Carnival Magic 7 day Caribbean from Galveston

Feb 5, 2012 Carnival Magic 7 day cruise from Galveston with stops in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

I read some reviews prior to booking this cruise and they were all over the board. This is my 15th cruise, and I’ve cruised with 6 different lines. The Carnival Magic is my favorite ship thus far, and I’ll explain why in the overview.

Transportation:
I was traveling with two girlfriends and my 85 year old father in law and his girlfriend. We flew into Houston George Bush Airport and grabbed a yellow cab to Galveston. The fare was $133 plus tip and there are plenty of vans to accommodate up to 6 people. Transfers on Carnival are $80 rt and $60 rt from Houston Hobby Airport. Galveston Limo offers scheduled service for $50 ow pp. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Bush airport.

Hotel:
We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites on the Seawall in Galveston. They offer a free breakfast, wi-fi, and parking, and prices ranged from $60-$120 a night. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping within walking distance of this hotel. We rented a car from Enterprise the following day and walked the downtown area known as “The Strand”. From there we took the Ferry Ride in hopes of seeing dolphins, and we weren’t disappointed. Check out Galveston.com for things to do and enjoy a relaxing day or two in this charming gulf coast city before boarding your cruise. We happened to arrive just before Mardi Gras and it was fun to drive the neighborhoods and see beautiful old homes and shops that were decorated for the festive event.

Galveston Home ready for Mardi Gras



Carnival Magic
Boarding time was 12:30pm, but we arrived at noon and were able to check in and board the ship early. There were no lines and we went straight to the lido deck for lunch.

Food:
The food options were plentiful, and I think we tried them all. My favorite was the pasta bar at Cucina Del Capitano. There is a $12 service charge for a menu option dinner, but lunch is free. You can select the type of pasta, sauce, and toppings and they will prepare it and bring it to you at your table. Very yummy. Pam liked the Indian food, Gene liked the Deli sandwiches and Panini’s. Liz enjoyed the salad bar, and Jan preferred the buffet. The Mongolian grill was very good, as well as the pizza, and there was a tasty BBQ offered during sea days on the lanai deck.

We booked the cruise a month before sailing and early dinners were N/A, so we requested the same waiters and time for our anytime dining and it worked very well for us. Lobster is still on the menu along with some of my other favorites, prime rib, chateaubriand, fillet mignon, and panko breaded shrimp. The famous chocolate melting cake is offered every night, and espresso is free with dessert.

Entertainment:
We set sail on Superbowl Sunday and were happy to see that the game could be watched at the Seaside Theater, Showtime Theater, bars, and in our staterooms. Perfect superbowl food and appetizers were provided as well.

My favorite show was Destination Unknown on Wednesday night starring illusionist Jason Byrne and the Carnival Magic singers and Dancers. I think a young boy in the audience summed it up at the end of the show when he shouted out, “Awesome!”

The welcome aboard show gave us a taste of comedians Just June, and John Wesley Austin and we saw several acts in the Punchliner Comedy club which offered 5 shows a night. Two family shows and 3 adult only shows. Midweek, new comedians Mutzie and Tommy Drake arrived on board to bring different styles and more laughs for the audience. It’s a good idea to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early as each show becomes standing room only.

We enjoyed the 70’s show “The Groove Line” and the interactive sports related show “Win”, and Marcus Anthony had the crowd dancing in the aisles with sweet soul music on Friday night. We sang with Imani in the Piano Bar, but couldn’t quite stay awake long enough to go dancing in the Vibe nightclub.

Karaoke was offered several times a day at the ocean plaza on the Promenade deck which could be good or bad depending on who was on stage. This was the first time I’ve seen it in an open venue and the jury is still out as to whether this is a good idea.

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Everyone was anxious to visit our first port of call, but we decided to stay aboard for a couple hours longer and try out the water slides and kick back in the hammocks on the Serenity deck while there were no crowds. This was a good move as we were able to walk off the ship without any lines or waiting. We grabbed a taxi, did a little shopping and hung out at Doctor’s Cave Beach. Admission is $5 and the drinks aren’t cheap, but the water is clear and warm and we were able to get slow but free wireless internet. A block or two away at the Flamingos shop next to food 4 less, I paid $3 for faster internet and caught up with family and friends back home.

This man feeds the tarpons twice a day at the Paradise Bar and Grill.



GRAND CAYMAN
We walked and shopped andgot some nice photos of the cool caribbean buildings before grabbing a taxi out to cemetery beach for some good snorkeling. From there we flagged the local bus (van) and headed to a beach with food and drinks. The taxi is $5pp, and the bus is $2pp and runs every 10 minutes, so it is pretty easy to get around. Grand Cayman is very clean and upscale with no signs of poverty. There were huge tenders to take us ashore, and we didn’t have any problem with lines.

Cemetary Beach offers shade and good snorkeling.


COZUMEL MEXICO
Carnival has a nice new pier with lots of shops and some restaurants. Taxis have regulated prices for different zones and 7 of us shared a ride out to Paradise Beach Resort for $28. For only $2 you can get a chair by the beautiful big pool or hang out at the beach under an umbrella or palm tree. For $12 more you can enjoy the water toys which include a trampoline, kayaks, and snorkels. This is a great spot and good price and I would recommend it to anyone.

