We recently worked with Resort for a Day to tell you about our visit to the Jewel Runaway Bay Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We visited here during our recent MSC Cruises, MSC Seaside cruise to the Western Caribbean.
This all-inclusive resort features a beautiful beach, a large family-friendly water park and many pools. Our favorite was the swim-up bar! Your food, drinks and transportation is all included. They met us at the pier and brought us right to the resort and back. It was a worry-free experience.
If you love food don’t miss the Jerk Hut right on the beach serving authentic jerk chicken and pork along with peas & rice, corn on the cob and festival bread (kinda like a hush puppy). You can also visit the Grill which serves hot dogs, burgers, wings and more. The resort also features a very large buffet with a cook-to-order Pasta Station and much more. We were so impressed. Our whole group had such a relaxing day at this beautiful resort.
Watch this video to learn more. If you would like to book this for your next cruise visit Resort for a Day at https://www.resortforaday.com
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In connection with the U.S. Administration changes to regulations regarding travel to Cuba, which eliminate as of June 5 the prior authorization permitting cruise ships to travel from the U.S. to Cuba, MSC Cruises will modify effective immediately all its cruise itineraries previously scheduled to call that country.
Because of these substantial changes in U.S. law and regulation, MSC Armonia is no longer authorized to call the port of Havana, Cuba, as part of her current Caribbean sailings. The alternative ports of either Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; or Cozumel, Mexico will replace Havana, Cuba. The remainder of MSC Armonia’s itinerary will remain as originally planned.
Guests currently on board MSC Armonia and their travel agents have already been informed and will receive
Join us as we sail-away aboard MSC Cruises, MSC Seaside from Port Miami for a 7-Night cruise to the Western Caribbean. This hyperlapse video gives a great view from our vantage point as we leave our worries behind.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, the new adult-by-design cruise ship setting sail in 2020, has already booked voyages with sailors from all over the United States… except South Dakota.
The average full-time employee in South Dakota uses only 26% of their vacation days to travel. In fact, about 73% of South Dakotans have left over days each year!
To rally some South Dakotans to come sail with Virgin Voyages and use those vacation days, the brand has put out a call for sailors encouraging them to book with clever billboards around the state. To give them even more of a nudge, Virgin Voyages is offering the first lucky South Dakotan who books a cruise a prize package that includes:
$605 in Sailor Loot to use on-board the Scarlet Lady
Sir Richard Branson wrote an open letter to South Dakotans, which will run in The New York Times today, urging them to book ASAP and come join the Virgin Voyages fun in 2020. You can read the letter here.
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Snorkeling is among the most popular activities that cruisers pursue as a shore excursion. This makes sense, of course, because so many cruises visit warm-weather paradises that offer spectacular beaches, inviting waters and fascinating reef systems. These are ideal places to jump in and enjoy warm waters and poke your head under to see the world below that is home to colorful fish and other exotic creatures.
Caribbean cruises offer tons of ways to try snorkeling for your shore excursions. You also will find opportunities on Mediterranean cruises or even cruises to Australia and Alaska.
If you’re thinking of snorkeling on your next cruise, we’ve got some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your underwater adventure.
Fun for First-Timers
A cruise is a great time to try snorkeling for the first time. The experience can be a little overwhelming, though, as you learn to relax in the water and breath through the tube. Pick a guided snorkel tour. The guides are experts and will teach you how to use the equipment and ensure that you have a properly fitting mask and flippers.
You also can use a lightweight snorkel vest that helps you float, so you can just focus on your relaxed breathing while enjoying the underwater scenery.
A boat tour will take you to safe spots to snorkel and areas with great reef systems so that you have the best chance of seeing interesting things like sea turtles, tropical fish, crabs and even shipwrecks. You can get into and out of the water as often as you like when you use the boat as a base. Thus, you can make sure you always feel safe and comfortable. Lunch or snacks and drinks are also often provided on these snorkel excursions.
