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Episode 11 – Picking the Right Cruise Ship Pt. 2

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:01:35 +0000

On this weeks episode of Cruise and Blog Radio, travel agent Karen joins us to answer your questions about using travel a agent.

Anne Campbell will weigh in on our weekly series helping us pick the perfect cruise ship.

With so much food on the cruise ship and calories around every corner, fitness blogger Meghann will give her advice on how to avoid packing on those pounds.

In cruise news, two big ships were delivered last week, don’t miss cruise news to find out all about the Oasis of the Seas and the Carnival Dream.

Be sure to check out our special episode LIVE from the Carnival Dream!

Be sure to subscribe to our weekly podcast!

Oasis of the Seas Video

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:01:08 +0000

This is the worlds largest cruise ship coming into Port Everglades in South Florida last week. It’s amazing!

Key West, Fla. via Cruise Ship

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:49:40 +0000

So I was asked the other day:

Carnival Conquest in Key West, Fla.

What is Key West like?

Great seafood, drinks, tourism, and beauty are a couple of words that would describe Key West, Florida. If you ever been there you know exactly what I am talking about. With a population of about 24,000 people and just a few square miles in size, Key West is the perfect starting point for your Caribbean vacation.

I will never forget my first memory of Key West at 14, only one word to describe it, WOW!

Cruise ships pull into Key West, Florida usually in the morning about 8 am and spend just a few hours in port. The port isn’t super huge so you can really do everything you want to do in the few hours you are there.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney are just a few ships that pull into port almost on a daily occasion, knowing that, it wouldn’t hurt to scout the island out online before you get there. You may want to even consider booking your land excursions before you arrive.

Just a few places you may want to consider while your there is Mallory square, conch train tour, The USA’s southern most point, Sloppy Joes bar, and a walk on Duval street…. the list goes on.

There will be a few cabs around the pier when you get off, its about 20 bucks to take a tour of the island. There is also a lot of bars, tourist places, great restaurants, and sights to see while you are on the island. Make sure you pay attention to your daily cruise itinerary because the ships don’t stay in port for a long time (about 8 hours).

Personally, I love to walk down Duval street, grab a few a drinks at a couple of the local bars, and maybe watch a band or two play (one thing there is no shortage of). In March, I was in Key West for the day and country music singer Kenny Chesney was performing at Sloppy Joes bar. You just never know who you will see there.

What are your favorite things to do in Key West, Fla.?

A Cruise to Nowhere

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:01:39 +0000

There is a older military vessel that sits in the port downtown Jacksonville, Fla., I think its on a tour or something. While I was down at the pier taking a look at it I over heard a older couple talking about a three day cruise they want to take but they have never been on a ship before. After that the couple mentioned that they weren’t too crazy about ports. I couldn’t resist, yes, I butted into their convo and suggested to try a cruise to nowhere.

They looked at me and almost simultaneously said “whats that?”

So what the heck, lets blog about it — What is a cruise to nowhere?

A cruise to nowhere is exactly how it sounds. Normally lasting two or three nights, the ship leaves port, goes into the ocean and basically spins circles while you are having a good time. A cruise to nowhere has the same amenities as a regular cruise: dining options, gaming, art shows, etc. The only difference is you are not going into a exotic port of call.

Who goes on a cruise to nowhere?

There really isn’t a direct answer for this. Folks that want to sample what a cruise ship is like, folks that don’t care about going to ports of call, or folks who just want to have a quick weekend getaway are all ideal candidate for a cruise to no where.

What kind of activities can you find on a cruise to nowhere?

Here are just a few, depending on the cruise line, the list can go on:

Casino fun
Spa
Lido deck activities
Bands
Vegas style shows
Fine dining
Art shows
Night clubs

By the end of our conversation the couple was very thankful that I took the time to explain to them what a cruise to nowhere is. I swear I should have been a travel agent! (kidding)

Cruise Dining Options

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:23:19 +0000

Last night I was eating sushi with friends and someone asked me about dining on a cruise ship. I was telling her that this topic could go on for days but I will give her the cliff notes version.

What is cruise ship dining like?

If you appreciate good food then you will love cruise ship dining. Even if you don’t love food, you will still love it, there is something for everyone!

Lets start with the options:

Fine Dining: This dinner is typically a four or five course meal in a fine dining room setting. Depending on the occasion and how full the ship is, you could be sat with strangers or as a couple. The dress for this dining option is generally dress casual (depending on the cruise line) and the times are set. The fare offered usually consists of steak, seafood, and pasta. Tea and water are complimentary.

