Which Would You Rather Do?

10 Tips for Cruising with Kids

Complements of Andrea Rotondo

Cruise vacations are popular with families for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, the value \ is terrific since lodging and meals are wrapped up in the fare. Second, your family can visit many destinations on a cruise without checking in and out of hotels and wrestling with luggage along the way. Finally, cruise lines have perfected the family vacation by offering something for everyone: fine dining, luxurious spa options, pools with waterslides, quiet pools and hot tubs, rock-climbing walls, videogame competitions, pub crawls, and so much more. Even multigenerational families will find plenty of pastimes to keep both grandpa and toddler busy and, more importantly, happy.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind when cruising with kids…

Check Minimum Age Requirements

Most cruise lines have minimum age requirements for guests. MSC Cruises has no age limit and will accept children of any age while Disney Cruise Line welcomes babies who are at least 12 weeks old. Most other companies draw the line at six months. Use your judgment. You know yourself and your children best. You’ll know when a cruise is appropriate for your family.

Remember to also consider onboard age requirements. For example, most lines won’t allow pool access to any child in diapers or pull-ups. There may also be age requirements for access to children’s programs and some shore excursions. Review the cruise line’s website for more detailed information.

Select Your Cabin Wisely

The most important aspect of cruise planning for a family is selecting the right accommodations. You’ll need to crunch the numbers and compare amenities to determine if it’s best to book a more expensive (and spacious) suite that may include butler service, a family stateroom, or adjoining cabins. Your decision will depend on the ages of your children, the layout of the various cabins, and the cost factor.

Don’t forget to check the bathroom setup. Not all cabins have a tub. If having one is important to your family, make sure to book a cabin that’s outfitted with one. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a shower only.

Prep Your Kids

Invite your kids to participate in the planning of the vacation. Give them books about the destinations you’ll visit and show them the cruise line’s website. It’s especially important to prep little ones so they know what to expect. Remember, their routine will be thrown off and that can be upsetting. However, kids often deal with those on-the-fly changes better if they know in advance what to expect. Tell him or her about the cabin layout, if there’s a pool onboard, whether you’ll stay on the ship throughout the vacation or if you plan to visit the sights on port days.

Pack for Your Children

If you’ve already traveled with your kids, you know the drill. In addition to packing their clothes and favorite toys, don’t forget sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray (or winter hats and gloves, if you’re going somewhere cold). Always carry child-size earplugs (good for the airplane to keep the ear canal open) and child-friendly seasickness medication.

Carry-on bags are your friends. Be sure to pack a bag for days in port. Throw in antibacterial wipes, some toilet paper (you never know when you’ll need it) as well as bottled water and snacks that your child enjoys (crackers, dried fruit, cereal, granola bars).

Talk Safety

Once onboard, have a conversation with your kids (if they’re old enough) about the importance of following rules onboard. Explain that ships are safe but they need to pay attention during the muster drill so the family will be prepared on the very off chance that something goes wrong.

Attend the muster drill and carefully check the lifejackets provided in your cabin. Babies and toddlers will need special equipment, which your steward will provide.

Keep Up Schedules

Once onboard, it’s best to try to keep to your regular schedule. Wake when you normally do, let the kids nap when they’re tired (or force a midday break when necessary), and don’t let them stay up too far past their normal bedtime.

Of course, you are on vacation so be flexible. If your kids have their heart set on certain activities, give them the opportunity—even if it interferes with naptime.

Sign Up for the Kids Club

Many cruise lines—like Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival—have fantastic kids clubs. Consider signing up your children for part of the day. They’ll get to meet other kids their age and participate in fun activities that range from outdoor pursuits to arts and crafts to cooking to videogame competitions.

Don’t Miss the Ports

Sign up for a ship-sponsored shore excursion, book your own private tour guide, or simply get off the boat and explore the port on your own. If you’ve got little ones, take it slowly but definitely get off the ship when you can. Do as little or as much sightseeing as your family can handle. Your motto is “be flexible!”

Stay on the Ship

While it would be a shame to miss out on a port, sometimes it’s really nice to stay onboard while everyone else is out exploring. The pool and other recreational facilities are all yours and your family can have a terrific day spending time together.

