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Wondering Why No Recent Posts - We Have Moved

Since 2007, we’ve taken you along on our journeys to some of our favorite destinations around the world. Maybe you’ve followed our adventures in Cruise Diaries, where we’ve shared unforgettable moments at sea. Or perhaps you’ve read our coverage of major travel industry events—from the tragic sinking of Costa Concordia to cruise itinerary changes caused by hurricanes, and even the profound impact of COVID-19 on the industry and its road to recovery.

For those who’ve been with us over the years, you know that travel is our passion, and sharing our stories and photos with you is what we love most. That hasn’t changed—but where we share them has.

Maintaining this blog has become more challenging over time as links and platforms evolve. For example, we once stored and showcased our travel photos on Shutterfly, building custom pages to bring our trips to life. While our images are still there, Shutterfly discontinued support for those pages, making the original links obsolete. We’ve been working to create new share links for some of our cruises and will continue updating them as we go.

We also make an effort to keep our most-visited pages current, especially those that serve as key resources during hurricane season. Whether you’re a longtime reader or new to our travels, we’re glad you’re here—let’s keep exploring together!

Welcome to Our New Website (and Blog)

When traveling, upgrades are always fun, and our newly upgraded website is no exception. We're thrilled to unveil our new website, designed with you in mind. It's modern, easy to navigate, and brimming with inspiration to help you plan your next adventure. Read More. 

We are happy to say that we've found a new home for our blog as well on our newly redesigned Dream Vacations website.  At our travel blog, we delve into a variety of captivating topics to inspire your next journey:

• Encounter Alaska: Embark on a Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour for the ultimate adventure. Combine luxurious coastal cruising with immersive land excursions to explore Denali National Park, witness North America’s tallest peak, and discover Alaska’s rich heritage. With local Adventure Specialists, enjoy personalized, fully guided experiences that bring you closer to the beauty and culture of the Last Frontier.

• Featured Destination - Norway: Explore the stunning fjords, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage of Norway.

• Wine Lovers River Cruise: Indulge in a river cruise tailored for wine enthusiasts, featuring exquisite tastings and picturesque vineyard visits.

• 2024 Highlights: Discover the must-visit destinations and travel trends to plan your perfect getaway.

• Dream Vacations Start Here: Get inspired and discover new Dream Vacations through our curated travel experiences.

Join us as we explore these destinations and more, providing insights and tips to make your travel dreams a reality. 

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Where have you explored? 

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Celebrity Apex Embarkation Day

Welcome to Port Everglades

Celebrity Apex sails from Port Everglades Terminal 25.  When we first arrived, our shuttle bus driver first went to where Celebrity Reflection was docked.  Everyone on the bus started yelling this is the wrong terminal.

We gathered our hand luggage and checked our bag with a porter.  If you download the Celebrity app, like we did, the embarkation process will be quick and efficient.  Here are highlights from embarkation day.

Prior to arriving at the pier we used the Celebrity app to complete the check-in documents. There are a series of health questions to answer as well as uploading a copy of your vaccination record. 

During the check-in process on the app an embarkation time is generated.  This allows for less congestion making social distancing possible.   Since our group was having a general session with the CEO of Celebrity at 2 PM, we were given priority boarding which superseded the generated times.

Upon arrival at the pier we showed our passports, vaccination cards, negative Covid-19 test results, and the express check-in on the app. After going thru security, we had to show our passports and express check-in on our app a couple more times and then we were on the ship. 

Once we were onboard the ship, we put our masks away as they were not required onboard unless passengers wanted to wear them. The crew wore masks the whole time. On land, masks were recommended.

The embarkation process went very smoothly for the most part.  Celebrity representatives ask you to have all the necessary documents ready to be checked, but there are always a few people that aren't as organized.  That was the only delay as they fumbled around trying to find all their documentation.

After boarding we headed to our cabin and dropped off our carryon baggage.  We then went up to Oceanview Café for some lunch.  We'll dedicate another post to the café.

Not a Fan of Muster Drill?

It's not our favorite thing to do on a cruise either, but safety is the number one priority of the cruise line and crew.  However, thanks to Covid-19, the muster drill has changed.

We watched the required video on our Celebrity app and then could go to our assigned muster station (which can be found on your cabin card) at your convenience.  They simply scan your card and you are all set.

If you have any questions, they will answer them there.

Thanks to the new protocols, embarkation is a smooth process giving you more time to enjoy the ship while maintaining a safe environment for guests.

#2021TogetherConference

Mini-Series

Click on the image on the right to continue our mini-series on Celebrity Apex and our national conference cruise.   Our ship was only 65% full but the crew was at 100% staffing.   This is a great time to be cruising.

Cruising has always been the best vacation value and it still remains so.  Also, it is one of the safest things you can do right now.   The cruise line controls the  environment and with new protocols in place they have been providing safe vacations for thousands of guests for several months now.

Book Your Next Dream Vacation with Us

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Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Pre-Cruise in Fort Lauderdale

click images to enlarge

Fort Lauderdale Here We Come

We always fly to the departure port at least one day early to avoid any stress from flight delays or cancellations. Our flight had been rescheduled from afternoon to 7:15 AM by the airline, so we decided to add another night's stay at a local hotel by the airport. It is a good thing that this happened because by early afternoon it started snowing which would have most likely caused delays for us.

We arrived right around lunch time and took their shuttle from the airport to out hotel.

Le Méridien Dania Beach at Fort Lauderdale Airport - Marriott

Lunch is Served

Le Meridien is a gorgeous hotel close to the airport and port.  The only downside is that it is pretty isolated unless you have a car or want to Uber around town.   Therefore our meals were at the hotel.

After checking in with the hotel we went up to our room to drop off our luggage and then came back to the lobby to have lunch with agent friends we met when we arrived.  

We decided to split an order of BBQ wings.   They were so good we decided to have them again for dinner after our cocktail party.   We originally had planned to have dinner in their Tequila Library restaurant, but when our group grew in size we'd have to wait too long to be seated, thus we changed our plans.

Visit Lauderdale Social

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted a cocktail party for our conference at the hotel the night before our cruise.   Whenever your travels take you to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we highly recommend you pay a visit to their website for a list of attractions, activities, nightlife, food and other entertainment.

This was our first social gathering as a group since the pandemic began.  There were hugs and smiles all around as we greeted each other and rekindled relationships.  Thank you to the convention & visitors bureau for hosting this great event.

Saturday Morning

Part of the excitement of a cruise vacation (or conference in our case) is the anticipation.  In all the years we've been cruising (more than 30) there has never been a more anticipated cruise than this one.  Our conference had been scheduled for last November on the brand new Celebrity Apex, but as you know, her deployment was delayed due to Covid-19.

The day has finally arrived!  It's Saturday morning and we are all gathering in the lobby of the hotel awaiting our shuttle departures for the port.  Here are some images from the hotel.   This is a great location if you are sailing out of Fort Lauderdale or if you need a hotel near the airport.   

#2021TogetherConference

Mini-Series

Click on the image on the right to continue our mini-series on Celebrity Apex and our national conference cruise.   Our ship was only 65% full but the crew was at 100% staffing.   This is a great time to be cruising.

Cruising has always been the best vacation value and it still remains so.  Also, it is one of the safest things you can do right now.   The cruise line controls the  environment and with new protocols in place they have been providing safe vacations for thousands of guests for several months now.

Book Your Next Dream Vacation with Us

 

Connect With Us On

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat