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Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Updates

It has been a difficult 18+ months for everyone in the cruise industry as well as those who love cruising. Royal Caribbean recognizes this, and wants to make your vacations as worry-free as possible so they have just announced some exciting updates.

  • Cruise With Confidence – This program has been extended to reservations confirmed on or before December 17, 2021 and sailing through April 30, 2022. This means that guests with qualifying reservations can choose to cancel up to 48 hours prior to the sail date in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit.
  • Best Price Guarantee – Qualifying guests are also eligible to take advantage of the Best Price Guarantee up to 48 hours prior to the sail date, ensuring they get the best deal!
  • COVID-19 Assistance – This program has also been extended. Vaccinated guests and children not yet eligible to be vaccinated who are sailing on or before April 30th, 2022 will have the following COVID-19 Assistance at no extra charge.
    • 100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Traveling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal.
    • Pro-rated cruise fare refund if your cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19.
    • If you test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, Royal Caribbean will cover the costs of COVID-19 related medical treatment onboard, any required land-based quarantine, and travel home for you and your Traveling Party.
  • Final payment deadlines – These deadlines may be fast approaching for those sailing in the beginning of 2022, and some passengers may want a bit more time and flexibility. Therefore, the final payment due date on sailings departing through March 31, 2022 will now have until 30 days prior to sailing to submit full payment.

To get started booking your next cruise, click here!

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Wonder of the Seas to set sail in March 2022!

Royal Caribbean International has announced the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, will debut in the U.S. and Europe beginning in 2022. The highly anticipated ship will set sail from its home in Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean on March 4, 2022, before making its way to Barcelona and Rome to kick off summer vacations in May.

At the heart of every Oasis Class ship is a combination of unmatched signature features and experiences found from one neighborhood to the next, including the tallest slide at sea, The Ultimate Abyss; the newly designed, dedicated kids and teens spaces at Adventure Ocean, Social100 and The Patio; the FlowRider surf simulator, twin rock-climbing walls and the ten-decks-high zip line. From riding the carousel in the family favorite Boardwalk neighborhood – inspired by renowned boardwalks like Coney Island – to fine dining in Central Park, and the variety of restaurants and showstopping entertainment in between, no day on board will be the same.

What to expect on this brand new ship:

  • Suite Class Neighborhood – The eighth neighborhood, only found on Wonder, offers Royal Suite Class guests an elevated Suite Sun Deck in a new location, complete with a plunge pool, bar and plenty of loungers and nooks to kick back; along with favorites such as Coastal Kitchen, the private restaurant, and the Suite Lounge. Plus, the grandest Ultimate Family Suite yet for a family of 10.
  • Wonder Playscape – Joining the lineup of next-level thrills for kids, the underwater-themed play area is a whole new adventure with slides, climbing walls, games, an interactive mural activated by touch and puzzles that will make them wonder if any playground will ever be the same.
  • The Vue – The happiest of happy hours can be found at this new cantilevered bar. The Vue offers panoramic ocean views from high above on the pool deck all day, and after sunset, it shines bright with a colorful mosaic canopy overhead.
  • Pool deck experience – The Lime & Coconut is at the center of the Caribbean vibes, with two poolside bars and live music; while the trio of high-speed waterslides, The Perfect Storm, and kids aqua park Splashaway Bay, keep the young and young at heart Casitas, in-pool loungers and more make for a variety of great places to kick back, especially to catch a movie under the stars at the largest poolside movie screen in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

The action-packed Wonder of the Seas will deliver multiple ways to adventure with 7-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, visiting tropical destinations like Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and more. No matter the itinerary guests choose, every sailing will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, for a day of thrill and chill unlike any other. May will see an early start to summer family vacations when the wondrous Oasis Class ship heads for the Mediterranean to take center stage for its inaugural European season. From Barcelona and Rome on 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises, travelers have memorable vacations in store as they sail to the sparkling shores of Europe’s most iconic and historic destinations, such as Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Capri, Italy.

Wonder of the Seas 2022 Caribbean and European sailings are now available to book.

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Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Opening Announced!

The much anticipated Star Wars hotel, the Galactic Starcruiser, officially takes off March 1, 2022. Reservations open October 7th for Club 33 members, Disney Vacation Club members, and Annual Passholders for arrival dates March 1 – May 4. Reservations will be available for everyone else on October 28. 

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a revolutionary new 2-night experience where you are the hero. You and your group will embark on a first-of-its-kind Star Wars adventure that’s your own. It’s the most immersive Star Wars story ever created—one where you live a bespoke experience and journey further into a Star Wars adventure than you ever dreamed possible.

Arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort terminal, board a launch pod and rendezvous with the magnificent Halcyon starcruiser. Stay in a cabin or suite with an exquisite view of space. Throughout the ship, you’ll interact with an eclectic collection of characters, sit down to exotic galactic cuisine and perhaps even plot a secret mission together.

As the itinerary continues, you’ll take the story further and deeper. Choose your path. Seek out the inner workings of the legendary starship, learn the traditional art of wielding a lightsaber and even jump on a transport to the planet Batuu—where your mission continues at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

While we don’t yet know prices for all dates, these reservations are likely to fill up quickly, especially for the first few departures. Contact us today to be notified as soon as more information becomes available.

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Hyatt Ziva Rivera Cancun is now open!

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is an all-inclusive family-friendly resort located near the world-famous Cancun Hotel Zone, just 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport.

The resort offers 438 luxury suites, 17 globally inspired and locally authentic restaurants, bars, and lounges, a full-service spa and fitness center, Mexico’s newest water park and an over-water gazebo for weddings and events.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun offers contemporary accommodations with private balconies featuring stunning ocean views and modern amenities and special touches, including spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, hot tubs, turndown service, high-tech entertainment and complimentary minibars stocked daily with water, beer, soft drinks and snacks!

Upgrade to Club Level and experience additional offerings such as:

  • Private check-in and check-out in an exclusive area
  • Personalized concierge services
  • Premium-brand liquors
  • Late check-out based on availability
  • Access to the Exclusive Club Level Lounge featuring imported premium drinks, appetizers and continental breakfast, table games & Wi-Fi

Enjoy 10 dining options like Rue De Rivoli! This adults-only restaurant has the perfect ambiance to explore the flavors of French cuisine, which come in modern form in mouthwatering dishes.

Miyako features Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisines that come together as chefs prepare sushi, curry, ramen, stir-fry and more right before your eyes.

Aftonia is a delectable breakfast buffet by day and At night, enjoy Mediterranean cuisine perfectly prepared with the freshest ingredients in a relaxing ambiance.

Relax at Seven bars and lounges including Infusions, a lively spot serving over-the-top drinks made with fresh ingredients.

Enjoy nine swimming pools including an ocean-view pool and a sprawling water park with tall slides and a kids pool providing fun for all ages.

Children can enjoy KidZ Club with kiddie pool and special supervised activities coordinated by trained professionals.

While adults can enjoy sunrise yoga, water aerobics, beach sports or wine tasting with expert sommeliers. The whole family will love the nightly entertainment, live music, and cultural performances.

The resort also features a fitness center with state-of-the-art amenities and a two-story Zen Spa inspired by the pre-Hispanic Mayan culture with 13 indoor and eight outdoor treatment rooms designed to reflect the breathtaking, natural scenery.

To book your stay at Hyatt Ziva Riveria Cancun, contact us today!

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Grocery Delivery at Walt Disney World

Using a grocery delivery service is a money-saving way to get food brought to your hotel. It is very easy to do breakfast in your room, as you are getting ready, or to throw some snacks in your park bag. Some guests even make dinner in their room – think cup-o-soup or even sandwiches!

The absolute easiest way to buy groceries (aside from bringing them yourself in checked luggage) is to go to the gift shop in your Walt Disney World resort hotel. Every hotel has a limited selection of groceries, including refrigerated stuff, and you pay a premium for them.

An alternative to this is a grocery delivery service that delivers the items directly to your Walt Disney World resort, leaving them with bell services. They will keep your groceries stored and refrigerated or frozen (if needed) until you can pick them up from the front desk or you can have them delivered to your room for a handling fee of $6.

There are lots of choices when it comes to Disney World grocery delivery services. Personally, we use Amazon Prime Now, but below are all the options available to you. You might want to look at a few as some have inflated pricing, limited selections and fees or minimum order requirements.

Amazon Prime Now
Garden Grocer
Walmart Grocery Delivery
Instacart 
We Go Shop
Orlando Grocery Express
Shipt
Dizzy Dolphin Delivery

You can also ship groceries or other items directly to your resort. Disney does charge a $6 fee for deliveries via USPS/UPS/Fed Ex, etc. To make sure they arrive on time, ship your items about a week before your arrival. Use the official shipping address listed for your Disney World hotel. This can be found on the Disney World website. Simply search for your resort hotel, and on the main page for each hotel, on the righthand side, you’ll see the mailing address for the
resort.