Give Your Kid a Camera

Buy your child an inexpensive camera and tell him or her to document the vacation. It’s a fun way to get kids to look at their environment and capture the things that they loved best.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Dive Vacations

Scuba diving offers travelers seeking an active vacation the opportunity to view parts of our world seen by very few. Divers are part of an exclusive club, sharing experiences normally reserved for marine life. Like few other activities, diving provides an unparalleled reason to travel and one that will leave you searching for your next marine adventure. If the idea of sharing your holiday with angel fish, eels and sharks, watching turtles gliding along the sea bed and exploring shipwrecks appeals to you, read on and learn the basics of dive travel planning.

If you already are an experienced diver, you know the joy of seeing a rare underwater species or one that you have never seen before. Add to that experience the thrill of traveling to a new, perhaps exotic, destination to explore, and you have a real adventure at hand. Setting off on a dive vacation in a distant land may seem daunting, but with the help of your travel agent – who can take care of the planning – diving will add an entirely new dimension to your adventures. If you are new to diving, traveling with a tour company that provides expert guidance is one of the best possible introductions.

A successful dive trip relies on choosing your destination and travel dates wisely, a good travel consultant to assist with the logistics, a little luck, and a lot of coordinated planning. If you currently dive, it’s likely that you have already traveled at some point to pursue your hobby. If you are new to diving, or if this is your first diving holiday, then you may want to consider taking a “learn to dive” holiday offered at many resort locations worldwide. PADI is a certification association for divers and a worldwide source of diving knowledge, advice and instructors. Dive resorts most often require PADI certification to rent equipment to divers or to provide refills for air tanks. PADI offers training through YMCAs and dive supply shops. Basic training can be done in a swimming pool with final certification taking place in “open water”. A PADI open water certificate can be gained anywhere from 4 days to 6 weeks, depending on your training time and ability, and you can comfortably go on holiday to learn about and experience diving in the ocean by the end of a week. You’ll need to learn a lot of the theory that goes with this qualification, which means you should be prepared to do some homework during your holiday – but it’s time well spent.

As you begin planning, have a general idea of the amount of time you want to spend diving and the time you want to enjoy other activities. Also prepare your budget for the trip, weighing diving costs against transportation, lodging, food, and entertainment. When you evaluate the type of experience you’d like to have, ask yourself if there are species of marine life you particularly want to see, or if there’s a part of the world you’ve always wanted to visit? Do you want a “live aboard” experience, or are you looking for a resort – and diving is a secondary activity? The more consideration you give these issues, the more efficient the planning process will be, the more you’ll enjoy your vacation, and the quicker you will be on your way.

Your first stop should be a travel agent at Maupin Travel experienced with tour operators offering dive trips and dive destinations. Because of the logistics of a diving trip and your investment in both time and money, it is important to have a practiced set of eyes watching out for you. Your travel consultant will know which destinations and tour operators are appropriate (and which to avoid) and can assist in pulling together less obvious components of the trip, often at substantial discounts.

If you are an experienced diver, then the world literally is your playground. Most divers have a long list of where they want to go and wrecks and marine life they want to see. Naturally, your budget will be a key factor when you finally decide where to go. Be sure to let your travel agent know any special preferences or requests at the first opportunity, so every possible detail is taken into account early in the planning process. In South America and the Caribbean, top destinations are Belize, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos and Mexico. In Europe, Italy, Malta and its famous Blue Lagoon, Spain, and Croatia are all popular. The Red Sea is a world famous diving destination that’s accessible from Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. South Africa offers cage diving to see Great White Sharks, and opportunities are endless in Asia and Australasia. Not to be missed are Truk Lagoon in Micronesia, and of course – the Great Barrier Reef. Very few localities require special dive permits; in most cases, a local PADI dive center can obtain a permit in short order. However, in some countries, notably in the Middle East, permit acquisition can take more than a week, so plan well in advance.

The weather at your destination will greatly affect your dive experience. And unfortunately, when traveling great distances, it is not easy to cancel at the last minute without losing some or all of your deposits. Keep your eye on the weather and be careful about booking travel during times of the year, for example hurricane season in the Caribbean, when you’ll have an above-average chance of trip disruption. Ask your travel consultant to check on the cancellation policies available from the tour operator or resort and if travel insurance is available for severe weather events.

As mentioned, a key consideration for any dive vacation is how much time you want to devote to diving. Some resorts offer diving opportunities as one of many activities for visitors, and only one afternoon of an entire week might be devoted to diving. Other destinations, however, center all activities around a full diving schedule, and travelers find themselves below the surface for hours each day – then usually relaxing at night with a big meal and a cold drink.

If you are going with a group, early in your planning, determine how much diving each traveler wants to do so you can choose the best location that offers interesting and alternative activities. Remember, too, that diving is an active sport with a small, manageable risk element. If the skill levels in your group vary greatly, your destination and tour operator should take those differences into account; if this is the case, you might not be able to dive together, unless the more experienced divers chose to do easier dives. Many dive centers will offer a range of dives allowing you to meet up with others in your group between dives. If you plan to travel with children, make sure that your travel consultant checks with the destination or tour operator about the appropriateness of the trip and alternative care, if needed.

You will most likely have a range of likely accommodation options, from budget to deluxe hotels. There are also “live aboard” options where you sleep on a boat and dive from the boat during the trip; if you go this route, you are likely to sleep in a twin bed cabin with limited space. However, if you want to maximize your diving opportunities, a live-a-board might be your best option. Imagine diving in the morning, enjoying lunch in the sun, diving after lunch and then reflecting on the day and making plans for tomorrow as you cruise to your next spot, watching the sun go down. These arrangements typically include high-quality meals and air for two dives per day in the package price. A couple of days on dry land at each end of your trip will give you a chance to enjoy life above the water as well.

While almost anyone can dive, make sure you are prepared for the physical demands of the trip and that the dive area is within your skill level. Some dives involve strong currents or extreme depths, so knowing what’s in store and getting a few hours of preliminary dive time at comparable depth and terrain will make your time on vacation more productive and enjoyable.

In addition to considering physical demands of a dive vacation, be aware of any indigenous diseases in your chosen destination, such as malaria or yellow fever, and protect yourself against them. As early as possible in the planning stage, consult a physician to determine what shots and other precautions you need prior to travel. Importantly, also consult your physician and dive masters about your flight schedule and appropriate wait periods before your first airline flight and after your last dive prior to flying to prevent problems with nitrogen build-up in your blood from the compressed air in your dive tanks.

Your tour operator no doubt will provide a complete list of recommended clothing and gear. In general, however, it is a good idea to pack as lightly as possible to ensure you can carry all of the equipment you need with you. Most airlines charge for excess baggage, and diving equipment tends to be heavy. Most airlines will carry empty cylinders, but consider renting your cylinders and weights at your destination to save baggage costs. Remember that diving knives must be packed, not carried on. Some localities do not permit spear fishing equipment, so check prior to your trip. If you do travel with your cylinder, you will have to remove the pressure valve during travel. Many destinations will have rentals of all equipment available, so just confirm the availability during your planning stages. You will almost certainly want to pack your own mask and flippers as these will need to fit perfectly. And remember to bring along your certification card, which is required by most dive locations, in addition to a logbook, sunscreen, and any necessary international travel documentation, such as your passport and visas. Prescription drugs should be carried with you, not checked. Work with your travel consultant to check in advance that your airline will be able to take everything you want to carry with you.

You may be asking, is dive travel safe? It is important to remember that diving in new surroundings will always entail a greater degree of risk. So play by the rules, listen to your tour operator and dive master, and stay within the limits of your skill level. The basics of safe diving apply in every instance, no matter where you are. Use the buddy system, be smart about your dives and take the same reasonable precautions you would in any unfamiliar dive territory. Drinking and diving? Allow adequate detox time and be responsible. Finally, remember standard precautions about airline travel post-dive.

The costs associated with your dive trip will be your transportation to the destination, your transportation at the destination and to the dive sites, your accommodations, your food, any dive master services and any additional activities. Tipping should also be considered as an additional expense. Many tour operators cover all, or some large portion, of these items in the cost of their tour. Work with your travel consultant to determine exactly what is included and what’s extra to avoid last-minute surprises.

Dive travel is almost more than a hobby, it can be a way of life. Come on in, the water’s fine. Contact Maupin Travel and start planning your dive vacation!

How To Pack For Your Cruise

 

By: Windstar Cruises
A salty breeze blowing through your hair, far-off places waiting to be explored…your Windstar cruise is just days away and it’s hard to think of much else. Except for how to pack for your cruise, that is. What will you wear on board? How should you prepare for the shore excursions? Do you need a guidebook?

Windstar cruises are all about having fun and letting go, and we intend to help you do just that. We’ve packed for more than a few cruises by now, so we have a few good tips to help you get the most out of your voyage. Just throw these items in your suitcase and let your worries fade with each passing wave.

