We are getting so close to sailing again! As all of the cruise lines continue to prepare their ships for returning to the sea, I wanted to share a post I wrote in 2019 when some of the Must Love Travel Planners had the opportunity to sail on Norwegian’s brand new ship, the Norwegian Encore. It was incredible! And one of the highlights of our sailing was stopping at Norwegian’s own private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

I will be honest. I had fairly low expectations for this private island. I’ve been to a few other private islands of major cruise lines (Disney, Royal Caribbean), and they are both bigger than Norwegian’s island. But WOW, I was completely blown away! Yes, it is small, but the beach is beautiful, the service is top-notch, the food was great, and some really spectacular excursions were available!

Beach

The beach was beautiful!! TONS of chairs, so you don’t have to fight for one. And there will be a towel waiting for you on each chair, so you don’t have to carry them off the ship. Bar service was excellent and fast, and there are plenty of water activities available for rent, such as floats and paddleboarding. If you want to splurge on a Cabana, those are available for an additional cost.

Lunch

There is a Main Grill and also a few additional food stations located throughout the beach area. The food is great, and there is plenty of it! We even found some light breakfast offerings (banana bread, etc.) available before the lunch was ready, which was perfect for those of us who got to the island early for an excursion.

Excursions

There are some really spectacular excursions, but what impressed me the most was how organized they were. In our group of agents, we were able to sample quite a few excursions. I personally went parasailing and rented a wave runner (jetski), while other agents rented kayaks, swam with pigs (that’s right, I said swam with pigs), and swam with the stingrays.

Overall, I was very impressed with this little slice of paradise. I could have easily spent another day there! Almost every Bahamas and Caribbean sailing on Norwegian makes a stop at Great Stirrup Cay, so be sure to ask your Must Love Travel Planner for more info on this island paradise.

Prior to the start of Covid, I enjoyed sailing Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Encore. I was completely blown away by the entertainment onboard. This is some of the very best entertainment at sea, including full length broadway productions and music that will have you dancing all night. Cruising is getting ready to return, so let’s get excited!

Check out a few highlights, and contact your Must Love Travel Planner for more info!

Kinky Boots

With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots will have you out of your seat and asking for an encore. Based on true events, this irresistible musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who having inherited a shoe factory forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a cabaret performing drag queen. Together they produce a show-stopping line of high-heeled boots to save the business. And along the way, they discover that they aren’t so different after all. Winner of six Tony Awards^®, this vivacious, feel-good show is a must-see!

The Choir of Man

Pull up a chair at The Choir of Man and raise your glass to high energy dancing and hit songs that flow as freely as the beer. You’ll feel right at home in The Jungle, the rockin’ English pub where the talented cast performs everything from classic rock hits and pub tunes to sing-along favorites. Leave your worries behind and toast to a memorable night at our fleet’s top-rated show, live in the Norwegian Encore theater!

Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical

 

Set in world-famous Madam Lulu’s New Orleans speakeasy, tantalizing madams will regale you with tales of bootleggers and some of the era’s most famous tunes that will have you dancing in the aisles. Savor five of your own Prohibition Era specialty cocktails, each with a modern twist, while enjoying an unforgettable night with Miss Lulu and her girls. Please note that this show is not suitable for children under 16.

Social Comedy and Night Club

 

Jump start the evening with two talented stand-up comedians that will loosen you up with lots of laughs. And then let loose on the dance floor as a DJ spins your favorite tracks late into the night.

The Cavern Club

 

Pull up a chair in the legendary Liverpool club where the Beatles performed. Sip your Scotch Sour during an evening of good company and great music with a Beatles cover band.

Contact your Must Love Travel Planner TODAY to book your next cruise vacation!

I’m going to immediately remind everyone that I am a travel agent and blogger, NOT a doctor. If you have any real concern, such as an underlying medical condition – you absolutely need to talk to your doctor before you take a cruise.

For anyone and everyone else….

Getting seasick is a very real, valid concern. My own wife got horribly seasick on her first cruise, and it took me 6 years to get her back on another cruise. I can honestly say that I did everything in my power to keep her from getting sick. As I give you my tips below, I’ll also point out how we used these tips personally in planning our own Disney cruise. And guess what….she did NOT get sick at all!! She had a wonderful time, and she just sailed on her third cruise last week, also with no issues at all.

Bigger IS Better

Yes, a bigger ship is going to most likely be a newer ship, have more stabilizers, and you tend to feel the motion less. Smaller ships tend to rock more, and other than some luxury liners, they are going to be older ships with older technology. We chose to sail on the Disney Fantasy for her size.