Overview:
Aside from the wonderful shower massage, the thing I liked best about the ship is the ability to escape the crowd. Deck 5 has a full walk around deck and I was able to walk a mile every morning and only pass a handful of people. There are two very large hot tubs on each side of this deck and I never shared my hot tub with more than four other people. There is a café on deck five with fresh waffles and a limited breakfast and I never saw a line there. You could enjoy a peaceful breakfast on the lanai and never know that you are sharing the ship with 3600 other people. Of course you could order room service and get that same feeling as long as you were in a balcony cabin which I highly recommend. This ship truly has something for everyone and I was very impressed.

Disembarkation
It took about an hour to get through customs and get a cab. Many of the cabbies had worked into the wee hours of the morning for Mardi Gras and were unavailable for the ships’ passengers. The taxi driver assured me that there are normally plenty of drivers.

Princess and Disney will set sail from Galveston in September giving passengers more options. I think this is a good alternative for west coast folks who are tired of the Mexico itinerary and don’t want to travel to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale to get to the Caribbean. It’s certainly convenient for the local Texans who make up over half of the passengers on these sailings.

Eastern Mediterranean on Celebrity Equinox

Russell Forgham, KVI's agent in the UK, reports on his 10-day cruise in the Eastern Med on one of Celebrity's new Solstice class ships in November.

We thought we were going to see downfall of the Euro at first hand as most of the ports we were due to visit were in Italy and Greece, two of the four ailing economies of the Eurozone, so we christened it the Great Euro-Crisis Cruise. But on reflection we should have called it the Absolutely Fabulous Equinox Cruise.

During the entire cruise we didn’t seen anything resembling a crisis and the people in all the ports we visited all looked happy as they went about their daily business. And even the captain’s warning on our flight from London to Rome that we might be delayed for nearly two hours because of the general strike in Italy that day came to nothing, for as soon as our plane pushed back at Gatwick we were told that we had a slot and we arrived in Rome on time to find the buses and trains were all running and not a demonstration to be seen.

We stayed overnight at the four-star Hotel Artimide on the Via Nazionale right in the heart of Rome and it was delightful, if a little pricey. We were upgraded to a suite and, wonder of wonders, the minibar was complimentary. We’ll definitely be staying there again.

Check-in for the Equinox at Civitavecchia was the fastest and easiest we’ve ever had on any of our 20-plus cruises and we were on board the ship and in our cabin within 10 minutes of entering the terminal.

The Equinox is a very modern ship, with very modern décor, and all the crew we spoke to seemed to love her. And after 10 days on board so do I.

Our balcony cabin was very comfortable and spacious, with probably the biggest bathroom on any ship we’ve been on. The only downside was that the drawer space was a bit limited but there was plenty of storage space elsewhere.

We had Select (ie anytime) dining in the Silhouette Restaurant and apart from a couple of tough-ish steaks the food was excellent. The service was exceptional, especially from the sommeliers Dan and Fernando who seemed to know everything there is to know about wine.

The buffet (aka the Oceanview Café) has a no trays policy and plenty of serving stations, so the queues were always much shorter than on most other ships, even at breakfast, and the food quality was again excellent.

The entertainment was first class, especially hypnotist Christopher Caress and the acapella group Full Tilt, the lectures were very informative (thank you Professor Lisa Didier). And all the places we visited (Sicily; Malta; Crete; Rhodes; Kusadasi, Turkey; Athens and Naples) were full of history.

All in all it was a brilliant cruise on a brilliant ship and I only have one criticism: in their pre-cruise documentation, Celebrity are adamant about the dress code for dinner being “smart casual or above” on non-formal nights, yet there were people in old jeans in the restaurant every night – and even people in hoodies on some occasions. They should either enforce the dress code or scrap it.

This was our first cruise with Celebrity but it definitely won’t be the last and it’s now become our favourite cruise line, knocking Holland America and Cunard down into second and third places.

Russell Forgham

KVI Travel - UK

russell@kvi.travel

(+44) 845 165 1599 

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas / Europe / Sep 1-15, 2011

Hey Everyone!
KVI Seattle agent Shelli Spencer recently reurned from a Royal Caribbean cruise adventure in Europe.  Here is her review...

My 21 year old daughter Meghin and I left Seattle on Monday August 29th in hopes of having a couple of days to explore Stockholm before our cruise set sail. Unfortunately there was a hurricane that hit the East Coast causing nationwide flight cancellations. We were traveling standby with a pocket full of backup tickets and after being bumped off of flights for two days, we finally arrived Stockholm the night before our cruise was to depart.

The travel agent at the airport information office booked us a room at the Wasa Park Hotel and we rode the bus to its location in the downtown area. The cost of living is very high in Northern Europe and we were happy to share the bathroom with three other rooms to save some money on the hotel. At $140 a night, this was considered a bargain. The beds were comfortable, the staff was helpful, breakfast was adequate, but the walls were paper thin. We rode the bus to the pier the next morning and were happy to climb aboard the beautiful Vision of the Seas. This was the first time ever that we have checked luggage, and in our three days of travel, our luggage was lost twice. Fortunately our bags arrived to the ship shortly after we did.

The Vision of the Seas

Accomodations:
We booked an inside cabin on a guarantee which means they will assign you the best available cabin. We were upgraded to an oceanview cabin with two portholes. It was in the very forward part of the ship on deck three and was very quiet except for one night when the seas were rough. It became so noisy that we thought there was heavy equipment doing construction work below us. It was at this point that we wished we would have spent more money to select a cabin more midship on a higher deck. Lucky for us, the storm died down and we had smooth sailing the remainder of our trip.

Food:
The food was very good on the ship. My daughter has Celiac Disease and our waitress Veronica took the time each night to help her place a gluten free meal request for the following nights dinner. This works as well if you'd prefer to have lunch in the dining room. We found out near the end of the sailing that a beautiful salad with premium toppings could be made to order in the dining room. It was a nice change from the usual fare in the topsidder buffet. There was no gluten fre cereal on board the ship, but our head waiter Capacinno said he would recommend it for future sailings.

Entertainment:
The dancers put on two high energy shows, but we were disappointed they didn't have more performances scheduled. We got to know a couple of the dancers and they said the ship had been doing 4 and 5 day sailings from Stockholm to Russia and they were doing the two shows plus a number in the welcome aboard and last night shows. These were the only numbers they were prepared to do. Other entertainment included a comedian, magician, several musical entertainers, and gymnasts. All were good.

The Deck Plan:
I found the ship easy to navigate and especially enjoyed the solarium's indoor pool while we were in Northern Europe, and the outdoor pool while we were in the warm Mediterranean. My daughter was able to find some quiet places to study for her grad school exams. It was disappointing that smoking was allowed in the library, but there were other non-smoking areas that were acceptable. We climbed the rock wall and saw some of the late night entertainment.

STOCKHOLM SWEDEN

Our sail away from Stockholm was absolutely beautiful!


COPENHAGEN DENMARK

The canal tour departing from Nyhaven was delightful!

We grabbed a map from information and set off walking into town. We passed the big mermaid, the little mermaid made famous by Hans Christian Anderson, a small marina, lovely park, the performing arts theater, the Ameliaberg Castle guarded by soldiers wearing big black hats, and 30 minutes later we were at Nyhaven. A colorful row of buildings with shops and restaurants line a canal where we took a delightful hour long tour highlighting the area. We were impressed with the old buildings as well as the new, including the library called the "black diamond," as it glittered from the reflection off the water. We walked through the Kings Garden, Rosenberg Castle, the botanical gardens, and the University. We took an alternate route back to the ship, stopping at one of the port shops to send an email back home.

BRUGGE BELGIUM

The colorful Market Square

We paid $34 for the ships transfer from Zeebrugge to Brugge after discovering it would not be cost effective nor convenient to go by taxi and train. Our guide showed us the basic layout of the medieval city and we set off to explore on our own. The beautiful buildings, shops and restaurants, horse drawn carriages, cathedrals, and canals offer some great photo opportunities. We paid about 7 euros per person for the canal tour, but it took us to places we had already covered by foot, so if you are up for the walk, we felt like it is the best way to explore this charming medieval city. Don't leave Belgium without trying some of their delicious chocolates.

LE HAVRE FRANCE

The Arch and Needle along the Alabaster Coast

I've never been to Paris, and as much as I'd like to go, I wasn't up for the 2 1/2 hour ride into the city. I opted for a tour of the Normandy Coast and wasn't disappointed. We drove through Le Havre admiring the countryside and stately french chateaus and stopped in the charming town of Etretat where we walked the boardwalk and climbed the stairs to the cliffs overlooking the beautiful rock formations known as the Arch and the Needle. Thirty minutes later we were back on the bus headed for the architecturally stunning Benedictine Abbey and Museum in Fecamp.
After an informative tour and a taste of the Benedictine Bourban, we were on our way back to the ship for a leisurly afternoon.

VIGO SPAIN

A fantastic view from the Citadel

Meghin and I were looking forward to the white water rafting excursion we had signed up to take in Vigo, but we were told it was canceled due to heavy rains. We set off on foot to explore the city on the hill. We walked to the top of the El Castro fortress which offered spectacular views of the city. We shopped a bit when we got back to the port area and paid a couple of euros for an hour of internet. The shop is right across the street from the port and if you use the cross walk, you can't miss it. There is a shopping mall right at the port, and shops and restaurants directly across the street. The sights are fairly easy to get to by foot if you are part mountain goat and don't mind climbing hills. Otherwise, the hop on hop off bus might be a good option for you.

LISBON PORTUGAL

Mosteiro do Jeronimos

Friends at our dining table who had visited Lisbon previously, recommended the hop on hop off bus as a good option to tour this huge spread out city. The agents at the shore excursion desk did not know if the tour buses came to the port, so we booked a ship tour called city highlights. The guide was fine, but the first two hours of our tour were fairly boring. We stopped at Alfama, the oldest quarter in Lisbon which was billed as having houses with brilliant whitewashed facades decorated with wrought iron balconies. We found this area to be run down with graffiti, bad smells, and little attraction. The second two hours were much more enjoyable with a stop at the gorgeous Jeronimos Monastery where Vasco Da Gama lies. Just across the street is the monument of the discoveries along the tagus riverbank overlooking the April 25th bridge, sister to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the statue of christ, replica of the one in Brazil.

Note: This ship had been sailing 4-5 day tours from Stockholm to Russia, so the excursions desk didn't have much information to offer for those wishing to venture out on their own. Shuttle buses from the port to the city centers ranged from $11-34pp and guests were advised that taxis were expensive and limited. On a sailing such as this it really pays off to do your homework before setting sail. Find out what facilities are available at each port and the cost or distance to the train or bus station.

CADIZ SPAIN

The neoclassical Cathedral

A quick walk across the street from the port puts you right into the heart of this wonderful town with a seaside boardwalk lined with giant trees, stoic iron lanterns, and narrow streets begging to be explored. We enjoyed watching local fishermen bring in their catch, admired the topiary trees and squawking green parrots in the Alemeda Botanical Garden, and leisurely combed the Caleta Beach collecting seashells and sea glass before making our way to the beautiful neoclassical cathedral and shops. Cadiz is a perfect walking port and there is no need to book a tour if you've never been here before. For returning guests, it is a good jumping off point to tour one of Spain's more beautiful cities, Seville.

MALAGA SPAIN

The balcony to Europe in Nerja

We opted to tour the caves of Nerja and weren't disappointed. Discovered less than 60 years ago, the Nerja caves are considered to be one of the most beautiful caves in Europe showing off a 32 meter high central column with impressive stalagmites and stalactites. Prior to visiting the caves, our tour stopped off in the charming town of Nerja known for its rugged coastline and beautiful beaches. Some of our dinner table mates were especially pleased with their tour of the Alhambra Palace and Gardens.

CAGLIARI (SARDINIA) ITALY

A view of Cagliari from the ship

The port offered a free shuttle to the city center where we bought bus tickets ( 3 euros for the day) at the information booth and rode 15 minutes to Poetto Beach. The beach is long and crowded and the water is clear and calm. We kept our eyes out for the infamous pink flamingos that are known for inhabiting the island, but unfortunately, saw none. There are plenty of shops and restaurants where the shuttle bus drops the passengers, and a longer walk will take you to some of the attractions listed on the port map. Folks at the information center can help set you up with tours or with a bus to get you to the sights you'd like to visit.

ISTANBUL TURKEY

Mosques and minarets dot the coastline of Istanbul

I'm sad to say that we were not able to spend any time in Istanbul, but with the little that we did see on the one hour ride from the cruise terminal to the airport, we know that this giant city spanning the Bosphorus in both Europe and Asia is a destination we must return to when we have time to fully appreciate it.

This was a wonderful vacation and a great way to get a taste of several European countries in a short amount of time.

Shelli Spencer

KVI Travel Professional

Seattle, WA

253-265-6208

shelli@kvi.travel

Cunard Queen Mary 2 - July 2011

Hi everyone!

Elisabeth Gesell, KVI's Agent in Austria, has recently returned from a trip aboard the Queen Mary 2.  Here is her review...

Cruise company: CUNARD
Ship: QM2
Date of cruise: 12-20 July 2011
Itinerary: Norwegian Fjords and Waterfalls
Cabin: Balcony cabin 11061

Overall experience: excellent

Cabin...
Interior: light beige colors, sophisticated
Bathroom: large shower, lots of space
Balcony: furniture very comfortable

Service...
Cabin: excellent
Breakfast service: very good
Britannia: impeccable, like it should be in a first class restaurant
Buffett: ok, a bit unorganized,
Todd English: US$ 30 —extra charge, not worthwhile, much less attentive, the place was empty.

- Fitness club: excellent
- Spa: beautiful, very relaxing
- Entertainment: very good, especially the Lectures were outstanding
- Food: quantity as well as quality very good
- Pool area: several nice, but not big pools, 1 hot tub,
- Shopping: rather plain
- Observation Deck: very interesting place, one can watch bridge activities
- Elevator area: spacious and very fast, no long waiting even the ship was fully booked.
- Shore Excursions: we only took one and this was in Alesund. Well organised, no waiting lines.
- Transfers: highly recommendable, boat leaves from Southampton, which is quite a distance from London, approximately 11/2 hrs by coach. Transfers are from all airports and the main train station Victoria. For U.K. price standards the transfer Cunard asks for is very moderate.
- Guest nationality: 80 % UK, 18 % US and Canada, the rest Europeans.
- Recommendation: couples or singles over 50 years, not a family or young couple boat.

Notes...
We always wanted to go on a QM2 cruise, no matter where to. Having just this week available on our rather busy schedule we took the next opportunity and that was Norwegian Fjords.
Let me state right away: This is our boat!!!

We left from Victoria Station by bus, an easy way to start your cruise vacation. It’s otherwise not that easy to reach Southampton, so I strongly recommend taking the transfer option offered by Cunard.
Once one arrives at the terminal and sees for the first time this huge boat one understands that this is an Oceanliner not a cruise boat. Its just stunning beautiful.
Check-in is fast, efficient and extremely helpful without being overwhelming.
Entering our balcony cabin on Deck 11 immediately gave us the feeling that there designers have been working to prove their very best. Warm beige colors, a big bathroom with a much bigger shower we ever had on other cruises. The balcony furniture invites to enjoy sunsets in a private atmosphere.
The first thing we normally do on board is roaming the boat.
We consider a cruise a vacation from the beginning to the end. So we do not want to spend too much time looking for something we could have localized the first couple of hours when still in port. My husband, as usual, found the best bar, the COMMODORE, where one can just sip on a lovely Black Prosecco before dinner or have an after dinner Martini. The Commodore staff is multi national, making great conversation partners. Very attentative, knowing ones name, cabin number and preferred drink right from your first visit.
But there are many cosy lounges throughout QM2 .

Normally we do not like to eat every time in the same place, this cruise was different for us.
We were assigned a table for 4 in the Britannia. We had the pleasure of having two ladies at our table which we immediately felt comfortable with. The four of us stayed for the whole trip at our assigned table, enjoying our conversations during dinnertime. The Britannia Restaurant is a remarkable place itself. Quite big, but at the same time, elegant, with an atmosphere which only first class restaurants provide. We had 3 formal nights. At least 95 % of guests were in tuxedos and long gowns. These were not parades of designer clothes; it was just nice to see that QM2 guests add with the appropriate attire to the exquisite surroundings. Quite a number of guests continued on to the dancing floors. There is every night ball room dancing and disco night.
Otherwise Entertainment is Movies, the great Cunard Dancers and Singers (excellent with stunning performances) stand-up comedians and even Hamlet in a 1 hour version. (!!!!)

During days at sea (weather was not always great) we set in the library, which boasts 8000 books. And what a variety of subjects.!!! Or we joined the lectures, a speciality of Cunard. A wide spectrum of subjects, e.g. environmental issues or lectures on Outerspace in Cunard’s own Planetarium.

The itinerary proved to be quite nice, especially Alesund and Bergen.
Bergen has several recommendable museums, e.g. The Edvard MUNCH Museum, which houses a large collection of this most famous Norwegian painter, and the HANSE Museum, which gives an interesting overview of trade between the 12th and 17th century in Europe and its connections to the East. The city itself is quite lovely, with lots of multi colored houses, very lively, especially around the FISHMARKET. which should not be missed, when going ashore.
The Fjords are stunning, especially in Geiranger, very well commented by the Commander (mind you on QM2 it’s not a captain it’s the COMMANDER).
All in all: This is a boat for people who enjoy cruising while indulging in interesting conversations, who like dinner dancing, and dressing up in the evening.

Elisabeth Gesell
KVI Austria
elisabeth.gesell@gesell.com
+43 6644 207 533

Golden Princess - Hawaii Cruise - 03 March 2011

Hi everyone,

Jane Fisher, our head office manager, has recently returned from a cruise aboard the Golden Princess.  Here is her review...

The opportunity to sail on the Golden Princess to Hawaii round trip San Pedro was too opportune to miss as I was still in Arizona and only a 5 hour drive away from the port instead of the usual lengthy flight from Kelowna BC.   However much as I enjoy onboard facilities I was not looking forward to 4 days at sea in each direction, that tends to put me off this type of itinerary, but I hadn’t been on the renovated Golden.

My husband and I decided to drive over to San Pedro the evening before because I believe it is always wise, one never knows what can happen to delay a journey even if it is a fairly short trip, and why not have a relaxing start to a holiday, makes sense to me.   We stayed at the Crowne Plaza, San Pedro as it is close to the port, our car would be garaged and looked after while we were away and we would be whisked to and from the port by the hotel shuttle, no hanging about an airport waiting for the shuttle to appear.  I was impressed with the service from check-in to check-out, I had requested a patio room and that is what we got, perfect to walk out in the evening for a swim, the rooms are spacious and well equipped.  The buffet breakfast was more than adequate.   I was even more impressed with the short transfer to the pier and the efficient handling of our luggage from hotel to ship, we had no luggage tags as we only booked 3 days before departure, but that was no problem; we were met immediately we stepped from the van and asked if we needed anything, when I said we had no luggage tags or cabin number, we were told no problem, please wait here and I will get that for you.  He was back in 2 minutes with our tags, fixed them to the bags, directed us to the next entrance and then disappeared.   Seamless professionalism ensued from there on, there was no waiting in lines anywhere and 15 minutes from arrival at the port we were onboard.  We had been told our cabin was ready and our luggage would arrive shortly.  It was only 1pm and we were onboard and within minutes our luggage was in our cabin! High praise to Princess efficiency.

The first thing I noticed was the wood, so mellow, so very classy, so beautiful, and I was enthralled, in the short time it took to get to our cabin I had already fallen in love with the ship. Quiet elegance was the thought in my mind at that time and that did not change, the Golden Princess is a beautifully elegant, yet comfortable ship.    The next thing I noticed was how clean everything was, no dirty corners at doorways or fingerprints on glass, remarkable especially on changeover day.  Even on such a busy day every crew member I saw or spoke to was smiling and seemed happy at their work.