Let’s start with the essentials. Items like these should not be left at home:

• The little things: sunglasses, sunscreen, any medications or special toiletries you might need
• Electronics: a camera or video camera to record your memories, plus chargers and extra batteries ID, travel documents, foreign currency, and credit cards (don’t forget to warn your card company that you’ll be traveling)
• 2 swimsuits (so you have a back-up suit to wear while the other dries)
• Appropriate footwear: one pair each of sandals, everyday shoes, and good walking shoes
• Workout attire (there’s nothing more relaxing than yoga on deck at sunrise)
• Flexible clothing: aim to bring a few sets of tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched so you get multiple outfits out of a few items. Be sure to bring light clothing that can be layered on or removed as the temperature changes. Don’t worry about dressing up unless you want to—Windstar is a luxury cruise line but we don’t want formality to get in the way of true escape. Windstar’s laundry package makes it easy to travel light and enjoy the feeling of freshly washed and pressed clothing every day from our professional laundry. With 24-hour (or less) turn around, this is a great convenience and bargain at only $109 per cabin for a 7-day voyage.

Now that we have the basics of how to pack for your cruise out of the way, let’s talk about a few things you might not have considered yet.

• Bring an empty travel bag/backpack. Use it for the souvenirs you pick up when you dock. Whether your shore excursions take you to the traditional lace shops in Venice or the open markets in Turkey, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to pick up souvenirs.
• Get something special for your special someone. Bring a romantic gift for your partner and surprise him or her on a special night at sea. The memories you make on your voyage will last a lifetime, so make it count.
• Pack an outlet for your inner artist. There’s nothing like fresh air and time off to get your creative juices flowing. Come prepared with a sketchpad or poetry notebook. And why not bring a journal to record your thoughts and observations about the trip?
• Sight-see like a pro. Read up on the land excursions you’ll be taking in advance so you can be sure to make the most of your time on shore. This will also help you pack appropriate clothing and footwear. And don’t forget your binoculars. You never know what you’re going to want to view off in the distance.

Whatever you do, just don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure!

Culinary Delights

Culinary Tours

Whether you are an aspiring chef or simply an epicure, culinary travel promises the opportunity to truly savor your vacation. This growing trend of experiencing authentic cooking and dining around the world allows you to broaden your education and your palate at the same time. What a decadent way to travel!

The genre of culinary travel includes trips that focus on learning to create local dishes, those that emphasize tasting and wine pairing, and everything in between. As you can see, there are many options available. Let this report assist in your planning, as it will provide you with the basic recipe for culinary travel. With it, you are sure to cook up the perfect culinary adventure!

The most important consideration in planning your culinary vacation is whether you want to learn traditional recipes and cooking techniques, or if you’re more interested in enjoying the end result. Those wanting a strictly educational experience might enjoy cooking alongside famous chefs in renowned cooking schools. If dining inspires you, perhaps you would prefer the company of a learned chef as your guide. Or maybe you would like just a taste of culinary arts in your trip, as you explore other cultural aspects of your destination. The more consideration given to these issues before contacting a tour operator, the more efficient the planning process will be and the quicker you’ll be on your way.

If cooking is your passion, think about attending a cooking school, many of which boast award-winning chefs as instructors. If you go, you will have to consider your level of expertise to ensure pairing with courses that suit your abilities. The less experienced might learn more through hands-on instruction, while advanced students may feel confident in attending cooking demonstrations. You can even choose to learn a particular specialty such as pastry making. Wine schools are also a popular choice, offering classes on wine making, history, appreciation and pairing with foods.

For those interested in learning to cook according a country’s customs but want to spend a little less time in the kitchen, a cooking tour may be the best bet. Along with culinary classes, these tours are peppered with visits to wineries, vineyards, superior restaurants, and local markets and food producers. With some tours, you will travel to different cooking schools to take classes. Others offer the more intimate experience of attending the kitchens of various celebrated chefs.

Culinary tour guides, many of whom have backgrounds in history and/or cultural anthropology, will tell you the history of indigenous dishes, offer guidance while dining with you, and even provide cooking instruction. Your tour may be guided by an actual chef, or may enlist the services of two guides: one culinary and one cultural. Your guide should be bilingual, even if those providing the cooking demonstrations are not. And of course, if you would like to design your own culinary dream vacation, chef guides and cultural guides can be hired on an individual basis — the possibilities are endless!

