pool on deck 17 was by far our favorite. There were not a lot of kids on board, but we never saw one at the adult pool. In fact, this is not really a ship to entertain children. No water slides, or laser tag. There is a kids area, but its all interior space. Lots of eateries and bars all over the outside areas, and of course you can get just about anything brought to you with your medallion.

OK, I admit to being a classical music fan, and somewhat of a scotch snob, so having an amazing string quartet, and a wee dram in the atrium every evening before dinner was an absolute joy. The ladies were from the Eastern Europe countries, and were conservatory trained. It showed. The ensemble playing was superb, and the selections from Mozart to Bussoni, plus some more popular tunes were performed with emotion and precision. Did I mention that the Macallan 15 was very good as well.

Not being a gambler, the casino was not a big deal for us, however it was fairly large and looked like it had a great variety of table games and machines.

Bottom line. This is likely the best ship in the Princess fleet at the moment. Next year, the Enchanted Princess launches in Europe and is the sister ship to the Sky. As with any ship and crew, there were a few hiccups, but the overall experience was absolutely top notch. This is a ship that, as travel advisors, we will have no problem recommending to our clients.

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Interesting Things about Your Cruise Ship Cabin




 

  1. Keep your cruise papers organized. Carry a few magnets with you on your cruise. The walls of your cabin are magnetic and you can use the magnets to keep the paper you need for that day out of the stack.
  2. The bathrooms could benefit from a scented air freshener so bring one with you (not candles or anything that needs to be lit). You can hang it on the shower or towel bar and help cut down on bathroom smells. 
  3. There is room under the bed where you can store your suitcases. Some lines store extra linen there but you should be able to put most of your luggage under the bed. 
  4. Bed configuration should be specified before your cruise but if you find it is not to your liking when you get there, you can ask your cabin steward to have it changed. They can be single beds or queen/king bed.
  5. Other furniture in the room is pretty set with where it is. Most tables, etc. are heavily weighted so the don’t move in rougher seas.
  6. The tap water in the cabin is safe to drink. Ship’s water systems go through rigorous filtration and testing which is overseen by U.S. And European health agencies. So, you don’t need to carry lots of bottled water.
  7. Expect a little smaller room than your average hotel room. But they have it well arranged to utilize the space you have as well as lots of storage nooks.


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Civil War Sites

Civil War Sites

History buffs have a lot of historic sites to visit in South Carolina. From Fort Sumter to Parris Island, South Carolina is absolutely brimming with Civil War and American history. 

We have the site of the first shot of the Civil War in Charleston at Fort Sumter National Monument. The National Monument also includes the Visitor Center on Patriots Point and Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. The Fort Sumter National Memorial is a fascinating look into the beginning of that war. There are preserved elements at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie with still standing artillery and other historic items. A visit to the Charleston Museum will give you a better understanding of the importance of these sites. It has an exhibit called “City Under Siege” which gives interesting details about what lead to the secession and the battle at Fort Sumter. While you are in Charleston, the Secessionville Historic District on James Island is a collection of sites and structures relevant to the Civil War.

No Civil War history would be complete without a visit to River Bridge State Historic Site. It is on a 400 acre site about seven miles from Ehrhardt. You can do a walking tour which lets you view the mostly intact Civil War fortifications and the cemetery.

Even our State House in Columbia has Civil War significance. It narrowly avoided complete destruction during Sherman’s march in 1865. The building has six bronze stars marking where artillery batteries hit the building.

The SC State Museum in Columbia features a Confederate Relic room, a Military Museum, as well as an impressive Civil War collection. There is a replica of the H.L. Hundley submarine (you can see the original in Charleston), several copies of the original Ordnance of Secession as well as plenty of authentic artifacts.

 At the Parris Island Museum at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot near Beaufort, you can get an in-depth look into several Civil War conflicts taking place around the Port Royal Sound area. There are several Confederate Museums in SC. The Confederate Museum in Charleston houses a collection of Civil War goods and items. Greenville is home to the South Carolina Confederate Museum. Myrtle Beach is home to the South Carolina Civil War Museum which features authentic firearms, uniforms, and other artifacts.

There is lots of history in our state offering in depth looks into the era and you can have fun learning.

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Destinations to Explore

Alaska is an amazing state. You can cruise between May and September, perfect for school vacations! Alaska has breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife, and spectacular glaciers. You can see whales, go dog sledding, visit frontier towns, go on amazing helicopter tours, and see glaciers calving. It is a fabulous experience! You can cruise on the major cruise lines or some of the smaller lines for more adventurous cruising.

Hawaii is an exotic place with several islands to explore. The good part of traveling to Hawaii is you don’t need a passport. After all, it is part of the United States. You can whale watch from November to early May and visit sea turtle sanctuaries. There are extinct and active volcanos to visit; beautiful beaches from pink sand to black sand; stunning cleaved, green-clad volcanic cliffs dripping down to the sea, cascading waterfalls and many more awesome sights to see. And where else can you go to an authentic traditional luau?