My first 4 days at sea were busy as I had arranged tours and visits all over the ship, including the spa and galley, the days passed so quickly I almost forgot I was at sea!   The Golden has an amazing array of facilities and entertainment day and night, nothing boring about any of it, it was more a case of how much does one want to do?   The spa services are comprehensive and excellent, with classes and demonstrations on every subject pertaining to a person’s well being, these classes were not boring at all, quite the opposite, I enjoyed the theory despite not participating, I like the “do as I say, not as I do” adage, I couldn’t begin to think about dieting, never mind do it, alas I have no will power at all.  All the different spa treatments and massage techniques, well that was a different story, I could spend a lot of time having hot stones calm my aching shoulders, even if they didn’t exactly ache, it felt wonderful.

I also spent a bit of time in the kids/teens centre, not busy on this sailing but there were a lot of organized activities for all ages up to 17 years, never a dull moment from what I could see.  The sports court up top was well kitted out, even had a small putting green and some people had brought their putters with them and did use the facility.

I love wood, perhaps that is not the best introduction to inspire a reader to cruise the high seas or any sea, however I was totally smitten with the Golden Princess as soon as I stepped aboard, she is a beautiful ship and everywhere I looked was wood, highly polished, beautifully grained, honey golden wood in many mellow hues.

The swimming pools and hot tubs were large and never crowded, I liked that there were small plunge pools and lounging areas throughout the ship and plenty of hot tubs, so if you did want some quiet time beside a pool it was available.  This was especially nice as the main pool area is where “movies under the stars” is situated, a huge 2 story screen on one wall of the pool shows films day and night, and in the evening blankets and hot chocolate are provided for the hardy folks willing to relax outdoors.   Princess promotes this facility as one of their main innovations; to me it was a new slant on the old drive in movies, without the cars, but still with people in their pyjamas!   I found it intrusive when at this pool area and avoided it as it was extremely loud no matter where one sat, which was a pity because there are lovely lounge decks and small semi-enclosed lounging areas in the vicinity that would have been perfect for relaxing in the sun or reading a book.

However it did not seem to bother most people and there are other areas onboard than one can sit quietly and chat or simply relax.   I toured one of the galleys, as I walked through the door it immediately struck me how efficiently laid out everything was and the stainless steel equipment and tables were glistening, a sparkling testimony to the staff who obviously work hard at keeping it clean and tidy and each section performed like clockwork, as an array of desserts were being laid out ready to go to the buffet, a sight to behold indeed and very comforting to know that the kitchens were spotlessly clean.

Princess has introduced an adult’s only area called the Sanctuary, it is designed to be very plush, relaxing and romantic with cosy seating nooks and lounge area. A small pool completes the amenities.  It is quite secluded, all very attractive and available for a fee, not a large fee that would perhaps dissuade people from using the facility, nevertheless it was not busy at all, I admired the concept but was not captivated, it did not reach out to me at all, I thought it cold and functional really, I did not sense any atmosphere, but I am sure the passengers on each sailing will have different views on the Sanctuary and it will be used more on some sailings than on others.


The ships lounges are attractive and at all times during the day and evening there are activities or entertainment, from dance lessons, art auctions, bingo, trivia games, movies, concerts, culinary demonstrations and lectures,  as this was a Hawaiian cruise, that was the theme in many of the activities  Lei making, Ukulele lessons and Hula dancing, lots of fun.  Skywalker’s nightclub is a fantastic venue for late evening dancing, I just loved the layout and the dance floor lighting, the music called out to me, “dance” so I did! The Atrium was the scene for much afternoon and early evening entertainment which is a lovely backdrop for a pianist or singer and seemed to encourage lots of people to listen or watch and some danced.  On each level of the Atrium there are shops, full of clothing, jewelry, perfume, bags, souvenirs and mundane stuff like toothpaste, in fact there did not seem to be much that one could not buy.  A number of sales were held in one of the dining rooms on sea days and oh my, pushing and shoving for bargains was reminiscent of Wall-Mart on Boxing Day.  The casino was large and as usual drew crowds of people when it was open.  The art gallery onboard this sailing did not seem to attract many people although I enjoyed browsing and did see some incredible works on display.  The displays were changed quite often and although I did not notice many sold stickers on paintings, there could have been quite a number sold.

The staff was excellent, very attentive without being intrusive, somehow someone wearing a huge smile appeared just when one was wanted and nothing seemed to be any bother at all.  Our cabin steward despite always being busy had time to chat, and one day I walked along to my cabin carrying my sandals, the strap had broken on one of them and it was simply easier to take them off, as soon as he saw me he rushed along and asked “what has happened to you, are you okay?”   When I told him I was fine but my sandal was ready for the bin, he threw up his hands in horror, “oh, no, I will speak to my supervisor, we will fix it”.   He wouldn’t hear otherwise and sure enough the next day he appeared all smiles and obviously delighted with himself, my sandal had been repaired, it was proffered to me cradled in both his hands, crikey I had tears in my eyes seeing the joy on his face.

My husband and I enjoy food especially the desserts and there was plenty to choose from, we tried all the eating venues, main dining rooms, buffet, Sabatinis, snack bars, even the ice-cream parlour, we were looked after very well everywhere, enticed with mouthwatering menus even before we entered the dining rooms, each and every meal was excellent, fussy as I am no complaints at all.   We did partake of room service most mornings, I justify that luxury as being kind to the coffee shop staff saving them from having to deal with cranky me first thing in the morning if I had to dress to go and get coffee.