Location, Location, Location!

Stateroom location is super important! You feel the motion of the ocean a lot less the closer you are to mid ship. Now, high deck or low deck….I’ve heard both are better/worse. Personally, I’ve felt the motion more on the lower decks. Choosing a stateroom that is mid-ship and about 3/4 up is about as perfect as you can get. We chose a stateroom that is completely smack-dab mid-ship, on Deck 9 (out of 13 decks), which is as central as you can possibly be.

Stateroom Balcony (aka Fresh Air)

The reason I suggest a balcony is not just because they tend to be on the higher decks or because they are more spacious (which they are), but because you have access to fresh air 24/7. This is HUGE if you are concerned about getting seasick and you want to be able to take a step out onto your private verandah, to breath in that refreshing sea air. We chose a Verandah stateroom.

Less Sea Days

I specifically chose an itinerary that has no more than 1 sea day in a row because sea days are definitely harder for folks with light stomachs, as there is constant motion. Even though I thought I wanted an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, Disney’s all include 2 sea days in a row. So, we went with a Western Caribbean itinerary that has 2 sea days, but they are sandwiched between 3 full port days. For the most part, this gives some relief after just 1 day.

Our itinerary looked like this:

Day 1 – Port Canaveral
Day 2 – Sea Day
Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4 – Grand Cayman
Day 5 – Falmouth, Jamaica
Day 6 – Sea Day
Day 7 – Castaway Cay
Day 8 – Port Canaveral

Understand WHERE and WHEN you are sailing

Our first cruise that Michelle got so sick on was a Houston sailing, and it had 2 sea days at the end to get back into port. I had no idea that the Gulf of Mexico is notoriously rocky. I know this now, so I would never put Michelle on a sailing out of a Texas port; also, we sailed in January and ummmm January is winter…so yeah, getting in and out of Texas was not going to be smooth. Our recent Disney cruise was mid-May, out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Be Prepared – get the good meds!

You’ll find a ton of blog posts with all natural alternatives and herbal supplements to avoid getting sick….this is not that kind of post. My advice is….call your doctor and get the good meds!! Load up on dramamine, both regular and non-drowsy, and don’t be afraid to take it. I honestly have no idea if I get seasick or not, because I pretty much have a steady stream of dramamine in my system the entire time. Plus I get the ear patch from my doctor. Plus I wear seabands. The whole shebang. Don’t be a hero! If you are at all worried, there are meds out there to help!

Contact your Must Love Travel Planner TODAY to plan your next cruise vacation!

Norwegian’s newest ship, the Norwegian Encore, has officially been christened and has set sail in the Caribbean! I had the pleasure of sailing on this beautiful ship for her inaugural sailing out of Miami, and I was completely blown away with all there is to do onboard! In additional to dozens of restaurants, lounges, bars, and entertainment, you will find the following activities to keep the entire family happy during your unforgettable vacation!

Speedway

With over 1100 feet of pedal-to-the-metal action, the largest race track at sea is bigger, better and only on Norwegian. Watch the ocean blur by as you zoom around high-speed curves suspended 13 feet off the side of the ship. And spectators can get in on the action, too! Revolutionary interactivity lets you boost your favorite racer past the finish.

Laser Tag

Galaxy Pavilion

 Aqua Park

Slide into the time of your life. With two multistory waterslides on board, Norwegian Encore keeps the thrills coming over and over again. Make it the best of three on Aqua Racer, our tandem waterslide at sea. And then get a thrill as you whoosh over the side of the ship on the double loop, Ocean Loops. Or call it a lazy day and lounge by the pool with a frozen drink in hand. However you like to make a splash, the Aqua Park is overflowing with excitement.

Main Pool

Go for a dip in the pool or a soak in the hot tub. Feel like making it a relaxing day? Lounge back with an expertly made cocktail in hand and catch some rays. Our main pool is the place to be for all the fun in the sun.

 Kid’s Areas

Your kids will have a blast inside Splash Academy where they can enjoy complimentary creative play, active sports competitions, and engaging activities for kids of all ages.

Guppies is perfect for Norwegian’s youngest guests. Parents and babies can enjoy self-guided play, including sensory activities and toy time. Guppies hosted activities are led by an Early Years Coordinator with parent supervision.

Movies. Art. Music. Video games. Dance parties. Welcome to Entourage – a retreat for teens looking to have fun and hang out with people their own age. One thing’s for sure: absolutely, positively, no parents allowed.

 Kid’s Aqua Park

They’ll splish. They’ll splash. They’ll definitely have a blast. Whether they want to zip down a tube slide or get drenched by tipping buckets or water cannons, kids will have the best of times at our interactive Kids’ Aqua Park.

Spa

There are plenty of ways to be pampered. Unwind in the Thermal Suite with a steam or a dip in the Vitality Pool. Check out the Salt Room and chill out in our Snow Room. Or simply indulge in a hot-stone massage. Treat yourself. You deserve it.

Fitness

Staying fit has never been easier at our state-of-the-art fitness center. Feel the burn in a high-intensity RYDE cycling class. Strenthen and tone during a Pure Form Pilates session. Or seek inner peace with ocean view yoga or guided meditation classes.

Casino

Our award-winning casino offers plenty of thrilling casino games for every type of player, whether you’re a beginner or regular at the poker table. Find your lucky seat at one of our many slot machines and in our non-smoking area. Or play in the big leagues with any number of table games. No matter what you prefer, there’s always a way for you to get lucky.

 Ready to book your next cruise? Contact your Must Love Travel Planner TODAY!

Royal Caribbean has recently re-opened their own Private Island called CocoCay in the Bahamas, and it is amazing! There is quite literally something for everyone. If you want to sit at the beach and relax, if you want to play in a party-pool, if you want to visit a water park…it’s all there!

Your Royal Caribbean ship will dock on the island, and offers complimentary shuttle service from the ship to the island. If you choose to walk down the pier, you’ll have some amazing photo opportunities. Even if you enjoy walking, I recommend taking the shuttle around the island, just so you can see everything there is to offer!

CocoCay is divided into two sections – “Chill Side” and “Thrill Side”. The “Thrill Side” includes the super-popular Thrill Water Park, with lots of slides, water activities and a huge wave pool.

Thrill Water Park 

If you’re after non-stop action and pulse-pounding excitement, nothing beats the record-breaking pools and slides at Thrill Waterpark. Fill your day with plenty of wild hairpin turns, bracing zero-gravity drops, big-time tide riding and more. No matter what your threshold for adrenaline, Thrill Waterpark delivers something for every level of daredevil.

Rest and Relaxation

If you’ve had your fill of thrill, kick back and relax. The best part? You don’t even need to leave Thrill Waterpark. Claim one of the complimentary beach chairs by the wave pool or reserve a cabana close to your favorite slide tower and recharge before your next adventure. The nearby Snack Shack is the perfect pit stop for a quick refuel.

Royal Caribbean has recently re-opened their own Private Island called CocoCay in the Bahamas, and it is amazing! There is quite literally something for everyone. If you want to sit at the beach and relax, if you want to play in a party-pool, if you want to visit a water park…it’s all there!

Your Royal Caribbean ship will dock on the island, and offers complimentary shuttle service from the ship to the island. If you choose to walk down the pier, you’ll have some amazing photo opportunities. Even if you enjoy walking, I recommend taking the shuttle around the island, just so you can see everything there is to offer!

CocoCay is divided into two sections – “Chill Side” and “Thrill Side”. The “Chill Side” is currently divided into two sections – Chill Island and Oasis Lagoon. Coming soon will be the addition of the Coco Beach Club, opening January 2020.

Chill Island 

This is the beach day of your dreams, with crystal clear waters and beautiful white sand beaches. If you feel adventurous but don’t want to leave the Island, you can rent snorkel equipment or book a jet ski. When it’s time for lunch, Chill Grill is just steps away from your beach chair. Even upgrade your experience by booking a private cabana or beach bed.

 Oasis Lagoon

Oasis Lagoon is the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean! There are multiple coves, each with their own vibe. There are endless pool chairs, most with umbrellas. There are even multiple in-pool lounge chairs for some ultimate relaxation. Check out the swim up bar and enjoy a live DJ and entertainment. Splash away in the kid friendly zero entry. Or upgrade your experience by booking a private cabana.

Want more info on Royal Caribbean and CocoCay? Contact your Must Love Travel Planner today!

Hi Everyone!

 
I am excited to share with you a great video from our Social Media Director, Megan. She joined us a few years ago and has traveled many places, but had not sailed on a cruise until our annual agent event this past fall.  She was like a kid in a candy shop. Questions galore!  It was so exciting as we all helped her prepare and enjoy her first venture on the high seas! Questions like, do I purchase the drink package or not?  How do I pay for things? What is one of the most helpful things you need on a cruise?  Can I use my cell phone?

These are great questions and ones we often hear from first-time cruises and sometimes even from people who have cruised before, but maybe have not experienced the newest technology on the larger ships.

Cruising is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways to travel and with a few insights from our very own first-time cruiser you might be calling us very soon to book your first cruise!