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Husband and I were married on the Disney Magic and it was the best decision of our lives. We had a disaster happen - major floods took out our wedding venue 6 months prior to our wedding and the place was not going to rebuild in time. It was too late to find an alternate. So we cancelled the big lavish 8 hour reception in favor of using that money instead to take our immediate families (parents, siblings and their children) on the cruise with us (which we had already booked for our Honeymoon anyway), and Disney took care of the entire thing for us. We got married on Castaway Cay and had the reception in Palo and instead of 8 hours, we got to spend 8 days with family celebrating. It was the last trip I ever took with my father who passed away the year following.
that doesn't seem to be the case for our upcoming Japan cruise. There's 9 ports and at least on the socials groups there seems to be several families with older kids and teens.
If you are planning an Alaskan cruise, I highly recommend Holland America. Smaller ships that have been doing it the longest and can get in to bays other larger ships can’t. We did the Vancouver-Vancouver inside passage and it was awesome. We also did the last week for Alaska and pretty much everything was 50-75% off! Win win! And not one kid on board. We thoroughly enjoyed it. And the salmon sushi…..still craving it!
We absolutely loved Bonaire (Kralendijk, Caribbean Netherlands)! There is a wide variety of excursion options (i.e. not just "go to a beach and lay out" or "tour on a bus" choices), the port area is "authentic" but safe (i.e. not one of the cruise line "purpose built" ports like Falmouth or Costa Maya), there is a real focus on conservation/environment preservation, and in general is clean and easy to get around.
My favorite cruise ports are Bonaire, Curacao, and San Juan, Puerto Rico (so much to do!). My least favorite is Ensenada. Never have I been so aggressively bombarded every 10 feet (literally, one after another, barely getting in a few steps between them), begging for us to shop with/from them. Crowded, inner city and all the shops seem to have basically the same merchandise. When we were trying to head back to the ship (our 2nd time there), one local insulted us calling us cheap when we told them we were done shopping. Funny story there: My grandmother collected souvenir spoons, so I asked a shop owner if he had those or could get them. He said yes, told us to wait at his shop for 20 minutes in the muggy heat. He returned with a $700 silver spoon that he said was perfectly sized for cocaine. This wasn't a language barrier, his English was as good as ours. Just a bad port for us.
I agree. When we’re on a cruise and it’s stopping in Nassau, we very rarely get off. We did get off the last time just to see all the improvements but we weren’t impressed. It was definitely better than it used to be. We also loved St. Maarten. Happy New Year to you and your family! Enjoy your cruise!!
My family and I are set to cruise in May, and we are stopping in the Port of St. Maartin. This will be my first time at this Port. My family visited before, and they love t there. I'm very excited 😊❤
Just remember... Nassau was the first port to open up so that cruising could start up again. It's not our favorite either but we'll still get off to show Nassau our appreciation. We sail on the Beyond in a few months so I'll look for those videos you've done. Thank you for sharing your viewer's info about the ultimate world cruise. I'm obsessed with the videos from the people on the ship!
We were in Nassau aboard Symphony in November 23. The new port area is very nice indeed and will continue to improve. Nassau however needs to better control crime within a mile from port.
Hello! We are going to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas for the first time next month. Do you have suggestions of what to do? What do you enjoy the most about this particular port? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! ❤
Nothing in particular. Try to take a bus excursion that will take you in the hills overlooking the Port. Absolutely beautiful view. If you were staying longer a day on St John is worthwhile. Only wat there is via ferry. Time is very tight to make that happen and make the shop departure
My worst post was Cartagena. Horrible vendors that get literally in your face. My favorite port is by far Curaçao. Great place with little to zero crime.
I haven't cruised before, but I'm an international traveler. I did NOT like Cartegena. It's such a tourist trap, they try to gouge you with so many things. Otherwise, I live Colombia! 🇨🇴
On Alaska cruises for first time cruisers, I agree. Alaska Inside Passage out of Vancouver is probably the best option. It's the one I recommend, especially if someone has concerns about getting seasick. Most of the cruise is in sheltered waters where the water is much less likely to be rough. The only part of the cruise, if your cruise does Glacier Bay rather than Hubbard Glacier, is the short bit between the north end of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. The scenery is also drop dead beautiful.
We loved Nassau. Best excursion ever, Rum and Reggie. Tour ended at Bob Marley home for Red Stripe and lunch. The mini museum and history of his life was great.
I agree that Curacao has a beautiful cruise port. My husband and I have been there several times and will be there again in February while on the Celebrity Beyond. This is our first time on Celebrity and are very excited about it. The cruise port I would never want to go back to or would not get off the ship for is Trinidad and Tobago. It felt very unsafe. We were off the ship for an hour or so then returned and enjoyed the pool and deck area. Thanks for your review of Celebrity Beyond. That helped us make up our minds.
Agree. Ocho Rios is a scary port. Both daughters got married in Jamaica (Runaway Bay and Montego Bay.) They were fine. But when daughter left for Ocho Rios for honeymoon in a very expensive place, she said she felt creeped out the whole time. When we went to the port there, soldiers with rifles every 20 feet, police in boats with rifles circling the ships. Then walking to the close private beach, harassed the whole way. Police on beach to keep locals off. Very poor area. I felt sad and scared at the same time. Most beautiful port was Puerto Rico. The ships captain called to pet everyone know to enjoy the entry. Beautiful!
If you're just getting off the ship in Costa Maya, I can sure understand it not being a favorite. But I urge you to try Maya Chan Beach day-resort. It's an 'off-ship' booking -- and I am SOOOO glad we tried them. The people are wonderful, the service is outstanding, the food and drinks are amazing, and even the pets make you welcome! ❤😃
St Maarten is my favorite cruise port. I never like Costa Maya even when cruises started going there and there was nothing in there. In fact one crew member called it Costa Nada. Wishing you a great cruise and a wonderful New Year🎉❤
I was just in Costa Maya and initially wasn’t looking forward to this port. We booked day passes at Hayhu Beach Resort (25 min drive away, very remote stretch of gorgeous beach, max 30 guests) and we had the most incredible day. So happy we skipped the port and beach clubs close by.
In 19 more days, I will be on the Carnival Spirit for 8 days to the Bahamas. I'm so excited it's my first time traveling. I'm beyond stoked . I'm going to Bimini, Fruitport, Princess Cays and Nassau Bahamas so I'm hoping for the best
Hey! I totally agree that an Inside Passage is the best option for a first-timer - this was where I cruised last year, and I was absolutely blown away. Now though, I'd probably try one of the other routes to try and escape the crowds of Juneau, Ketchikan etc. Re Solo cabins, yes - NCL are absolutely leading the way in this area. Their solo cabin concept really is excellent on their newer, bigger ships - if only the others would follow suit!
Our absolute favorite port is Bonaire. We rented a golf cart from Bonaire Cruisers right at the port and cruised the southern part of the island with the map they provided us. We stopped when we wanted, snorkeled, saw the pink salt mines, free roaming donkeys, and so much more. It was absolutely exhilarating, peaceful, and FUN!! We felt safe the entire time and I can’t wait to go back! Least favorite: Nassau, Bahamas!
It's very charming and some people might not know, half is owned by France and is completely French and the other half is owned by the Netherlands. It's very European and interesting.
My favorite ports are St. Thomas (with St. John) in the U.S.V.I., Curacao and St. Martin (especially the French side). I also like Antigua and St. Lucia, but prefer to view the Pitons there by boat (the land ride is very long up and down the mountains). Have a great time on the Ascent!
I took NCL singles room in June to Italy. Just loved it! Room is good size for 1. And you can get a connecting room if your friend wants their own sleeping area. Wonderful lounge just for singles.
The last time we visited Nassau, we went on a taste of the islands excursion (booked through the ship). We had been to Nassau several times already and were looking for something different. This tour was just that, and we would do it again! We visited places for food samples and discovered flavors we had never tried before.
I've been to Curaçao three or four times and I've always had a great time there, especially the Queen Emma Bridge. I've been to St Maarten many times as well, maybe eight or nine times, loved it. St. Lucia was beautiful; St Kitts was beautiful too. And of course, my favorite, Bermuda. Celebrity (The Zenith) was the first cruise ship I was ever on, in 2001.
I love Kings Wharf, Bermuda. It is safe, nobody hassles you to buy things and everything is close by. The pirate ship, which is right next to the cruise port, I believe is called Calico Jack’s, was so much fun….you can walk the plank.
My wife and I just booked our first cruise. We're doing the 12 Nights, best of Greece and Italy tour, leaving Barcelona in May on the Celebrity Ascent. Really looking forward to that. As first time cruisers, looking for all the tips and tricks I can learn from veteran cruisers.
Barcelona is fabulous. If you are touring pre cruise, and wish to visit places like the Bassilica, Guell Park, etc., be sure to get your tickets in advance. They only sell a certain number per day, and once they are sold, there is no more admission for that day.
@@meddyven Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it. Definitely spending several days pre-cruise in Barcelona and looking forward to exploring the city and getting some kind of itinerary put together. I'll definitely buy these tickets in advance. Thanks!
Also, if you want to see an amazing show, go to the Palau National at dusk to see the magic fountain. They play music for 90 minutes, and the fountain, below the museum ( with the rolling water), changes colors and different forms the fountain goes through. Get there early as it gets crowded quickly, so you can be up front.
I'm glad you didnt say Nassau for your least favorite! I feel like a lot of people dislike Nassau but i personally really enjoy it there and love the new port area. Baha Mar is a beautiful resort!
I'm still intimidated by cruises. All those people. And the noise on board. Yikes! But I've booked my first cruise on the Carnival Firenze, sailing mid January 2025. Fortunately because I booked so early I got a cove balcony room at a reasonable rate. I know this type of room is not for everyone I think it will be perfect for me! Happy new year Ilana. Keep up the good work!
Get some noise reducing earplugs like Loop or similar. Game changer for those of us with some sensory issues or those easily overwhelmed with all the noise. You can still hear, just a little less loud. 😊
We love the ABC islands. I agree about Costa Maya, been there 3-4 times. We always take a taxi to the local beach but it’s dirty and water is often bad. We were in at St Lucia 18 years ago and are looking forward to returning in February. Bahmar is great. My wife and I spent 3 nights there in 2019.
You can also cruise out of San Francisco for the inside passage to Alaska. That's what my family and I did because we live in the Bay Area. Once you set sail the ship cruises under the Golden Gate Bridge. It's truly fantastic! Have a fabulous trip! :)
I have sailed the inside passage with Princess 8 times - other than Norway, this is my favorite cruise. I usually sail out of Seattle since our local airport has cheap RT flights to Seattle.
My fav is also St. Maarten, love going to Maho Beach ✈️, my least favorite is Grand Turk, flies everywhere and the pool scene at the port was a drunken mess..Nassau is getting better with all the new construction. You will enjoy your day at Baha Mar, I have researched that place and it is super high end. There is also a great video on Netflix or Amazon on how it was built and how it’s run. Thanks !
Curaçao, St. Lucia? 16 days till Royal Caribbean Grandeur! Sailing out of Tampa - 5 night western Caribbean cruise with stops at Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. I can’t wait!
Just did ten days on the Enchanted Princess in early December. Very few kids. Transatlantics are also good for fewer kids. We NEVER get off the ship in Nassau.
I stayed at hotel called CitizensM in Brickell Miami last month it was pretty nice great location. Rooms small but if your only staying one night its great. Shake shack behind it mall a couple of blocks down the street.
My favorite port is St. Thomas. Close to it is St. Marteen. I have been there 2 times and loved it both times. the first trip we rented 4 wheelers and explored the island. The second we stuck to the beach and shopping on our own.
Mid December is the Christmas break for kids. A lot of them get out of school the week prior to Christmas so families can travel for the holidays and dont go back until the first week of January. Many in the US South get out for summer in May and return in August, whereas the Northern states get out in late June and return in September (due to having to make up snow days)
I enjoyed Nassau but thanks for your thoughts. We were on Carnival Legend and hardly saw any kids until the Christmas performance so we guessed they were busy in kids and teen clubs and activities most of the time.
I agree, Nassau has little to appeal to me. But my absolute worst is Jamaica. I'll never get off a ship there again. Have a happy and healthy New Year, and thanks for your wonderful videos.❤
Hi! We are going on our first cruise the end of February and we have heard terrible things about Jamaica. Would you mind sharing your experience? I was highly considering not even getting off the ship either. 🙈
I think Jamaica is the worst port. We took that same shore excursion the Ilana was talking about with the bamboo rafts and we felt very unsafe and it seemed like the whole island was corrupt. Jamaica used to be a huge farming island and now I'm afraid it is a refuge for the illegal drug trade.
Non stop selling, to the point they’d grab you and start braiding even after saying no multiple times. Ocho Rios is dumpy, dismal, never felt safe. Our son was profiled and searched when we went to get back on the boat (he was a shaggy haired 17 yr old). Yet several clean cut frat boys were found smoking pot on their balcony?!
@keilahburns8715 maybe going on an organized excursion through the ship you might feel safe. We were harassed, my son was offered drugs, a woman actually grabbed me by the hair (I had long hair then). Men made sexual comments to me. Someone tried to pick my husband's pocket. I could go on and on. Jamaica is not for me.
Jamaica was the worst port I’ve been to on a cruise. Not very safe even for a couple. It’s better to stay with a large group. If I had it to do over, I’d stay on the ship. Wouldn’t trust any excursions there and there’s not much around the port area to see.
