Norwegian Viva; and Mediterranean cruises; sailing June 2024
Norwegian has long been my very favorite cruiseline, with my last trip (number 7) Pre-Covid in Sept 2019, to the Baltic area which included Germany, Finland, Swedan, Estonia, St. Petersburg Russia, and Coppenhagen. My best friend Robin and I choose Norwegian as one of our Favorite Cruiselines in Europe. We also sailed to Cuba on Norwegian, which was a fabulous experience in 2018. The service and food is always outstanding, but I especially love their variety of entertainment which is always top notch. From a Disco, Rock bar, Piano lounge, Dueling pianos, caberet lounge, Ice bar, casino, Cirque to Soleil alongg with large theater shows, these are just a few of the outstanding things we loved on our last sailing. My boyfriend Chris and I are experiencing the new VIVA ship going from Lisbon to Rome, which includes Gibraltar, Cadiz – Ibiza – Motril – Majorca – Barcelona – Marseille, Monaco – Florence – and Rome; and we can’t wait to experience one of their newest ships VIVA with this outstanding itinerary. I have always found Norwegian to hit the best ports as well. More to come as I review this upcoming trip happening June 2024! If you are interest in this outstanding trip, email me at RomanceInternationalTravel@gmail.com. Rated 5/5 – For other cruise ideas; go to – https://NCL.com
Margaritaville Paradise at Sea – West Palm Beach, FL; sailed Oct 30, 2023 and Dec. 30, 2023
A Perfect 3-day getaway for a special celebration – we selected to celebrate Halloween and NY Eve on this ship! This is more a casual than a luxury cruise ship, but you’ll want to do the VIP experience that includes your alcoholic drinks, a special dinner at JW Steakhouse, specialty coffees, $150 spa dollars, specialty seating up front at the shows, easy 1st board and depart, and more. This ship has a super friendly staff, expecially “Anna Banana” the VIP Conscierge. The ocean view room is very nice, but there are very limited balacony suites. Their newest ship out of Tampa, launching 2024, The Islander, is a newer ship and is Sailing Summer 2024 from Port Tampa Bay to Key West and Mexico on 4- and 5-night cruise itineraries. The shows are great, the entertainment – dance bands and Piano Bar, casino, and the all-day entertainment is great fun, and creates a very special time away for a birthday, Bachelor – Bachelorette Party, anniversary, etc. The West Palm Beach ship sails to Freeport Bahamas; and if I had one recommendation, it would be choose a different island, as Freeport doesn’t offer much. I would also like to see a bigger pool and more hot tubs. But you will have a fabulous time on the ship! Contact me for the trip you desire to sail! Rating 4/5 RomanceInternationalTravel@gmail.com
https://margaritavilleatsea.com/ and – https://margaritavilleatsea.com/explore-our-ships/islander
MSC Seashore – Cruise out of Orlando, FL area (Port Canaveral) sailed Oct. 2023
Hitting Nasau, Dominican Republic, San Juan, and other ports for their 7 day Bahama cruises. They are the world’s third-largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other cruise ship. They are also the fastest-growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, they are part of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping with over 300 years of maritime heritage. I experienced the MSC Seashore out of Port Canaveral, on a 5-day Bahama Cruise, which included their private Nature preserve island and Naussau, and had a great time. I found the service to be top notch, and the ship was beautiful, clean, had lots of fun activites, great food and entertainment. I look forward to sailing again with them soon! Rating: 4.5/5 https://www.msccruisesusa.com/ Email me to book your next cruise!
The “FREE” Bahamas Celebration Cruise
Trip Dates: Dec 22 – 29, 2009
Why here? It was advertised on TV as a Free Cruise – so we thought we’d check it out! Ah Hah! A Time-share tour was required, but they seem to offer a lot to get you to take a tour – so here it is –
Air on Southwest; Phila to Fort Lauderdale: Tip – take carry-on baggage ONLY! At Christmas time you’ll save lots of time in line NOT checking in a bag and printing out your boarding pass. We spent TWO HOURS in an OUTDOOR line in 18 degree weather at the Phila airport – shame on you Southwest! Talk about a stressful way to start a vacation! Also, no assigned seating – not sure where you’ll endup on the plane – didn’t like the not knowing!n However, if you check online 24 hours early, you are assured a seat of Choice (Section A).
Here is what was included in the trip:
1) Free Rental car/Alamo – they offered a 2-door econoomy car – ask for an upgrade to 4-door for the same price! No hassle, no lines, and we DID get to pick out our own car – that was cool. Fast, courteous service, only cost us $67 in taxes – until the return! They failed to mention because we had an extra 6 hours longer in the return, we got charged the FULL RATE of $47 for an extra day – that was dissappointing.Make sure pick up and drop off times are within 24 hours. Total coast $124,67.
2) Ramada Inn Welcome Center – Wow – what a disappointment! This is the FIRST experience you really want to give your guests? Bad location – west of Hwy 95. Marta at check-in was fine, and she got us all our promised materials. At the front desk was Hugh – he offered us a “great room upgrade to a suite” but it was very far from the working elevators, on the 4th floor, no view, NO HOT WATER! It needed new paint, rugs, wall art, and a blanket would have been nice to add to the cheap sheets on the bed – ughhh! Dirty, Dirty! Room rate – a D- (for worse then disgusting). Hugh tried though – upgrade Hugh to a better Hotel!
Lunch at the Ramada, a B- “free” but tips and taxes costs $5 for 2. Breakfast — who knows? A two-hour wait, a full lobby of pissed off people waiting to get in – rated an F – for Failure to have enough Food and seating! We left and got breakfast at McDonalds – $8.50 for 2 – can always count on Miki D’s in a pinch!
I suggest to this travel plan they get a whole NEW Welcome Center – and make it welcoming!! It tainted the entire trip experience and had us a nervous wreck for what was to come!
6) Over all: B – The staff was friendly and helpful in most all areas, however, too many lines, too scheduled, too many time schedules to keep, not able to sleep in (Early morning announcements on cruise PA system) – felt too harried on a vacation. Takes away the Romance Factor! We would rather “free fly” next time!