I seemed to have had the busiest and most interesting, fun 4 days at sea that I can remember and by the time we reached Kauai, I needed a holiday

This Hawaii itinerary called at Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii (The Big Island), there is plenty of time ashore to participate in one or two shore excursions on each island, depending on what one chooses to do.  Princess have a wide range of excursions available to pre-purchase or buy onboard, however shore excursions can also be purchased from reputable companies prior to sailing or once ashore, it is worth noting that some companies do not guarantee to have passengers back on time for the ship sailing, oh, oh, be careful, don’t be caught out with a cheap excursion, but a costly transfer (if possible) to the next port of call.

Unfortunately disaster was to strike Japan in the form of a hurricane whilst our ship was leaving the Big Island and the ensuing Tsunami was headed for the Hawaiian Islands and the coast of mainland USA, fortunately ship’s Captains are up to date on events around the world even when something is occurring many, many miles from where they are situated, the resulting consequences of such events can and do impact communities in far flung places.   The Tsunami passed under the ship in the small hours of the morning to the surprise of every passenger aboard, we never felt a thing!   Apparently the safest place for a ship to be in these circumstances is out on the ocean.  It is comforting to know, but it is of little solace to those whose lives were so horribly affected by the disaster.

The Golden Princess was headed for San Pedro but not without a stop enroute at Ensenada, was I happy with the thought? Actually yes, because 4 solid days at sea with nothing to do but relax, enjoy the facilities and eat, eat and eat was just a wee bit too much to bear, therefore a day in Ensenada with slightly less food was appeasing my conscience a little so taking a trip up the mountain to get wet from a huge Blowhole was sounding quite attractive by the time we berthed at the pier.  My only grumble at this trip is the constant hassling to buy from every stall along the seemingly endless track to the Blowhole and knowing that it will be the same on the way back!  Oh I know, it is a good way for the locals to earn a living except, I just can’t say no…………..

Really, it was all too soon that the Golden Princess docked in San Pedro and we were being shuttled back to the hotel to collect out car and hit the road for the pleasant, waterless drive back to the Arizona desert, what a contrast?

I thoroughly enjoyed my cruise on the Golden Princess; if I have a complaint it is that the Internet service was extremely expensive, excessively slow and intermittent at best, however no different than on any other ship, I was on holiday, why was I using the internet anyway?

Would I recommend this ship and that itinerary?  Yes absolutely.   Happy sailing

Jane

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Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas 8 day Asia

This was my 13th cruise and first time on Royal Caribbean. I had heard a lot of good things about them and was anxious to climb aboard. My friend Pam who loves to travel as much as I do gave me an immediate yes when I told her the incredibly low price of the balcony cabin. Travel advisories, weather, flights, and visas, all checked out good so I booked us a cabin in the fantail and we started doing our research on the ports of call. FLIGHTS We flew Asiana Airlines from Seattle to Seoul where we had a 24 hour layover coming, and a 12 hour layover on the return. Even though the connections weren't great, Asiana offered wonderful service with 3 meals on the first leg and two on the next, plenty of beverages, a good selection of movies on the seat back screens, and each of our 4 flights were right on time. We would definitely fly with Asiana again. SEOUL We arrived Seoul about 7pm on February 14th and went straight to the hotels desk. The agent booked our room at the Oceanside Hotel and 20 minutes later our friendly English speaking driver was picking us up. We had a nice room, good hot cooked breakfast, and free shuttle for under $100. The following day we spent several hours at the Incheon Airport on the upper floor that overlooked the shops and runways. We kicked back in comfy lounge chairs and took advantage of the free wireless Internet. We also booked a room at the transit hotel for our return flight. The rooms were small but quiet and had a bathroom and shower. The cost was $80 for 8 hours and advance reservations are highly recommended. We arrived Singapore about 10pm on Feb. 15th. Pam exchanged money while I got some cash at the ATM and we got in the taxi Que. Our driver was knowledgeable, friendly, and pointed out some tourist sites in route to the Value Inn Thomson. Our room was tiny, walls were thin and beds were hard, but at $95 a night the price was right, location was good and we took advantage of the lovely pool on the 7th floor in the heat of the late afternoons. We rode the bus to downtown Orchard street where we purchased a 2 day ticket on the hop on hop off sightseeing bus. I think it cost $35 and included a boat ride along the waterfront of Clark Quay. We were very impressed with the cleanliness of the city and the friendliness of the people. The Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resort (above) is an architectural marvel, the Botanic Gardens a delight, and the Orchid Garden at only $5 per person shouldn't be missed. Our second full day took us to China Town, Little India, and the shops along Orchard street. We wanted to visit the highly regarded Zoo, but we'll have to catch that next time. LEGEND of the SEAS Embarkation was quick and easy. They took our passports upon boarding so we couldn't get back off once we were on but that was OK. We unpacked, explored the ship, and ducked out of our first bit of rain as we set sail for Indonesia. Our rooms were a little cramped since we had twin beds rather than a king, but our balcony was nice and big and we enjoyed the view from the aft on deck 7. The ship was built in 1995 and was showing some wear. I could smell mold in the hallway near the elevator but aside from that it was a lovely ship and the staff was constantly working to keep it in tip top shape. Royal Caribbean didn't offer as expansive menu as some other lines, but the food was good and seemed to have something for everyone. The majority of the guests were from Singapore, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. with 32 countries being represented. The buffet offered standard fare but the deli was very popular and the goat cheese pizza was scrumptious. There was a lot to choose from at the salad bar until the Noro Virus broke out and the staff had to serve rather than self serve. At that point, the food options dropped in the buffet line. Pam and I were vigilant about washing our hands and using the hand sanitisers, but she unfortunately got the virus on our second to last day at sea. The Dr. and nurse were very kind to make a cabin call at 1am and there was no charge for the visit. Guests with the virus were quarantined to their cabins until they were healthy, which was usually 24 hours. Entertainment included the dancers who were quite good, a pianist, a movie night and an acrobat team with an amazing finish. We were fortunate to have guest lecturer Aileen Bridgewater at our table who spoke about her life and times in talk radio. If you are looking for something to do on your days at sea then you might find a lecture to be not only educational, but delightful! SEMARANG I opted to take the 8 hour tour of Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five RC buses got a police escort on the hour and a half drive that would have been much longer without the sirens that enabled us to go through stoplights and blasted other drivers to the sides of the road. I was disappointed to see that many of the passengers closed their blinds on the windows so they could sleep during the drive, but I eagerly watched out the window as this was my first visit to Asia. We passed dismal shanties along the rivers before heading up the hill where expensive homes dotted the dense green mountains. Mopeds were the key source of transportation and occasionally you'd see an entire family of four on one bike. Most without helmets. The monument itself was awe inspiring and our guide described the 10 levels of enlightenment that the monument represented. He explained some of the stories that were etched on the stone and we tried not to loose him amongst the throngs of visitors as we made our way to level 7 which was the highest level open to visitors after damage from volcanic ash closed the upper tiers. We had a fabulous lunch and traveled the busy road back to Semarang where Pam had gone into town and purchased Indonesian dresses for us to wear to dinner that night.

