Where We've Been Lately — April 2022

Our advisors and staff have been on a few amazing cruises in the past few months. Watch the video, check out our photos, and read more below to see where we've been lately!

I, like many, thought cruising was for a certain demographic before setting sail with Princess Cruises last month. There’s a stereotype of cruising that still exists, even in 2022, of the older generation shuffling around on deck, sitting on open-topped bus tours in ports and playing bingo whilst sailing the ocean and drinking Baileys. Well, having now been on my first cruise – I have to say, that stereotype? It couldn’t be more wrong.

My two friends and I stayed in a Deluxe
Balcony and while it was a snug fit, the
rooms are well designed to make use of the
space, with lots of storage options and an
enormous wardrobe area. With the room
being dominated by the patio doors to the
balcony, you get a lot of natural light. There
was nothing better than mornings lazing on
the sofa bed with the doors open, listening
to the sound of the ocean! The main
highlight of the room is, of course, the
balcony. It was the perfect spot for lazing
about watching the world – or sea – go by!

One of the things that sets Princess Cruises
apart is the amazing Ocean Medallion.
These are tiny, wearable devices that make
your whole onboard experience effortless –
and contactless! It’s your room key first of
all – but you don’t even have to get it out
of your bag. As soon as you walk near your
door, the digital display outside greets you
and the door unlocks! The medallions also
allow for contactless boarding.

Using the Medallion Class app, you can order from bars, restaurants, and shops for delivery right to your location. The staff will use your Ocean Medallion and logged profile picture to find you – so you don’t have to queue – or even move! The same technology also allows you to find your friends and family onboard – you just have to add them as a friend in the app, and you can locate them whenever you need to.

There were three pools, several hot tubs, and numerous sun loungers if you want to simply relax and enjoy the sunshine on deck. My personal favorite was the Retreat Pool, an adults-only area near the front of the ship which was often a bit quieter than the main pool.

There are also a variety of sports facilities onboard, including a large well-equipped gym and a private aerobics studio where you can exercise with a sea view! There is also an outdoor jogging/walking track, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a driving range, batting cage, simulated laser shooting and a lawn court meant for putting, croquet and lawn bowling.

Our Western Caribbean cruise stopped in Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City, and Cozumel and we went on some really fun shore excursions. Some of the highlights were exploring the ancient Mayan city of Chacchoben, holding a (pregnant!) sloth at an exotic animal sanctuary, ziplining high above the jungles, cave tubing in Belize, and a farm-to-table cooking class at a local ranch.

As a first-time cruiser, I had a fabulous time aboard Regal Princess and exploring the Caribbean and Central America during our port stops. There were so many things to do onboard the ship and so many facilities to enjoy, bars to drink in, shows to watch, and foods to eat that I was never bored! The thing I like best about Princess Cruises, though, is that they let you have exactly the kind of experience you want. Whether you want to lounge by the pool all day drinking cocktails or fill your days with ping-pong tournaments and bingo sessions, there really is something for everyone. You can keep yourself as busy (or as un-busy) as you like – it’s your vacation, after all!

Leslie's Virgin Voyages Cruise – February 2022

Think you know everything about cruising? Think again! There is a new kid on the block called Virgin Voyages and she is a mix of fun, flirty, and fabulously NOT like any other cruise line currently sailing the high seas.

Virgin’s terminal is located right at the end of the Miami Port Cruise Terminal. This newly opened terminal is shiny and bright from the moment you walk through its doors. Welcomed by lights equivalent to a Las Vegas showroom, it grabs you in a way that is somewhat soothing versus annoying. Guests are provided with a time to arrive (arriving early won’t help), so the check-in process is smooth, efficient, and rather easy. I navigated myself through the halls of the new terminal until it was time to board the ship (approx. a 45-minute process).

Walking on board the Scarlet Lady was like stepping onto a trendy rooftop bar with a DJ playing tunes from his mixer and disco lights flashing around him. It definitely set the tone of what this cruise experience would be like.

Over the next few days I explored all the areas of the ship. The public spaces are gorgeous, with bright colors, comfortable sitting areas, and fun hammocks and swings throughout the ship (including cabin balconies) for sailors to relax and hang out. This ship is all about color! Live, Laugh, Love and Hope are words that can be used to describe the ship’s overall vibe, from crewmembers to other on-board sailors.

Here's what you need to know – this ship is shiny and new and relies on being somewhat tech savvy. It's adult-only and you will need your phone on you while you are onboard. From looking at restaurant menus, making reservations for shows and excursions, and requesting room service, it's all done via the Virgin App. Don't worry, there are crewmembers on-board to assist if you get stuck, but if you don't feel comfortable with technology, this may not be the right fit for you. The other thing to know is that the shows are not traditional. They are filled with daredevil acrobatics, hip-hop street dancers, and Diva comedians that sometimes push audience members out of their comfort zone.

When it comes to the food, it's like going to a fine dining restaurant every single day. It can be a casual restaurant with great burgers and fries, or fine dining to include steak, seafood, champagne and caviar. There wasn't one thing I had that wasn't top-notch delicious!

If you like traditional cruise lines, then this may not be the fit for you. But if you have an open mind, like to try new things, and get excited at the idea of not having any kids around, then this could be perfect!

My advice – talk to your Travel Advisor to get a better idea of what this experience might be like for you!

Steve's Windstar Cruise – February 2022

Just over seven hours from Los Angeles is the amazing paradise of Tahiti and French Polynesia. As many have said before, it’s just two hours past Hawaii. All of us native west coasters have come to love and enjoy Hawaii and it’s always one of our top destinations, but I would urge anyone who hasn’t been to Tahiti to definitely add it to your bucket list. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy Tahiti multiple times, this being my fifth visit to these beautiful islands. My wife and I spent an amazing week on Windstar’s Star Breeze.

Traveling to Tahiti for a cruise generally includes an overnight stay to ensure you arrive in time for your cruise. That being said, it’s always advisable to arrive a day early for any cruise. With flight delays and schedule changes you don’t want to miss the boat (literally).

We enjoyed our first evening at the new Hilton Hotel Tahiti, which is a great place to stay and start off your Tahitian vacation. It was a short transfer to the Star Breeze, and we then boarded our home for the week.

After getting settled in, we explored the ship to get our bearings for the week. A couple of my favorite things on Windstar include their watersports marina at the back of the ship and the smoked meat (yes, smoked right on the ship) served on deck 8. It’s the perfect lunch and a great place to enjoy island views. We also enjoyed a wonderful beach day on a private island. Aside from lunch on the beach, I also enjoyed a relaxing seaside massage. At another stop, Windstar provided a wonderful dinner and Polynesian show, again, exclusively for Windstar guests.

While we did get off and enjoy some of the ports, we spent most of the week enjoying the ship, watersports off the back deck, and an uncrowded pool.

While no pictures or videos can capture the true beauty of travel, I hope these pics from Tahiti can at least tempt you to explore the idea of planning a trip to the destination. I enjoyed sailing through these beautiful islands on a cruise, but there are also some truly amazing resorts in the islands, including The Brando, The Four Seasons Bora Bora, and the Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa.