All Aboard - Tips for Cruising the High Seas

Janelle Poe, travel writer for TheBlackTraveler.com and children’s book writer, shares tips and suggestions on how to cruise with your friends after a girls getaway on Carnival Cruise Lines!

My girlfriends and I love to travel but as much as we love to delve into the deep, we often find ourselves stuck in the shallow end of the pool, and our purses.  Never the types to be discouraged, we have found a wonderful way around our monetary hindrances…cruising!  What better way to see a variety of cultures and landscapes, make sure you get plenty of sun, sand, breathtaking views of the ocean, and all the food and beverages (non-alcoholic/non-carbonated) you can handle at one reasonable price?  If you’re ok with sharing a room with friends (up to 4 in a cabin), are willing to be understanding of the culinary attempts to feed thousands of people practically 24 hours a day on limited refrigeration and freezing systems, don’t mind being around lots of couples and families, and want to get a little taste of a few places, then cruising is for you and yours my friend.

My first cruise was a 4-day, 3 nights cruise from Miami to the Bahamas last year in early November.  This year’s was my 2^nd cruise, a 7-day voyage from Tampa to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan in Early September.  Both have been to celebrate 30^th birthdays but the concept is well on its way to being an annual fixture in the calendar for my crew, Las Tres Reinas.  Of course, we hope to include others in our yearly seascape, lovers, friends and family in the future.  There are so many great things about cruising and one of the best parts is that there’s something for everyone to enjoy; it just depends on your willingness to discover it and how long you can make that joy last!

Here’s a quick list of Dos and Don’ts to make your next cruise more enjoyable.

DO:

• Pick a cruise that is in your budget and will stay there even with the added expenses of airfare, refreshments on board, souvenirs, excursions, and transportation to and from your point of embarkation.
• Pick a cruise that is a reasonable length of time for you to be away and on a boat. Try starting with a 3 or 4 day one if you’re not sure how strong your sea legs are.  Bring some Dramamine and Tylenol/Aleve just in case.
• Take a look at the ship’s layout before purchasing your package. What level do you want to be on?  Will there be a window, balcony?  While you don’t spend too much time in your room, you want to be as comfortable as possible and it can be a little weird having a room without a window.
• Think about the weather. Hurricane season in the Caribbean is late August thru Mid-October.  This might affect your ship’s travel plans.
• Find out what the ship’s itinerary is ahead of time. Know how long you will have in each port of call and what those ports will be.
• Research your ports of call. Find out about the local history, the main attractions, and the things that make this place special.  Can you walk around when you get there or will you need a taxi/bus tour, etc…Plan your itinerary accordingly.
• Fill out the ship’s paperwork ahead of time and make sure your passport is in order well ahead of your travel date.
• Make a copy of your passport to bring with you and carry it with you when you leave the ship.
• Check out the pre-arranged excursions for each port & pick a few possible options based on your time, interest & budget. Try to find one thing each family member would like to do.  If there’s a really special one, go ahead and book it before you leave so there’s no chance of it being sold-out once you get there.  You can also do this on-board the ship, but make sure to do so at least 1 day prior to arriving at that destination.
• Purchase insurance if you’re traveling with someone with health issues. You never know what could happen and if emergency services are required, they will be super expensive out at sea.
• Check your ship’s rules for bringing food and alcohol on board. You can save money by bringing snacks and your own alcohol, but there are limits.
• Lay out your clothes and plan for your days and nights. How will you be spending most of your time?  Walking in sunny weather, dancing the night away, or being fancy?  Most cruises have at least one Captain’s Dinner, which requests passengers to wear Formal Attire.  Your ship may also have laundry facilities but don’t count on them because they may not always be operating properly.
• Bring lots of sunscreen, bug spray, batteries, a book, a deck of cards or travel-sized game, comfortable shoes, waterproof shoes, and a water bottle.
• Pack a fold-up poncho and/or umbrella and take it with you when you leave the ship. You never know what the weather will be like when you’re off the ship.
• Bring at least an extra $100 in cash when you leave the ship and keep it somewhere safe. You never know what could happen and you might not always have access to an ATM nor does every vendor accept credit cards.
• Find out what time the ship’s Back Aboard time is and plan on getting there 30 minutes before then. You never know what could happen and it’s no fun running for your life to catch the boat.  They will leave you.
• Make sure you know how to get back to the port if you walk out of visual distance from the ship.  Pick up a local map from the ship before debarking or from one of the excursion companies or information desk at the port.
• Read the Daily Guide provided by the ship to know what’s going on and make sure to try a few activities you wouldn’t normally do otherwise.
• Eat and drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to keep yourself hydrated and full of energy during your busy schedule.