How you address the groceries for delivery to your resort is as follows:

Name on the hotel reservation
c/o your Disney World hotel’s front desk
arrival date: xx/xx/xxxx
street address
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
 
Before you order anything, make sure you consider space in your fridge – a gallon of milk and a six-pack isn’t going to fit in your dorm-sized fridge – and the size of the items. (Are you really going to eat a family-size box of Cheerios in 6 days?)

We generally order a few cases of bottled water so we can each grab a few to take into the parks each day, some coffee creamer, pop tart or breakfast bars, and some snacks for our park bags or late-night nibbles. Sometimes we will order sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner or lotion and when our son was little, we ordered diapers and baby wipes.

People think of Disney vacations as being tough on the wallet. However, having your own groceries on hand can help you save a bundle. Why not save a few extra bucks for the souvenir shops?

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Capture the Moment at Walt Disney World

Are you headed to Walt Disney World to celebrate something special? If so, I highly recommend the photo service offered at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom called Capture Your Moment. During your personalized 20-minute photo session, your Disney PhotoPass photographer will find the perfect spot to catch the fun and excitement of your special day. Imagine capturing the moment that he dropped to one knee and proposed in front of the iconic Cinderella Castle or the Tree of Life!

This service is also perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions, graduation and more. Or maybe you just want to use the service to get that perfect family photo for your next Christmas card.

Do you need a little extra time for your photo shoot? Just book 2 Capture Your Moment sessions back-to-back and you’ll get 40 minutes plus the chance to visit at least two different Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom photo locations.

The cost is only $50 for a session, and, as they say, the memories are priceless. While photos are not included in the price of the session, Guests who have Memory Maker, Memory Maker One Day or a qualifying Walt Disney World Annual Pass with a Disney PhotoPass benefit can download these photos at no extra cost. What an amazing price! I know a few travel advisors who have taken advantage of this opportunity and they received over 100 images.

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Disney Very Merriest After Hours

What do you get when you combine late-night hours, Christmas and a 50th anniversary celebration? It’s “Disney Very Merriest After Hours” at Magic Kingdom Park! On 24 select nights from November 8 through December 21, guests who purchase tickets to this magical celebration will be treated to “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” and a special holiday-themed parade, “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their pals, there will be a special appearance by Santa Clause himself.

Although the party officially runs from 9pm – 1am, you will be given access to Magic Kingdom Park as early as 7pm. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store:

  • Transformation of Cinderella Castle into a “beacon of Magic”
  • A brand new fireworks show, “Disney Enchantment.” And yes, that means two fireworks shows in one night.
  • Jungle cruise transformed into Jingle Cruise
  • Less time waiting in line for more than 20 attractions after the park closes to day guests
  • Disney characters throughout the park, dressed in their holiday finest
  • Magical snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A. Snow in Orlando!
  • Club Tinsel dance party in Tomorrowland
  • Complimentary snacks, seasonal treats and select bottled beverages
  • Disney PhotoPass capturing all your magical shots throughout the night

Tickets went on sale this week and won’t last long. Contact me to book your holiday at Disney World and tickets to Disney Very Merriest After Hours!

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It’s time! Princess Cruises Alaska 2023 season now on sale!

It has been a long wait but the cruise ships are back and sailing to Alaska. The Alaska season was canceled in 2020 and shortened in 2021. With such high demand for Alaska, 2022 cruises are selling out, which is why I’m excited that Princess has released their Alaska cruises for 2023. They went on sale August 18 and the demand is off the charts!

Princess has been named the “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” 14 straight years by Travel Weekly, one of the most influential news resources for the travel industry. Every year, more guests choose Princess in Alaska than any other cruise line. Why Princess?

Four departure ports. You can sail out of Anchorage (Whittier), Seattle, San Francisco or Vancouver, British Columbia.

More time ashore. Princess stays in some of the ports until 9pm or later. When you’re sailing in the Land of the Midnight Sun, this means you have more time for sightseeing.

5 glaciers. Choosing the right itinerary for Alaska is important for maximizing your glacier experience. Princess cruise itineraries include 85 sailings to Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Itineraries also include Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, Tracy Arm Fjord, Endicott Arm or Dawes Glacier.

Enrichment program. The North to Alaska program immerses you onboard and ashore in all things Alaska. You’ll meet local Alaskans, feast on fresh Alaska seafood and even meet sled dog puppies in the ship’s Piazza.