Book a snorkel trip that limits the number of people on your boat. Read online reviews to find excursions that feature smaller groups or tours that go to more secluded areas away from the cruise ship masses.
This might cost a little more, but the experience will be far more enjoyable than finding yourself thrashing around in the water trying to avoid arms and legs of dozens of others who are all swimming in the same reef area.
This is incredibly frustrating and happens a lot at extremely popular snorkeling spots like Los Arcos in Puerto Vallarta or most places in the top tourist areas in Cancun and Hawaii.
Try to book a more intimate tour independently (not through the cruise ship shore excursion desk) and tell the tour operator and guides the type of experience that you are looking for – they can often work to give you just what you want.
Get your own set of travel snorkel equipment, and you’ll always be ready.
Pack Your Gear
If you are already an avid snorkeler, buy a set of snorkel gear and bring it along. I own a travel snorkel set (it comes with short flippers that don’t take up too much packing space) and bring the gear along so that I can use it on our beach days or anywhere that I end up near water that is easy to access.
This way, I can jump in for free snorkeling on a whim. I have had wonderful free snorkel sessions on a whim while wandering around Bonaire, Grand Cayman and at several cruise line private islands, such as Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
Beware the Burn
Apply sunscreen (choose a reef-safe version that doesn’t damage the water or reef system) early and often. The Caribbean and Med sun is intense, and you might not realize what it’s doing to your head, back and calves as you float around in the water face down for a couple hours.
Sure, you feel plenty cool in the water, but your exposed parts are getting roasted.
I learned this the hard way during a day snorkeling in Aruba. Sunscreen helps, but I would advise using a long-sleeved swim shirt (also called rash guards) to keep you protected. The best swim shirts come with UV protectant built right in, too.
Look what I found while snorkeling in Alaska. Would you give it a try?
Find New Frontiers
Snorkeling is my favorite way to get into the water on a cruise trip. I even tried it in the cold waters of Alaska. This requires squeezing into a wet suit to stave off the cold and can be a bit clumsy compared with snorkeling in warm destinations. But the payoff is seeing different environments and creatures in the tidal regions of serene bay areas.
One last tip: As you get more comfortable, you can start working on diving under the water to get deeper and see more while capturing memorable images or video with underwater action cameras (like a GoPro). Work on your breathing techniques and you’ll soon be swimming confidently alongside fish or following turtles (to the amazement of your snorkel buddies).
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Join your Host John Shallo and Guest Randy Warren as they talk about their cruise aboard MSC Cruises, MSC Seaside. Their MSC Seaside cruise visited the Western Caribbean ports of Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Nassau. This detailed review covers many topics and we hope you enjoy the conversation.
Carnival Sunrise was officially welcomed to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet during its naming ceremony May 23 at Pier 90 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.
More accurately, the festivities onboard the 2,984-passenger ship represented a re-naming for a ship that for two decades had been called Carnival Triumph. A $200 million transformation gives the vessel new life and represents another way in which cruise lines can give passengers a new experience without building a brand-new ship.
Hundreds of media, travel partners and executives from the Carnival Corp. brand were on hand for a short but sweet ceremony to name Carnival Sunrise at its new homeport. The ship’s godmother is Kelly Arison, daughter of Carnival Corp. Chairman Mickey Arison and Madeleine Arison, who was godmother of Carnival Triumph, which first started sailing in 1999.
Kelly Arison’s grandmother Lin Arison is godmother to Carnival Sunshine, another ship that underwent a full transformation and rebirth. Carnival Sunshine went into drydock as Carnival Destiny and emerged in 2013 as the first of the new Sunshine class of ships. Sunrise is the second, and Carnival Victory next year will become Carnival Radiance when it’s the final ship to get a makeover as part of a $2 billion fleetwide enhancement program.
src=”https://cruiseaddicts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KathieLeeKellyMadeleineRomero.jpg” alt=”Carnival Sunrise with Kathie Lee Gifford, Kelly Arison, Madeleine Arison and artist Romero Britto” width=”864″ height=”691″ /> Kathie Lee Gifford, Kelly Arison, Madeleine Arison and artist Romero Britto gather on deck after the naming ceremony.