Holland America and Princess have the fewest kids for sure. Holland America has very nice solo cabins. I am very picky now about Caribbean cruise ports…no Mexican ports, no Nassau and no San Juan, I prefer a southern Caribbean to the beautiful islands….ST. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Curacoa, St Thomas, Grenada, Martinique
I, too, love St Martin. We were there in October on carnival celebrity cruise. We rented a car and drove around the island going to a less crowded beach & hit the hightlights. There were 4 of us and we had a wonderful time! Thanks for all your insights. Best wishes for 2024. Enjoy your upcoming cruise.
@evelyndecosta2391 We picked up the rental car at the cruise terminal for $120.00 per day. Don't recall name of car company. There are a few there They down loaded a map on my phone and gave us a list of places of interests. We have stayed on the island twice before, so my husband feels comfortable driving there. We visited a few places on the list of recommendation from the rental company but spent most of the day at Orient Bay beach. There was another lady & her son on the beach that day. She had taken a tour where she spent the day at a hotel with beach access. There are other beaches like Maho closer to the cruise terminal but we wanted to get away from the crowds! Gran Csse is a great place to have delicious seafood. If you take the rental car option, be cautious at intersections, head back to the ship in plenty of time & stay on the right hand side of the road! Best wishes.
I would agree that St. Lucia is a very good port and destination. We were there in November on the Celebrity Equinox (had an older crowd but a lot of fun). Also on that same cruise we stopped in Antigua (did not have an excursion) and did not care for the area around the port, did not appear very clean or safe. The sidewalks are not very wide and have 1'-2' drop offs near the street next to the sidewalks. Also, the cabbies were all over and actually quite a bother trying to get some fares. I understand that but we did not feel safe and went back to the ship. Thx for your videos and enjoy the Ascent!
Leaving on Saturday for a Princess cruise and we'll be stopping in Costa Maya for an excursion to Chachoben. Good to know that the port is crowded so I can adjust my expectations. This is my first cruise! I'm excited! I've been watching your videos to help me prepare.
Nassau, the armpit of the Caribbean. Costa Maya is awesome but I aint giving away my secret. Everyone else, keep staying in the port. We'll keep the awesomeness to ourselves.
We are going on the Celebrity Assent on March 2. The exact same ports as you mentioned. We got the infinity veranda . Can’t wait to see your video on this! Happy and Safe sailing ⛵️!
When we cruise out of Miami, we always stay at the Embassy Suites Miami Airport. Free shuttle to the hotel, free happy hour, amazing free breakfast buffet and not too far by Uber to the port! Highly recommend 😊
We stayed at the Ramada in Miami, FL. The rooms were good size. They have transportation and go to the port of Miami for $10.00. Free ride to and from airport.
We just returned from the same voyage you're taking on Celebrity Ascent. Not to burst your bubble, but they didn't use the Magic Carpet for our tenders in Cayman, but we still got off and enjoyed the port a lot (despite the not-so-perfect tender ride). The ship is fabulous and we really enjoyed our Sunset Veranda cabin on the back of the ship. People on chats complained that their cabins were noisy due to the "settling" of the ship since it's brand new. We only heard a wee bit of a squeak at times - nothing to disturb our sleep. The food was very good, although we were tired of it by the time the 7 days were up. TIP: Anytime they're having cupcakes - you gotta grab those...any flavor is amazing! The production shows are fantastic. The dance lessons by Luigi are a MUST! Enjoy every minute! PS - On our cruise, only Cptn. Dimitri was on it (the other Captain Tasos was off with family). Hope you get both captain-brothers!
My husband and I will be going on our first cruise at the end of February. We will be going on Celebrity Summit, Miami, Key West, Nassau and back to Miami. I’m enjoying your videos very much. They’re helping us prepare for our cruise.
Interesting that you select Sint Maarten as your favorite destination. We spent 20 years vacationing there for 1 to 3 weeks every winter. If you like it as a cruise destination, you will love it as a land destination. Fabulous evenings dining in french gourmet restaurants on the waterfront.
Yes, my wife and I have land based on St Marten several times. One trip we did was a short flight over to Saba. A spectacular island with excellent scuba diving and great scenery. When on a cruise we rent a car at the port and drive to a favorite beach on the French side. Then have lunch at a favorite restaurant in Grand Case. Always a treat. Best French restaurants this side of Paris.
I enjoy Nassau. We have been twice. They have an art museum, pirate museum and museum about slavery. Talking with the locals is always. You can get a taxi to Marathon Mall. The island has rich history. There are plenty of nice grocety stores to go in to get Goombay punch or different island treats. We have never been assaulted or harassed. No one looks at us weird. The island is full of history and richness which many people take for granted.
Baha mar is on Cable Beach. I love love that beach for snorkeling; saw manta rays, turtles etc. I spend 2 weeks in Nassau and there is so much to see! Queen staircase with fort Fincastle. I dont understand the hate on Nassau!
If you ever go to Dominica again, this is how to enjoy it. Find a bunch of other people you have made friends with on the cruise who want to go up to the rainforest. Grab a taxi driver and tell them you want to go up to the rain forest and stay as long as you want and have them wait until you are ready to leave. Explore the rainforest, swim in the pool under the waterfall (it will be cold at first, but you have time to adjust to it), watch the people on the tours spend maybe 5 minutes at the pool while you spend 2 hours and spend much less to do so. Take photos with the waterfall as a backdrop and feel the sensation of it pounding down on you. Find your driver with plenty of time to spare to get back on the ship and tip them well for waiting. It was magical - all those who joined us were thrilled they went.
My husband and I visited Cozumel and it was one of our favorite trips. We weren’t on a cruise however saw the ships come in. I highly recommend visiting there.
California Linda shares Happy New Year's everyone. Wow, what a beautiful family you, Frank and Abbey have. Enjoy the family time and put the boys and family before vlogging. Your readers will understand. Best wishes for the coming year.🎉🎉
I don’t really have an issue with Nassau but I’ve been there so many times that it just doesn’t get me excited. I kinda fell the same way about Cozumel for the same reason. If I have to pick my favorite port so far it would have to be Roatan Honduras when I was in the Navy 30 years ago. I think I liked it so much because I was really surprised to see the varied culture there. I also feel like I was able to get a deeper understanding of the Middle Passage & my cultural background because I just didn’t know how extensive the slave trade was & it’s something that’s not taught in schools, at least in the US.
Hope you have a great time on your next cruise!! I really like Baha Mar - I've stayed there twice and found that the restaurants are super good and the grounds and facilities are an oasis of calm! Hope you like it too!
Happy New Year everyone! I agree with the Inside Passage to be a great option for a first Alaska cruise. All three ports of call mentioned by Illana are closed by the ships and can be visited on your own.