MedallionClass Experience. You will fall in love with this technology, exclusive to Princess, that enables everything from touch-free boarding to locating your loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever you need, delivered.

If you really want to create the ultimate Alaska experience, Princess offers amazing Cruisetours, where you’ll spend three or more nights in the Alaska wilderness, either before or after your 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. These trips include scenic rail travel, stays at Princess-owned wilderness lodges, and visits to Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. People visit Alaska to see glaciers, mountains and wildlife, and you can see it all on a Princess Cruisetour!

These cruises and Cruisetours will sell out. Let’s connect to find the perfect itinerary and ship for you.

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Sandals Royal Curaçao to open April 14, 2022

Sandals Resorts International has announced that Sandals Royal Curaçao will welcome guests beginning April 14, 2022!

This is the 16th Sandals Resort and the first Sandals on the island of Curacao. Curaçao is located in the southern Caribbean Sea about 40 miles north of Venezuela.

The resort is located on forty-four oceanfront acres, boasting 351 luxurious rooms and suites only 15 miles from the airport. The West-Facing Resort will feature some of the most spectacular sunsets in all of the Caribbean.

Sandals has not released all the information about this new resort, but here is what we know:

From the freshest seafood to the unique flavors of the orient, Sandals Royal Curaçao will offer a culinary journey with 12 unique dining options, including eight brand new cuisine experiences, three food trucks and Sandals first-ever floating restaurant.

The Duchess Floating Restaurant was constructed from a 92-foot authentic Dutch ship. It is set atop the sparkling azure seas and will be the ultimate dining experience.

You can also spend a casual night at the beachside food trucks, a Sandals first, offering delicacies from around the world, including traditional Curaçao fare, Spanish tapas, and Asian fusion.

The Dos Awa Pool is an infinity pool redefined. This island oasis where pools meet sea will feature expansive upper and lower decks which overlook the Spanish Water, for seamless, awe-inspiring views.


Sandals also mentions a “Natural Salt-Water Ocean-Fed Pool” Cut into the coastal rocks along the shoreline, the natural salt-water pool features a sand bottom and will be fed by the ocean.

When it comes to rooms, Sandals Royal Curaçao will offer fan-favorite room categories, in addition to two new luxurious suite categories, the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows and the Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows.

The Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows with Private Pools are breathtaking seaside bungalows nestled alongside the coast. Guests can admire the majestic beauty of the ocean from their private infinity pool.

The Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows with Patio Tranquility Soaking Tubs are gorgeous bungalows are arranged in Sandals iconic heart formation around a semi-private pool and lush, man-made island.


Every bungalow captures the height of luxury with hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, custom crafted king-size beds adorned with soft linens and plush pillows for the ultimate sleep experience. Inside, each bungalow is also equipped with a smart TV and a large ceiling fan to stay cool while enjoying fresh Caribbean breezes.

Relax in the separate living room’s comfortable seating area, which has a fully stocked wet bar with premium liquor and a dining table. The bathrooms are equipped with his and hers sinks, a large backlit mirror adorned with mosaic tile, and a walk-in rain shower. Outside, your private patio is also equipped with an extended sun deck, Tranquility Soaking Tub with privacy curtains, sun loungers, and a bistro set for two.

The entire experience is rounded out through attentive service from a personal butler and 24-hour room service.

Perfect for a prestigious trip around the island, guests in the Kurason Island Suites and Awa Seaside Bungalows can explore every inch of this Caribbean gem with a guided map to all everything there is to see in a stylish Mini Cooper, only available at Sandals Royal Curaçao.

Are you ready to stay at Sandals Royal Curaçao? Click here to book your incredible vacation at Sandals Royal Curaçao.

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Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa Coming in Late 2021

AMResorts recently announced it will open a brand new Breathless branded property – Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa scheduled to open on December 7, 2021.

Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa will be a four-diamond vibrant, chic and modern all-suite resort nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon. This beachfront resort will be the soul of Cancun, conveniently located on the iconic Cancun strip in the Hotel Zone.

AMResorts bills it as the perfect place to visit for adults seeking a sophisticated and lively getaway and singles, couples and friends to discover the perfect balance of excitement and tranquility on this beachfront playground in paradise with endless possibilities.

This all-suite oceanfront resort will offer a variety of amenities and services including three spectacular pools, ten gourmet dining options, a nightclub, fitness center, and luxury spa.

To book your stay at Breathless Cancun Soul, contact me today!

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