Freedom of the Seas...Here We Come

Been awhile between posts.  So much going on lately, personally and professionally.

Personally...we have bought a new home and, naturally, that has taken up a lot of time and energy.  Professionally, Disney's Free Dining Offer and honeymoon planning season has kept me hopping which is a really good thing.  The only negative is that all of the busyness has kept me from blogging.

So here I am...blogging only so that all of you will know what will again keep me from blogging over the next 2 weeks or so.  Another piece of professional and personal exciting news is that we are heading out this weekend (9/21/12) on a much needed vacation aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.  Uber-excited does not encapsulate how giddy I am about this trip.  The itinerary is a repeat for us (Eastern Caribbean) and so is the ship.  That just means I will spend less time trying to take a bunch of pictures and more time getting some much-needed rest and relaxation.

So stay tuned for my review again of the ship and the ports of call when we return.  But in the meantime, if you are an avid cruise enthusiast like us, you might be interested in checking out this cool webcam that is strategically placed along the bank (atop Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill) in Port Canaveral.  On cruise line arrival and departure days, it monitors the the various cruise ships in port very closely.  They will zoom in on each ship as it is pushing away from the dock and as it starts heading out to sea.  The camera is so clear and the sound so good, that you can see the faces of the passengers and even hear some of the sail away party going on onboard.  So...if you happen to be checking it out this coming Sunday (Sept 23rd), look for the guy waving and smiling really big...that will be me.

Port Canaveral Webcam

Vacationing During Hurricane Season

Would you vacation in the Caribbean during hurricane season?  I get that question all the time.  So let me answer that question with a resounding YES.  I am about to embark on a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean during the peak of the hurricane season.  I have traveled to Florida during the peak of the hurricane season.  And I will most likely book another trip in the future to those same areas during hurricane season.

Here is a fact about hurricanes that make them different from ice storms, tornadoes, earthquakes and other forms natural disasters; you know they are coming with at least several days of advance notice.  That, to me, makes it easier to plan a vacation during hurricane season, as long as I go into my planning knowing that things may have to be altered.

Cruise ships, for example, will reserve the right to change an itinerary if weather threatens their current path.  That does not mean that they will necessarily cancel the entire cruise, but you may end up going to a port that was not planned originally.  Resorts, in a lot of cases, will issue credits to their guests if their resort is in the path of a hurricane and evacuations are necessary.  And there is always the opportunity to buy travel insurance when planning a trip during hurricane season just to give you the added comfort of knowing your investment is protected.

Traveling during hurricane season has two large advantages which make it a great time to vacation, in my opinion.  First, the prices are generally lower for cruises, all-inclusives, hotels etc.  Travel companies/Cruise Lines know that consumers are skittish when it comes to traveling during the months of August to October and they tend to offer lower pricing to entice consumers.  Second, naturally crowds tend to be lower during that time of year.

Lower pricing and smaller crowds are a great combination.  Agree?

So don't overlook the opportunities that present themselves during hurricane season.  I know there are some of you that travel during the other times of year and your vacations have been effected by blizzards, floods, and other weather-related issues that occurred during other times of year.  So the key to any travel these days, including travel during hurricane season, is to remain flexible and realize things happen that are out of your control.  If you can do that, and if you add travel insurance to your budget, then you can still have a great vacation even if your original plans had to be altered.

What are your opinions and/or experiences?  Do you have issues with traveling during hurricane season?  I would love to get your feedback.

"The Corridor" of Mexico

I have so many superlatives that I could use to describe my trip to the Los Cabos area of Mexico, otherwise known as "the corridor."  Let's start with incredible, beautiful, enchanting, awe-inspiring and SAFE!.   Do you get the idea that I love this part of Mexico?

Let's first start with a geographic lesson.  So many people use Los Cabos in a general sense to identify the area or town known as Cabo San Lucas.  When in reality there are 3 distinct areas that make up the tip of the Baja Peninsula; San Jose del Cabo, Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas.  When you fly into the area...you will fly into San Jose del Cabo which is a wonderful, quiet little fishing village on the banks of the Sea of Cortez.  From there, most vacationers will travel along a gorgeous stretch of highway that will take them to the town of Cabo San Lucas.  The area connecting the two towns is called Los Cabos or "The Corridor."

We based our stay out of the beautiful Secrets Marquis Los Cabos Resort and Spa.  The resort is surrounded by the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range on one side and the azure blue Sea of Cortez on the other.  The contrast of the cactus-covered mountains with the sounds of the sea are striking which to me makes this area very special.

We had the privilege of visiting 12 resorts during this visit and I want to simply recap 3 of them to show  you the range of accommodation possibilities that this area has to offer.

First...let's start with the resort we stayed at.  Secrets Marquis is a luxury all-inclusive resort and is adults only, which simply means you have to be 17 years of age or older to stay there, situated in the "Corridor."  The resort offers all ranges of room categories, from standard, well-appointed rooms up to their luxury private casitas.  Each room comes with an amazing view.  The resort is situated on a smaller footprint than some of its sister resorts on the Caribbean side of Mexico.  But that also means there are less choices when it comes to food and beverage.  But if you are looking for a quiet, luxury escape with some of the best vistas in the world, then this resort is perfect for you.  The infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez is incredible and makes this resort one of my top choices.

The second resort I want to mention is Me Cabo by Melia.  This is the opposite of Secrets Marquis.  It is located in Cabo San Lucas, centrally located near all of the night life that Cabo has to offer.  This means that this resort is not for those seeking an escape and R&R.  This resort is perfect for the younger and young at heart who want activities, a cool vibe combined with luxury surroundings.  The resort is also ideally located on one of the best stretches of swimmable beach in all of Cabo.  You want Miami South Beach Chic combined with incredible views of the Sea of Cortez and its amazing landscape?  This is your resort.  I am a Me Cabo fan!

The last resort I want to touch on in this review is Pueblo Bonito Pacifica.  You want some R&R, some wellness and spiritual healing, but also want to stay in close proximity to some night time hot spots?  This resort is right up your alley.  This was one of 2 resorts that I was able to visit that is located on the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas.  Let's see what words I can use to describe it...gorgeous, peaceful, tranquil, stunning...get the idea?  This luxury all-inclusive getaway is again not your typical all-inclusive that you may be used to in the Caribbean.  It does not come with your typical French, Italian, Asian, Buffet and Mexican choices like is becoming the standard in so many all-inclusives.  The restaurants are focussed on serving what is fresh and local and is simply more international than focussed on a specific style.  Pueblo Bonito Pacifica is centered around wellness which means it has one of the best spas in the world.  The rooms are modern, yet comfortable and stylish.  The beach and pools invite you to take a deep breath and say....ahhhh.

You can see that this beautiful area of Mexico has everything a vacationer would want.  I have seldom seen an area that can appeal to literally everyone; the adventurer, the spa-goer, the bar-hopper, the history buff, the work-escaper, the golfer, the nature-watcher and so on.  You can see a part of history that shaped the western part of Mexico's culture by visiting the Mission de San Jose del Cabo.  You can book a room that overlooks the Sea of Cortez in January and watch grey whales breach the water.  You can take a camel ride along the shore of the Pacific Ocean and and have an authentic meal of chicken mole, rice and hand-made tortillas through Cabo Adventures.  You can try your hand at sword fishing from one of the many talented guides that base themselves out of the scenic Cabo San Lucas marina. You want championship golf courses?  Cabo has those too.

Are you getting the picture?  I hope so because this part of Mexico deserves your consideration the next time you are planning a vacation.  Like I said at the beginning...I love this part of Mexico.  You can see pictures of the resorts I mentioned as well as the other wonderful resorts we visited during this trip by clicking on this link to my page on Facebook.

Please let me know if you have any questions related to this review or my trip to Cabo.  Have you been before?  How would you describe the area to someone who has never been?

