Alaska Cruise/Day at Sea

We had a wonderful, much needed, restful day at sea.  Now that doesn’t mean there was nothing to do.  There were more things to do than we could possibly do.  So we had to pick and choose. 

We took the ‘Behind the Scenes Kitchen Tour’.  We found out that on our ship 8500 pounds of meat, 4000 pounds of poultry, 1100 pounds of butter and 1800 eggs are just a part of what is used to prepare all of the meals on board.  Mind boggling.

Later my husband grabbed a book and headed up to the Crows Nest while I went to a digital workshop by Microsoft.  Jason was very good and I ended up going to several workshops during the cruise.

There were other activites going on; like artistic napkin folding, water color classes, culinary classes and many more.

The day went by too quickly.  Before and after dinner we enjoyed listening to guitarist and vocalist, Charlie Jordan.  He took requests and could perform about everything that was reqested- from The Beatles to Walon & Wille.

Dinner went much more smoothly the 2nd night out.  We called and made reservations and I would highly reccommend doing that. 

The main show was a comedian who was absolutely halarious and very clean and family friendly.  He had everyone laughing and it was over too quckly.

Alaska Cruise/On Board the Zaandam

We took a taxi from our hotel to Pier 91 where the Zaandam was waiting for us.  Checking in at the pier went very smooth with a very short line.  After on board we explored the ship a little and then it was time to set sail.  We watched as the Seattle skyline dissappeared behind us. 

Then it was time for the mandatory drills.  But you no longer are required to take your life-jackets with you, which was much nicer. 

We did the anytime dining on this cruise.  And I have to say the first night the staff seemed a little confused and unorganized with the anytime dining.  But the food was fantastic.

The show the first night was ‘meet the crew and dancers’ night.  They also had games involving the audience which was halarious.  The Cruise Director so entertaining all by himself that he could have his own act.

After the show we found that there were at least 3 different places we could go to listen to music or dance.  I was pleasantly surprised at the options.

Why Would You Go to Puerto Rico?

Well, Puerto Rico is as diverse a destination as you can imagine.

It is an exotic Caribbean group of islands, yet still part of the United States.  So you do not need a passport if you are a U.S. citizen.

If you like adventure, Puerto Rico is the place for you.  You can hike El Yunque National Rainforest which is a finalist as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.  Or you can have the thrill of you life as you fly 1000 feet and 200 feet above ground on one of Puerto Rico’s zip lines.  ATV’s and horseback rides through the rainforest are other options.

In  Northwestern Puerto Rico, you can experience part of the third largest underground river cavern system in the world.

Perhaps the crystal clear water of the Caribbean is why you go to Puerto Rico.  Just lounging on the beach may be your perfect day.  But once again, if adventure is more what you like there are plenty of water activities.  Go sailing on a catamaran, surf, snorkel or scuba dive. 

Have you dreamed of being on a deserted island?  Puerto Rico has one.  Gilligan’s Island.  The island forms part of the Guanica Biosphere Reserve.  It can be easily reached by ferry for a small fee and is the perfect place to go snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing.  Access to the island is limited so you can enjoy a little bit of paradise.

Looking for something very unique?  How about water that seems to glow a magnificent blue-green at night?  Although there are seven recorded places in the world where this natural phenomenon occurs – three of which are in Puerto Rican waters – it is widely accepted that the picturesque Puerto Mosquito Bio Bay is top of the list when it comes to the quality and brightness of the bio-luminescent experience. 

Puerto Rico seems like the perfect place to go for adventure, relaxing and a little bit of the unusual.

Seattle: Before the Alaska Cruise

Seattle is really a great place to explore before your cruise.  So if you go on a cruise that departs from Seattle be sure to plan time to soak up a little of all Seattle has to offer.  Make sure you have great walking shoes because everything seems to be uphill. 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Hotel Monaco has a complimentary wine reception at 5p.m. each afternoon.  So for you wine connoisseurs, local Seattle wines are there for you to enjoy.

Everywhere we walked around Seattle my husband kept pointing out all of the hanging flower baskets and planter boxes.  The flowers were beautiful and they were everywhere; hanging in the trees, on railings that might be a block long, everywhere.  We wondered how they watered them all and we were told that is rains almost everyday a little; so mostly God waters them.  Seattle has 40 annual inches of rainfall but luckily most of the rainfall is in the winter.  So the summer is a great time to visit Seattle before your cruise.

The morning of our cruise we got up early and walked down to Pike Place Market.  For some reason we kept ending up there.  But this morning we were there bright and early and the vendors were still setting up their booths.  No crowds this time.  We were able to talk to them and taste and sample fruit, chocolate pasta, smoked salmon, many different kinds of jelly, and vegetable chips and ..well..more things than I can remember.    Then we wandered across the street from the market and discovered a Russian bakery, Piroshky’s on Pike Place.  The line was super long, but it was definitely something we would have regretted if we hadn’t checked it out.  And the wait was well worth it!  We ordered the sausage piroshky and apple/cranberry piroshky and went across the street and sat on a park bench, watched the water and pigeons and ate a scrumptious breakfast while once again being serenaded by street musicians.  What a great morning.

Then we strolled back down to Pioneer Square and to the Smith Corona Tower.  This tower is almost as tall as the Space Needle but about half of the price to go to the top.  The Smith Corona Tower was built from the fortune made from the typewriters and rifles sharing the same name.  The tower was Seattle’s first skyscraper opening July 14, 1914 with 42 stories.  This building was the fourth tallest building in the world and remained the tallest building west of Chicago for almost 50 years.   

The crown jewel of the Smith Corona Tower is the Chinese Room on the 35^th floor, originally furnished by the last Empress of China as a gift to Mr. Smith.  I got to sit in the hand carved wood Wishing Chair.  The story goes that if women sit in the chair and make a wish to be married; their wish will come true within one year.  You will also see 17^th century works of art and hand-carved wood ceiling with porcelain-inlay.  And the views of Seattle from the complete wrap around outside deck of this 522’ tall building are amazing.  The brass elevators that take you to the observation deck are still run by elevator operators.  And that is something you don’t see anymore.

We board the Zaandam next.

Alaska Cruise/Pioneer Square

We walked down and up to Pioneer Square.  Many hills in Seattle.  I don’t really know why it is called Pioneer Square because it is not a square.  The area is filled with historical buildings more than 100 years old, quaint restaurants, art galleries, antique shops, a huge toy store and night clubs.  When you walk down the cobblestone street and see the horse drawn carriage pass by you think you have gone back in time. 

The Underground Tour is not to be missed.  This tour takes you down under to see Seattle after the 1889 fire.  You walk the streets under the city where most of the old stores are abandoned.  A few of the businesses use this underground as their basement.  The guides on the tour are very entertaining as they take you on this historical and sometimes hysterical jouney of Seattle’s Underground.

The buses in Seattle are great, especially when you have walked a lot and your hotel is several blocks ‘uphill’ from where you are.  And the buses are free in the ‘free zone’ which covers a large area.

We heard about The Inn At The Market and decided to go take a look.  This little boutiqe hotel is right by Pike Place Market.  They have a roof top deck that has beautiful views of Elliott Bay and Pike Place Market.

The Inn at the Market also has a small cozy outdoor courtyard where there was dining and soft live music.

 

More on Seattle to come.

Alaska Cruise/Seattle First

We arrived early at the airport so there was plenty of time to check our bags and go through security without any problems.  And I was very proud of ourselves as we were able to only check one bag and have one carry on each for our 8 night trip.  Feel free to contact me  if you would like to know how to travel with less.

I made arrangements with Shuttle Express in Seattle for our transfers to our hotel and they were waiting for us when we arrived at the Seattle airport.  When we walked in at the Hotel Monaco I was amazed at how friendly the staff greeted us.  It was like they were waiting on us and happy to meet us.  Our room was ready by 11:00 a.m.  I had let them know we would be arriving early but it is unusual for a hotel to actually have your room ready early.  And they even told us ‘Happy Anniversary’ and gave us a VIP room which was on the 11th floor away from the street noise.  And a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolates were waiting for us in our room.  The concierge also greeted us and made dinner reservations for us. 

After we checked in and rested a bit we headed to Pikes Place Market which was only about 6 blocks away.  One of the first things we saw was the famous ‘flying fish’ in the fish market.  When someone would order fish they would yell out the order and toss the fish to each other through the air.  People would cheer and clap, fun to watch. 

