When it comes to taking a cruise on river or ocean, it’s pretty tough to go wrong. Both offer incredible views, luxurious amenities, and the opportunity to explore interesting ports. But each one comes with its own unique perks, and depending on your specific needs for your next trip, you might find that one is a slightly better fit than the other. So what are the major differences? The big difference can be summed up in one word: intimacy. River cruises tend to be much smaller (190 max vs. up to 6,200 on the largest ocean cruises), and as a result, you’re much more likely to be interacting with other passengers and crew members.
0 Comments
Have you ever considered taking it on the road over the holidays? No? Maybe you should give it a try! Below are five of my favorite reasons reasons why a holiday AWAY makes perfect sense: 1. Use Fewer Vacation Days Extending a holiday that most people already have off minimizes the amount of time needed away from work. You get more bang for your buck and save those vacation days for later! Talk of Real ID has been floating around for years now. "It's coming. Be ready". Then the date gets moved back and we all push it out of our minds. However, the new deadline is approaching so today I want to make sure YOU are ready for this transition. What IS Real ID? Real ID is a form of ID that has a minimum set of standards for issuance. The U.S. is creating this ID as a way to have consistent levels of security required for entering federal buildings, including airports. Real ID is an added level of security to your driver's license. I am a Disney Fan through and through. As a Southern California girl, I grew up regularly visiting Mickey and his pals at Disneyland. However, I've also had my fair share of (a dozen!) trips to Walt Disney World in Florida. Inevitably, people ask me which one I like better, and my answer is always the same, "Each one is special in it's own way, and I can't pick a favorite. They fill different roles. Disneyland is great for a long weekend getaway, and Disney World is a full on vacation." Disneyland will always hold a special place in my heart, as it brings up the nostalgia of not only my own childhood, but of the fact that it was Walt's baby. His personal touches are throughout the park, with many original, innovative attractions still operating today. It's an easy resort to navigate, with the two parks set directly across from one another, and easy 1 minute walk between them. Even Downtown Disney is just right outside the gates. Cruising is a wonderful way to see a variety of places without having to pack and unpack or worry about where to find your next meal. It's also great for extended family groups, as you may each do what you'd like during the day, then come back together for dinner in the evening and share about your adventures of the day. I've been seeing a surge in cruise requests for spring break and next summer, and have loved surprising my clients with a little cruise hack I know of. It saves money and gives families more space to spread out. Today, I want to tell you about it, as it really highlights my point of why you need to plan your vacation early (and use a travel agent-me!) Last week I took my first vacation to a Sandals Resort, in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica. While I was excited to experience the Sandals brand firsthand, I was also a bit nervous. After all, I'm not usually a "sit on the beach and relax" kind of gal. However, I also knew that there is much more to these all-inclusive resorts than the beach and pools, so I went in to the trip determined to experience as much as possible. Below is my numerical review of our stay: 100 acres to explore - the largest Sandals property. 95 hours in Jamaica - 4 nights total. In June I had the joy of spending 10 nights in Iceland, Norway, Scotland on the Norwegian Star. It was my first time cruising Norwegian so it was exciting to experience a new cruise line. One of the reasons I hadn't tried the line before was that I'd heard very mixed reviews when first starting my business. However, since this particular itinerary was very appealing and fit within our busy summer plans, we decided to give it a go. Below you will find my honest review of our adventure: Our news feeds are filled with stories of flights cancellations, delays, and lost baggage right now, Having just returned from Europe with some rather "adventurous" flights of our own, I'm glad I could experience travel firsthand to see what the conditions are really like. Based on my experiences, I wanted to share 5 insights with you on how to best prepare for travel right now. I definitely think it's still worthwhile to get out there, but adjusting expectations and planning appropriately are an essential part of it. Prepare to be Entertained Pack something to watch. Most flights will have in-flight movies, but your choices will be limited. You might want to bring your own tablet, or laptop loaded with a few movies that you know you will enjoy. Movies that you love and want to watch again or new movies that you have been dying to see — or both. Pack something to read. Here again is where a tablet, or even your phone or laptop, shines! Make sure you have downloaded some books to read. I recommend more than one book, just in case you get bored of one, or finish it! The world is full of wonderful destinations, many of which require a substantial plane flight to get to! Those long haul flights can feel a bit daunting, but with the right planning they can be not just tolerated, but enjoyed. It's important to be prepared to be comfortable, healthy, entertained and rested. Today, I'll share with you my hints and tips for the first two categories, then finish up the list in part 2. Prepare to be Comfortable