Speciality Dining: This dining option typically requires reservations and is available for a nominal fee (starting at $15). This setting is intimate and perfect for a couple wanting some rest and relaxation. Fine steak houses, seafood, and japanese restaurants typically fall within the speciality dining category. You don’t have to do it every night but its a great break from the ordinary.

Buffet: If fine dining is not your cup of tea then this is perfect for you! You will find a variety of meats, vegetables, rices, breads, and desserts. The meal time for the buffet is not set to a certain time frame and generally spans over a three hour period. You don’t have to eat in the dining room either, you can take your meal by the pool or on one of the decks. You will usually find the pizza and pasta bar in this area. Tea, lemonade, and water are complimentary.

Room Service: Last but certainly not least we have the room service. I have personally used this service quite a bit when I have had late nights in the casino. The menu consists of items like burgers, chicken wings, salads, veggies, etc. The room service is available 24 hours a day but some cruise lines charge a fee for service after midnight.

So you see you do have lots of options when it comes to dining. You should know that soft drinks and alcohol drinks do have a charge across the whole ship….but, if you have a soda card, you are set to go and don’t have to worry about the charge for soda products.

If you have any comments, I would love to hear them.

Avoid Getting Seasick

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:01:48 +0000

If you look the word “seasickness” up online, it will say: a sickness resulting from the pitching and rolling of a ship or boat in water, especially at sea. If you want to get all web MD, its your brain adjusting to an unstable environment. Today I was asked a question from a co-worker:

Whats the best way to AVOID getting sea sick on a cruise?

I had a lot of answers for him so I was briefly share with you what we chatted about from my personal experiences.

Book a room in the lower part of the ship and towards the center, the closer you are to the bottom of the ship, the less rocking you will experience.
Book a smaller ship (they go into small destinations and not out in the open waters)
Try to keep a full stomach.
Stay out of the sun
Pack Dramamine
Get a pressure point wrist band — its goes back to acupuncture. There is a pressure point about an inch above your wrist.
Easy on the booze
Stay hydrated with water
Eat bread/crackers to absorb the acid in your stomach
Lay down and look at the horizon, it will give your brain a reference point to focus on
Keep your ears clean

As you can imagine, after hearing all those he was sorry he asked, but those are some remedies that I swear by. These are just a few and I welcome your comments!!

We will be doing a radio episode on sea sickness in the near future that will answer all your questions.

Healthy Cruising: Part 2

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:17:46 +0000

This is Meghanns second part of her healthy cruising segment. Meghann will be part of Cruise and Blog radio when we do our “Staying healthy at sea” show. Meanwhile you can check out her blog here.

While staying active is a key part, you also can’t expect to indulge in every single meal and not have to loosen your belt a notch as you walk off the ship. Now, don’t get me wrong I’m a full believer you can eat your carrots and have you cake too, BUT 2 or 3 piece of cake may be over the top.

Here are some tips I found to eating healthy on the ship

Eat Your Meals in the Dining Room When Possible

The biggest pitfall people run into on cruises are the unlimited buffets. The best bet is to avoid them when ever possible to keep yourself from piling it on your plate. Though the dining room options offer three or four courses, they also offer portion control.

Eat Dessert

Yes, I said eat dessert! And enjoy it! Just make sure its only one dessert and not the entire dessert menu. If you deny yourself dessert it is more then likely you are going to regret it and eat twice as much dessert after you’re done feeling sorry for yourself for not having it in the first place. This is the part when I say you’re on vacation and to live a little.

Stay Away from Frozen Drinks

On cruise ships I allow myself one fun tropical frozen drink, but that’s it. Otherwise it’s wine or beer for this girl. Where most cruise goers go wrong is the 1000 calorie+ tropical drinks at every turn. I suggest enjoying one, but stopping there. Instead go for a favorite low calorie drink such as a Soda Water, Vodka, Sour Mix with touch of Cranberry. Or there is nothing better then a light beer poolside.

Pay Attention to the Spa Menu

Each cruise line offers their own brand of ‘spa menu’ which usually coincides with their regular dining menu. The spa menu typically offers lighter or sugar free options that tend to be more figure friendly then the other menu options. I tend to study the spa menu first then check out the other menu options to see if there is anything I really am craving. I don’t always order from the spa menu, but it’s good to have the option in front of me.

Remember cruises are time to enjoy yourself. With a little practice of strong will and moderation eating well on a cruise should be no problem.

Happy Cruising!