“To be a part of Carnival Sunrise’s official naming is more than I could have ever imagined and an experience I’ll never forget,” said Kelly Arison. “The ship is absolutely beautiful, and I’m so honored to not only carry on my family’s legacy as godmother but to also use this opportunity to raise awareness for a well-deserving organization, the Ehlers-Danlos Society.”
Kelly Arison is using her platform as godmother to help the organization, which dedicated to serving people with joint hypermobility spectrum disorders. Carnival also made a $50,000 donation to the organization as part of the naming festivities. Longtime brand ambassador Kathie Lee Gifford also appeared during the ceremony, sharing funny anecdotes from her 35 years working and cruising with Carnival. Gifford helped bring cruising to the mainstream as part of the first national TV ad campaign that debuted in 1984. Gifford also served as godmother of two Carnival ships: Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Celebration (now Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration).
Carnival Triumph launched in 1999, and in recent years sailed from its homeport of Galveston. The ship earned a share of ignominy is 2013 when an engine fire caused the ship to lose power and it was stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for several days, drawing worldwide media attention and scrutiny for the cruise industry.
Now, with a new name and fresh look, Carnival Sunrise sails to Bermuda, New England and Canada and the Caribbean from New York.
With the transformation, passengers have many more options for food and activities. Carnival Sunrise features Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (in collaboration with longtime partner and celebrity chef Guy Fieri), BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican fare); Alchemy Bar (creative cocktails), WaterWorks aquapark and SportSquare recreation area (ropes course, mini-golf, basketball court, pool tables and shuffleboard).
The ship also has a Serenity adults-only retreat, RedFrog Pub, SkyBox Sports Bar, Cherry On Top candy shop and a Limelight Lounge (home to The Punchliner Comedy Club). Additional restaurants include Bonsai Sushi, Cucina del Capitano, Seafood Shack, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Pizzeria del Capitano.
After its season on New York, Carnival Sunrise heads to Fort Lauderdale for the winter cruise season.
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Carnival Sunshine is the lineÕs first ship to feature a three-level Serenity adults-only retreat, which offers a pool, whirlpool, comfortable chaise lounges and chairs, colorful umbrellas and, of course, magnificent sea views. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines)
Carnival Sunshine has begun sailing four- to 11-day cruises from the Port of Charleston. Carnival Sunrise also becomes the newest ship to operate year-round cruises from Charleston.
Carnival Sunshine inaugural festivities on Saturday, May 18, included a luncheon for travel advisors, local officials and VIPs during which Carnival made a donation to One80 Place, a homeless assistance center supported by the cruise line for many years. Charleston-based ships have donated hundreds of mattresses, chairs, dishes and other items for use at the facility over the years.
Carnival Sunshine’s schedule from Charleston includes four- and five-day sailings to the Bahamas, six- and seven-day voyages to Bermuda and the Caribbean, and the first-ever Cuba cruises from Charleston with a series of five-day sailings calling at Havana. Also offered are longer-length 10- and 11-day Carnival Journeys sailings to the Caribbean with day-long calls at tropical islands, opportunities to sample local cuisine and entertainment and activities like a retro Throwback Sea Day.
“Carnival launched Charleston’s first-year round cruise program nearly a decade ago and we’re delighted to homeport Carnival Sunshine which offers our guests so many wonderful onboard features and amenities,” said Terry Thornton, senior vice president of nautical and port operations for Carnival Cruise Line. “This weekend’s festivities were a great way to celebrate the arrival of Charleston’s newest year-round cruise ship while supporting a longtime charitable partner that has made such a tremendous impact on the community,” he added.
