Friday, September 10, 2010

Cruising the Western Caribbean

Sun worshipping, snorkeling, shopping, sightseeing…a cruise to the Western Caribbean is all that and so much more! These ports of call include those islands that are west of (and including) Haiti and those along the Yucatan Peninsula.  Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, nothing quite compares to strolling barefoot along an expanse of powdery white sand or splashing in the warm, crystal clear turquoise Caribbean Sea. Water sports of every type; jet skiing, kayaking, fishing, and sailing are readily available on all these islands. Diving amid the brilliant coral reefs in this area of the world is an extraordinary experience. History buffs can enjoy a day of discovering exotic cultures or exploring Mexico’s Mayan ruins. And who can resist a day of bargaining in the local markets for one of a kind crafts or shopping for duty free treasures? The air and sea temperature is warm year-round making it a perfect escape from Northeast winters!

 Each Western Caribbean island offers unique opportunities and divergent experiences.  Some of the more popular stops on a Western Caribbean cruise are as follows:

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Oasis of the Seas...a Teenager's Perspective

If you've been reading this blog then you know I recently returned from a family vacation aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.  I traveled with both my 17 year old son and my niece of the same age.  If you travel with teenagers, you know how tough it can be to find something the entire family will really love! Well this was it!  Here's my son's acoount....

     Having cruised with Royal Caribbean 10 times before, I have been on both Voyager and Freedom class ships.  I thought that they had everything that a cruise ship could possibly have, but boy, would Oasis  change that thought !  I had seen plenty of pictures of the ship before but nothing would compare to seeing it for myself.  When I first stepped on the ship, I noticed that the Promenade was bigger, wider. It really resembled a city street lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.  For years the Promenade has been my favorite feature on a ship.  The pizza they serve here is the best and now you can get personal pies too.  Its open really late so you will never go hungry.  Brand new features on the Oasis Promenade made it even better such as the Cupcake Shop and the Rising Tide bar.  The Cupcake Shop has cupcake flavors that I didn’t know existed such as orange creamsicle, banana, coca cola, red velvet and coconut.  They also have conventional varieties such as chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Every one I tasted was great!   The Promenades on previous Royal Caribbean ships were spectacular, but this took it up a notch higher.