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Dinning in the ships main restaurants

Unlike before, things have changed on the Princess cruise ships in regards to ‘casual dining in the main restaurants.’  This was originally organised when you booked your cruise with your travel agent, or your cruise coordinator; but now you have to organise it yourself through the Princess app on your mobile device. As well as ‘the Sabatini Italian restaurant, and the crown Grill; ‘the grand Princess also has three casual dining rooms: ‘DaVinci, Michelangelos, and Botticelli.’  These resta

Sydney, the Disney Magic awaits you

Hi ho, hi ho.. it's off to cruise we go! Exciting news for all you Disney Cruise fans out there. Disney Cruises is bringing 'the Magic of Disney' to Australia for the ‘2023/2024 Summer cruise season.'  Spotted off the coast of Noumea New Calendonia on Wednesday 25th October 2023; the massive Disney Wonder cruise ship will sail into Sydney Harbour for the first time THIS Friday, 27th October 2023 so if you’re around Circular Quay go down there, have a look.  Since I now live in Mel

KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen in Disney Cruises

Vaccinated and unvaccinated; cruising is now open for ALL Australians!

Exciting news for ALL Vaccinated and unvaccinated Australian cruise lovers.   On Friday 25th August 2023, CLIA announced, "Effective immediately; the COVID mandates for cruising that were put in place when cruising returned in May 2022 have been dropped." You no longer need to 'be triple vaccinated, test positive before boarding, or wear masks on board the ship (unless you want to).' The withdrawal of cruise-specific COVID measures was confirmed by Australia’s Chief

And the award for the 'Biggest Cruise Ship in the world' goes to...?

Well, if you thought the 'Wonder of the Seas' was the biggest cruise ship... think again! On Wednesday 12th July 2023, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announced their newest and biggest cruise ship on Chanel Tens 'The Project' TV Show. My mouth dropped, and I responded with 'Oh wow' when Sarah Harris said, "and the award for the 'Biggest Cruise Ship in the world' goes to...? Royal Caribbean for their newest and BIGGEST cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas.' I naturally got cruise happy when footage of

KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

We three ships of cruising are...!

On Monday 27th February 2023, I boarded a Virgin flight at Melbourne Domestic Air Port for a much needed two week holiday in Sydney, Australia.  As well as catching up with my family, doing a class at my Sydney Dance School, and doing the touristy thing; I was also able to go 'cruise ship chasing' at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, Sydney.  But what surprised me was this.  I originally planning to just see the Majestic Princess... I wasn't expecting to see two others; plus the to

KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

Why I love cruising

September is ‘Cruise Month,’ and the Cruise Lines International Association started a competition using this question, “Why do you love cruising?”  They asked for ‘25 words or less’ so I gave this answer, “Being on a ship is like ‘heaven on the ocean.’ I feel at home the minute I step on board, everything is done for me, there’s places on board we’re it’s just ‘me, and the ship,’ and if I could live on a cruise ship… I would.” Twenty five words is actually too short for the full answer beca

KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

2020 Holiday Travel Tips

Holiday travel for U.S. residents will be very different in 2020. No doubt about it. With the exception of small or expedition cruise ships, vacations by sea are essentially off the table for the rest of 2020 (depending on how the CDC rules on cruising when the current No-Sail Order ends October 31). But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a great escape over the holidays.  While some folks have sworn off travel altogether since the COVID-19 pandemic became front and center in the U.S., others

Jan115

Jan115

Another Covid Casualty - Cruise Travel Magazine

I recently heard from a friend and fellow cruiser that Cruise Travel Magazine was ceasing publication as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I believed her but, of course, I had to go see the news for myself, directly from the source. Sure enough, the magazine's home page contained a single paragraph:  "Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, lack of advertising and the current and uncertain future of the cruise industry, we are forced to cease publishing Cruise Travel magazine.

Jan115

Jan115

Pandemic Be Damned - I'm Booking Cruises

The cruise and travel news isn't pretty. Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our vacations - yours and mine. The news isn't all bad, though. Cruising is a no-go at the moment, but if you don't mind a few precautions including 72-hour pre-testing, there are currently several destinations that are open to Americans needing a land-bound escape - and don't we all! In fact, an escape to an island in the tropics would look really good right about now. Most of the Caribbean Islands are welcoming flight-bo

Jan115

Jan115

Coronavirus and Travel: What You Need to Know

Whether you normally travel for work or you’re just chomping at the bit to get away, you’ll want to consider how you will stay safe and healthy before planning your next adventure. Covid-19 travel bans are gradually being lifted and destinations are re-opening, and you’ll need to take precautions - and take them seriously - in making trip preparations. It may be a while before major cruise lines sail or Europe welcomes Americans back. As if travel weren’t stressful enough with planning, pac

Jan115

Jan115

The Benefits of a Travel Agent in an Uncertain World

[Updated 6/27/2020] If you experienced a recent COVID-related cancellation during the 2020 pandemic, you might be cursing the cruise lines, airlines, or resorts out of an abundance of frustration in obtaining refunds or credits. If you booked your own trip, unfortunately you’re on your own. The entire experience of contacting agencies for your refunds or credits can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if there’s an urgency to have your money refunded. Now imagine if you had booked w

Jan115

Jan115

What to Expect on Your First Cruise

Are you embarking on your first journey at sea? Or maybe you need a refresher? Here are a few tips to make your cruise a smooth one. Flights. If you aren't cruising from a port close to home, you’ll need to fly to the port of departure. If possible, arrive at least a day early to allow for any delays or flight cancellations. If your schedule doesn't allow it, then you should book the first flight of embarkation day, preferably non-stop, being sure to allow enough time to reach the ship 90 m

Jan115

Jan115

Jamie's Italian Onboard Symphony of the Seas

The term "foodie" is tossed around a lot, and I never thought of myself as one unless it means someone who likes to eat a lot of good food then heck yea I am a "foodie." Do I know the science of food, recipes, and what ingredients are in a dish just by tasting it? Of course not, but put a spread in front of me that looks like I am going to be in a food coma in under an hour and I am going to tell the world about it.  As a born and raised New Englander, I have dined in some pretty

JSinapijr

JSinapijr

Norwegian's Upgrade Advantage - Should You Bid?

In eager anticipation of your next cruise, you've logged into Norwegian Cruise Line's online cruise planner, and you're greeted by words in big bold letters:  "LET'S GET YOU UPGRADED!" Those first four words grab your attention with a promise of a better cabin than the one you've already booked. Then your eyes move on to the words "Submit an Offer ... " and you realize that you'll have to shell out some money for that upgrade. The big question is, should you submit an offer to upgrade your

Jan115

Jan115

Symphony VS Harmony

I know we have been gone for a second but we are back and starting off with a blog that is bound to answer your questions!    Symphony of the Seas VS Harmony of the Seas!   The largest passenger ships in the world, Symphony of the Seas (2018) and Harmony of the Seas (2016), just so happen to be sister ships operated by Royal Caribbean International. "They can't be that different" is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of sister ships, right? I am here to te

JSinapijr

JSinapijr

The New Ships we Saw in 2018

Well, 2018 is racing to a close, and it was an incredible year for the industry. Let's take a look back at some of the incredible new ships that debuted in 2018! New Ships: Every year cruise lines seem to outdo themselves with the incredible ships they debut, and 2018 was one of the most incredible! From the largest ship in the world debut to the most innovative ship of our time.  The Largest:  Symphony of the Seas, debuted in May of 2018 making her the fourth Oasis-c

JSinapijr

JSinapijr

Prepare for Emergencies with Both a Passport and Trip Insurance

I have stressed in previous blogs about the importance of carrying both travel insurance and a passport while on a cruise vacation. An article on Yahoo’s travel page yesterday about a couple who cruised very recently without the benefit of either passport or insurance is a perfect example of what can happen if travelers don’t prepare for the unexpected. The couple were on a three-night cruise to the Bahamas when a sudden and serious illness necessitated a visit to the cruise ship doctor whi

Jan115

Jan115

Group Cruise Misconceptions

What exactly is a group cruise? When I offer a group cruise to someone, I often get looks of puzzlement or replies like "I don't like to travel in herds" or "nope, don't like crowds of tourists". What many people - those who have never experienced group cruising - don't realize is that a "group" reservation doesn't mean that you have to follow one another around the entire trip as if you were attached at the hip. For some, the term ‘group’ conjures up images of eating every meal together, d

Jan115

Jan115

Most Reliable Airlines for Cruise Travelers

After trying multiple new airlines over the last year, I have figured out which ones would be best for getting me to my ship on time and which ones might cost me my entire cruise. For all of you seasoned cruisers sound off and tell me what you think is the best/ most reliable airline to fly and where you are flying from! Also, tell me what your most unreliable airline for cruise travel is!  Now I would ALWAYS suggest flying in a day early to avoid any possibility of missing your ship but he

JSinapijr

JSinapijr

Regal Princess: A Stormy Start and First impressions

In attempt to keep the costs down for this cruise, we initially booked an inside cabin. However, the price dropped and we were able to upgrade to a standard balcony at no extra cost. I wondered, would a balcony even be usable on a cruise like this, one in which driving rain and wind kept everyone inside? First things first ... get the balcony door open. We pulled and yanked to no avail, but finally the door slid open so that we could barely see the skyline and Statue of Liberty through the mist.

Jan115

Jan115

Cruising Regal Princess to Canada: The Journey Begins

I remember my husband and I being aboard the Ocean Princess back in 2012 and watching a preview of the soon to premier Royal Princess. The new design looked so beautiful, with her large open atrium and understated elegance, and I knew it wouldn’t be long until we would sail this new class of Princess ship. However, it wasn’t until sister ship Regal Princess entered the picture a few years later that we were finally able to consider a cruise aboard the biggest ship in the Princess fleet. When I s

Jan115

Jan115

For a Unique and Affordable Cruise, Re-Position!

Did you know? Repositioning cruises are a unique and affordable way to vacation and experience a number of ports around the world! Low prices, lots of relaxing sea days and interesting itineraries make a repositioning cruise an attractive vacation option. Most often taking place during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring, this interesting cruise option allows you to sail to unusual and off-the-beaten track locations when a cruise ship relocates to another region for the new season.

Jan115

Jan115

Is Middle Name Needed on a Flight Reservation?

One of the most confusing things for travelers when booking flights are the names on the reservation. As we all know - or should know, especially if booking our own flights - airline reservations require names to exactly match those on the guest’s passport or ID.  But what about middle names? According to theTSA and Homeland Security travel requirements, middle names are not required, even if the middle name is spelled out on the passenger’s passport or traveling ID. In fact, by omitting the mid

Jan115

Jan115

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