Wow! Back to sailing and it feels great! I just returned from sailing on the beautiful amplified Freedom of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. I thought you might like to hear a little about what Royal Caribbean is doing to ensure their clients are sailing safely.

From the moment the pandemic started, Royal Caribbean has been on top of every aspect of returning to sailing. For the Travel Advisors, they meet with us weekly and keep us up to date and informed about the latest news. As a Director and Travel Advisor, you couldn’t ask for more.

We arrived for our sailing at a scheduled time. They are scheduling groups of people to go through the embarkation process. Those guests who are vaccinated have their vaccination card scanned and viewed three times before boarding. You are also presented with a purple wristband so the staff knows you are vaccinated and allowed in those areas of the ship. The boarding process went smoothly. The Royal Caribbean app allows you to flow through your safety check, confirm you have completed viewing all the safety information, and guides you through your voyage. One of the things I enjoyed most was the new muster drill process. You show at your designated area and are individually informed of the process.

The crew was amazing the entire time. There were only 1037 guests on this sailing so it actually felt like we were in our own private yacht. We have 1027 crew serving us.

The majority of the guests were vaccinated. There were specific vaccinated-only locations throughout the ship. If someone was traveling with children or guests unvaccinated they needed to participate with that group only if they wanted to be with them. We wore masks in all common areas and were able to remove them in vaccinated venues and of course outside. Vaccinated people had their own pool area as well.

Many ask about the buffets. They were still there, however, the crew served you. This was at Windjammers and also on their private island, Perfect Day Cocco Cay. I personally really appreciated the service. They have created menus that would make this easy. There were also some prepackaged grab-and-go items.

Social distancing was prevalent in all venues and as soon as someone would leave a table or seating area it was sanitized and prepared for the next guest.

Overall, exceptional service! I can’t wait to sail again! Don’t wait to plan if you want to sail later this year or in the future as sailings are really filling up.

This weeks Must Love Travel Chat video feature’s Joanne from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. We had so much fun talking about Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships.

Oasis Class ships feature 7 distinct neighborhoods:

• Central Park
• Boardwalk
• Royal Promenade
• Pool and Sports Zone
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
• Entertainment Place
• Youth Zone

We spent a good amount of time discussing each one. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes to dive deeper into the Royal Suite Class (including the Royal Genie!) and Onboard Entertainment.

And if you missed it, make sure you check out our episode featuring Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay!

I hope you’ll take a look at this week’s episode and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 

The islands of the Caribbean brim with natural beauty, from crystal blue waters and pristine beaches to striking flora and fauna. With bright colors to match the vibrant culture and art, local flowers across the region often represent deeper meanings and messages. And as you’re thinking about how you’re going to show your love and appreciation to friends and family this year, consider some of the Caribbean beauties you may be able to find nearby.

With such unique flower species down in the Caribbean that have gained popularity around the world, there’s a variety to choose from that are sure to stand out. From the bright cattleya orchid to the famous dahlia, you can’t go wrong.

We picked some of the most stunning blooms you may want to look for at your local shop, many of which you can spot while on a Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Plumeria, Barbados

One of the many vibrant blooms you’ll find in Barbados is the plumeria. Native to Central America, this flower can now be found in tropical climates—like in the southern Caribbean—during their bloom from spring to early fall. You may recognize the plumeria from your last Hawaiian luau—they are probably most famous for their use in making Hawaiian leis.

However, when you visit our new homeport of Barbados, you’ll find them scattered across the island—they love the heat. The plumeria’s fragrance is strongest at night since it uses its smell to attract moths for pollination. Don’t worry, they smell great during the day too, so a gift of plumerias will still fill a home with a sweet fragrance.

Rose, St. Lucia

The rose is one of St. Lucia’s national flowers, having won the national flower competition back in 1985. Long before it reportedly bloomed in the western part of the world, the rose is said to have first sprouted in Asia nearly 35 million years ago. It was 5,000 years ago when people first began cultivating the flower in their own gardens in China, and they have since become a staple we all see in poetry, religion, art, music, perfume and décor.

Greek and Roman mythology turned the rose into a symbol of love after Aphrodite, the goddess of love, cried over the death of her romantic partner Adonis. The rose comes in shades of red, pink, white, yellow, purple and even orange, each one holding a different meaning. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an arrangement without at least one rose.

Hibiscus, The Bahamas

You’ll spot hibiscus growing all over—quite possibly even during your visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. Found to thrive in warmer climates, this flower features five large, oval-shaped petals with light green leaves that can often appear in many other colors, like red, yellow, white, pink and purple, which hold different meanings similar to the rose. For example, purple symbolizes freedom.

In the Victorian Era, the hibiscus often served as a symbol of delicate beauty. Representing so many sweet and even powerful messages, the bloom makes a beautiful choice to show someone you care.

Dahlia, Mexico

Mexico’s national flower is both practical and impressive. Native to Central America, the Aztecs referred to the perennial plant as acocoxóchitl or “flower of hollow stems,” which they used to transport water. It certainly didn’t take long for the Spanish to notice the dahlia with its large and colorful two-toned blooms and great height—they can range from 1 to 5 feet tall.

The New World beauty was brought back to Madrid and quickly gained popularity from there. Today, the vibrant flower represents elegance, creativity and dignity.

Cattleya orchid, Costa Rica

This orchid variety grows throughout Central and South America and is abundant in Costa Rica—which you will now be able to visit from our new homeport of Barbados. You may recognize it from the corsage you wore to your high school prom, but they’re also common in bouquets and planted in pots since they can grow up to 2 feet tall.

These blooms are slow growers, taking four to seven years to mature from a seed. And since they’re slow to grow, they’re also (extremely) slow to wither—with regular maintenance and good care, a planted orchid can live up to 100 years. If you really want to show your “undying” appreciation, maybe forgo the more traditional flower arrangement and take a chance on the potted cattleya orchid.

Though brightening up your home and others’ with these blooms is a great temporary fix, we can’t wait to brighten up your days on a Caribbean cruise.

We were so excited to chat with Joanne Cotterman from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines! On this week’s Must Love Travel Chat video, Joanne takes us on a virtual tour of Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas – Perfect Day at CocoCay!

What’s your favorite – Thrill Side or Chill Side? Let us know in the comments!

Get to know the world’s largest cruise ships – Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class Ships

Harmony of the Seas ~ Allure of the Seas ~ Symphony of the Seas ~ Oasis of the Seas