Commented Jim Newsome, SC Ports Authority president and CEO, “Carnival Cruise Line is a great customer of the Port, and we’re proud to welcome the Sunshine as a reflection of their success in Charleston. Cruise operations are an important part of SCPA’s maritime commerce mission and the diversification of our business segments. We look forward to continuing this productive relationship with Carnival and applaud their commitment to supporting charitable organizations in our community.”
Besides featuring over 500 balcony staterooms and nearly 50 suites, Carnival Sunshine offers a wide range of onboard amenities that include stunning outdoor spaces like a three-level Serenity adults-only retreat, a suspended ropes course and Speedway Splash, dual racing slides part of an expansive WaterWorks aqua ark. A variety of food and beverage options such as Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub and the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar are included.
Carnival launched Charleston’s first year-round cruise program in 2010 and the departures attract guests from across the Southeast and other regions. Carnival and other cruise operators generate $131 million in direct expenditures and account for nearly 2,400 jobs and $93 million in wages toward the South Carolina economy.
With Carnival Sunshine repositioning to Charleston, Carnival Ecstasy was deployed to Jacksonville for year-round four- to seven-day cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean. In turn, Carnival Elation, previously based in Jacksonville, shifted to Port Canaveral for a new four- and five-day Caribbean/Bahamas schedule from the Space Coast.
To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visitCarnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL.
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Cruises are one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. Last year, over 26 million passengers were carried by an ever increasing fleet of ocean liners and river boats. 13 new vessels were launched last year, the biggest of which can comfortably fit 5400 holidaymakers. It is an industry teeming with variety; there are long cruises, short cruises, trips to tropical destinations and others nearer to home. Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are some of the most frequently requested, although Nordic cruises are also growing in popularity.
Family cruise liners are designed with children in mind, so you would expect them to be overflowing with colourful activities and exciting entertainments. But even those that aren’t designed specifically for children, recognise that keeping them confined to a ship with no places to play is a bad idea. So adults cruising without children will still find their ship taken up by colourful water slides, children’s entertainers and entire playrooms that they have no desire to enter. Yet all this is still included in the bill. People cruising without children are paying for facilities that they cannot use, and finding that the space for things they do want to do is more limited. With a huge variety of companies, ships and routes out there, you can make sure that you don’t end up on a party ship, if you’re looking for an easy going time.
Adult-only cruise liners are not just designed for peace and quiet, the lack of children on board means that more space is given over to adult activities. These ships often offer grander dining experiences, spacious spas and glamourous casinos. The nightlife is designed with no fears of waking little sleepers, any cruisers can party away knowing that they can sleep off the hangover in peace.
Prepare to be Pampered
Brown towel on green fern with candles and black hot stone on wooden background. Hot stone massage setting lit by candles. Hot stone therapy for one person with candle light. Beauty spa treatment and relax concept.
Adult-only cruises are all about luxury. Many liners include premier spa and relaxation facilities, as well as onboard gym equipment and personal trainers. Virgin Voyages has just announced the specifications for their new adult-only vessels and they include a running track, outdoor yoga deck and hydrotherapy pool. With most holiday makers wanting somewhere they can relax and de-stress away from work, a floating wellness ship sounds idyllic.
The dining halls will feel more luxurious too. How many times have you sat down to a romantic meal, only to have it ruined by screaming children at a different table? With adult-only tables, the drama is kept to a minimum, the ambiance isn’t ruined by cartoon character themes and the chef is free to keep the menu high class.
Take a Little Risk
One of the biggest draws of adult-only casinos are the opulent casinos. Gambling is a great way to have fun with your friends or your partner and many cruise goers enjoy taking advantage of the facilities. With more space available, onboard casinos can be of a similar size and standard to land-based casinos; able to offer slots and table games, bars with table service, and round-the-clock entertainment.