We love Mahahual or Costa Maya. Beautiful fishing town! We went to Bacalar amazing! Who cares about the port? I don’t spend time in a port in such a beautiful place with beautiful beaches! It’s one of Quintana Roo’s top sports!
1.What do you think is the best time of the year to take a cruise to Alaska is? 2. Could you do a video to help out first time cruisers like myself and rank some of the more popular cities ports that you would recommend and ones you would NOT recommend?
We just went to Costa Maya on MSC a few months ago and went to the ruins as well. Great excursion. One thing we were told is that Costa Maya is actually just the cruise port area and that's why Costa Maya was established, to be a cruise port. That's why it feels like a tourist trap. Once you get out of that general port area you are in Mahahual.
Ilanna, I wish you a fantastic 2024. Full of cruises, full of interesting ports, full of finding and re-hiding ducks, and for your friends and family to have a great year as well. Would you mind explaining how ports themselves work - I mean the embarkation and disembarkation ports. As a real newbie, I found the experience disorienting and difficult. And I actually had wheelchair support who led us through the process! Having videos that walk us through the process would be extremely helpful for newbies!
@@LifeWellCruised. I agree with the person asking about how to get on an off the ships. I’m a 67 year old widow and I took my first 9 day cruise to Alaska alone in September 2023. I need some help with wheelchairs but decided to pushed myself and did it without help on the Norwegian Sun ship. It was overwhelming but I did good. My question for you is how do I find other single senior women that would like to have a travel partner on cruises? It would have been more enjoyable to have someone with me! I want to go to Alaska again! Can you help Ilana?
Ilana, if you can find out about solo cabins on Celebrity Ascent, that would be marvelous to pass along. I have not been on Celebrity yet, but based on your recommendations, I want to sail on it. As for my favorite cruise ports, Barbados is # 1 to this point. Have not been to St. Maarten or grand Turk, but looking forward to it. Dominica is an interesting port, as it's an eco island with lots of waterfalls, and hikes.
Our worst port was Belize. Something about so many guards with machineguns make me nervous. This and the State Department's warning about Belize, as well as the Cruises warning about staying out of the city; I think i'll just stay on the ship. Our favorite Port would be either Cozumel or St. Thomas; both safe and fun.
Happy New Year.🎉 Next cruise is MSC to Nassau, Dominican and Puerto Rico. Hopefully it'll be fun. Haven't been to Nassau in 18 years. I'll check it out. 😊 Looking forward to Dominican, never been. And I look forward to PR again. Enjoy your cruise! ⛴️
I have been following your channel for over a year; really enjoy your presentation style; my last cruise was Jan 2022 to Eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas, Tortola..) - next one might not be until 2025 so watching you is like mini vacations; thank you for all the fabulous tips and information!
We went to Baha Mar on our last stop in Nassau and we LOVED it! Perfect size water park with good food and plenty to do. It’s not a far ride from port either.
Thank you very much for your advice, we just returned from Princess Cruise Caribbean. It was our first and probably last cruise. There wasn’t anything really wrong with our cruise, but we have learned that it was a lot more prep etc. than fun. Apparently, we are land lubbers, but I wanted to thank you very much for your advice and tips were invaluable. I so appreciate your channel. Thank you and have a very Happy New Year!
I’m glad my videos were helpful & it’s great that you kept an open mind and tried cruising. It’s true it’s not for everyone. Although the next cruise may seem like less prep as you’ll know what to expect
@@LifeWellCruised valid. I watched allot of your videos and others. With the thousands we had to spend on vacations, the conclusion was that this type of travel was not "for us". TY for helping us to see the bigger picture.
![Our Panama Canal Cruise Wasn't What We Expected. Here's Why [Holland America Rotterdam review]](/img/1.gif)
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
Husband and I were married on the Disney Magic and it was the best decision of our lives. We had a disaster happen - major floods took out our wedding venue 6 months prior to our wedding and the place was not going to rebuild in time. It was too late to find an alternate. So we cancelled the big lavish 8 hour reception in favor of using that money instead to take our immediate families (parents, siblings and their children) on the cruise with us (which we had already booked for our Honeymoon anyway), and Disney took care of the entire thing for us. We got married on Castaway Cay and had the reception in Palo and instead of 8 hours, we got to spend 8 days with family celebrating. It was the last trip I ever took with my father who passed away the year following.
What a wonderful wedding story, even if not what you had planned. I’m sorry for your loss
That's beautiful.
To avoid kids, we try to book cruises that are longer, say 9+ days. Families tend to stick to 7 day trips
Agree. And also cruise when most kids are in school also works.
I used condoms.
Whatever floats your boat (pun intended!)
Happy New Year!
Kids and parents parenting their kids , ruined my cruise. And royal Caribbean did not enforce adult areas only .
Kids are great; I love kids.
that doesn't seem to be the case for our upcoming Japan cruise. There's 9 ports and at least on the socials groups there seems to be several families with older kids and teens.
If you are planning an Alaskan cruise, I highly recommend Holland America. Smaller ships that have been doing it the longest and can get in to bays other larger ships can’t. We did the Vancouver-Vancouver inside passage and it was awesome. We also did the last week for Alaska and pretty much everything was 50-75% off! Win win! And not one kid on board. We thoroughly enjoyed it. And the salmon sushi…..still craving it!
I completely agree. Been on 9 Holland American cruises and they have been the best!
I hve heard end of season Alaska cruises are where the best deals are.
Our first cruise was through the Inside Passage on the Holland America Noordam. Beautiful little ship.
We did Celebrity Summit in 2019 with the land tour pre-cruise. It was amazing and can’t wait to do it again. Great lodges and excursions.
We absolutely loved Bonaire (Kralendijk, Caribbean Netherlands)! There is a wide variety of excursion options (i.e. not just "go to a beach and lay out" or "tour on a bus" choices), the port area is "authentic" but safe (i.e. not one of the cruise line "purpose built" ports like Falmouth or Costa Maya), there is a real focus on conservation/environment preservation, and in general is clean and easy to get around.
And a great place to scuba or snorkel.
agree, bonaire was great as was Aruba & Curacao
We did the 4wheeling excursion on Bonaire saw some awesome caves great guides just bring shoes you and pants because you go through a lot of sand
I loved Bonaire. I went snorkeling but would love to go back to scuba dive. The people are super friendly.
I find the Dutch islands are usually my favorites. St Thomas and St John were once Danish possessions.
My favorite cruise ports are Bonaire, Curacao, and San Juan, Puerto Rico (so much to do!). My least favorite is Ensenada. Never have I been so aggressively bombarded every 10 feet (literally, one after another, barely getting in a few steps between them), begging for us to shop with/from them. Crowded, inner city and all the shops seem to have basically the same merchandise. When we were trying to head back to the ship (our 2nd time there), one local insulted us calling us cheap when we told them we were done shopping. Funny story there: My grandmother collected souvenir spoons, so I asked a shop owner if he had those or could get them. He said yes, told us to wait at his shop for 20 minutes in the muggy heat. He returned with a $700 silver spoon that he said was perfectly sized for cocaine. This wasn't a language barrier, his English was as good as ours. Just a bad port for us.