How about the Fjords of Norway, Sweden, or Iceland? Fjords are beautiful, long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion and offer beautiful vistas. Speaking of Iceland, you can go for the Northern Lights, several national and state parks, rainbow colored mountains, the Blue Lagoon where you can swim in the healing waters, black sand beaches, geothermal pools, and urban cities as well as stunning scenery.

Imagine, visiting Antarctica and seeing penguin colonies, soaring glacier cliffs, calving icebergs, whale seals, albatross. There are icebreaker ships and expedition ships which have experts and naturalists for learning about wildlife, geology, oceanography, glaciology and history. Visit the Galapagos Island and see giant tortoise, sea lions, birds, iguanas beautiful white sand beaches, hiking, diving and snorkeling. 

Australia offers the iconic landmarks in Sydney, beautiful beaches with lots of surfing, and of course, The Great Barrier Reef. You can visit a number of World Heritage Sites including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Blue Mountains and the Rainforestation National Park, ride a camel along the shore, or learn the secrets to pearl farming,  New Zealand has black sand beaches and the world’s yacht racing capital, Auckland. Inside Auckland’s Waitomo Grotto, you will see the glittering glowworms, or enjoy an exclusive kiij at Maori and Polynesian exhibits. Along Akaroa’s Southern Alps you can see the white-flippered blue penguins and fur seals. New Zealand is home to Maori legends and steaming volcanic lakes.

Mediterranean cruise vacations are packed with history and culture. You can have sun and sand or just enjoy the natural beauty of the area and become immersed in the number of diverse cultures in the countries on the Mediterranean. Some of the countries include Italy, Spain, the Greek Islands, Malta, Croatia, Turkey, Portugal and Egypt. Or you can cruise the Italian or French Riviera. The Baltic Sea cruises visit Scandinavian cities such as Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, plus St. Petersburg in Russia.

Or try a non-sea cruise. River cruising is on small ships typically less than 200 passengers. Rivers don’t have high waves either for those of you who are prone to seasickness. River cruising is more intimate and you usually dock right in the city center so sights are often walkable. River cruising is as varied as ocean cruising. You can cruise on the Amazon, Danube, Nile, Rhine, Dnieper, Douro Portugal, Elbel Germany, Main, or Seine. Cruise the Volga or Svir in Russia, Dnieper Ukraine, or Dutch Waterways. In the US you can cruise the Upper or Lower Mississippi, the Ohio or Tennessee, or the Columbia or Snake Rivers. In the Far East you can cruise the Yangtze in China, Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, or the Irrawaddy in Myanmar. There are also Barge Cruises on European canals. Barges typically hold 8 passengers and the cruise is easily customizable so you can see whe you want to see.

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All Inclusive Vacation





Why would you want to consider an all-inclusive resort for your vacation? At all-inclusive resorts, you can enjoy everything they have to offer at no additional cost. You know what your vacation will cost and there are no surprises when checking out, as you might have on a cruise. All meals, even speciality restaurants, water activities, shows, entertainment, drinks and pools are included in the price. The only exception is spa treatments and some motorized water sports. Pick your all-inclusive based on what you want to do for a fabulous vacation!

Each all-inclusive brand offers different amenities. Some have swim-up rooms where you can swim from your room terrace to the main pool. Some have butler service or concierge service. Most have 24 hour room service. Some have in-suite plunge pools, Jacuzzi, and in-suite rain showers or outdoor private showers. You can have a destination wedding of your dreams or a fantastic honeymoon.  You can go snorkeling, windsurfing, surfing, diving, fishing, play basketball, beach volleyball, or bocce ball, take language lessons, cooking classes have a cookout on the beach, go whale watching, watch turtles hatch and go into the ocean, participate in special parties like dance parties, watch a movie under the stars on the beach, go to eco-parks, have a private dinner on the beach, etc.

 If it isn’t an all adult resort, there are family rooms and clubs for children which offer many activities and family time. There are activities just for children from camping on the beach, video games, and sports to learning a new language or learning to cook.

It can be confusing to compare all the different all inclusive brands and all inclusive individual hotels. The choice is enormous and each island, city, or country usually only have a few of the brands. You can do the research yourselves, or call your travel advisor for help. If you find the right all-inclusive you can  have a vacation with a lifetime of wonderful memories! 

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Women Traveling Alone



Traveling alone can be intimidating, especially if you are a woman. There are a few safety precautions you use at home but it is good to review them before you travel, whether to another city, take a cruise, or travel to other country. Being aware of your surroundings and planning ahead will go a long way to make your trip an enjoyable, safe one.

Make sure you have photocopies of any travel documents you need and keep them with you. It is also a good idea to make electronic copies of them and email them to yourself. The electronic copy ensures you have them even if you misplace the photocopies.

Traveling with a group is the safest way to travel. You don’t have to stay with the group for everything but if you are sightseeing, find a tour or several other like-minded women who can go together. There is safety in numbers.

It’s OK to talk to locals. If you don’t, you will loose the flavor of the area you are in. Men are OK to talk to, just pick the right man in the right situation. If there are others around or he is with a family, that’s fine.

In Europe if you look at someone in the face, they accept that as you are willing to talk. Wear shades and you don’t have to worry about it. If you don’t want to talk to them, tell them firmly NO and walk off. A wedding band is somewhat of a deterrent.

Act with confidence as if you are comfortable wherever you are. Protect your purse or wallet at all times. In a restaurant, hook the straps in the leg of your chair or keep your purse on your lap.

By using common sense, making good decisions, and above all else, having confidence in yourself and your ability to travel on your own, you’ll be rewarded with rich experiences ― and great stories to tell your friends.

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Great Places to Cruise

Great Places to Cruise

The top place to go on a cruise is the Caribbean. Especially for Americans since we can get there from most cruise ports. You can go to the Eastern Caribbean which includes Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, St Kitts, US Virgin Islands, Puerto, and others. Western including the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Belize and Mexico. Or Southern which includes Aruba, Trinidad, Tobago, and more. As with any cruise, you unpack once and get to see different places with your floating inclusive hotel along with you.

Breathtaking scenery, wildlife and spectacular glaciers are part of Alaska cruises. Our largest state has spectacular fjords and glaciers as well as beautiful bays and inlets. Bald eagles, bears, caribou, moose, mountain goats, bison, Dall sheep and whales are just a few of the animals you might spot on your cruise.

A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea will stop by multiple countries. Eastern Mediterranean could include  the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Crete, Greece and Turkey. The Western Mediterranean might include Venice, Rome, Sicily, Monte Carlo, Tropez and Barcelona. There is a lot of natural beauty and diverse cultures in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Hawaii is another great cruise choice with all of it’s famous sights and fantastic caring people. Most cruises visit the islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and The Big Island. Each island has something unique to offer – from cascading waterfalls to National Parks, volcanos and beautiful beaches. You can also go on a Hawaiian Luau.

Australia and New Zealand are also among the best places to go on a cruise. They usually cover Sydney, Queensland, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and maybe even Tasmania. Australia is famous for its surfing, beaches and of course, The Great Barrier Reef. New Zealand mainly cruises in South Island, North Island and some small islets. The racing capital of the world is Auckland.

So, start checking off your bucket list and get cruising!

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Cruising Hints

Cruising Hints

It matters what line you choose – how well a cruise suits your personality can have a big impact on your overall onboard experience. Some lines attract fiercely loyal customers with a party vibe; others draw them in with a quieter, more sophisticated ambience.

Consider the Internet and alcohol packages before you board.
When Internet costs around 79 cents a minute and drinks are upwards of $8 – $10 each, a few minutes of web surfing here and a couple of cocktails there can really add up. Research the packages carefully before boarding — they may seem pricey, but you might end up saving money.

Don’t try to do everything on the daily calendar.
You’ll get a schedule each day of events happening on board, but if you try to participate in every little activity — from seminars to trivia contests — you might end up feeling overwhelmed. Pick and choose what you want to participate in.

Make reservations as soon as possible.
Book shore excursions and specialty restaurant reservations online prior to your trip, or as soon as you board. Spots fill up quickly! If you’re hoping to go to the spa on a day at sea, remember that this is the most popular time for bookings.

It’s normal to order multiple dishes at meals.
Want to try more than one entrée? Go for it. A few appetizers? Sure. They’re included in the price of your fare (except at some specialty restaurants).

Sit back and relax — you don’t have to plan much.
This is definitely a vacation for the easy going. It’s hard to see the downside of waking up in a new port each day without the hassle of planning how to get there.

The cruising experience is what you make of it.
The beauty of cruising is that you control the type of day you have, from quiet to active. If you prefer to sleep in and lounge at the pool, you can. But if you want to work out, get a facial, and attend a Broadway-style performance, that’s an option, too. Your schedule on board is totally flexible.

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Get busy on your Bucket List

What is a bucket list? It is a list of all the things you want to try, goals you want to achieve and life experiences you want to have before you die. Have you always wanted to go to Hawaii or Alaska? How about Iceland and see the Northern Lights or Australia and see kangaroos in the wild? Or maybe you have wanted to see all 47 State Parks in SC? Do you want to learn how to grow tomatoes, make a table, sew a dress or cross stitch a picture? Whatever you have always wanted to do, you should make plans to do it.

We all say “Someday.” But if you don’t plan for it or even schedule it – it will always be “Someday”. Make a list of all the things you would like to see and do. Include everything – from the River Cruise in Europe to going to see the Braves play baseball or zip lining. Then look at all the things on the list. Mark off everything that isn’t really important to you. Put your list in order of priority. You can break that down into whatever you can do this year, next year or if you need to save money for it, can you achieve it in two or three years? If you save towards a goal, you are more likely to do it. 

Or pick out the top three things. What excites you the most? What has to be done in during certain times? (An Alaska cruise can only be April until September.) Then start planning the three things. What do you need to do to make that happen? How much does it cost and how long will it take you to save for that? What is the first step? – then do it! Be as specific as possible and anticipate potential problems so when the time comes to make your memories you can focus on enjoying the moment without facing last-minute issues.

One suggestion is to discuss what is on your bucket list with a travel agent. When they know the things you want to do, they can watch for the best deals to help you attain the things on your list.

Your bucket list should be a changing list. As you do things, you might add something else or take something off. Or even better, you have just done it!