Royal Caribbean offer fantastic casino cruises, with their adult-only vessels competing with the Las Vegas hotels for their sumptuous rooms and stylish casinos. Different games are available depending on which route you take, but all offer a few staples like slot machines. Slot machines are a great entry game for people who haven’t really gambled before, as they are easy to use and you don’t have to learn a load of rules to be able to play. They also have a host of great features, such as progressive jackpots and cascading reels which make the games even more exciting.
Something in Common
Whether you are in your twenties or your sixties, holidays are more fun if you are with people your own age. Not only will the people you meet understand where you are in life, but you will more than likely have shared experiences and views. Adult-only cruises offer likeminded people the opportunity to socialise. Whether by the pool or when grouped together on an excursion, if you’re a single person thrown together with families, you’re going to feel in the minority.
There are even divisions with the adult-only market to help holidaymakers find companions of a similar age. Several cruise companies market exclusively to the over 50s, offering cruises that are more laid back and guaranteed to be quieter than those marketed to millennials.
It’s easy to see why adult-only cruises have become so popular. The upscale dining rooms, space for improved spa and exercise facilities, and laid-back entertainment options are small perks when compared to the change in atmosphere that comes without moody teenagers or screaming toddlers. Whether your children have grown, been left at home, or you don’t have any of your own, there is something on an adult-only cruise to make everyone feel rested and relaxed.
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The studio cabin on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas.
More cruise travelers in the past decade have been enjoying the freedom and flexibility that comes with setting off on a trip on your own. Of course, it’s an amazing and rewarding experience to share a cruise vacation with a loved one or a friend or family member. But sometimes, scheduling just doesn’t work out, and you are left with the choice: cruise by yourself, or don’t cruise at all.
Cabins for Solo Cruisers
Also, many people simply enjoy the liberating feeling of going it alone on their journeys.
Cruise lines have heard this message, and are reacting. Solo cabins are becoming more mainstream on cruise ships. This means solo cruising, which too often can be cost prohibitive because of the dreaded “single supplement” penalty is now more accessible than ever if you can find the right cruise ship. Always check the fares closely, though, because high demand for solo cabins combined with sales promotions on standard staterooms can mean that you still might get a better deal booking a regular stateroom.
With that in mind, here is our list of the best cruise ships for solo cruisers.
The studio cabins on Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line offers the most solo cabins of all the major cruise lines.
Norwegian Cruise Line was the first in the industry to design ships with solo cruisers in mind, offering a revolutionary Studio Complex and Lounge space that truly makes solo travelers feel like they have a home onboard with fellow single cruisers. These cabins also do not carry a “single supplement” fee (a higher rate – up to double — typically charged to solo cruisers staying in standard staterooms).
The Studios are specifically designed and priced for solo travelers, offering up to 100 square feet of space. These stylish cabins also come with exclusive key-card access to the Studio Complex and Lounge (no lounge on Pride of America). This is a private shared space that has drink and room service. In the lounge, you can get a snack like fresh-made cookies or enjoy your morning breakfast or coffee. It also features a big-screen TV and reading materials.
None of the solo cabins on Harmony of the Seas offer balconies, while Ovation, Quantum and Anthem feature interior cabins with virtual balconies and “Super Studio Ocean View with Balcony” solo cabins.
All of these Royal Caribbean solo cabins carry no single supplement charge and range in size from 96 square feet to 199 square feet.
Cunard
To keep up with the rising demand from cruisers who want to sail alone and don’t want to be penalized with the added cost of paying for a whole cabin on their own, Cunard refurbished its ships to offer solo staterooms. The new Britannia Single Staterooms on Queen Mary 2 (15 cabins), Queen Victoria (nine) and Queen Elizabeth (nine) offer oceanview and interior rooms that range in size from 140 square feet to 180 square feet.
Cunard is a great choice, too, because of programming that appeals to solo cruisers. Set dining times allow passengers to join together with one another at assigned tables (solo cruisers are often seated together), and the ships also have gentlemen dance hosts who are there to help single cruisers fill their dance cards.