Most cooking tours will accommodate travelers with every level of experience. However, general kitchen knowledge is expected. Before you go, ask your travel consultant if class participation is mandatory, or if you may merely observe. You will also want to inquire about attire. Cooking classes are generally casual, but more sophisticated dress may be necessary when dining out. You may also want to find out whether recipes will be provided after the demonstration.

Your tour operator should be able to accommodate any dietary needs regarding meals. However, the meals prepared during cooking classes, unless the class is designed and taken on an individual basis, are usually determined by the instructor and cannot be changed upon request. There are tours designed for vegetarians, which usually take place in Asian countries. Thailand for example, boasts an annual vegetarian festival.

If you are more of a gastronome, you will want to take or design a tour that focuses on the pleasures of dining. Many culinary travelers maintain that there is no better way to learn about a culture than by sampling its traditional dishes. Such tours often include the excursions mentioned above, as well as more standard tourist attractions such as museums and art galleries. Certain tours allow more time for exploring the towns in which you stay. There are also more active tours, which incorporate such activities as hiking, painting and language instruction. These tours also provide a good option for those wanting to dine independently.

Not surprisingly, the most popular destinations for gourmet vacationing are Italy and France. Tasting tapas in Spain is also en vogue. When visiting these popular regions, the earlier you make your reservation, the better. But Europe isn’t your only option. You may enjoy a culinary cruise to the Caribbean or take a chef-guided tour of Mexico. For the more adventurous, culinary tours are offered in such exotic locales as Morocco, India and Vietnam.  For those looking for an experience closer to home, consider becoming a barbecue connoisseur in West Virginia or cook up some Creole in Louisiana.

Travelers may also take a culinary vacation by means of a food festival. The Netherlands boasts an international food-tasting festival every August, and Georgia is home to the annual Vidalia Festival. If you appreciate good beer as much as good food, Oktoberfest is certain to leave you hoppy.

The cost of a culinary vacation varies widely. The biggest factor in determining the price of your trip is whether you opt for a package tour, which generally means sharing your travel experience with other culinary enthusiasts. Most culinary tours are packaged at a fixed price that includes daily classes, meals, excursions, accommodations and ground transportation. You will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to the school or destination, a task with which your travel consultant can greatly assist. The cost of your trip is further determined by the country visited, the extent of teaching provided, the quality of restaurants enjoyed, and the number and nature of excursions taken.

Accommodation is also a factor. Luxury and high-end hotels are a more expensive option. Staying in a countryside villa may not be as posh an experience, but the relaxation granted by fresh air and lush landscapes could prove to be priceless. Work through the options with your travel consultant. The more clearly you state your own preferences, the better your travel consultant can work with the tour operator to properly accommodate you and your traveling companions.

When pricing your stay, remember to take into consideration any Value Added Tax (VAT) levied by many countries in Europe and elsewhere. Because VAT is often as high as 20% of the cost of an accommodation or good purchased, the amount is often not insignificant! Many travelers assume that VAT is refundable. However, this is typically not the case for services such as transportation, accommodation, food, gas or any other goods or services consumed within the country itself. Ensure that the price you are quoted includes all taxes and other fees.

Sound too good to be true? It’s all for real and with a little planning a culinary vacation can be an absolutely wonderful way to garnish your next trip away from home — and Maupin Travel can help you plan it.

 

 

The Best Barbados Villas

Villa rentals are becoming more popular options for multi generational families, friends that like to travel together and destination weddings.

Here is the inside scoop on living the lush life on one of our favorite Caribbean Islands

Aliseo Villa

This nine-bedroom villa was hands-down a favorite.  It pulls out all the stops for the perfect luxury getaway for families heading to Barbados.

Aliseo has its own personal staff including longtime butler, Edmund, who attends to VIP’s every need from unpacking and packing to grocery requests, transfer arrangements and more.

 This is an all-inclusive villa.  Everything from Edmund’s personal service to private, in-villa dinners are included in the rate and comes with it’s own private swimming pool, and movie theater.  There’s also a karaoke machine in the living area. 

This villa is ideal for large families and groups.  It is also perfect for small weddings.

Smuggler’s Cove

The seven-apartment Smuggler’s Cove is situated on arguable the bst beach in Barbados.  It offers facilities like a beach bar, swimming and water sports and is within a short walk of the famous Sandy Lane Hotel.  

Golf at Sandy Lane or Royal Westmoreland and numerous fine dining oceanfront restaurants are also just a few minutes away.

The apartments include luxury bedrooms and quality European kitchens.  

As far as rooms go, Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are four-bedroom apartments while Nos. 1, 2 and 4 are three bedrooms.  The best apartment however, is No. 7, the penthouse, which is the most private unit and offers by far the best view in the villa.  Butler service can be arranged.

Tradewinds 

This 5 bedroom Villa is a golfer’s dream as it is located on the Sandy Lane estate.  In fact, the villa’s Great Room offers a perfect view of the 5th fairway of Sandy Lane’s Old Nine golf course. 

The master bedroom suite spans the entire top floor of the building and includes east-and west-facing balconies, providing views of the Sandy Lane golf course and the Caribbean Sea. 

Perhaps our favorite part of this villa was the pool and deck area that includes an entertaining gazabo with a bar that has some incredible speakers for some light tunes.  Tasteful framed black and white pictures of famous musicians decorate the walls.

If you would like more inforamtion, call you travel advisor at Maupin Travel.

Compliments of:  Luxury Travel Advisors magazine

Punta Cana’s Sugar Sand Beaches

 

Punta Cana

One island, two countries. The Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean. Unlike it’s sister nation, however, the Dominican Republic has in recent years become one of the Caribbean’s most sought after playgrounds. With hundreds of miles of beaches and reefs, there is no shortage of sand and sun for visitors to the Dominican Republic. Travelers there inevitably compare the sand texture to sugar, but the crystal blue waters are an equally attractive asset. The Dominican Republic’s pristine beaches are slowly becoming the destination of choice for leisure travelers from the United States and Canada looking for real value and extraordinary all-inclusive vacations.

Punta Cana has quickly emerged as the most popular beach destination. Here, many of the island’s top beachfront resorts, amazing oceanfront scenery, and plenty of places for entertainment and activities have sprung into being. Numerous bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops dot a landscape where only a few years ago only small villages and hotels catering to a mostly European crowd existed.

The Dominican Republic’s beaches remain unspoiled Caribbean jewels. Almost 800 miles of coastline, and some of the most dazzling sand anywhere ensure vacationers will never have far to go to find great surf and a stretch of soft, white sand to enjoy.

Because the region is, in many respects, still in a very young stage of its development as a destination, vacationers the crowds are all on other islands in the region, giving DR beach goers space to enjoy themselves on the island’s seashores.

This naturally calm, clear and warm water makes the DR an ideal location for water sports and swimming. The beaches are amazingly flat and very wide, easily walked or traveled on horseback, a favorite activity of many visitors. The giant expanse of white sand creates a relaxed feeling of spaciousness, never crowded. These gorgeous beaches are safe to swim year-round, and activities abound with pastimes like scuba diving (Punta Cana has 22 diving sites), snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, water biking, sailing, beach volleyball or soccer.

On the easternmost tip of the island, Punta Cana is famous for its spectacular beaches and completely transparent waters, With over twenty miles of white sand and palm trees. Few other destinations in the Caribbean rival the area for its pristine, clean water and open air. Punta Cana’s climate is dry and it rarely rains during the day, the arid flora like palm trees nevertheless flourishing all along the coast.

The influence of the early European crowds remains with a variety of hotel chains catering to a multinational crowd. North Americans have discovered Punta Cana, however, and now luxury all-inclusives with richly featured beach and pool facilities are found along the shore, edging right up to the water. There is a crisp, new feeling to the hotels and resorts here, and endless buffets. Punta Cana is a retreat for pure relaxation and enjoyment.

Punta Cana currently has 12 professional golf courses from designers such as Jack Nicklaus, P.B. Dye, Tom Fazio and Nick Faldo all within a short drive from each other. Several more are in the planning stages and it’s clear that the Dominican Republic is on a headlong rush to become the primary gold destination of the Caribbean.

Best of all, Punta Cana remains a real value. Prices here can range hundreds of dollars less than better known, Caribbean destinations. So if it’s value you seek, sugary white sand and swaying lines of coconut palms, Punta Cana should be on your short list of destinations to get to know.

Contact Maupin Travel and start planning your vacation.

How I Celebrated My 70th Birthday!