Street musicians were entertaining everyone in the Market by playing violins, guitars and some were playing saws.   

It was crazy crowded at Pikes Place Market and this was on a Thursday early afternoon.  I can’t imagine what it is like on the week-ends.  But we had so much fun and there was so much to see.  Beautiful bouquets of flowers and you could get a nice size bouquet for only $5.00.  Then there was fruit, vegetables, jewelry, clothes, toys-just about anything you wanted.  We found a little place that had some fried shrimp that we took outside by the water and ate and a musician came up and serenaded us while we ate.

We found one section right outside of the market where vendors were set up and we found out that these vendors were only allowed to sell things they made locally.  Beautiful paintings, hand blown glass, clothes and homemade food could all be found here.    Next I will tell you about Pioneer Square and Underground Seattle.

Alaska Pictures and Cruise Reviews Coming

Check back with me in the next few weeks for Alaska cruise reviews and lots of pictures from Alaska.  I will be sharing these soon.

WHAT SIZE CRUISE SHIP IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

What size cruise ship is best for you?
Here you can take a look at what to expect from each of the different size ships.
The Big Ships Carry 2,000- to 4,000+ Passengers
Pros
• Activities aplenty, from newlywed games to computer classes.
• Multiple swimming pools; some offer adult only or children only pools.
• Plenty of balcony cabins to choose from.
• Huge casinos with the hottest table games, such as Texas Hold ‘Em.
• Big gyms with state-of-the-art equipment.
• They’re like a big resort hotel, with lots of variety
• Lavish spa.
• Multi-tiered children’s programs with great game rooms and activity rooms.
• Theaters featuring Broadway-style musical productions.
• Variety of nightclubs and bars that have live entertainment.
• Alternative dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to date-night formal.
• Something for all ages, ranging from families to seniors and in-between.
Cons
• Crowds, including lines at buffets and at embarkation and disembarkation.
• Not enough deck chairs.
• Lots of families which if you are traveling without kids may not be inviting.
• Visit common ports.
• You are likely to have an assigned dinner time and table (though more big ships are offering flexible dining).
• You may need a map to find your way around.
• Service can be impersonal.
Big-ship cruise lines: Carnival, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Princess.
The Middle Guys: 1,000 – 2,000 Passengers
Pros
• Best of both worlds with a more village-like ambience, but room for popular amenities.
• Casinos.
• Substantial entertainment offerings.
• Interesting—even exotic—itineraries.
• Enrichment activities.
• Several swimming pools.
• Functional gyms and spas.
• A handful of alternative dining options.
• Fewer families (for those traveling without kids).
• Generally more value-priced.
Cons
• Few lines are building ships this size so they tend to be outdated (unless they are refurbished).
• Passengers tend to be older.
• Fewer families (for those traveling with kids).
• May be more sedate than bigger ships.
• Smaller public rooms.
• Smaller cabins.
• Balconies, if they exist at all, are limited to suite residents.
• You may have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table.
Mid-size cruise lines: Several or all of the ships operated by Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
Small Ships: Under 1,000 Passengers
Pros
• New or not as new, these ships have up-to-date features and amenities.
• Personalized service.
• High levels of cuisine.
• Less waiting in lines.
• Clever uses of space to enable them to offer more services, such as in-cabin massages.
• Exotic itineraries are the norm (and even mainstream ones call at unusual ports).
• Fewer families.
• Very relaxed pace.
• Luxury, particularly in cabins, is emphasized.
• Dining is an open-seating, flexible scenario.
• Significant enrichment programs featuring world-famous experts.
• Smaller scale, more elegant entertainment.
• Michelin-level alternative restaurants.
• Often, much is included in the fare (alcohol, gratuities).
Cons
• Often (though not in all cases), they have fewer balconies; some have none at all.
• Activity wise, it’s definitely low-key.
• Limited kids programs and facilities; some actively discourage them.
• Fewer public rooms.
• Most expensive cruise fares.
• Pools may be small.
• If there’s a spa and gym, they may be tiny.
Small-ship cruise lines: Azamara, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, and Windstar.