Ensenada! You're so right!
I agree. When we’re on a cruise and it’s stopping in Nassau, we very rarely get off. We did get off the last time just to see all the improvements but we weren’t impressed. It was definitely better than it used to be. We also loved St. Maarten. Happy New Year to you and your family! Enjoy your cruise!!
My family and I are set to cruise in May, and we are stopping in the Port of St. Maartin. This will be my first time at this Port. My family visited before, and they love t there. I'm very excited 😊❤
Just remember... Nassau was the first port to open up so that cruising could start up again. It's not our favorite either but we'll still get off to show Nassau our appreciation.
We sail on the Beyond in a few months so I'll look for those videos you've done.
Thank you for sharing your viewer's info about the ultimate world cruise. I'm obsessed with the videos from the people on the ship!
That’s very true!!
We were in Nassau aboard Symphony in November 23. The new port area is very nice indeed and will continue to improve. Nassau however needs to better control crime within a mile from port.
My absolute favorite cruise port is St Thomas. We've been there numerous times and have never been disappointed
Hello! We are going to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas for the first time next month. Do you have suggestions of what to do? What do you enjoy the most about this particular port? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! ❤
Nothing in particular. Try to take a bus excursion that will take you in the hills overlooking the Port. Absolutely beautiful view.
If you were staying longer a day on St John is worthwhile. Only wat there is via ferry. Time is very tight to make that happen and make the shop departure
My worst post was Cartagena. Horrible vendors that get literally in your face. My favorite port is by far Curaçao. Great place with little to zero crime.
Cure a sow and Aruba - my faves. Tour guides we had were amazingly proud of their islands which made for great experiences.
Totally agree. Would never go back there. Vendors are aggressive and don't take no for an answer. They also touch you... that is never okay.
The Dutch islands are usually excellent and low on crime. Might be related to the Netherlands socialist system?😄
I agree.
I haven't cruised before, but I'm an international traveler. I did NOT like Cartegena. It's such a tourist trap, they try to gouge you with so many things. Otherwise, I live Colombia! 🇨🇴
Agreed, Nassau is very skippable! Have fun on your cruise with your sons!
I've been twice and not impressed either time.
I was in Nassau last year.....hated it. Some drunk put his hands on me and asked me if I wanted to buy drugs. I went back on the ship.
Nassau, just doesn't have the pizzaz. Once is enough there.
On Alaska cruises for first time cruisers, I agree. Alaska Inside Passage out of Vancouver is probably the best option. It's the one I recommend, especially if someone has concerns about getting seasick. Most of the cruise is in sheltered waters where the water is much less likely to be rough. The only part of the cruise, if your cruise does Glacier Bay rather than Hubbard Glacier, is the short bit between the north end of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. The scenery is also drop dead beautiful.
We will be on a one way Inside Passage cruise in July leaving out of Vancouver BC.
We are SO excited!
I live in California and it's usually less expensive to fly in and out of Seattle for an Alaskan cruise than Vancouver.
We loved Nassau. Best excursion ever, Rum and Reggie. Tour ended at Bob Marley home for Red Stripe and lunch. The mini museum and history of his life was great.
Some of the other stops, Wine tasting, cigar rolling, chocolate shop, Rum distillery.
Skipping Coata Maya is like getting a bonus sea day without all the crowds on the ship. I wish they would leave shopping and the casino open onboard.
The last 2 times we went to costa maya we did get off for a little bit but went back to the ship to eat and enjoy the empty pools and bars.
I agree that Curacao has a beautiful cruise port. My husband and I have been there several times and will be there again in February while on the Celebrity Beyond. This is our first time on Celebrity and are very excited about it. The cruise port I would never want to go back to or would not get off the ship for is Trinidad and Tobago. It felt very unsafe. We were off the ship for an hour or so then returned and enjoyed the pool and deck area. Thanks for your review of Celebrity Beyond. That helped us make up our minds.
I am going on a D&D themed Caribbean Cruise. It'll be my first cruise. I am excited. Thank for the tips and guides.
That Sounds like a blast!🎉
I agree with St Martin being an beautiful, easy to enjoy and wonderful port.. Only been there once but loved it.
Jamaica - I always stay on the ship. St Thomas - wonderful.
Agree. Ocho Rios is a scary port. Both daughters got married in Jamaica (Runaway Bay and Montego Bay.) They were fine. But when daughter left for Ocho Rios for honeymoon in a very expensive place, she said she felt creeped out the whole time. When we went to the port there, soldiers with rifles every 20 feet, police in boats with rifles circling the ships. Then walking to the close private beach, harassed the whole way. Police on beach to keep locals off. Very poor area. I felt sad and scared at the same time. Most beautiful port was Puerto Rico. The ships captain called to pet everyone know to enjoy the entry. Beautiful!
If you're just getting off the ship in Costa Maya, I can sure understand it not being a favorite. But I urge you to try Maya Chan Beach day-resort. It's an 'off-ship' booking -- and I am SOOOO glad we tried them. The people are wonderful, the service is outstanding, the food and drinks are amazing, and even the pets make you welcome! ❤😃
St Maarten is my favorite cruise port. I never like Costa Maya even when cruises started going there and there was nothing in there. In fact one crew member called it Costa Nada. Wishing you a great cruise and a wonderful New Year🎉❤
I was just there . Sucked big time
I was just in Costa Maya and initially wasn’t looking forward to this port. We booked day passes at Hayhu Beach Resort (25 min drive away, very remote stretch of gorgeous beach, max 30 guests) and we had the most incredible day. So happy we skipped the port and beach clubs close by.
In 19 more days, I will be on the Carnival Spirit for 8 days to the Bahamas. I'm so excited it's my first time traveling. I'm beyond stoked . I'm going to Bimini, Fruitport, Princess Cays and Nassau Bahamas so I'm hoping for the best
How was your cruise?
Thank you for talking about solo cruisers! I am sending you my best wishes for 2024. Have fun on your cruise with your family!
Do you think you will ever try a river cruise? It is on my bucket list. Happy New Year!
Absolutely! Hopefully in 24
Hey! I totally agree that an Inside Passage is the best option for a first-timer - this was where I cruised last year, and I was absolutely blown away. Now though, I'd probably try one of the other routes to try and escape the crowds of Juneau, Ketchikan etc.
Re Solo cabins, yes - NCL are absolutely leading the way in this area. Their solo cabin concept really is excellent on their newer, bigger ships - if only the others would follow suit!