Our dining room waiter was from India. The assistant waiter was from the Philippines. The server in the cocktail lounge was from Nicaragua. Our stateroom attendant was from Haiti. Royal Caribbean’s smallest ship, Majesty of the Seas, was a floating United Nations. One characteristic they all shared was a desire to please us. All we had to do was ask and they did their best to deliver. Two appetizers at dinner, a dish of peanuts with our drinks, towels folded to look like bunnies or elephants. The beds in our stateroom were pushed together when we arrived. An hour later they were on separate sides of the room with new sheets, spotless duvets and pillows plumped to perfection.

This is the year of my 70^th birthday. Big milestone!

“Do you want a big party, Mom?” my daughter Elizabeth asked. “Or would you rather go on a trip? How about a cruise?”

“Sure,” I replied. “A cruise would be great since I have never been on one and that would be a milestone in itself. But I do not want to go by myself. I’d like to ask some friends and family.”

A few weeks later I had the details from my favorite travel agent and sent out an invitation. In the end, three of my best buddies signed up to join me for Jane Bass’s 70^th Birthday Cruise, June 11-16, 2012. We flew to Miami the day before sailing since none of us wanted to be running to the pier as the ship was leaving.

Elizabeth had warned me not to take that chance. “This is not Fantasy Island, Mom. They do not have a helicopter for late arrivals. If you miss the ship, you are sunk.”

Emails were flying the week before we left. What about cell phones? Is there an emergency number for the ship? What clothes are you taking for the formal night? How many pairs of shoes? I was way over-packed with a twenty-four inch bag weighing forty pounds. One of our group packed conservatively in a carry-on bag and saved the $25 charge to check bags. As it turned out everyone had the right clothes for just about anything.

Part of the reason I had so much stuff was that I cannot go anywhere without being prepared. I always pack medicine for any ache or pain.  Worried about being seasick, I had sea-bond bracelets and Dramamine just in case. There were hairdryers in every room but I do not trust a strange hairdryer. We were going to the Bahamas where the average temperature for June was in the high eighties and low nineties. But I packed a jacket just in case. I might go to a yoga class so I had to have my yoga outfit. Plus hats and scarves and shoes and jewelry to go with everything. I was never in Girl Scouts, but I read lots of magazines.

There were many activities on the ship with excursions when we docked in Nassau, Cocobay Island and Key West. We all went on a highlights tour of Nassau including fabulous gardens and a zoo. Sharon and I participated in a yoga class on the beach at Cocobay. It was about nine in the morning but the sun was already blazing. Sweat was dripping off my nose while I did the downward dog. We cooled off with frozen Margaritas in souvenir cups. Elaine and I went parasailing in Key West. I was the oldest on the boat and the only one who had been parasailing before. Sharon and Lynn visited the house where Ernest Hemingway wrote books and switched wives.

I have always heard that the best thing about a cruise is the food. And that is absolutely true. Breakfast and lunch were buffet, all you could eat including eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, toast, pastries, cereal, stir-fry veggies and made-to-order omelets. Lunch was just as plentiful with salad bars, sandwich bars, pasta bars and mountains of dessert. We had an assigned table for dinner with the same waiter and assistant waiter for the whole trip. There were two dining rooms on the ship and two seatings for dinner. We chose the 6:30 seating so we would have time to take in all kinds of entertainment after dinner. Also at our age we need time to digest before bed.

You can imagine that four women on a cruise have lots of stories to tell. One of my favorites is about our dining room waiter on the first night of the cruise. He was a very nice looking man with a wide smile and a pleasant personality. He was impeccably dressed in a black and white waiter’s uniform. He spoke beautiful English and explained the menu as if he had cooked every dish. Like all of the employees on the ship, he wore a nametag with his name and the country of his origin which was India. There was also a placard on the table showing his name. The large letters said Sandeed which I thought was his last name. It made sense to me that the smaller letters underneath would be his first name which looked like Walter. As our meal was ending I started calling him Walter. Elaine and Sharon were sitting across the table from me and were in that state of laughter when tears are running down your face but you are trying not to make any noise. I had no idea what was so funny until Walter walked away from the table. Then they informed me that the word in small letters was not Walter, but Waiter. The placard read Sandeed, Waiter. Needless to say, that became the joke of the trip.

“Jane, what does that sign say? Jane, tell us what time it is. Jane, wonder what Walter is doing now.”

I laughed just as hard as the others. On the last night we told Walter what had happened and he enjoyed a good laugh as well.

Then there is the story of the dancing waiters in Johnny Rockets. But I’ll save that for another time.