Vacation Tips on Tipping

VACATION TIPS ON TIPPING

It’s understandable that many people are unsure what to tip at a hotel while on vacation.

Here are some guidelines that may help on your next vacation.

Valet parking. Don’t tip a hotel staff member who opens a guest’s car door at the hotel entrance or parks the car in a valet lot. The valet who retrieves the car from the parking lot should be given $2 to $5.

Bellmen. The common tip is $1 to $2 per bag. You can give more if the bags are heavy or the bellman provides other services.

Maid. They should receive $1 to $5 daily. Pay this tip daily to ensure it goes to the person that took care of your room.

Concierge. No tip is needed for directions, restaurant recommendations or answers to simple questions. A $10 to $50 tip is recommended for a concierge who obtains hard-to-get event tickets or a table at a popular premier restaurant.

Guests should expect good service at luxury hotels rather they tip or not.  And if you stay at a budget or moderate hotel you will not have the valet, concierge and bellmen to worry about anyway.

It is always nice to tip the person who goes out of their way to give you extra service and make your stay special.

Always carry lots of $1 bills so you don’t have to look for someone to give you change.  Also, if you are going to a different country, it is wise to have some of thier currency upon arrival for tips at the airport and transfers.

If you frequent a particular hotel or resort it is amazing how the staff remembers you, especially if you are a great tipper.

Best tip you can give.  Find out the name of the staff that offered that extra service and made your trip memorable.  Then write a quick note acknowledging this person and what they did; take a minute to find the manager of the hotel and give him the note.  Many hotels train their staff for better positions and this may help them get that promotion.

Honeymooning on a Cruise Ship

Each year, thousands of couples make the decision to get married. If you are planning on becoming one of those individuals, then it is likely that you and your new spouse will plan a honeymoon. When it comes to selecting a honeymoon destination, you have a number of options to choose from.

Honeymoons are often thought of as vacations. In a way, the only difference between a family vacation and a honeymoon is romance and the lack of children. Honeymoons are supposed to a fun, exciting, memorable, but private time. Instead of vacationing with the whole family, a honeymoon often only involves the bride and groom.

As previously mentioned, you have a number of different options when it comes to planning your honeymoon. Many newlyweds schedule their honeymoons at popular beaches, ski resorts, or other secluded areas. Did you know that you can also have a honeymoon aboard a cruise ship? Cruise ships are increasing in popularity, but still many individuals do not consider them as a vacation option.

One of the reasons why cruise ships are rarely thought about when selecting a vacation destination, let alone a honeymoon, is because of their cost. It is no secret that cruise ship tickets are expensive, but this cost should not prevent you from having the perfect honeymoon to go along with the wedding of your dreams. If you are concerned with the cost, you can opt for a lower category cabin and still enjoy all of the wonderful aminities on the ship.

It is important to examine the activities available onboard and the length of the cruise. The longer the cruise and the more services available, the more expensive the cruises are likely to be. If you take the time to figure out all the services that are included and the cost of overnight accommodations, you may see that cruises aren’t all that expensive after all.

Once you have made the decision to spend your honeymoon aboard a cruise ship, you will have to book reservations.   For your honeymoon you  may want to search for cruise ships that have romantic settings and romantic destinations.

When examining cruise ship destinations, you may want to take into consideration the possibility for romance at each destination. Since your honeymoon is supposed to be a romantic and relaxing time, you will want to select an environment that will keep those feelings alive. Cruise ship destinations are located all around the world. Popular destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico. To find the perfect honeymoon cruise, you are encouraged to select a cruise that offers stops at destinations of your choice.

In addition to taking cruise ship destinations into consideration, you are also encouraged to examine the type of cruise that you wish to set sail on. Multiple cruise lines have ships that are targeted to specific groups of individuals. These cruises often include cruises for adventure lovers, the whole family, or couples. As a couple, you should be welcome on any cruise. If you are looking for a private, romantic, and intimate setting, you may want to avoided cruises that are targeted for family vacations.

Before booking your honeymoon trip on a particular cruise ship, you are urged to examine want you want and need out of your trip. Doing so will enable you to select the perfect cruise ship for you and your new spouse.

Please contact us  and we will be delighted to help you find the perfect cruise or other vacation for your honeymoon.

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