Archive for category Caribbean
Cruise4Haiti
Posted by TravelDesigned in Caribbean, Cruise on June 28th, 2010
Cruise4Haiti is a wonderful opportunity to have an exciting cruise vacation and at the same time help others in need. Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Sea will be your home away from home the week of November 13 with inside cabins as low as $633.73 per person, taxes INCLUDED. She will be taking you to fun and the exotic ports of St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, & Labadee, Haiti. On board there will be unique craft making opportunities. Time spent in St. Maarten will be yours to discover the island's beaches, sightseeing and shopping. When visiting San Juan, plans are being made for a special Tweetup and toys will be delivered to an orphange for Christmas. While in Haiti, the funds raised through the proceeds of your cruise ($75 of each cabin price is donated) will be presented to non-profit organizations and desperately needed goods will be delivered.
For detailed information please visit the Cruise4Haiti blog. If you are unable to sail but want to be a part of this extraordinary event, please make a donation.
Although Travel Designed by Stephanie has no affiliation with this cruise, a charitable contribution has been made.
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Air Jamaica Canceling Service to Caymans and Barbados
Posted by TravelDesigned in Caribbean on June 14th, 2010
Air Jamaica Cancels Service to Caymans and Barbados
Air Jamaica announced this morning, they will be canceling the recently announced service to Caymans and Barbados. After providing service to Jamaica and the Caribbean for many years, it is becoming increasingly difficult to have confidence in Air Jamaica during the transistion period with Caribbean Airlines. It is sad to see an airline make an announcement on June 3 and 10 days later cancel. All we can hope is service to the Caribbean will improve this year without further "on again, off again schedules".
Here is the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Air Jamaica Shelves Plans to Return to Grand Cayman and New York/Barbados
Kingston, June 11, 2010—Air Jamaica today announced that it has halted plans to fly from Jamaica to Grand Cayman and from New York to Barbados this summer.
“There was a high level of excitement after we announced the addition of Grand Cayman and Barbados to our schedule, and we are very disappointed that we are not able to do so at this time. We had expected to add another aircraft to the fleet but this deal will not go forward. Operating the schedule as planned would have compromised our reliability and so we had to suspend these two routes,” said Bruce Nobles, President and CEO of Air Jamaica.
Passengers already booked on these services should contact reservations at 1-888-FLY-AIRJ (1-888-359-2475) in Jamaica or 1-800-523-5855 in North American for refunds or rescheduling options.
Air Jamaica will still go forward with the addition of New York/Grenada to its summer schedule, as well as a return to Nassau, an increase in flights to Toronto, and an increase in flights between Kingston and New York as previously announced.
About Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica
offers the most nonstop flights between the U.S. and Jamaica with more than 204 weekly flights, including service between Jamaica and
Toronto, New York (JFK), Baltimore, Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale and Nassau, and service between New York and Grenada. Voted “The Caribbean’s
Leading Airline” for 12 consecutive years, Air Jamaica offers one of
the industry’s most generous rewards programs, 7th Heaven Rewards,
along with award-winning entertainment—SkyWritings magazine and the video Island
Stylee. On May 1, 2010, Air Jamaica joined forces with Caribbean Airlines, and over the course of an expected 12-month transition period operations will continue as normal. Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines, on the way to one Caribbean airline
Treasures From My Trips
Posted by TravelDesigned in Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, New Zealand, South Pacific, TravelDesigned on April 25th, 2010
Treasures From My Trips
With the treasures from my trips, my husband swears I could open a gift shop! I must admit I have quite a collection of collections from our travels. For over 25 years Terry has considered me a special envoy aiding the world economy. I just can't help myself! It is a rare occasion I leave a shop without a purchase. Some of my treasures are a little on the expensive side and others not so much. No matter the cost, I love them all dearly!
One of the things I always look for are magnets. They are useful, relatively inexpensive and make GREAT gifts. I especially love handcrafted magnets. Of course, the ones my friends gift me hold a special place in my heart. To me, my magnets are miniature works of art. They remind me of the happiest days of my life and my wonderful friends.
Here is my collection of souvenir magnets:
You can mouse over most of the magnets to see where they are from
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This is the first in a series of photo essays on my travel treasures. What souvenirs do you collect? Do you have one you hold near and dear to your heart? |
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You Can Do It All or Nothing At All
Posted by TravelDesigned in Caribbean, Mexico, My Travelin' Tweeps, Travel Information, TravelDesigned on April 21st, 2010
This is what I always say about Mexico, “You can do it all or nothing at all!” This is especially true about a Yucatan holiday! There are party boats, romantic sunset cruises and pirate ships to sail. You can swim with whale shark, dolphins, sea turtles and manta rays.
Do you love waterparks? The Yucatan is the place for you! There’s the traditional waterpark WetnWild in Cancun however, unique to the area are nature themed waterparks. At El Garrafon on Isla Mujeres you can go ziplining, walk around the sculpture park, snuba or climb 50ft into the air. Near Playa del Carmen, Hidden Worlds has extensive ziplining trails. Go early and stay late at Xcaret. Don’t miss the butterfly world, jaguars, or Mayan ball court game. At Xel-Ha, near Tulum, is a natural snorkeling aquarium, manatee experiences and so much more!