Our absolute favorite port is Bonaire. We rented a golf cart from Bonaire Cruisers right at the port and cruised the southern part of the island with the map they provided us. We stopped when we wanted, snorkeled, saw the pink salt mines, free roaming donkeys, and so much more. It was absolutely exhilarating, peaceful, and FUN!! We felt safe the entire time and I can’t wait to go back! Least favorite: Nassau, Bahamas!
St. Marten is my favorite Caribbean island. You should try to stay for a week. There's so much to do on the island.
It's very charming and some people might not know, half is owned by France and is completely French and the other half is owned by the Netherlands. It's very European and interesting.
My favorite ports are St. Thomas (with St. John) in the U.S.V.I., Curacao and St. Martin (especially the French side).
I also like Antigua and St. Lucia, but prefer to view the Pitons there by boat (the land ride is very long up and down the mountains).
Have a great time on the Ascent!
Good to know about the best way to see the Pitons, in St.Lucia. I booked a boat excursion there, as it sounded alot more appealing.
May I ask what your favorite experiences were in St. Thomas? We are going for the first time next month. ❤
Happy new year Ilana, I love these Q&A videos. I haven’t been to St. Maarten but I love San Juan and St. Thomas
I took NCL singles room in June to Italy. Just loved it! Room is good size for 1. And you can get a connecting room if your friend wants their own sleeping area. Wonderful lounge just for singles.
The last time we visited Nassau, we went on a taste of the islands excursion (booked through the ship). We had been to Nassau several times already and were looking for something different. This tour was just that, and we would do it again! We visited places for food samples and discovered flavors we had never tried before.
My favourite Caribbean cruise port is St. Thomas and take a tour to Magen's Bay - Absolutely fabulous!
Beautiful beach
I've been to Curaçao three or four times and I've always had a great time there, especially the Queen Emma Bridge. I've been to St Maarten many times as well, maybe eight or nine times, loved it. St. Lucia was beautiful; St Kitts was beautiful too. And of course, my favorite, Bermuda. Celebrity (The Zenith) was the first cruise ship I was ever on, in 2001.
Bermuda is my absolute favorite too!
I love Kings Wharf, Bermuda. It is safe, nobody hassles you to buy things and everything is close by. The pirate ship, which is right next to the cruise port, I believe is called Calico Jack’s, was so much fun….you can walk the plank.
My wife and I just booked our first cruise. We're doing the 12 Nights, best of Greece and Italy tour, leaving Barcelona in May on the Celebrity Ascent. Really looking forward to that. As first time cruisers, looking for all the tips and tricks I can learn from veteran cruisers.
Barcelona is fabulous. If you are touring pre cruise, and wish to visit places like the Bassilica, Guell Park, etc., be sure to get your tickets in advance. They only sell a certain number per day, and once they are sold, there is no more admission for that day.
@@meddyven Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it. Definitely spending several days pre-cruise in Barcelona and looking forward to exploring the city and getting some kind of itinerary put together. I'll definitely buy these tickets in advance. Thanks!
Also, if you want to see an amazing show, go to the Palau National at dusk to see the magic fountain. They play music for 90 minutes, and the fountain, below the museum ( with the rolling water), changes colors and different forms the fountain goes through. Get there early as it gets crowded quickly, so you can be up front.
@@chackett99 You are certainly welcome. Glad to help. Barcelona is a vibrant city. Have a great time exploring!
I'm glad you didnt say Nassau for your least favorite! I feel like a lot of people dislike Nassau but i personally really enjoy it there and love the new port area. Baha Mar is a beautiful resort!
Great to hear! Thanks
Love your warm heart recommendation and advice!
I'm still intimidated by cruises. All those people. And the noise on board. Yikes! But I've booked my first cruise on the Carnival Firenze, sailing mid January 2025. Fortunately because I booked so early I got a cove balcony room at a reasonable rate. I know this type of room is not for everyone I think it will be perfect for me! Happy new year Ilana. Keep up the good work!
Get some noise reducing earplugs like Loop or similar. Game changer for those of us with some sensory issues or those easily overwhelmed with all the noise. You can still hear, just a little less loud. 😊
We love the ABC islands. I agree about Costa Maya, been there 3-4 times. We always take a taxi to the local beach but it’s dirty and water is often bad. We were in at St Lucia 18 years ago and are looking forward to returning in February. Bahmar is great. My wife and I spent 3 nights there in 2019.
I agree with you on the ports of St. Martin and Curaçao. We never tire of going there. 🚢
You can also cruise out of San Francisco for the inside passage to Alaska. That's what my family and I did because we live in the Bay Area. Once you set sail the ship cruises under the Golden Gate Bridge. It's truly fantastic! Have a fabulous trip! :)
Thanks for sharing!
We did that and that embarkation and debarkation is the pits in SF. Los Angeles has a much better terminal.
I have sailed the inside passage with Princess 8 times - other than Norway, this is my favorite cruise. I usually sail out of Seattle since our local airport has cheap RT flights to Seattle.
My fav is also St. Maarten, love going to Maho Beach ✈️, my least favorite is Grand Turk, flies everywhere and the pool scene at the port was a drunken mess..Nassau is getting better with all the new construction. You will enjoy your day at Baha Mar, I have researched that place and it is super high end. There is also a great video on Netflix or Amazon on how it was built and how it’s run.
Thanks !
Curaçao, St. Lucia?
16 days till Royal Caribbean Grandeur! Sailing out of Tampa - 5 night western Caribbean cruise with stops at Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. I can’t wait!
Have a blessed new year showered with love, joy and abundance :)
You are so kind! Same to you 💫
Happy New Year 2024, big thumbs up !
Just did ten days on the Enchanted Princess in early December. Very few kids. Transatlantics are also good for fewer kids. We NEVER get off the ship in Nassau.
Your videos are so good….that I always hit like before it begins! And of course I’m subscribed! May your channel continue to grow in 2024!
We really enjoyed bahar mar in Nassau! Our husbands even loved the lazy river. Have fun
First cruise last week of January. NCL Encore…excited
I stayed at hotel called CitizensM in Brickell Miami last month it was pretty nice great location. Rooms small but if your only staying one night its great. Shake shack behind it mall a couple of blocks down the street.
Happy New Year to you and your family! I hope you have the best year yet in 24!!!
My favorite port is St. Thomas. Close to it is St. Marteen. I have been there 2 times and loved it both times. the first trip we rented 4 wheelers and explored the island. The second we stuck to the beach and shopping on our own.
Mid December is the Christmas break for kids. A lot of them get out of school the week prior to Christmas so families can travel for the holidays and dont go back until the first week of January. Many in the US South get out for summer in May and return in August, whereas the Northern states get out in late June and return in September (due to having to make up snow days)
Have a wonderful time. I love watching your videos. We leave on a NCL Getaway cruise in 12 days. I am using many of your tips. ❤️
I enjoyed Nassau but thanks for your thoughts. We were on Carnival Legend and hardly saw any kids until the Christmas performance so we guessed they were busy in kids and teen clubs and activities most of the time.