New York Times writer Susan Heller famously said, “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” Even when we have great intentions, it’s easy to overload our suitcases. We wind up dragging a lot of stuff around. There’s more to keep track of; it winds up being a lot of physical and mental clutter. And, of course, we wind up paying a ton of extra fees for the additional weight and luggage. I like to think of efficient packing as a challenge that helps you make the most of every vacation: you have what you need, you’re freed up to not have to lug around a bunch of extra weight, and you can put that saved money towards a special souvenir, a nice dinner out, or another awesome experience. I love all things Disney, and souvenirs are no exception! Just the mention of the word and I envision myself browsing gift shops looking for the perfect item to bring home. However, while many trinkets call my name, I buy very few things at the parks. Instead, my favorite souvenirs are free ... or should I say, included. You see, my favorite Disney souvenirs are character photos. One very magical aspect of our trips to Disney is saying hello to Mickey and his pals. Over the years, we have met hundreds of friends, in many variations of costumes. In the process, we have created precious memories with conversations had, the antics that took place, and the mishaps that occurred. (Yes, Donald, we know you didn't mean to poke MJ in the eye!) It's National Travel Agent Day! For me, that means many emails from various suppliers, expressing gratitude for the work that I do. I am thankful to be part of such a dynamic industry, doing a job that I love and look forward to daily. I truly believe I have the best career in the world. However, as I reflect on my business, I realize that many people still don't really understand my role as a travel planner. As such, here are 5 things your travel agent wants you to know. 1. My Services are Complimentary Yes, free. No charges, no service fees, no hidden costs. I have tried and tried again to make this known, telling anyone who will listen, posting it on social media, etc. Yet, not a week goes by when someone doesn't comment that they thought I charge a fee. Or, sometimes I'm in dialogue with a potential client and she asks me when I will be sending my bill. Friends, suppliers pay me to help you. I don't charge a cent. While I have been privileged to explore many places, there is much more of the world that my heart longs to see. I venture to say I'm not alone. Most people I know have a list of places they'd like to visit, and experiences they'd like to have, but they aren't quite sure how to afford it. Today, I'd like to encourage you that it may be more doable than you think, by offering 10 simple ways to save for vacation. These aren't magic money makers, but a way of looking at your life and refocusing your priorities. People could easily look at me and say, "Of course you can travel a lot, that's your JOB!" While that is true, it still requires resources, and a focused effort on my part to save what we need. My husband has a fabulous job, and I contribute with my business. However, we live in San Jose, which Business Insider calculated to be the 6th most expensive place to live in the world. Therefore, while we are financially stable by all definitions, we don't have excess cash to throw around. We make choices in our everyday lives which allow us to take some incredible trips. By sharing some of my strategies with you, I hope you'll be encouraged that you, too, can save up for that dream trip. Let's face it: as parents of little ones, a vacation sounds completely magical. An opportunity to get away from the normal routine and escape the responsibilities of home for a few days would be delightful. The thought of it is enough to carry us through those sleepless nights or toddler tantrum episodes. That is, the THEORY of family travel sounds wonderful. Reality, however, may seem a bit daunting. After all, there's so much gear. And unpredictable schedules. And eating habits. And mood swings. Need I go on? Today, I'd like to encourage you that enjoyable vacations ARE possible for parents with little ones. All it takes is some good decision making and adequate planning. To help set you in the right direction, I have a few