Magen's Bay Beach is a well-known and absolutely marvelous beach! The water is a dazzling shade of blue and the sand is soft and cushy. On our second trip to St. Thomas we decided to head to Magen's Bay for a few hours and we were fortunate to have good weather to enjoy it. Opting to go to the beach on our own vs. taking a cruise ship excursion, we easily grabbed a cab to the beach. The "cabs" are really shuttle vans, and ours gave us a wrist band to use their service for transportation to and from the port. We paid $7 per person, plus a fee of $4 per person (cash) to get into the beach. I do see that prices are higher now so be prepared to possibly pay a bit more, not only for cab service but also to get in. http://www.magensbayauthority.com/
We brought along our Norwegian towels and a backpack with some water and sunscreen to hang out for the morning. We really found ourselves in the water for the vast majority of our time as it was hot! There are chairs you can rent, as well as concessions and water sports equipment for purchase and rentals. The beach was relatively busy with cruisers and other tourists, and the view of the mountains was breathtaking. Some people plan to stay at Magen's all day and you can do that too. We don't typically favor long beach days but some fellow cruisers were planning to spend the entire day in the sun and surf. When we were ready to go back to the port we found one of our shuttles parked in the lot and there were several other folks looking to go back to the port as well. Sometimes the drivers don't want to leave without a semi full van. I am sure you can grab a private driver and negotiate for the price and round trip fare if you wish, but plan to spend at least $11/$12 per person for an excursion. Entrance for kids under twelve is usually free for Magen's Bay, though. I highly recommend taking a trip to Magen's Bay when you go to St. Thomas. This picturesque beach has been voted one of the top ten beaches in the world in many circles over the years and is sure to be a place you will love to visit!
Although my husband and I have been Floridians for over two decades and our son is born and bred in our sunny state, we had surprisingly never been to Key West before our cruise there on the Carnival Fascination. We elected to do the traditional Key West Trolley tour, which we bought when we got off the ship. We ended up paying cash to a tour operator right at the port for $25 per person. This hop on/hop off tour was so much fun and it took us to all the iconic Key West places-including the Southernmost Point of the United States, as well as the lighthouse, the beach, the Little White House and downtown to get yummy key lime pie at Kermit's! Admission to the various museums, such as The Hemingway House was not included, although you could easily veer off and visit any place at length as long as you have enough time to get back to your cruise ship before they leave. Food was offered for purchase, and besides the famous key lime pie we tried fresh conch fritters from an outdoor food stand, which were excellent. This is a perfect tour for all aged tourists, and it is especially nice to not have to walk in the heat to all of the popular destinations. Our window of time on the island was about 5 hours, which was rather short so we did not get to spend oodles of time in any of the museums. We are excited to visit Key West again in March of 2017 when we go on the Norwegian Pearl! Have you cruised to Key West? If so did you do a city tour or another fun excursion? :)
I have started reading a great cozy mystery series which takes place in Key West- here is the link to my Amazon Store with these books if you want to read some entertaining and fun mysteries to get you in the spirit of Key West! :)
http://astore.amazon.com/keywestcozies-20
Grand Turk is the largest island in the Turks and is home to the territory's capital Cockburn Town. John Glenn's Friendship 7 Mercury Spacecraft landed on the shoreline of Grand Turk in 1962, and you can find a replica of this craft on display at the entrance to the port when you get off the ship. The main attraction at the port of Grand Turk is the beach area and pool at Margaritaville. The beach, pool and loungers are completely free, although you will need to bring your own towels from your cruise ship. Excursions on the water are not sold individually at Grand Turk, only via the cruise ships. The beach area is rather rocky, so swimming shoes are a must. Not everyone may choose to make this port a beach day, however. We had a full day of sun and surf on Half Moon Cay the day before we went to Grand Turk so we were sunburned and waterlogged! So we decided to do an island tour of Grand Turk- which we bought right at the port in the area by the shops. The tours were offered by a local company who worked with the cruise lines, and we were able to put the tour tickets on our sign and sail card, which at the time was Carnival, as we were on the Conquest. The tour cost $20 per person and was about 2 1/2 hours. We actually spent longer than that as we ate lunch on the island, which truly runs on island time!
In the above picture you can see the restaurant we dined at (inside seating) for a very long lunch. Barbie's was recommended by our tour guide as a great spot where locals go that was famous for fried conch. The conch was indeed really good, and the fried shrimp was yummy too. However, it was a good thing this was a hop on hop off at your leisure tour as we ended up waiting about an hour for our food! We were not the only ones waiting, though, and the staff of two seemed really busy. The locals seemed blase about the whole wait, and many were content to sit outside in the heat and chat with fellow locals with a cold beer. We still say this was the slowest restaurant we have ever been to- and it was a definitely our first experience with true "island time"! :) After lunch, while waiting for the next tour van to come by (one came about every 30 minutes) we shopped around at the area craft markets and their local shop Kishko's. The tour took us to see the entire island, shoreline, Lighthouse Park, the famous Governor's Beach and the Salt House Museum. If you are not up for a day in the sun taking a tour of the island of Grand Turk is a good option to explore this unique, laid-back oasis. http://www.grandturkcc.com/
Our first time in Cozumel, Mexico was in 2012 on the Carnival Triumph. I had been told by several cruisers that Paradise Beach was the best place to go and they were absolutely right! We grabbed a cab at the port for $3.00 per person and headed out on a wild ten minute cab ride (fast driving and no seat belts in Cozumel!) and our driver dropped us off right at Paradise Beach. There was an entrance fee of $3.00 per person then, and I see from the website it is still the same amount. There is a huge pool you can use, a gorgeous beach, a restaurant with plenty of food and drink for purchase and a lot of nice, clean restrooms. Once you get on the beach you can rent chairs or just sit down on towels you may have brought from the cruise ship. We ended up getting two chairs and three sodas for $20.00. I am not sure how the pricing is currently. The best part is the cleanliness of the entire area- and the ability to go back and forth from the beach to the pool if you wish. We spent several hours enjoying fun in the sun and then took a cab back to the port for $3 per person again. We tipped our driver $1.00 each time. There were lots of cabs waiting to take folks back to port so we had no wait. If you are fortunate to have good beach weather when you visit Cozumel try Paradise Beach out. :) Here is the website for Paradise Beach:http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/
A cruise vacation is relaxing, blissful and downright indulgent for everyone- and taking a period of time off from everyday life is certainly a treat. There are things that everyone should bring on a cruise however, not only to make their experience optimal but also to be prepared. These are five items I learned were essential to pack before sailing off- and hopefully you will find this list helpful:
1. Conditioner- Almost all ships offer some type of shampoo and body wash or soap in shower dispensers. Spa rooms or suites may include amenities like high end bath and body products too. Don't assume that conditioner will be available. The first cruise we went on I figured it would be like a hotel and we would get mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Guess who had frizzy dry hair for five days? Me! :) Now I use free samples of conditioner I get via snail mail and my husband brings me home extra conditioner bottles from his hotel travels as he doesn't use them. You can also buy travel size conditioner in most pharmacies or bog box stores.
2. Ibuprofen-or whatever NSAID works for you- The heat, sun, hormones, alcohol and lots of rich foods can lead to headaches. I always bring a full bottle of ibuprofen, but if you don't do well with it you can bring Tylenol or Alleve. Don't plan to buy it on the ship when you need it as they will charge at least five times the price!
3. Extra Underwear- Yep-you are reading that right! :) Extra underwear is so important as you will likely be changing several times a day for shore excursions, shuffleboard, dinner, dancing, etc. We all take a few showers a day, as on most Caribbean cruises the weather makes folks a hot mess! :) When you are done showering the last thing you want to do is put on any of the sweaty clothes you were wearing. Therefore, pack extra underwear. If you don't use it fine, and it doesn't take up much room in your luggage. The third cruise we went on our son took 3-4 showers several days in a row. When we got to Grand Turk he informed me he was out of clean underwear- only halfway through the trip! He thought I had packed enough for him to change into a fresh pair after every shower. So, we were tasked with finding new underwear on the island, or using the ship's laundry service- which was expensive and took at least 24 hours to do. For anyone that ends up in this predicament there is exactly one store in Grand Turk called Kishko's, which we found on our island tour. We ended up getting extra underwear there for our son- and they weren't cheap! Forty dollars later we had learned a lesson. At least this is a funny memory now! :)
4. Earplugs- According to my husband and son I snore extra loud on cruises. After one night on a cruise last year where my teenage son claimed I kept him up all night sawing wood (he said I had decimated a forest) we started bringing earplugs for everyone. These also came in handy when we had a room below a family with an energetic child who stomped every morning at five am., as well as when my husband and son were snoring (they do too!) :) Bring several pairs per person as they tend to get lost in the cushy beds.
5. Ziplock Bags- grab a box of XL, Large and Small for the safekeeping of lots of things you will bring and buy on the cruise. Just a few of the things you may need to put in these resealable bags are: salt water or chlorinated swimsuits you want to keep away from other garments; shoes with mud and dirt caked on them; shells; clothing that has been soiled with bug spray (I wash those separately); buttons that come off and need to be sewn on an item later; small and large jewelry; lotion or spray products that could leak; snacks you bring when going ashore and medications you need to take at certain times when you won't be in your room. There of course are many more things the ziplock bags come in handy for too!
I hope I have helped you with your packing for your next cruise. Please comment here with anything you never forget to bring on your cruise. I love new tips for traveling at sea! :)
Progreso, Mexico is an old world, traditional and welcoming destination. Upon entering the lively port you will see plenty of vendors seeking to sell their crafts and wares. Everyone is friendly and not overly pushy. We chose to take an excursion off the ship when we visited Progreso on the Carnival Triumph in December 2012. We were greeted pleasantly by a kind young lady from AutoProgreso and told about their tour of the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins, which was one third of the price of Carnival's excursion-so we signed up! For $25 per person we hopped on an air conditioned tour bus with our wonderfully informative guide Diego. He told us massive amounts of information about the Mayans, his life as a Mayan, the area, people and traditions. The 40 minute bus ride flew by! When we got to the ruins he gave us a short guided tour and then we had about an hour to explore on our own. You can climb on these ruins and explore them as well.
The architecture is awe inspiring and the folks tending to the area were welcoming. There are clean restrooms and a small gift shop with water and other cold drinks to purchase at reasonable prices. Our ride back to the port consisted of a Q&A with Diego and this provided even more information and stories about their culture and lifestyle in Progreso. We were fortunate that this was the second week of December and Diego and his family were starting preparations for Los Posadas, the time honored celebration which takes place nine days before Christmas.
For those of you unfamiliar with this tradition, from the 16th to the 24th processions reenact Mary and Joseph's search
for shelter in Bethlehem. These processions lead to a different house
every night for the culmination of the “Posadas”, a big fiesta! The nine
nights are significant because each night represents a month for which
Jesus was in Mary's womb, leading up to his birth. Participants of the
nightly “Posadas” often carry candles to represent the light from the
Star of Bethlehem. Each night family, friends and neighbors in Mexico
open their homes to others and offer fellowship, food and time for group
prayer. Many people open their homes and have simple refreshments, like
homemade tamales and hot punch, or Ponche. Other folks prefer to
celebrate a bit more grandiose, serving full meals and having a pinata
filled with candy for the children. Traditionally the last night,
Christmas Eve, is the biggest fiesta for everyone. Posada is the Spanish
word for Inn, or lodging.
Diego shared stories about his family's past Posadas and plans for their future ones. This tour was a great surprise excursion as we really did not expect it to be so impactful on our lives, but it was. We were even met at the port after the tour with strolling musicians playing Feliz Navidad!
If you have the opportunity to go to Progreso please check out AutoProgreso for a tour of the spectacular ruins! You do not need to book this tour ahead of time as there is almost always space available, especially if you head out early in the day when you get to port. Take care to wear plenty of sunscreen and bring water because it is hot! http://www.autoprogreso.com/Cruise.html
Cruising in December has become a tradition of sorts for our little family. We really enjoy seeing the holiday decorations on different cruise ships, and at a reasonable price if we go before the last two weeks of the month. While researching various cruise options I thought it might be an interesting experiment to compare the cruise prices during one specific week, while choosing a singular port and particular room type. Of course you know these figures and offers are not valid forever, but they do provide a good guideline as to what the plethora of cruise lines are offering. Here are the parameters of the study:
Week of December 10, 2016- 7/8 day cruise Western Caribbean Itinerary
Standard Balcony Room Mid Ship on an upper deck
Three passengers
Debarkation Port- Port of Miami or closest to it.
Here is a breakdown of the information I attained, specifically from the individual cruise sites, not a travel agent.
Carnival Splendor- 12/10-12/18, 8 days
Visits Belize, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Mahogany Bay, Costa Maya
Deck 8, Room 8372 Port Side
$2,060.75
An additional $310.80 in gratuities will be expected as well.
No perks or on board cash (OBC) is being offered at this time
The Splendor is 113,300-tons and can accommodate almost 5,000 passengers. Launched in 2008 this whimsical ship offers a huge 21,000-square-foot spa, which is a for fee amenity. Complimentary food includes traditional dining as well as a buffet. Indian Tandoori, the Mongolian Wok and a burrito bar are also included in your voyage. Mini golf, comedy shows, nightclubs and evening entertainment are part of this cool cruise too. A for fee steakhouse is on board as well. The typical pools, mini golf, arcade, casino, water playground, etc., as well as daily activities are offered to all guests, both complimentary and for a fee for some activities.
Norwegian Getaway- 12/11-12/18-7 days
Visits Roatan Honduras, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Harvest Caye, Belize
Deck 10, Room 10774 Starboard Side
$2369.50 *There are many promotions offered by NCL at this time. I chose "Third Guest Sails Free" and "$50 Shore Excursion Credit" (per port) for this figure. You could choose several combinations- including unlimited beverages (you pay the gratuities per person-about $90 each) or a specialty dining package (you pay gratuities on this package which is less that $15 per person)
An additional in gratuities $271.95 will be expected as well.
Debuting two years ago in 2014 this mega-ship holds almost 4,000 passengers. Water slides, a rock wall, rope activities, mini golf, an arcade and mini bowling and pools encompass this large ship. Three complimentary dining rooms are available to passengers, as well as a buffet and a 24 hour pub/restaurant coined O'Sheehans are included dining options. Half a dozen paid restaurants are also offered, along with a dinner show titled The Illusionarium. Comedians, live music and theater style show are offered to guests at no charge too. Harvest Caye is set to be NCL's new private island for guests to chill out on the beach.
Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas-12/11-12/18-7 days
*Leaves from Fort Lauderdale
Visits Cozumel, Falmouth and Labadee Haiti (online this original itinerary stated Cozumel and Costa Maya but changes were made to this schedule recently)
Deck 8 Balcony Guarantee Mid Ship
$2948.00-price includes the "2 free nights" promotion.
An additional $283.50 in gratuities will be expected as well.
The Allure of the Seas is an adventure playground for families. Complimentary activities include FlowRiders, ice skating, two 43 foot rock climbing walls, pools, a full sized basketball court and a Dreamworks parade children and adults will enjoy. Over 20 dining spots are offered, both complimentary and for a fee, as well as many bars and shows. Mamma Mia is the current broadway style show onboard which is included with your cruise. A visit to RCI's private island of Labadee, Haiti is also part of this western voyage, which makes this a great port stop for a relaxing beach day.