Speaking of Tulum, it’s the only Mayan fortress by the sea. Inland find the Mayan ruins of Coba and Chichen Itza, a UNESCO world heritage site. Spend your vacation at the ruins of Chacchoben, Chac Mool, Dzibilchaltun, Ek Balam,Uxmal, Mayapan, Muyil, Kohunlich, Dzibanche and Oxtankah. Discover natural wonders at the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, another UNESCO site.
Bring your game- you can play a different golf course every day of the week! There’s El Camaleon, Playacar, Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya Golf Club, Pok Ta Pok, Hilton Golf Course and Playa Paraiso.
Only in the Yucatan will you find a certified thalasso spa with Mayan Shaman and their temazcal treatments. Or just relax on miles of beaches or at the pool with your favorite flavored margarita. As you can see on a Yucatan holiday,
5 Tips to Choosing the Right All Inclusive Vacation
Posted by TravelDesigned in Caribbean, LandLopers, Mexico, My Travelin' Tweeps on March 22nd, 2010
After weeks of waffling, you finally decided to vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Fantastic! These resorts offer the visitor a little bit of everything: good food, water sports, golf and most importantly, relaxation.
But as soon as you start looking at properties you begin to realize that there are way too many choices. How do you know which region to go to or which resort to pick? These tips should help you quickly narrow down your choices so you can start relaxing faster.
1. Get advice! Be it from a friend, website or travel agent, you need to hear and read some opinions on the various resorts. Although they may seem similar, they all have their differences. A travel professional can help you in this process as they are intimately familiar with all of the resorts.
2. Type of resort. Are you traveling as a family or as a couple? Believe it or not, it makes a difference. Several resorts, while catering to everyone, have some outstanding kids programs. Other resorts, however, specifically cater only to couples. It really is a matter of preference, but you don’t want to be on a romantic honeymoon only to have a bunch of kids doing cannonballs in front of your beach chair. If you are traveling with kids, spend a little time learning what specific programs each resort offers and which one would be the best fit for your family.
3. Location, location, location! What type of getaway are you looking for? Caribbean paradise? Cultural tours? Active pursuits? There’s something for everyone, but make sure to look at the resort location when booking. Things to take note of are proximity to an airport, stores and restaurants off property and nearby attractions. It’s not bad if the resort is not close to anything, just be aware of it before you go.
4. Food & Drink. You’ve chosen an all-inclusive, so the quality of the restaurants and bars is key. Not only is it important to learn about the quality of the food, but the type of food offered is important too. Are there specialty restaurants? If so, is there an extra fee associated with them? Is the food service primarily buffet or something else and what sorts of beverages are included? If you have kids, you want to make sure that the resort has dining options that will appeal to them as well. Five-star dining is great, but not if your seven year-old makes faces when the entrée is brought out.
5. Activities. After a few days of sunbathing, you might want to explore a little. There are plenty of activities in the Caribbean and Mexico, but decide first the types of things you would like to do and then select the best location. Many resorts offer complimentary kayaking, sailing and canoeing, but personal watercraft or parasailing may be an extra fee. Also, if you’re a diver then you will need to make sure there is a good diving location relatively close by. If cultural and archaeological tours are for you, then be aware that there are certain areas that have better access to these than others.
The best tip though is to just enjoy this exciting trip.
Follow Me: It’s My First Time at Sea
Posted by TravelDesigned in A Road Retraveled, Caribbean, Cruise, Mexico, My Travelin' Tweeps on December 10th, 2009
Please follow Simone di Santi on twitter: ARoadRetraveled
Traveling Girl + loaded camcorder on adventures= travel shows! Producer & host of A Road Retraveled & Traveling Tidbits.
Follow Me: It's My First Time at Sea
I'm not a travel writer, I let my video camera show you what words can never accurately describe. But I am taking this opportunity to share with you some thoughts about my recent cruise aboard The Crown Princess, on a twitter press hosted by Princess Cruises. I won't tell you all about the cruise since that will be (or currently is, depending on when you are reading this) on the A Road Retraveled and Traveling Tidibits travel shows, but I'd like to tell you what I learned about taking a cruise as opposed to traveling independently (which is what I normally do).
I never took a cruise before because my impression was cruising is for people too old to travel the old fashioned way, it would be too restrictive, limiting, boring, unlimited bad food, lack of on-land adventures, and an entire litany of what seemed like legitimate reasons. But after a week at sea, I abandoned my skepticism and became a convert!
1. Cruise ships are resorts at sea, with every imaginable amenity: pools, gyms, spas, cafe, dining rooms, art galleries, game rooms, sports, casinos, bars, night clubs, shopping, theater, movie screens, you name it, they will probably have it, and much more you never imagined!! I lacked for nothing my entire week at sea.
2. You don't have to sacrifice on-land adventures. Day excursions at ports of call provided an exciting 4×4 caravan tour of Grand Cayman and a thrilling Harley Davidson Safari in Cozumel Mexico. I've had more excitement in one action packed week cruising through Western Caribbean on Crown Princess than a month on traveling on land!! And if you book day excursions through the cruise line, like Princess Cruises, you not only secure your spot on a tour, but deal with legitimate tour operators and agencies who meet the required criteria by the cruise line. Although great experiences are not guaranteed, at least you know you won't get scammed by unknown operators on land.
And if you're on a budget or organized tours don't rock your boat, you can do your homework ahead of time, and find out what's fun and exciting to do on land. Or, just play it by ear and explore it yourself. Whatever you choose, be sure you don't miss the boat. It WILL sail without you! Another reason why I like organized tours at ports of call is they get you back to the ship on time and you don't have to worry about arriving late.
3. Sometimes even adventurous travelers need a vacation. As we hopped from one country to another through the Caribbean, not once did I have to pack, unpack, catch a train, miss the bus, get on a plane, check in and out of hotels — all of which are my least favorite parts about traveling. On a cruise ship, your "hotel" travels with you!!
4. You don't have a food budget on a cruise. One of my anxieties when traveling independently is finding a place to eat that doesn't have a tourist menu, it's not over priced and over rated, and it's not too far out of my way that makes getting back to my hotel a hassle. Then there are other issues like not knowing who cooks your food, if the food is fresh and clean, or if the kitchen is up to par with the health department standards so you won't go home with a bad case of food poisoning.
On Crown Princess not only did we meet the ship's Executive Chef Giuseppe Pollara, but we went on a tour of the galley where our food stored and prepared, and visits from the health department are public knowledge since if the ship fails inspections, it will be immediately docked. And it a huge bonus that the Executive Chef is Italian too…I love Italian food!!
5. Anyone with health issues, worried about adequate medical facilities abroad, or qualified and English speaking doctors would be happy to know that cruise ships like Crown Princess have state of the art medical facilities prepared to handle any kind of emergency that doesn't require surgery, and are run by qualified English speaking medical staff. If you loose your medication, they carry most prescriptions on ship. Let's hope the worst health issues you'd ever experience on a cruise is a mild case of sea sickness!!
6. When we set sail, Tropical Storm Idea threatened the Caribbean, and we were scheduled to follow its path. If I was traveling by land and found myself in the middle of an approaching tropical storm or hurricane, I'd have to either cancel my trip and be at the mercy of cancellation fees or travel insurance, evacuate, or spend my entire time there in horrible weather. All of that was avoided (except, for one rainy day in Roatan, Honduras) when Princess changed course and itinerary and avoided the path of Ida. When I previously wondered how would a cruise ship fare in the middle of a tropical storm hurricane, I realized it's easy: it just changes course to keep the passengers safe and in better weather to enjoy their time at sea.
7. I'm not fond of the idea of going to a night club when on vacation, drink one too many, and then make your way back to your hotel. A lot of bad things can and have happened that way. On a cruise ship, you can party till wee hours in nightclubs such as Crown Princess' Skywalker Nightclub, drink to your heart's desire, and NOT worry about how you'll get to your hotel because the most you'll have to do is take the elevator to your stateroom. And with so many crew members on board, you know you're safe 24/7. Another bonus: You don't have to worry about drinking and driving on a cruise either!
8. Unless I'm in NY, I don't have the opportunity to see a Broadway style theater performance after dinner….either there aren't any theater performances available in the area, or they're so out of the way that trying to make it on time after dinner was never a possibility. And there's the whole transportation issue of getting from point A to point B, taxi, traffic, parking, etc. I was thrilled to enjoy two theater performances on Crown Princess right after fine dining downstairs. How much simpler can it get?
9. I was previously also under the impression that being on a cruise ship I'd be denied international companionship like I enjoy when traveling on land. One of my favorite things to do when traveling is getting to know people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I was pleasantly surprised to have met wonderful crew members from all over the world, and although time was limited because they were on duty, I'm very happy to have had the time to meet and talk to them. They were transformed from crew members, to international friends.
10. Just because you're at sea, it doesn't mean you're out of touch with family and friends. Not only Princess provides a telephone number if someone on land needs to reach you during the cruise, but with a 24 hour a day Internet Cafe and wi-fi for your laptop or smart phones, you can stay in touch with the whole world even. It's important to keep in mind that internet on cruise ships is a recent technology, and it's still very expensive and the internet via satellite is slow – so uploading videos or chatting via skype is not possible at this time.
Travel is not just about opening your mind to different destinations, but to different modes of travel as well. By limiting yourself to one way of traveling, or the way you've always traveled, you're eliminating vast possibilities for unique opportunities. You may not like every every mode of travel, just like you may not like every destination you've traveled to…but in the process, you might discover something unexpectedly fabulous!
Until next time,
Ciao for now!
Who would have thought #followmeatsea would have brought us together? I am so thankful to Princess Cruises for our new friendship!!
I appreciate you for indulging my begging and pleading to put your fingers to the keyboard and share your insights to why cruising can be a fun way to travel for everyone. Thanks so much, Simone! —Stephanie aka TravelDesigned
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