I agree, Nassau has little to appeal to me. But my absolute worst is Jamaica. I'll never get off a ship there again. Have a happy and healthy New Year, and thanks for your wonderful videos.❤
Hi! We are going on our first cruise the end of February and we have heard terrible things about Jamaica. Would you mind sharing your experience? I was highly considering not even getting off the ship either. 🙈
I think Jamaica is the worst port. We took that same shore excursion the Ilana was talking about with the bamboo rafts and we felt very unsafe and it seemed like the whole island was corrupt. Jamaica used to be a huge farming island and now I'm afraid it is a refuge for the illegal drug trade.
Non stop selling, to the point they’d grab you and start braiding even after saying no multiple times. Ocho Rios is dumpy, dismal, never felt safe. Our son was profiled and searched when we went to get back on the boat (he was a shaggy haired 17 yr old). Yet several clean cut frat boys were found smoking pot on their balcony?!
@keilahburns8715 maybe going on an organized excursion through the ship you might feel safe. We were harassed, my son was offered drugs, a woman actually grabbed me by the hair (I had long hair then). Men made sexual comments to me. Someone tried to pick my husband's pocket. I could go on and on. Jamaica is not for me.
Jamaica was the worst port I’ve been to on a cruise. Not very safe even for a couple. It’s better to stay with a large group. If I had it to do over, I’d stay on the ship. Wouldn’t trust any excursions there and there’s not much around the port area to see.
Holland America and Princess have the fewest kids for sure. Holland America has very nice solo cabins. I am very picky now about Caribbean cruise ports…no Mexican ports, no Nassau and no San Juan, I prefer a southern Caribbean to the beautiful islands….ST. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Curacoa, St Thomas, Grenada, Martinique
I, too, love St Martin. We were there in October on carnival celebrity cruise. We rented a car and drove around the island going to a less crowded beach & hit the hightlights. There were 4 of us and we had a wonderful time!
Thanks for all your insights. Best wishes for 2024. Enjoy your upcoming cruise.
Hello. Please share your rental experience. And what your day was like. Thanks in advance.
@evelyndecosta2391
We picked up the rental car at the cruise terminal for $120.00 per day. Don't recall name of car company. There are a few there
They down loaded a map on my phone and gave us a list of places of interests.
We have stayed on the island twice before, so my husband feels comfortable driving there. We visited a few places on the list of recommendation from the rental company but spent most of the day at Orient Bay beach. There was another lady & her son on the beach that day. She had taken a tour where she spent the day at a hotel with beach access. There are other beaches like Maho closer to the cruise terminal but we wanted to get away from the crowds! Gran Csse is a great place to have delicious seafood.
If you take the rental car option, be cautious at intersections, head back to the ship in plenty of time & stay on the right hand side of the road! Best wishes.
I would agree that St. Lucia is a very good port and destination. We were there in November on the Celebrity Equinox (had an older crowd but a lot of fun). Also on that same cruise we stopped in Antigua (did not have an excursion) and did not care for the area around the port, did not appear very clean or safe. The sidewalks are not very wide and have 1'-2' drop offs near the street next to the sidewalks. Also, the cabbies were all over and actually quite a bother trying to get some fares. I understand that but we did not feel safe and went back to the ship. Thx for your videos and enjoy the Ascent!
Leaving on Saturday for a Princess cruise and we'll be stopping in Costa Maya for an excursion to Chachoben. Good to know that the port is crowded so I can adjust my expectations. This is my first cruise! I'm excited! I've been watching your videos to help me prepare.
Nassau, the armpit of the Caribbean. Costa Maya is awesome but I aint giving away my secret. Everyone else, keep staying in the port. We'll keep the awesomeness to ourselves.
We are going on the Celebrity Assent on March 2. The exact same ports as you mentioned. We got the infinity veranda . Can’t wait to see your video on this! Happy and Safe sailing ⛵️!
When we cruise out of Miami, we always stay at the Embassy Suites Miami Airport. Free shuttle to the hotel, free happy hour, amazing free breakfast buffet and not too far by Uber to the port! Highly recommend 😊
I do love all your videos. I watched almost all of them to help me with my NCL Viva cruise. Your videos helped. Thank you.
We stayed at the Ramada in Miami, FL. The rooms were good size. They have transportation and go to the port of Miami for $10.00. Free ride to and from airport.
We just returned from the same voyage you're taking on Celebrity Ascent. Not to burst your bubble, but they didn't use the Magic Carpet for our tenders in Cayman, but we still got off and enjoyed the port a lot (despite the not-so-perfect tender ride). The ship is fabulous and we really enjoyed our Sunset Veranda cabin on the back of the ship. People on chats complained that their cabins were noisy due to the "settling" of the ship since it's brand new. We only heard a wee bit of a squeak at times - nothing to disturb our sleep. The food was very good, although we were tired of it by the time the 7 days were up. TIP: Anytime they're having cupcakes - you gotta grab those...any flavor is amazing! The production shows are fantastic. The dance lessons by Luigi are a MUST! Enjoy every minute! PS - On our cruise, only Cptn. Dimitri was on it (the other Captain Tasos was off with family). Hope you get both captain-brothers!
My husband and I will be going on our first cruise at the end of February. We will be going on Celebrity Summit, Miami, Key West, Nassau and back to Miami. I’m enjoying your videos very much. They’re helping us prepare for our cruise.
Interesting that you select Sint Maarten as your favorite destination. We spent 20 years vacationing there for 1 to 3 weeks every winter. If you like it as a cruise destination, you will love it as a land destination. Fabulous evenings dining in french gourmet restaurants on the waterfront.
Yes, my wife and I have land based on St Marten several times. One trip we did was a short flight over to Saba. A spectacular island with excellent scuba diving and great scenery. When on a cruise we rent a car at the port and drive to a favorite beach on the French side. Then have lunch at a favorite restaurant in Grand Case. Always a treat. Best French restaurants this side of Paris.
I'm booked on the Ascent for 12/1/24. I can't wait to see your videos on the experience of this cruise.
I enjoy Nassau. We have been twice. They have an art museum, pirate museum and museum about slavery. Talking with the locals is always. You can get a taxi to Marathon Mall. The island has rich history. There are plenty of nice grocety stores to go in to get Goombay punch or different island treats. We have never been assaulted or harassed. No one looks at us weird. The island is full of history and richness which many people take for granted.
Baha mar is on Cable Beach. I love love that beach for snorkeling; saw manta rays, turtles etc. I spend 2 weeks in Nassau and there is so much to see! Queen staircase with fort Fincastle. I dont understand the hate on Nassau!