helpful hints and tips to share. Without further ado...how to travel with little ones and LIKE it: Location, Location, Location Yes, I recommend you choose one, and only one. (Two at the most, if you are feeling ambitious!) With so much gear to haul, and settling in to occur, you don't want to spend multiple days packing and unpacking. That's more time spent working and less time enjoying your destination. If you had asked me 12 years ago whether or not I am a "cruise type" I would have given a resounding "No!!" After all, I don't like crowds or feeling cooped up, and I get wretchedly seasick. Then, a good deal on a Disney Cruise enticed me to give it a try. Since then, I have been hooked, cruising a dozen times, becoming a travel agent, and passing the cruising bug on to fellow travelers. When sharing my passion for cruising, the question I get asked the most frequently is, "So, why do you like cruising so much?" A truly simple question, with many answers. In response, here are the top 10 reasons why I LOVE cruising...(in no particular order). 10. Seeing a variety of places, while only having to pack and unpack once. Packing isn't fun, and items never seem to fit back in a suitcase quite the same when moving from location to location. The fact that I can enjoy time in a fabulous destination, go have dinner and enjoy some evening entertainment, then wake up the next day in a completely different destination is irresistible. I shared with you a little bit about my whale wishes in my last post. Given my enthusiasm, it may surprise you that we did not pre-book a whale watching excursion on our Alaskan cruise. While whale watching has been on my bucket list, we live one hour from Monterey Bay, and have plenty of opportunities for whale watching in our normal, every day lives. Therefore, as I perused excursion options, I felt it more important to get out to Mendenhall Glacier. After all, many clients go to see this wonder of nature, and I felt I should, too. However, not wanting to miss out on an adventure, we selected a river rafting trip that took us out to the glacier, then continued on exploring the beautiful areas around Juneau. I don’t really like water in the face, and I have a bit of a bad back, but the trip seemed to be the perfect fit. It wouldn’t be TOO rough for me, and I could suck up my dislike of water in order to experience The Last Frontier.
It was a relief to feel some warmth as we left the ship today in Tortola. The skies made us believe it could be a bit chilly out. We asked directions, and headed for Speedy’s ferry service. It was a 10 minute walk to the pier and we were on the ferry by 8:50. The 9 o’clock ferry was the second of the day, but the first that cruise passengers could catch. We were pleased to get seats up on top, to keep seasickness at bay. Soon we were on our way, enjoying the breeze and chatting with other ferry passengers on the half hour ride to Virgin Gorda. As I type this, we are pulling out of port from St. Thomas, an island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Based on what I had read about St. Thomas, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. It is the most visited cruise port in the Caribbean, and tends to be quite crowded, so that is the tidbit that stuck in my mind. However, leaving this evening, my opinion has changed. We headed off the ship about 9:45, to quickly find our first photo op of the day. On the rocks around Crown Bay, where we docked, rested scores of iguanas. They were quite charming sunbathing on their rocks, staring at us. Such cooperative photo subjects! At 9:58 we were sitting on a safari taxi ready for the half hour drive to Magen’s Bay. Now, if you know me, you know I’m not particularly a beach person. So, there must have been a very good reason to pay to get out to that part of the island. You see, Magen’s Bay has been declared one of the best beaches in the world by National Geographic magazine, as well as being listed in the book “1000 Places to See Before You Die”. Being the list girl I am, I decided it was worth the trek. Greetings from beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico! Upon arrival in San Juan, a cab carried us to our hotel – La Concha Renaissance. The front desk upgraded to suites at check in, so we’re enjoying some extra space this evening. The hotel is beautiful, with a lovely enclosed courtyard, ocean vistas, and fountains throughout. It makes us wish we had snuck away to La Isla Encanta a day sooner, to have more time to enjoy the ambiance. After refreshing from our red-eye flight, we headed off to Viejo San Juan. Dropped off by the Cristobal Colon statue, we lunched outside near the plaza. Soaking up the ocean breeze and tropical music, we slowly slipped into vacation mode. It was a long, leisurely lunch. Dave and I shared some grilled chicken and beef, as well as fried plantains. Yummy!
|
AuthorLisa is the travel loving, animal adoring, Mickey Mouse hugging owner of Dreams Delivered Travel. Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|