Saturday 25 October 2014

Caribbean Cruises: Part 3 "Excursion or No Excursion, That is the Question"


One of the greatest benefits about going on a cruise rather than being stationary at a resort is the chance to see many different cities, islands and countries as the cruise allows. That being said, there’s only so much you can do in the time frame you’re given. So this makes you ask yourself, “how do I spend my time wisely?!” And remember, this might be your first and last time setting foot at your cruise ship destination! Now that’s a crazy thought.


I have broke it down into four ways that help you get the most out of your time at each port!


  1.   Research Your Destinations

I put this one first because I believe that it is the most important! If you don’t know where you’re going, then how would you know what it’s famous for? Imagine if you went to Paris and spent your time wondering the streets never knowing that the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, or Notre Dame were all right around the corner! So please do yourself a favor and look up each destination before hand, know what to do, and equally as important, what not to do.


 2. Know What Excursions Your Cruise Offers

Websites are a wonderful thing. Remember my little phrase: Look before you book! You can use the list of excursions for each cruise as a deciding factor for which ship and cruise to go on. Once you’re done with that, you can pick and choose what excursions you want to do. Sometimes it’s hard to choose because there are so many awesome excursions you can choose from. What helps me decide is reading the reviews that are located on the cruise line’s website! Each cruise has its own target market, so find what cruise you would fit into. (Learn more in the next article)



3. Planning Excursions that Aren’t Featured on the Cruise

Hypothetically, let’s say your best friend vacationed to St. Thomas and went zip lining, and said it was awesome and now you want to go. But wait, the cruise ship that you’re going on doesn’t offer zip lining as an excursion. What do you do? Well, this can happen, and we aren’t just talking about zip lining. There are so many activities on St. Thomas (and other places) and cruise ships can’t have it all.  If you are yearning to go, please plan ahead! We suggest if you want to go that route, get everything lined up BEFORE your trip.

Plan Ahead!

      4.   No Excursion

Sometimes you just want to see the city on your own! Walk around and smell the roses, if you will. Excursions don’t always speak out to you and you might just get enough of a thrill from roaming the city, eat at a local restaurant, and go window-shopping.

Check out the 99 Steps in Charlotte Amalie
 Well there you have it. Planning a vacation isn’t always easy, but at least cruising takes care of a lot of the stressful parts and still allows you to have a customized vacation.

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Thursday 16 October 2014

Caribbean Cruises: Part 2 "All You Can Eat, See, and Do"



Close your eyes and ask yourself, “what does my prefect vacation look like?”. Are you sleeping in every day, eating as much as you want, and scheduling as many spa appointments as you can? Or are you getting up early, going on every excursion manageable and staying up until the crack of dawn just to make the vacation feel a little longer? Whatever the case may be, cruising can give you a wide variety of choices!

My perfect vaca? Watching the sunset every night on a boat

Each port offers something different that makes it hard to forget. Cruise ship docks are typically well maintained by the local cities to showcase their beloved town. There is nothing better than experiencing all the local charms at each one of your destinations. Go on an adventure, shop for locally made souvenirs, and eat at that little hole in the wall that serves the best lunch in town! No matter what you do, don’t forget to stop and take a moment to appreciate all the wonderful qualities that each city offers.

Don't be afraid to go explore!
Food, food, and more food. Let’s be honest with ourselves, cruise ships are known for their awesome and endless selection of cuisine. Both day and night, enjoy a wide array of food that keeps you coming back for more. Picky eater? Don’t stress! There is something for everyone so you’ll never have to worry about going hungry.

Wanna share?
There is more to do than just eat! Recently, cruise lines have been expanding their horizons on activities and games they offer on board. Things such as bumper cars and ziplining on Royal Caribbean, obstacle courses high up in the air with Carnival, and the infamous “Pirate Night” on Disney Cruise Ships. Each Ship offers a unique set of activities that make your experience memorable. It’s not just about the destination anymore; it’s about the whole experience.

Like live performances? You'll love daily shows at the theater!
Let me end this article with talking about one of the greatest parts about all the cruise ships that sometimes goes overlooked: the staff. Each staff member, whether they are entertainers, cooks, housekeeping, or servers, will work day and night to serve you, all with a smile on their face. Cruise ship staff are some of the hardest working employees and they should be appreciated!

Click the links below to read more:

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Saturday 11 October 2014

Caribbean Cruises: Part 1 "Is Cruising For You?"



First of all, let me say welcome back! I took a little break from writing, but I’m here for good! Every month I'll be writing 4 part posts, so always stay tuned for the next installment. ;)

We all know what cruise ships are and if you’ve never gone on one, you might be wondering “What is all this hype about?!” Well, I’m here to tell you about why these beasts of the sea are so popular! Not only is it a full functioning resort that floats on water, but they also give you the opportunity to see a lot of different cities, cultures, and go on adventures that you might not get to experience on a normal vacation.

Look at that beast
Do you like relaxing, sunbathing, or live entertainment? How about eating, drinking, and crazy parties on pool decks? Well if any of these sound interesting to you, you may want to schedule a cruise for your next vacation! The great thing is you don’t have to like it all to have a good time. Those wild spring breakers can hog up the pool deck all they want because that leaves more room for you at the spa. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers something called Freestyle Cruising, and that truly gives you the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with who you want!

Do what you want: Adventure, Relaxation, Good Eats, Good Times
Don’t get me wrong, staying at an all-inclusive resort is great and all, but nothing beats having a fun day out and about on one island or country and waking up in a completely new place! Plus, cruising also gives you a chance to see what places you want to visit again, and what places you don’t. Like if you loved St. Thomas when you were cruising, why not come back and stay at one of our many resorts so you can get the full experience?!
 
Who doesn't?
So if you love having fun, relaxing, eating, or sunbathing, you’ll probably love cruising. It’s not really a question of should I go on a cruise, it’s what cruise ship to go on.  Whether it’s Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, or Celebrity, there is something for you! 

Click the links below to read more:




Visit our website at www.ziplinestthomas.com and our facebook at www.facebook.com/ziplinestthomas