DON’T

• Schedule a flight that will not give you enough time to get on or off the ship. Allow at least 3 hours in between your time of departure.
• Do anything stupid. On ship, it could get you thrown off.  At a port, it could get you in trouble with foreign authorities.  Or you could get physically hurt.  It’s just not worth it.
• Drink the water in ports of call, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s purified. This includes ice and slushy drinks.  Bring a water bottle and fill it up on the ship.
• Rent mopeds unless you already have plenty of practice driving one or don’t care about spending extra money in case of an accident. I highly suggest buying the liability insurance, but that won’t cover you if you fall over and damage the bike.
• Wear uncomfortable shoes when leaving the ship. Chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of walking and you won’t be returning to the ship.
• Run around on board. The boat is tilting, there could be water or spilt drinks, and the decks are never completely dry.  Avoid embarrassment and pain by taking it easy and watching where you’re going.
• Offend the nation. Remember that you are a guest in someone else’s home.  You can always leave a place looking better than it did when you got there.  Recycle and be kind, even if others are rude to you.  Tourism has many unseen and unintentional impacts on a community.
• Waste your time on the ship when you’re docked at a port. Even if you’ve been there before, there’s something new for you to discover.  Eat a good breakfast and get out there!
• Leave the ship without making sure you have a time piece and your time matches the ship’s time. The ship time might be several hours different from whatever local time it is on that port.
• Wait until the last minute to head back to the ship. Give yourself plenty of time.
• Forget any liquor you purchase on board or off-shore will be held until the last night of your cruise.
• Forget to tip your table waiter on the last night and your cabin steward in the morning before you debark. They work very hard to take care of you and make little money, so return the favor.
• Forget you have to go through customs before your trip is over. The earlier you get up, the quicker you’ll be finished.  Keep in mind they will not accept plants, food (unless packaged), or animals and it can be a lengthy process.
• Forget it’s a vacation! You’re there to have fun so try not to let anything stress you out and have a great time with your lucky companion(s)!

Remember that you get what you pay for so be discriminatory about deals, unless you really don’t mind.  Cruises are hotels on the water, and there are differences in the quality between a stay at the Sheraton, Marriot, and W hotels in their accomodations, service, food quality and general atmosphere.  Pick somewhere you’d be comfortable and find out about their options, especially in terms of dining options.  I can only speak for my experience with Carnival, I think they’re pretty good overall and I would compare them to a Marriot, not too fancy, but not too shabby either.  From what I hear, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are a step above.

Each day, and night on a cruise is a brand new one.  So the music on deck might get a little old, go check out a show or a live band; or better yet, plug in some of your own music and check out the ocean views.  Maybe it’s freezing in the dining room; go upstairs to the buffet and take your food outside.  Perhaps the casino has taken too much of your money; go lay down and read a book, or watch a movie in your room.  There are so many opportunities for fun, excitement and adventure on a cruise, but the rest is up to you.  Enjoy!

Janelle Poe is is NYC born, but not bred, although she acknowledges the city has always been her home. Raised on the East and West coasts, and having spent a few years living abroad in Europe, traveling has always been a big part of her life, from the time she was a young child and hopefully until the very end. While her income doesn’t always match her desires, she tries to travel as much as she can, and outside of the United States at least once a year. She is a writer currently working on children’s books and hopes to be published in 2009. Till then, she will continue to discover and enjoy new places, food, music, and of course the unique people this incredible world has to offer. Then she’ll go home and write about it, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

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The City Between Cities

Learn more about Wilmington, DE and a girls weekend idea for travelers looking for a budget city girls getaway.

For years I have passed it on countless trips up the Northeast corridor. It is the city that is home to some of the countries largest banks and a tax free shoppers dream. But I have never gotten off the train here. Never made plans to visit. Never specifically had a reason to stay. A half hour from Philly, Wilmington is like many children born too close to a shining star. You are outshined and forgotten.

But on this trip my friend and I wanted to pick a different place for a city weekend getaway. I live outside New York and she is in the MD/DC/VA area so we didn’t want to go to either of our hometowns and wanted to meet in the middle. Philly is typically the obvious choice but for a budget conscious shoppers weekend we decided to try Wilmington instead. Since Delaware is tax free, we could shop to our hearts desire.

Another benefit to Wilmington was the ability to see FlagBoy, a coming of age story told through a one - man performance that premiered at the Midtown International Festival this past summer and recently was nominated for Best Performance in a Solo Show. This comical, but at times very emotional tale, of personal acceptance through life’s biggest challenges is intricately woven between the autobiographical interactions of the star’s characters from childhood through his early 20’s. Unfortunately, I missed all the New York performances of the show this summer but it was going to be in Wilmington for one night only in September. I thought why not see the show in Wilmington and then continue our girls weekend in Philly. Until we thought more about what we really wanted to do. Shop. Talk. Save. Wilmington was actually the better choice since given the tax-free status, the lack of tons of nightlife and the fact that it is a cheaper city overall we should just stay put for the weekend and enjoy the sights of Wilmington right?

(For more information about FlagBoy which will be returning to New York in December go to www.Corneliusjonesjr.com)

So Wilmington, The city between cities. It is perfect for the group that has friends in the MD/DC/VA areas and friends in the Philadelphia/NYC/NJ/CT areas who want to come together in the middle but want to still have a city experience. Wilmington hotel prices are considerably lower than all of the other major cities along the Northeast corridor making it perfect for the budget conscious traveler. We stayed at the Sheraton Suites on Delaware Ave and the room is perfect for a girls weekend. With two double beds and a sleeper sofa the room could easily sleep six if you don’t mind sharing beds but with tons of floor space, extra mirrors and two tvs you never would feel cramped or that you are on top of each other. This is the perfect hotel and city for those weekends when you need to see your girls and spend the night laughing, gossiping, storytelling and catching up. Wilmington is not going to have the nightlife of the other major cities so if you just want to spend time connecting with each other than this is the perfect destination.

  

 

There are restaurants near the hotel though we didn’t try them. Instead we headed to the Riverfront and ate at the Iron Hill Brewery. We started with the seafood bisque which was excellent. The Buttermilk Fried Rhode Island Calamari was also very good and served with a red pepper cilantro aioli and lime zest. Another great choice was the Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. This large burger was served with a honey barbeque sauce, sauteed mushrooms and fries. 

   

Unfortunately the signature dishes seem to not be great choices and to leave something to be desired. The Salmon Spring Rolls for example feature spinach, red onion, pickled ginger and wasabi and sesame soy dipping sauces. The combination was overall pretty tasteless and not even very interesting. As a Salmon lover, I thought it would be a great take on my favorite fish but I was thoroughly disappointed. Our Suggestion: Stick with the tried and true items on the menu because they all were great and avoid the items marked as signature dishes.

 

But what about the shopping. From outlets to malls Wilmington has it all within 20 minutes. It is the perfect way to get the Coach bag you have been dying for or the shoes you can’t live without. Rent a car from the Amtrak station when you arrive if you take the train and you can easily get to most places you would like to in the city and the surrounding area.

We had a great time in Wilmington. The show was fabulous. The service at the hotel was great and it was the perfect opportunity to catch each other up on the things that had been going on in our lives, and I got a pair of shoes I have been looking for at a great price! All in all, who could ask for a better getaway.

Relaxing Girls Escape in Puerto Rico

For a birthday celebration we traveled to San Juan for a few days of relaxation and fun in the Caribbean. We stayed at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan and scheduled a day at the Olas spa on the property.

The hotel is situated between Old San Juan and Isla Verde/Condado making it a perfect place for individuals wanting to see many tourist areas on the island. The Caribe Hilton is one of the older resorts in San Juan but our rooms did not reflect the age of the property. The room had been recently renovated and had flat screen televisions and updated modern furniture. The bathroom was the real treat as it is very large by most hotel standards and has a rainfall shower and double vanity. The view was excellent as we could see the ocean and most of the property from our room in the tower section of the resort. 

We arrived very late (almost 2 am) but because of flight drama (see the post on Spirit Airlines for more about that) we were starving! Luckily the resort provides room service 24 hours a day. We ordered a pizza to share for $16. It was excellent with our choice of toppings and just the perfect size for a late night meal.

Besides the room service the property has several restaurants with a variety of cuisine’s and a Starbuck’s for people who must feed their coffee addiction even on vacation. The Starbuck’s is reasonably priced with cheaper prices then I have seen in many American big cities. 

The first morning we woke early for our day at the spa which consisted of an hour massage, hour facial, pedicure, manicure and a spa lunch. The package is called the Spa Goddesses and we definitely felt heavenly after our treatments. Our services were provided by Tina, Martha and Harry who made sure that we were comfortable and took great care of us. We started the day with a dip in the whirlpool Jacuzzi which is set at a mild temperature to accommodate the warm climate of San Juan. You can sit out there for hours and not feel to warm because of the temperature of the water. We then went for our massages in a room that overlooked the ocean. With the relaxing music and atmosphere in the massage room it is easy to quickly release all the tensions you brought with you on the trip. By the time I started the facial, I was so relaxed that I fell asleep. We then went to have a session of manicures and pedicures where we chatted with Martha and Tina about men, vacations, friendships, and weddings. It was the perfect girls chat fest! The polish choices were a little limited though we each found a polish that we loved. The lunch provided consisted of fruit juice, a turkey wrap and Caesar salad. It was perfect healthy meal for our spa day. At the spa, besides your treatments you also have access to the health club, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. The room for waiting between treatments is a quiet and serene retreat with chilled fruits, cool water, and light music playing. I recommend the spa as an OUTSTANDING addition to a Caribbean getaway for friends or individuals traveling to San Juan even if you end up not staying at the Caribe Hilton. 

The hotel restaurant Palmeras is just okay. I did not find the perfect mojito there (see my post on mojitos for where you can find the perfect mojito in San Juan) and the salad bar is limited in its choices for the price. The special that night was the Caribbean Lobster dinner which was excellent and can be served three ways, steamed, grilled, and thermidor. It is served with corn and roasted potatoes. My friends enjoyed the other special of a cilantro and lemon seasoned rotisserie chicken breast also served with corn and potatoes and the Baby Back ribs. The atmosphere is typical hotel restaurant though you do get a view of the pool from the restaurant. 

I HIGHLY recommend the Caribe Hilton for folks looking for a great hotel in San Juan. I especially recommend it for a tropical girls spa retreat and couple’s escape. 

Caribe Hilton
Los Rosales Street San Geronimo Grounds
San Juan Puerto Rico 

http://hiltoncaribbean.com/sanjuan/  

Fondue Anyone?

While in New York I visited one of my favorite places to eat with friends. Dip Cafe is a fondue restaurant on Third Ave that offers the perfect mix of casual fun and urban chic. Sitting outside on a warm day you can people watch as walkers pass or move th fun inside where the bar and diverse seating arrangements allow you to relax with your friends. I have often visited Dip with groups of friends and we have never been disappointed.

On this particular trip we enjoyed the Tex Mex cheese Fondue which is a great version of a traditional queso. They bring the fondue pot to your table with fresh veggies, bread, chicken and shrimp to dip into the warm cheese. For dessert we shared the milk chocolate fondue which comes with bananas, strawberries, pineapple, brownie bites, marshmallows, and small Rice Krispie Treats. Be quick and careful when dipping the Rice Krispie Treats as they quickly melt in the chocolate and then you have bits of krispie in your chocolate.

During the week if you arrive before 8pm you can get $5 Cosmos, Apple and Watermelon Martinis. This is the perfect way to start a girls weekend in the city. You must be 21 with ID to enter so this is not an option for younger people or those with children.

 Dip Cafe is located at 416 Third Ave between 29th and 30th Streets.

646-467-8135

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