Are We Cruising Again....YET?

May seems like such a lifetime ago, and we, here at Focus On Fun Travel, have been busy exploring new places and new cruise ships.  I never thought a few years ago, that in one year, we would experience 3 new cruise lines.  But you get the benefit of our experiences, and we pay the cost!  Sweet!

February was our first time on Carnival Cruise lines, on board the Carnival Splendor, visiting the Mexican Riviera.  Carnival, I believe, is well known as the "Fun Ship." Some would interpret that as a "party ship" or "Booze Cruise."  Where the majority of cruisers are 20 something college students looking for an alcoholic binge.

While there appeared to be plenty of adult drinks being consumed and served, I never ran into anyone who was slobbering drunk.  I never heard anyone shouting at anyone with a slur. There were lots of fun poolside games being led by the entertainment staff. One included alcohol.

What I did find was lots of families with lots of kids.  More than 650 under the age of 14 on board. Because of that, the kids programs we bustling with activity and the kids were really having a great time.  My 9 year old never wanted to do anything but Camp Carnival. My 13 and 17 year old daughters wanted to hang out at their clubs all the time.  I was very impressed.

I would cruise Carnival again, knowing a few warnings.  The shows with the dancers and singers was Las Vegas style. Meaning adult men will enjoy seeing scantily clad women dancing and bouncing around. Those that don't want to subject their kids to this will want to avoid it, or insure they are at their activities while you enjoy it.  If you lose one of your children, go hang out at the ice cream machines.  They'll show up within the hour, no matter the time.  Don't book a balcony underneath the buffet. You will never sleep.  Don't bother showing up at check in early. The lines to get in, led to another line, which ended at another line.  Patience Brother!  It'll all be good...eventually.

In mid May, We boarded Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Checking in was what I expected.  A short wait in a line, go to a desk with a friendly person who checks my passport and gives me a room key, then up a couple escalators, on the ship, and WOW!  Royal Caribbean's ships are really beautiful.  When we got to our Jr. Suite...Oh My Heck!  This is huge.  All things are relative, but the extra 3x10 feet made a huge difference in the size of the suite. 

On this cruise, we were with 150 people who earned this as a reward for a company sales challenge.  What we did not anticipate was that before we disembarked, we would have 150 new friends.  The Serenade of the Seas made it very easy to be together when we wanted and privacy when we didn't.  The group and wait staff were excellent, just like we wanted.  I climbed the rock climbing wall, ate a sandwich at the Sea Side Cafe, REALLY loved the food in the dining room, and never missed a show in the theater.  These shows were what I wanted. Broadway shows that were not too loud and were perfect.  I will really look forward to sailing on Royal Caribbean again.  Here is what I learned to avoid, though.

Like Carnival, our Jr. Suite was right underneath the Windjammer Cafe (Buffet).  Really hard sleeping at 1am.  I am used to ships having elevators and stairs forward and aft.  On this ship, almost always, you have to go to the middle of the ship to go up or down.  It made for easy navigating and I never had an issue knowing what side of the ship I was on, but sometimes it was out of the way to go through the Centrum to go anywhere.  Many of RCCL's ships have limited Internet access, meaning not available in your stateroom, but if you are willing to drag your laptop to almost any level in the Centrum, the wireless works nicely. The library is one of those places, but it is not quiet, as there is always music playing on the bottom floor.

November will bring our 3rd new ship.  The Norwegian Epic is NCL's newest ship.  Our first cruise was on NCL, but that was 11 years ago, so the memories have faded significantly.  But we are really stoked about being on this very innovative ship.  Why?  How 'bout an 85 Min performance by the Blue Man Group?  Their typical show as seen in Las Vegas, which you will pay more than $100 each for.  It's free!  Go Bowling!  Maybe a Cirque Dreams and Dinner Show.  The only funnel slide at sea.  So much that 7 days may not be enough time to experience just the ship.

If you are going on a cruise soon, let us know where you are going and share your excitement and experiences.  We would love to compare notes.

We are here for you.

Time Flys and so are we

Royal Caribbean - San Juan, Puerto Rico

     Time to pack the bags and fly/sail into the sunset.  Tomorrow we join 150 new friends travelling to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a new journey for us, so to speak.  Though we have cruised many times, we have never cruised on Royal Caribbean.  Sunday we board the Serenade of the Seas for an adventure to the southern Caribbean, visiting 2 ports we have not been to before, St. Kitts and Curacao.  We have never been in a Jr. Suite.  We also have never flown on Jet Blue, which will be the carrier taking us to San Juan, so we will have lots to report on when we get back.