Upcoming Adventures

Just want to update you all on the trips that I have coming up which means trip reviews will also follow.

1)  Cabo San Lucas.  I will have the pleasure of visiting Secrets Marquis Los Cabos for a 4 night stay starting July 24th.  One of the things travelers should be aware of when visiting the Pacific Ocean side of Mexico is that the water and beaches are NOT like those on the Caribbean side of Mexico.  Currents are much stronger in the Pacific and swimming can be tricky and is, in some cases, not recommended.  But one of the advantages that Cabo offers is some of the most amazing scenery and sunsets.  Unlike the Cancun area, the terrain around Cabo offers mountains and hills, large swaying palms and a drier climate.  I will be taking LOTS of pictures so stay tuned.


2) Eastern Caribbean Cruise.  Looking forward to our 7 night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.  This will be our second sailing aboard the Freedom and our 3rd to the Eastern Caribbean with stops at Royal Caribbean's Coco Cay, St Thomas and St Maarten. Our cruise departs Port Canaveral on September 23rd.  We have chosen to stay in a PR category stateroom which is an inside stateroom overlooking the Royal Promenade (i.e. mall-type area down the center of the ship).  So far...no specific excursions planned.  A first though for this trip will be our visit to Royal Caribbean's private island.  I look forward to comparing it to NCL's, Princess Cruise Line's and also Disney's.


3) Walt Disney World.  This will be our second visit within this calendar year.  We arrive on December  8th and will be staying 7 nights at Disney's Boardwalk Inn.  Resorts previously stayed at include Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Swan (of the Swan and Dolphin), Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort.  The only advance dining reservation that we have planned is breakfast at Akershus in Epcot's World Showcase (Norway).  Looking forward again to being able to see Disney during the holidays.  Again...LOTS of pictures will be taken.


This is going to make for an exciting second half of 2012.  If you have questions related to a cruise, or traveling to Mexico, or Walt Disney World, please post them here and I will glad to offer advice, opinion or tips etc.  Interested in my reviews?  Follow (like) my page on Facebook where all of my articles are posted.  Thanks!

Should I Get a Passport?

A while back I answered the question of "do I need a passport?" That was specifically addressing the questions related to cruises vs land based vacations outside the United States.

But now, I simply want to answer the question of "should I purchase a passport?" This is a general question that I receive from time to time and not necessarily tied to any particular non-US destination.

The short answer is YES! If you are a US citizen and are even remotely pondering the idea of traveling someday, now would be a great time to get your passport. Here are some reasons why I say that:

1) They are good for 10 years (if you are 16 yrs of age or older)
2) Pay now so you don't pay more later. Passport prices have kept steadily increasing over the past several years. Invest in one now at today's price and don't worry about the increase in costs for the next 10 years
3) Be ready to go! Having a passport in hand will allow you to take advantage of last minute travel deals for destinations outside the US
4) Alternate form of identification. Lose your driver's license? Having a passport can come in handy when your other form of identification is either lost of stolen
5) Avoid paying last minute expediting fees. This is tied to the last minute travel advantage. Sometimes a passport can still be obtained in time for the trip, but expediting fees may have to be paid which can add significant costs to the process

There are my top 5 reasons why you should just go ahead and get your passport now, even if you do not have an international trip planned in the near future. Agree with them? Disagree?

Walt Disney World 101 Recap

I figured it would be a good idea to go back and post all of the videos in the series called "Walt Disney World 101." This gives you a chance to watch them in sequence so you can see that about every aspect of a Walt Disney World vacation was covered.

As you will see, they are posted in chronological order.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5


 Comments? Questions? Is there a part of a Disney acation that you would like to see covered that I did not talk about?

Walt Disney World: Dining Cost Budgeting

A short video addressing the very popular question of, "how much should I budget for food during our Walt Disney World trip?"  This assumes again that you are staying onsite in a Disney resort.  Do you agree with my numbers?  Have any additional questions?