Disney Fantasy March 2012

I had the opportunity to be on the inaugural sailing of this ship, so it wasn't it's typical 7 day itinerary, it was a short 3 day to Castaway Cay and back.

Here are some of the highlights

SHOWS: I had previously been on the Wonder, and to my surprise, there were 3 new shows that I had not seen, so that was great. One was Wishes, One was Believe, and the other was Aladdin. They used screens in front of and behind the cast members on stage, and they also used pryotechnics too. I was seriously blown away by the shows. They were even better than I had remembered the Wonder to be.

STATEROOMS: I had the opportunity to tour quite a few staterooms, inside, outside, balcony, one bedroom even the Roy O. Disney Suite, which was amazing. I have posted the pictures to our facebook page. The virtual portholes were impressive, I watched the interaction of the characters in the portholes for about 15 minutes, and I can absolutely understand the draw of these types of rooms.

DINING: Rotational dining is what Disney is known for, and the restaurants to visit are once again impressive. Our first night was at **Enchanted Garden, and the ambiance of this restaurant was like you were walking into a garden outside. The lighting was perfect, and the look and feel was wonderful. Mind you, this restaurant is on the 2nd floor. So to feel like you're outside, and be that low on the ship, was awesome. **Royal Court was our next night for dinner, and this was elegant, and you felt like a princess walking into this room. The little princess touches were great. Even the bread bowl was shaped like a carriage that would hold the royals themselves. **Animators Palate reminded me a lot of the one on the Wonder, with a few more magical touches. You got to draw a character on your placemat, and see it come to life on the screen while you ate. That was really cool. The chairs were designed to look like Mickey's pants, it was cool.

When it comes to Disney, there is so much MAGIC that is put into every single trip, I don't want to spoil it all for you, but there was plenty of magic all around!!!!!!

This slideshow is of the stateroom tour that I was able to do.

There are some really impressive cabins onboard the Disney Fantasy.

Just wait until you see the Roy O. Disney suite!!! WOW!

This slideshow is of our dinners. 

The rotational dining is fun!

This slideshow is of the kids and teen areas. 

This is an exclusive look, especially in Vibe, as it's not open to adults during the sailing.  It's exclusive for teens.

The Oceaneer's Club and Lab are fun for me to see, as this is where my kids will want to hang out for the entire cruise.  They love it!!!

Disney Cruise Line Adult Exclusive restaurants are romantic onboard dinner destinations that cater exclusively to adults looking for the finest in onboard dining amid a refined and elegant atmosphere.
This next slideshow is all about Palo and Remy, these restaurats are hard to get into, are very exclusive, and are a luxury dining experience all the way around.  There is a surcharge for these 2 restaurants only.

Staying along the adult only lines...I had the chance to enjoy Europa!!!

This is the evening adult area to enjoy.  What fun!  The pictures don't really do this are justice, but you can get a glimpse of just how cool and fun Europa nightlife can be!!!

Here are the pictures from Disney's Castaway Cay.  We spent most of our time over in the adult only beach, but I have pictures of both beaches.

We had such a unique experience with the Fantasy and the Dream sailing around together.  They have these songs on their blow horns, and when we were sitting at the private island, we could hear them tooting them back and forth at each other.  It was SOOO cool, I literally stopped where I was and stood there and listened for about 15 minutes.  So cool!

Some of the songs they tooted:

When you Wish Upon a Star

Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho A Pirate's Life for Me

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

It's A Small World After All

Hi Diddly Dee An Actor's Life for Me

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest Put our Service to the Test

This is my last slideshow, and it contains pictures out and about around the ship.

Enjoy!

Jamaica March 2012

We visited Negril, Jamaica in March 2012.  We went with a group of friends, so we were looking into accomodations that would fit every budget, yet still all inclusive, and nice.  We decided on the resort of:  RIU Negril.  This was a wonderful fit financially and location wise too.  We all had a fabulous time!!!  Our good friends even got engaged there :)  Congrats to you Brent and Ann!!!

Here is my trip report about the RIU Negril:

ROOMS:  The rooms were actually a little larger than I was expecting.  We had a standard room with ocean view.  I was expecting a typical standard hotel room, but I liked how roomy our room felt.  The entrance area by the door was wide, the liquor dispensor and the minifridge were plentiful.  Our bed however was a little disappointing.  You can see from the picture below in the slideshow that our KING sized bed was indeed 2 double beds pushed together.  Yep.  I wasn't expecting that, and was not super happy about it, but it is what it is, right?  Our balcony was small but sufficient.  Air conditioning worked just fine, can't complain.  The bathroom was small, you can see in the picture just how small that shower was.  It was fine, but not spacious by any means.

BEACH:  The beach outfront of our resort was nice.  I like in Negril how you can wade out into the water and go quite a ways before it gets over your head.  It's nice to just get a little wet, and no crashing waves, no undertow.  I do like that!  On the far end of our resort, the weeds and debris did wash up quite a bit, but the RIU did a nice job of keeping most of it clear most of the time.  There were plenty of little shells to collect in the area (not that you can take them home...but some do try)  Towards the South side of our beach, in between the two RIU resorts, there are some beach vendors.  This area is nice to do a little shopping, without having to be hassled all the time just relaxing on your beach chair.

WAKE UP TIME:  I do not like that you have to wake up at 6:00am just to get a chair on the beach.  People wake up very early just to reserve a chair.  It is a problem, I did not like it, but by the time we finally would get our butts down to the beach, people were getting out of their chairs, so it wasn't a huge issue.  But this could be a problem for some...  You also need to get up very early to make a dining reservation at the restaurants.  You can make a reservation 2 days in advance only.  This is never a problem, but you need to know the system.  Get up early, make a reservation and you're good to go.

DINING:  We dined in the buffet restaurant a few times, and the choices were plenty.  I did feel a little like a herd of cattle when it was dinner time though.  It's not super fancy, and very laid back.  Wonderful for those that like it to be very casual, and don't want to dress up.  It's a great fit for that.  I, on the other hand, do like to get dressed up for dinner, and make it nice.  We did that 2 times in our 4 night stay.  We did the steakhouse 'Shadows', and we also did the fancy 'Sir Andrews' one night.  Shadows was impressive, my expectations were low, but was pleasantly surprised, food was great, service was good.  Sir Andrews was also good, food was much better at Sir Andrews, but the service was a little slow.  It surprised me that there was only seating for approx 30 people max, at a resort that holds 420 guest rooms.  Seems like it would make more sense to make some of these restaurants a little bigger.  BUT there was always the buffet option as well, which always had many choices.

BARS/DRINKS:  I had a personal favorite of a 'Dirty Banana' the last time we were in Jamaica, and the RIU's version of this drink was not the same, and not as good.  So I found a drink I did like, it was called a 'Miami Vice'.  This was a red, white and blue drink, yummy!!!  The bartenders were good, I can't say that we had any one that was a stand out.  The swim up bar was always hopping and busy, the first time I went over to the swim up bar to get a drink, I stood there for 10 minutes before the bartender even looked at me, and it took another 10-15 minutes to actually get a drink.  That was about it for me.  I prefer the quiet pool anyways, so that was fine.  They were serving the rowdy ones, and that was good!!!!

OVERALL IMPRESSION:  OK, so I've traveled a lot, and I do take my trips with a grain of salt most days.  Things will go wrong, things will go right, and it's all good.  My overall impression of this resort was that it's a 3-4 star and that's exactly where it should be.  Everything was good, but not great.  I would absolutely stay here again, without a doubt.  It's all about expectations.  It's not a luxury resort, but sometimes that isn't what you're willing to pay for when you just want to have fun and be safe.

Here are a few of my pictures from the trip:

On this same trip, I had the opportunity to visit a couple other resorts as well.
Here are my trip reports for them...

Couples Negril was a beautiful resort.  This resort reminded me a lot of Sandals Negril.  They cater to adult only couples, and upscale service.  The overall feel of this resort was much smaller, there are 234 rooms.  Each of the beach and pool chairs have a floatie.  You can take your floatie in the pool or into the ocean, and it's fabulous.  There are more than enough chairs for the entire resort, so you never have to race to get a chair.  I love that.

We were given a walking tour of the resort, and the overall feel of the place is that it's very relaxed and quiet, no kids, so that in itself is a nice feature.  I really loved this resort, with all the inclusions, even though the price point is higher up front, your experience when you are there is so much better!!!!

Here are a few of my pictures from Couples Negril:

RIU Palace Tropical Bay was a lot like RIU Negril.  The layout, the look and feel is so similar, it's a little hard to know where you are at times.  But the rooms, the rooms were much nicer.  The beach out front was a little less crowded, and not quite as weedy.

Here are a few of my pictures from RIU Palace Tropical Bay:

Sandals Negril

Has anyone ever been to Sandals Negril?
Would love to hear your comments or feedback, I will be traveling there this fall, and would love YOUR tips and tricks!!!

Barbados exclusive discount!

I don't normally post about sales/discounts too much on this blog, but Barbados is one of my favorite spots, so I just HAD to!!!

Barbados —
Up to $300 savings, complimentary breakfast, free day car rental, and gourmet dining card
When you explore the beautiful island of Barbados you will save like never before. You will receive a discount up to $300, complimentary daily breakfast plus additional savings on dining, car rentals and tours with your air and hotel vacation to Barbados.

Please contact me for more details, and to book your next trip to paradise!!!

Puerto Rico off the beaten path

Thanks Bill for this great review!!! If you're looking for a resort off the beaten path in Puerto Rico, or any destination in the world, please contact me today for assistance!

Review. If you want to get away from the big crowds, Playa de Parguera in the southwest corner of the island
Is a delight. This hotel is the best I’ve ever been to for sun and fun relaxation.
Great for older adults (like me) who just want to sit and enjoy the sea and pool and drinks and etc.
Also great for parents with young children because of the great pool and everything (restaurant, vending machines, no place for kids to run off and get hurt)
Within an hour of several beaches, tourist villages, towns, and other “to do” stuff.
Parador de Parguera was $85 a night for double from Sun-Thurs., and $195 a night for Fri and Sat (but that included dinner and breakfast for two!).

Our room was literally 30 feet from the sea. Here’s my photo from our room:

Head to Barbados!

Have you been to Barbados yet?
Eat it
Drink it
Shop for it
Cook it yourself

Thank you to the LA Times, for this very fun article on one of my favorite destinations in the Caribbean....
CLICK HERE to read the full article

Barbados does make the belly happy!!!!

Passports Now Required

Thank you to Travel Leaders for posting this informative article:
http://www.travelleaders.com/suntime/265835

Helpful links:
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State website, with further info on the WHTI:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Here is the link to more information about the U.S. Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

Applying for a NEW passport? Here is the link for these forms: (you do need to apply in person, but can fill out the forms in advance)
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Cruise with your favorite Disney Channel stars!! Disney Cruise Line

How much fun would that be to rub elbows with some of the Disney Channel's stars and rising stars?!?!? Contact us to book your Disney Cruise today!!!!!!
Or how about adding a Disney World package on to one of these great cruises!!!!

Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises!!

Here's your chance to see and meet sensational stars from big shows and original movies on Disney Channel! More stars are scheduled to appear, so check back soon to find out who!

3-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 9 to 12, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 16 to 19, 2009—Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 23 to 26, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
July 30 to August 2, 2009—Debby Ryan (The Suite Life on Deck)

4-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 12 to 16, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 19 to 23, 2009—Musical Act Mitchel Musso and Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 26 to 30, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
August 2 to 6, 2009—Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock)

*Schedule and talent subject to change without notice. Not all stars available for each sailing.

Call us to help you book one of these great cruises!!!

Barbados Sept 2007

I traveled to Barbados in September 2007 with a group of travel agents.
I learned a lot about the island, and wanted to share some great info!!!

The island:

- A valid U.S. Passport is required for all U.S. citizens.
- The island was erected from a coral reef, unlike most other islands in the Caribbean that were formed from volcanoes.
- Because it's on a coral reef:
---- The water is the 2nd most pure water in the world, next to the Swiss Alps, which means you can drink the water right out of the tap!!!! It's true!!
---- There are some great underground caves to visit
- Barbados is the number one destination for those living in the Caribbean, to vacation to.
- It is 19 miles from St. Lucia, and approx 45 minutes by plane to Caracas, Venezuela
- English is the native language
- No topless sun bathing allowed
- Cameflouge is illegal, and will be confiscated. It is allowed for their military only.
- Drive on the left

Here are some pictures out and about in Barbados:


Here are some pictures from the Bougainvillea Beach Resort:
(This is the hotel I stayed at while visiting the island.)


Here are some pictures from Little Arches:
This 10 room resort is similar to a bed and breakfast.


Here are some pictures from Hilton:


Here are some pictures from The House:
This resort really impressed me. Upon arrival you are greeted with a smoothie, and are invited to check in where ever you'd like. So if you want to relax by the pool, the ambassadors will come to you where ever you prefer. 2 ambassadors are assigned to every room, so it's all about SERVICE here!!! One of the pictures in this slide show are the private plunge pools. Very unique at this property.


Here are some pictures from Crystal Cove:


Here are some pictures from Accra:



Here are some pictures from Colony Club:


Here are some pictures from Almond Beach Club:


Here are some pictures from Almond Village:
This all inclusive property is great for anyone! I especially liked it for families. There was a separate section with pools and slides of all shapes and sizes for all ages of children and babies.


Here are some pictures from Sandy Lane:
(This is the resort that Tiger Woods got married at!! Very upper scale, very nice)