     It is amazing to me that I have left some out in this blog for almost a month and a half.  Life has a way of distracting us or making us think that other things are more important..Family...Church...Family.  You know?  Little things  (hmmmph)  I have, though, found a way to reinforce a strong belief of mine in the last 6 weeks; Travelling as a family is one way to insure the kids always remember the fun you had as a family, in spite of the spats in the kitchen.  So we are in the planning stages to take the family on a week getaway to San Diego, have fun at the beach, snorkel, and visit the sites we have not been to since our second child was only 6 months old (That's more than 20 years).  If you were to go (or have gone recently) to San Diego, what were your favorite memories?  What do you wish you had seen or done but missed out?

     Now, back to the cruise.  We set sail in the sunset Sunday evening at 8:30.  Monday morning we find ourselves in St. Thomas.  Last time we were here, we snorkeled at Coki Beach and explored Coral World.  This time, I want to explore and photo shoot Charlotte Amalie and take the tram to the top of the mountain overlooking the bay.  I am going to takes lots and lots of pictures.  Hope the computer can handle it.

     Tuesday, St. Kitts.  Here we have talked about taking a tour of an old fort and the city with some of our new friends.  But on this island, if you have the time and physical stamina, climbing the volcano through the rain forest is popular.  Of course, in every location, there are beaches.

     Thursday is Aruba, which will be our 3rd time here.  The snorkeling and scuba diving in the formerly known "ABC Islands" is amazing.  Clear and incredibly blue waters, reefs, drop offs, sunken ships.  Makes you quiver with excitement.  Dry desert climate with cacti like you find in Phoenix.

     Last stop is Curacao.  The former dutch colony, now independent, is alive with colors and the only place in the world with a pontoon bridge that swings open to let ships like ours pass by.  Here again, we plan to explore Willemstad, though I would not mind hitting one the the awesome beaches.  Here, it is all about the water, what ever you like to do.

     When you want to get away from everything, join us on a cruise some time.  We would love to share this amazing experience with you.

Desert and Beach - Aruba

We Are Here For You

XM3 Challenge - San Juan, Puerto Rico

RCCL Grandeur of the Seas - San Juan

     May 15 is fast approaching, and Zija distributors will be gathering to board the Serenade of the Seas in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  When we were last in San Juan, Nov 2009, we were surprised at the heat and humidity, but found many wonders in this beautiful Territory of the United States.  From a world renouned Bioluminescent Bay to Rain forests at El Yunque, Cock fights to shopping.  There is definitely something for everyone here in the north east end of the Caribbean Sea.

     When you arrive at the airport, getting to old San Juan is easy as getting a cab.  For $19 (Plus Tip), you can fill up the taxi and have them take you to the Pan American Pier, where you can drop off your luggage to be loaded on the ship.  The ship won't start boarding until 2pm.  If you arrive well before that, either take a long stroll  (About 1 1/2 miles) around the bay to Old San Juan, or take a taxi over to that side.  Near old pier 4, you can pick up one of the free trolley's that will take you on a certain route around Old San Juan.

     Here are some other things you can do and see around Old San Juan:



Citadel on the Fort Wall

 El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) is a U.S. National Historic Site, managed by the US Park Service, and easily accessible from the port area in Old San Juan.  Open everyday from 9am to 6pm, you will have time to see this historic site, but you may wish you had more time.


I love to try the local cuisine.  Puerto Rico has hosted a few of the favorite Travel Channel types, like Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods) and Adam Richman (Man vs. Food).  But I am not a 5 star restaurant guy.  I like the smaller less well known places.  I recently found out about a place located on Calle Sol, from a blogger who always goes there when he is in San Juan.  So for lunch on Sunday, you'll find me at El Jibarito, 280 Calle Sol.



Raices Fountain

      For me, I had to take a stroll along Paseo de la Princesa.  Here you will find a piece of art work that celebrates the diversity of Puerto Rico, The Raíces Fountain of Old San Juan.  The fountain was not on when we were there, but I look forward to seeing and feeling the cool water spray.  Nearby, you can walk to the Gate of Old San Juan or visit the outdoor shopping area.  If you are feeling energetic or have lots of time, you can follow the Paseo all the way to El Morro.



     The architecture here is historical, just like many of the statues and monuments.  You will enjoy the beauty of it all.  The ship leaves at 8:30.  Make sure you are on board no later than 7pm.  There will be plenty of fun before and during the sail away party.

We Are Here For You