5 Reasons to Pre-Cruise at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower
Through the years when our family has sailed from Port Canaveral on such lines as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, we have always spent some time in Orlando pre-cruise. And why not? By doing so, we are already near the port on embarkation day so there is no stress if there are flight
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 28, 2018
What better way to ring in the New Year than a week spent living like royalty? Princess Cruises is ready to make the dream a reality with their Anniversary Sale running through the weekend. One of the most historic and recognizable cruise lines, Princess Cruises currently has all destinations on sal
Flying with Pets: What Do YOU Think?
Everyone’s family is different, especially for those with family members who bark or meow! Pets are undeniably part of the family and if you did any traveling this holiday season, it was easy to spot tails wagging in airports all across the country. Recently, The Go Group, an international ground
When is the Best Time to Cruise?
If you’ve never thought about taking a cruise before, one of the first questions that comes to mind is usually: when is the best time to cruise? When it comes to going on vacation, it’s obvious that certain locations are only desirable during certain parts of the year. If you’re looking for a
For Shore: Your Daily Tot on Tortola
If you’re going ashore in Tortola, why not go rum hunting? The Caribbean has the perfect climate to grow sugar cane, and during the colonial period plantations sprouted among the islands. It wasn’t long before someone noticed that the byproducts of the refining process – molasses – ferme
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 21, 2018
Have you finished all your last-minute shopping? You’ve still got a few days left to get that special someone on your list the best holiday gift possible, a cruise! There’s all sorts of great cruise deals to be had right now as cruise lines are filling up their ships for the coming 2019
A Classic, Reborn
The largest passenger ship to ever homeport in West Palm Beach, Bahamas Paradise Cruises’ Grand Classica joined the smaller Grand Celebration this past March in providing a convenient daily cruise service to Freeport, Bahamas. The 52,926-grt, 1,680-guest vessel is impressive enough for her basic f
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2018
The Monthly Mantra And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! It’s time for the Judi’s Choice Awards and this year my head is spinning! 2018 has seen explosive developments in the cruise industry, big and small, far and near – so here are this year’s
TRAVEL TIPS: New Zealand’s Slice of Scottish Paradise
Did you know that New Zealand has its own little piece of Scotland? That’s right, you can go Down Under and visit Dunedin, the city whose name is actually the Scottish Gaelic word for Edinburgh. Cruise ships head to Scotland in the spring and summer months, but if you’re looking for the United K
For a Healthier Trip, Avoid This Common Mistake
Drinking enough water throughout the day is something we could all improve at. Water plays a crucial role in how our body functions both mentally and physically, so when you’re dehydrated, you’re not operating at peak performance. It’s hard enough to drink 8 glasses on a regular day, but what
Coming up Roses: Carnival Poised for HUGE 2019
You already know Carnival Cruise Line as one of the most popular names in vacationing, but did you know that Carnival is set to make 2019 a banner year across many of the cruising brand’s they own and operate? With four new ships coming in the new year, Carnival has decided to make the debut [
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 14, 2018
Have you been naughty or nice this year? Either way, you deserve a vacation. Cruising is easily the best gift you can give a person and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has a pretty sweet holiday deal going on that you definitely don’t want to miss. 12 Days of Paradise This deal is so good it [&he
State of the Cruising: What’s to Come in 2019
It’s that time of the year again! Cruise Lines International Association (also called CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade organization, released their annual 2019 State of the Cruise Industry which takes a look the latest cruise trends in the industry for the upcoming year. No
Cruise Ship Review: AmaWaterways AmaLea
The charms of the cities and villages of the Danube are a joy to discover. Aboard the new AmaWaterways AmaLea, this pleasure is multiplied. This is the 10th ship of their Certo class, and as AmaWaterways has evolved, they’ve incorporated the latest technology, architectural flow, and attention to
Leiding Lady
Browsing Grenadian fashion designer Raquel Leid’s Mt. Sealey Garden collection is like taking a Caribbean vacation. The sunshine yellows, turquoise blues, and emerald greens of her fruit- and flower-motif fabrics reflect the hues of the islands. And the styles, which float away from the body and f
Cartagena’s Best: Exploring the Caribe Emerald Museum
One of the most interesting trends in cruising is the rise in popularity of South American cruise ports. Cartagena, on Colombia’s northern coast, is one such city where tourists are exploring more so now than ever before. First time visitors to the city are struck by its beauty and charm and can s
TRAVEL TIPS: Doha, Beyond Skyscrapers & Shopping Malls
In recent years, the Middle Eastern country of Qatar has become a major world power, and its capital Doha is a metropolis, complete with massive geometric skyscrapers that light up the Qatari sky at night. Thanks to the discovery of oil in this small country, located on the Arabian Peninsula, Doha h
Soul Strutting At Sea
Ready to boogie, get funky, and feel the groove with soul music royalty? Then take “the hippest trip at sea” via the Soul Train Cruise. The 7-day Caribbean voyage produced by StarVista LIVE on Holland America Line departs from Orlando, Florida, and offers a mix of music, nostalgia, television hi
Heading Ashore: 9 Things to See in Rome
For most cruise passengers sailing in the Med, a call at Civitavecchia, Italy, the port of the Eternal City, means that, as the saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome.” It will necessarily be a long day on those roads – it is about a 45-minute to one-hour’s drive (or longer, depending on traff
Use Your Pre-Cruise Stay to Stock Up on Savings
Smart cruisers know the benefits of heading to your South Florida cruise port a day or two early. Not only do you avoid travel delays and other unexpected surprises ruining your vacation, but you can also spend your time pre-cruise saving a ton of money on things you’d otherwise spend more on at s