Hands down St. Maarten, I've been to other ports but no one can beat this port. Beautiful 😊. I didn't enjoy Dominica at all
If you ever go to Dominica again, this is how to enjoy it. Find a bunch of other people you have made friends with on the cruise who want to go up to the rainforest. Grab a taxi driver and tell them you want to go up to the rain forest and stay as long as you want and have them wait until you are ready to leave. Explore the rainforest, swim in the pool under the waterfall (it will be cold at first, but you have time to adjust to it), watch the people on the tours spend maybe 5 minutes at the pool while you spend 2 hours and spend much less to do so. Take photos with the waterfall as a backdrop and feel the sensation of it pounding down on you. Find your driver with plenty of time to spare to get back on the ship and tip them well for waiting. It was magical - all those who joined us were thrilled they went.
My husband and I visited Cozumel and it was one of our favorite trips. We weren’t on a cruise however saw the ships come in. I highly recommend visiting there.
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing all of your tips and tricks with us.
California Linda shares Happy New Year's everyone. Wow, what a beautiful family you, Frank and Abbey have. Enjoy the family time and put the boys and family before vlogging. Your readers will understand. Best wishes for the coming year.🎉🎉
I don’t really have an issue with Nassau but I’ve been there so many times that it just doesn’t get me excited. I kinda fell the same way about Cozumel for the same reason.
If I have to pick my favorite port so far it would have to be Roatan Honduras when I was in the Navy 30 years ago. I think I liked it so much because I was really surprised to see the varied culture there. I also feel like I was able to get a deeper understanding of the Middle Passage & my cultural background because I just didn’t know how extensive the slave trade was & it’s something that’s not taught in schools, at least in the US.
Thank you and Happy New Year!!
Hope you have a great time on your next cruise!! I really like Baha Mar - I've stayed there twice and found that the restaurants are super good and the grounds and facilities are an oasis of calm! Hope you like it too!
For Port Miami you can stay in Brickell or South Beach. Less expensive can be Aventura and take Brightline to Brightline Miami Central.
Happy New Year everyone!
I agree with the Inside Passage to be a great option for a first Alaska cruise. All three ports of call mentioned by Illana are closed by the ships and can be visited on your own.
We love Mahahual or Costa Maya. Beautiful fishing town! We went to Bacalar amazing! Who cares about the port? I don’t spend time in a port in such a beautiful place with beautiful beaches! It’s one of Quintana Roo’s top sports!
Happy and healthy New Year to you and your family. Thank you for all you do. It's so appreciated. 😊
1.What do you think is the best time of the year to take a cruise to Alaska is?
2. Could you do a video to help out first time cruisers like myself and rank some of the more popular cities ports that you would recommend and ones you would NOT recommend?
We just went to Costa Maya on MSC a few months ago and went to the ruins as well. Great excursion. One thing we were told is that Costa Maya is actually just the cruise port area and that's why Costa Maya was established, to be a cruise port. That's why it feels like a tourist trap. Once you get out of that general port area you are in Mahahual.
Our favorite port by far is Curaçao, it’s simply a beautiful place! I love your videos and always get good ideas. Happy New Year!
Ilanna, I wish you a fantastic 2024. Full of cruises, full of interesting ports, full of finding and re-hiding ducks, and for your friends and family to have a great year as well.
Would you mind explaining how ports themselves work - I mean the embarkation and disembarkation ports. As a real newbie, I found the experience disorienting and difficult. And I actually had wheelchair support who led us through the process!
Having videos that walk us through the process would be extremely helpful for newbies!
This is a really good idea! I’m going to think of how I can incorporate this into a video. Thanks for sharing
@@LifeWellCruised Thank you!
@@LifeWellCruised. I agree with the person asking about how to get on an off the ships. I’m a 67 year old widow and I took my first 9 day cruise to Alaska alone in September 2023. I need some help with wheelchairs but decided to pushed myself and did it without help on the Norwegian Sun ship. It was overwhelming but I did good. My question for you is how do I find other single senior women that would like to have a travel partner on cruises? It would have been more enjoyable to have someone with me! I want to go to Alaska again! Can you help Ilana?
Thanks!
Ilana, if you can find out about solo cabins on Celebrity Ascent, that would be marvelous to pass along. I have not been on Celebrity yet, but based on your recommendations, I want to sail on it.
As for my favorite cruise ports, Barbados is # 1 to this point. Have not been to St. Maarten or grand Turk, but looking forward to it.
Dominica is an interesting port, as it's an eco island with lots of waterfalls, and hikes.
Happy New Year and happy cruising 🎉🎉🎉
Our worst port was Belize. Something about so many guards with machineguns make me nervous. This and the State Department's warning about Belize, as well as the Cruises warning about staying out of the city; I think i'll just stay on the ship. Our favorite Port would be either Cozumel or St. Thomas; both safe and fun.
I love Belize. I feel much safer there, than in the US.
Love your videos! Very informative and we wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year.🎉
Next cruise is MSC to Nassau, Dominican and Puerto Rico.
Hopefully it'll be fun. Haven't been to Nassau in 18 years. I'll check it out. 😊 Looking forward to Dominican, never been. And I look forward to PR again. Enjoy your cruise! ⛴️
Happy New Year to you and the Family.
I have been following your channel for over a year; really enjoy your presentation style; my last cruise was Jan 2022 to Eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas, Tortola..) - next one might not be until 2025 so watching you is like mini vacations; thank you for all the fabulous tips and information!
My coworker and her husband cruise all the time and they LOVE celebrity, I want to go on that for my next cruise
We went to Baha Mar on our last stop in Nassau and we LOVED it! Perfect size water park with good food and plenty to do. It’s not a far ride from port either.
Happy new year to you and your family and thank you for all your videos
Thank you very much for your advice, we just returned from Princess Cruise Caribbean. It was our first and probably last cruise. There wasn’t anything really wrong with our cruise, but we have learned that it was a lot more prep etc. than fun. Apparently, we are land lubbers, but I wanted to thank you very much for your advice and tips were invaluable. I so appreciate your channel. Thank you and have a very Happy New Year!
I camethisclose to going on two different cruises. The work just turns me off so we both said no. Landlubber here as well.
I’m glad my videos were helpful & it’s great that you kept an open mind and tried cruising. It’s true it’s not for everyone. Although the next cruise may seem like less prep as you’ll know what to expect
I agree, the cruise was phenomenal, but the airline and airports have soured flying for me. @@LifeWellCruised
@@LifeWellCruised valid. I watched allot of your videos and others. With the thousands we had to spend on vacations, the conclusion was that this type of travel was not "for us". TY for helping us to see the bigger picture.
We love the Hilton Marina! We normally stay there before our cruises but are trying a new one in March due to cost.