BALI

Pam joined me on the 10 hour Balinese way of life tour where we got to see a good portion of the beautiful island in a short amount of time. Our first stop was in the state of Klungkung to see the ancient court justice known as Kertha Gosa. Our 2nd stop was at the charming village of Penglipuran where we were invited into the homes of the local villagers to see how they lived. We enjoyed a great lunch with a view of the Batur volcano in Kintamani. Then on to the tranquil temple of Sebatu (above) and a quick pass by the lovely Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

Lombok

The quiet serene mountains of Lombok seemed to beckon us ashore as we were tendered into the port. This was RC's first time in Indonesia and though the tours for Semarang and Bali were quite tempting, there were only four options for Lombok. We read that the island had pretty beaches so we had planned to hire a taxi to the beach but the crew gave us different information as to which side of the island we would dock on, so we decided to play it safe and take the ships shuttle into town. The view from land was much different than that from Sea. Garbage was piled alongside houses, near the river banks, and in the rice fields. There were many temples and mosques...most unfinished. After becoming disenchanted with the drive through the countryside and a short walk through the local mall, we opted to skip the beach. This was perhaps a mistake as we spoke to some others who found the beaches to be lovely, with seashells on one and big waves for water sports on another. A reminder that it pays to do your research and plan ahead. Some ships and cruise lines offer detailed guidance while on board while others have nearly no information at all which is what happened in this case being that it was the ships first time to these ports of call.

SENTOSA ISLAND in SINGAPORE

Our flight home was not scheduled to depart until 11pm, so we checked our luggage at the cruise terminal after disembarking and hopped the monorail over to the nearby Sentosa Island. There is something for everyone at this amusement park on the beach...a flowrider, flying trapeze, butterfly park, segway tours, cable car, luge, zipline, hotels, and Universal Studios. We wandered for a while keeping an eye out for monkeys before heading to the airport. We had planned to check in for our flight and then hang out at the rooftop pool at the airport, but since we were traveling standby they couldn't give us seats until 45 minutes prior to flight departure, and we couldn't get through security and to the transit hotel and pool without boarding passes.

Note to interline passengers traveling standby.

If you book a cruise that's been deeply discounted, keep in mind that there will most likely be a lot of other airline employees trying to travel standby. Plan to arrive to your departing port of call at least 3 days early. You'll alleviate stress and you can spend some time exploring that city. In this case, Singapore turned out to be our favorite port of call. It may take a few days to get home. We met about 50 airline employees on the ship, which was probably about 1/2 of them. Most were trying to fly on Delta. Make sure you know what your other options are before leaving home. We purchased passes on 5 different airlines before we left home, which paid off in the end. Some of our new airline friends took a lot more time to get home then they had planned because they only had passes for their own airline.

Travel Insurance is especially important when traveling outside the country. Be sure to ask your travel agent about coverage.

Aside from Pam getting the Noro Virus this was a wonderful vacation. Traveling abroad takes more time and planning, but was well worth it. This particular cruise was a good mix of busy days of exploration and lazy days at sea.

Happy Travels!

Shelli Spencer

shelli@kvi.travel

KVI Travel