Celebrity Silhouette- 12/11-12/18- 7 days
Visits Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Key West
Deck 9 Balcony Room 9207 Starboard Side
$3147 with Prepaid Gratuities for pax 1 & 2 - Celebrity is offering a promotion right now where you can get either Prepaid Gratuities for 2 pax or a Classic Beverage Package for 2 people, Unlimited Internet for 2 pax or $150 on board credit. There are other higher priced options to add on up to 3 perks/promotions too.
An additional in gratuities $271.95 will be expected as well.
As part of the elegant Solstice Class ships the Silhouette has a Canyon Ranch Spa (fee) live entertainment and broadway style shows, lawn games like Croquet, Bocce and golf putting, pools, interactive video games and fun kids clubs. Complimentary dining and specialty restaurants for a fee are both abundant on this ship also. The Silhouette debuted in 2011 and hold almost 3000 passengers.
Disney Fantasy- 12/10-12/17- 7 days
Visits Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Falmouth Jamaica and Castaway Cay, their private island oasis.
Deck 9 Balcony 9562 Starboard Side
$5124.92
An additional in gratuities of roughly $250 will be expected as well, although Disney separates the tips among certain areas and this information is available on their website.
This Disneyriffic cruise includes broadway/Disney themed shows, a 3-D theater, character experiences, exclusive kids clubs and unique Disney only dining fun. Expect soda to be included on this ship, as well as lots of family fun! The trip to the private island of Castaway Cay is a treat for cruisers as well.
My research ended up concluding that the least expensive option is indeed the Carnival Splendor, with the Disney Fantasy costing more than double the price for a week. Norwegian offers the most options in terms of perks, with Celebrity cruises Silhouette coming in second in terms of promotions. As the Allure of the Seas is so unique in it's landscape they don't seem to need to give anything away to get cruisers right now. Overall a balcony room for a 7 day cruise on almost every line will run a couple or small family sharing a cabin around 2,000 for the week. This of course varies, and certain times of the year, itinerary, and how fast a ship is filling up all plays part in this guesstimate. Plan on paying the requested gratuities, which hover around $90 per person for a 7 day cruise. Many folks forget to factor the gratuities for their room steward and general staff in their budget and are surprised that they have a bill at the end of their cruise. You can also prepay these tips should you choose to. Whatever room you choose on your next cruise enjoy your trip!
The Carnival Fascination debuted in 1994 and received a makeover in 2010. This smaller, older ship is simple and offers a more subdued cruising experience compared to the larger, boisterous ships at sea. Our first cruise in 2012 was on the Fascination and I am so glad we went! While our five day cruise to Nassau and Key West did ignite my cruising addiction, it also offered me a pleasant introduction into the world of cruising. We sailed out of Jacksonville, Florida, although the Fascination is currently departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. This Fantasy Class ship has an Old Hollywood theme and offers traditional dining, a Dr. Seuss brunch, the Mongolian Wok and has a steakhouse, which is an extra cost. Being that this was our first cruise we chose an inside cabin, mid-ship on the seventh floor, or Empress deck. Although we definitely felt movement on our cruise the first week of June, we were fortunate not to experience seasickness at all. Our son, who was 12 years old at the time loved the pool and water park area with the slides. As new cruisers we of course went to the art auction, every show and ate all day long! The cruise director was Jen Baxter- a feisty and funny English gal who really energized the crowd. We were very impressed with our room steward and dining wait staff as they remembered our names and preferences from the get go. The dinner menu at that time was excellent-and it offered lobster on the formal night as well as prime rib and veal on other evenings. We did experience the older menu both on the Fascination and the Triumph before Carnival changed to the American Table Menu, which we had on our Conquest and Liberty cruises. It is funny that when I look back at this cruise I realize how much the cruise industry and my family has changed. That being said, the Carnival Fascination is a delightful ship that is perfect for a new cruiser looking to test our their sea legs.