Jane Bass, June 19, 2012

Louanne’s Tropical Caribbean Cruise

Eurodam, Holland America

The Eurodam was so beautiful.  It was nice to have a veranda stateroom which gave us our own sitting room, floor to ceiling window and a priate balcony.  The staff was supurb and constantly asking what they could do for us to make our trip better.  The food in the main dining room was really good.  We also dined in the specialty restaurants, both the 5 star Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind’s with it’s Pan Aisian cruisine.  Both were excellent. 

We especially enjoyed the serene beauty of Half Moon Cay (the private island) and snorkelling in Trunk Bay on St. John.  All of the ports of call offered so many activities for us to choose from. 

Time for a Margarita!

Margaritaville, Turks & Caicos

Fort San Cristobal as we sail into San Juan

The tranquility and beauty of Half Moon Cay

Louanne & Keith relaxing and enjoying the ship

As the sun sets over the ocean, we say goodbye to another wonderful cruise

If you would like to hear more about Louanne’s cruise, you can reach her at lwarren@maupintravel.com or 919-967-8888.

Grand Cayman

 

60 Second Geography – Grand Cayman

Once you leave George Town, Grand Cayman‘s natural wonders come alive. Head west to hike the Mastic Trail, a 200-year old footpath flanked by Cedar, Mahogany, and Black Mangrove trees, as well as the eponymous Mastic.

The West Bay section of the island features the famed turtle farm, where thousands of Green Sea Turtles are raised each year for both food and for release into the wild. This is also the home of the kitschy town of Hell — a bleak natural limestone formation with a nearby gift shop and (of course) a post office that sells postcards that can be sent home from-Hell.

On the North Side resides the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, a series of lush tropical gardens full of herbs and orchids, not to mention a fascinating butterfly garden and an iguana habitat. But, perhaps the most famous attraction in Grand Cayman is not on land at all. A few miles off shore in the North Sound, lies Stingray City, a series of shallow sandbars flush with friendly southern stingrays just begging for handouts from the tourists who flock to the site.

• Hit the Beach! Whether it’s relaxing in the sun or snorkeling in the reef just off shore at the Sunrise Villa, enjoy the year-round tropical breezes on Grand Cayman’s beaches.
• The World-Famous Stingray City: Top of every visitor’s list is an excursion to Stingray City, an extraordinary 12-foot dive site and adjacent sandbar. In as little as two to six feet of water, everyone-with or without snorkel gear-can feed and touch the friendly Southern Atlantic stingrays.
• Spend a Lazy Afternoon at Rum Point: Hop in your rental car and head to Rum Point on Grand Cayman’s quiet North Side, a favorite destination for both residents and visitors. Experience island atmosphere the way it used to be in a scenic spot known for its clear, calm waters and tall pines. Sink into a hammock with a book, swim, snorkel, or try a glass-bottom boat trip. The Wreck Bar, a Rum Point landmark, serves lunch and frosty drinks at picnic tables on the beach.
• Boatswain’s Beach: Boatswain’s Beach is the name of the new 30-acre marine theme park that is the expansion of the Cayman Turtle Farm. When Christopher Columbus first discovered the islands in 1503, he named them “Las Tortugas,” meaning The Turtles. According to legend, there were so many turtles that the islands looked like they were covered with rocks. Located in Grand Cayman, the Turtle Farm has been in operation since 1968 and has since been dedicated to educating the public on the benefits of a proactive conservation program for sea turtles.
• Indulge in Cayman Cuisine: It would be difficult to spend time in Cayman without being offered conch fritters, a local Stingray beer, or Cayman’s own Heavy Cake. But don’t miss the island specialties that will make your visit unique; for a snack that is not to be missed, stop in at any of the Tortuga Rum Company stores for a Tortuga Rum Cake. Compare the spicy taste of Cayman Brac’s McCoy’s BBQ to the unique flavor of Bussy’s Jerk Chicken on Little Cayman.
• Discover the Cayman Story: The National Trust for the Cayman Islands office, located in George Town, offers visitors extensive information on the islands’ history, environment, national symbols and culture. Tours are also available for guests to uncover the Cayman of yesteryear – by learning about wattle and daub, a method of construction used to build homes; discovering historical sites such as the Bodden Town Guard House, Old Savannah Schoolhouse and Watlers Cemetery; environmental treasures such as the Mastic Trail; and resources such as the Trust’s Herbarium and Insectarium.

Are you ready to getaway to Grand Cayman? Contact Maupin Travel and get started.

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