The last port we are going to look at for now in the Caribbean is Aruba, this virtual vacation is by inspired by some of our Trips with Angie clients who are currently celebrating the holidays there!
Located north of Venezuela, Aruba is known for its stunning beaches, desert landscapes, and some of the best wreck diving in the Caribbean. Aruba is part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, so the official language of the islands is Dutch, but English is widely spoken. The capital is Oranjestad, and also the main port on the island. Located south of the hurricane belt, direct hurricane hits to the island are rare, making it a great island getaway any time of year!
For this week’s Caribbean port of call we are going to check out San Juan. Not only is it a popular port of call found on Caribbean itineraries it is also an embarkation port for many Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries. About 500 cruise ships call on San Juan each year, the port itself is the largest and busiest in the Caribbean with two separate terminals hosting more than 2 million cruise visitors each year.
Founded in 1521, San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico is the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction. It has one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean. The metropolitan area has 3 distinct districts, Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort area, and the outlying communities. Now let’s check out some highlights of this port of call!
For this week’s virtual port of call visit we are going to check out the island of St. Thomas. I will always remember St. Thomas as the first port of call I ever visited on the very first cruise I ever took when I was 12.
St. Thomas lies about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico. The chief island of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the port, Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Founded in 1666, the island’s deepwater harbor was a haven for pirates. The island was originally owned by Denmark, and visitors will find that the houses and narrow streets have distinct Danish architecture and Danish names. The island is largely mountainous, so many roads around the island offer terrific panoramic views of the island and ocean. Popular excursions on the island include snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kiteboarding, sailing, fishing kayaking and parasailing. Let’s see what else this island paradise has to offer!
Are you looking for some new honeymoon ideas? Do you want the convenience of an all inclusive resort, but don't want the same cookie cutter experience of every other couple?
In this video, I highlight resort tours from three unique, small all inclusive resorts in Australia, Antigua, and Jamaica.
In Australia, Saffire Freycinet All Inclusive Resort offer private pavilions or basically, the best honeymoon suite ever. Saffire Freycinet overlooks an Australian National Park.
Cocos Hotel - an Antigua All Inclusive Resort sits on a cliffside. Coco Hotel All Inclusive resort offers private cottages. Some of the Cocos Hotel cottages have private plunge pools.
Sunset at the Palms - a Negril, Jamaica all inclusive resort has suites located in duplex treehouses. Sunset at the Palms Jamaica all inclusive resort has a natural vibe with locally sourced meals.
What do you think? Which resort do you like best?
I'd love to help navigate all the choices for the best honeymoon.
Send what you are thinking to Angie@TripswithAngie.com to get started.
Frank and his wife headed to Cozumel to celebrate their five year anniversary in early December 2020. Here's their review:
Writing
this on our last day here hoping I don't forget anything. First I want to thank
Trips with Angie. She made the booking and the set up experience flawless and
personal.
The hotel itself is amazing. The grounds are quite big so expect some walking.
While walking, the tropical flowers will make the time go by quick. The sister
resort, Sunscape is right next door, not adults only,seemlessly intertwined in
on the Northside and that's where you get the spa treatment. Highly recommend.
The beach is a bit rocky, bring water shoes. You can snorkel right there and
see plenty of fish and rays. While we were here it rained a few days an the
wind was high so the waters weren't as clear as they could be. That didn't
deter us regardless.
We rented a scooter from the hotel and drove the loop of the island. WELL worth
the $40. The natural beaches not by the resorts are SPECTACULAR. Conk shells
everywhere. That was the best.
COVID really put a damper on some of some of the activities I was looking
forward to like Coconuts bar. It was dead, only 4 other people there. That's not
the locals fault and we enjoyed our time best we could.
All in all, I would come back in a heartbeat. All the staff are amazing and
keep everything clean and welcoming.
Thanks Secrets and Angie!!
Last thought, no buffets. Hopefully next time they will be back.
For our next port of call we are going to look at Jamaica and the ports of Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay, you can actually do a lot of the same excursions from these ports of call. Ocho Rios is only about an hour and half drive from Montego Bay with Falmouth in between the two.
Jamaica is known for being the birthplace of Bob Marley and reggae. It is also known for Blue Mountain coffee, Red Stripe beer, Jamaican rum, beautiful beaches, majestic water falls and luxurious all-inclusive resorts.
Last
week we visited The Bahamas and the port of call of Nassau, this week I thought
we would hop over to Cayman Islands and the port of call of Georgetown on Grand
Cayman Island.
The
Cayman Islands are a group of three islands surrounded by tropical coral
reefs. Grand Cayman Island is the largest with a population of over 52,000
residents. This port is known for scuba diving and snorkeling due to the
coral reefs, under water sea walls and a number of shipwrecks just off shore.
Let’s check out some of what else this port has to offer.
Continuing our look at popular Caribbean ports of call let's jump over to Nassau in the Bahamas.
The beginning of the Bahamas archipelago itself is located just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Nassau is one of the most popular and often congested cruise ports in the Caribbean, it is located on the 21-mile-long island of New Providence. The city itself features tree-lined streets, horse drawn surreys, soft sand beaches, Vegas-type casinos, and duty-free shopping. Let’s take a look at some of what makes this a popular cruise port.
Continuing our look at popular cruise ship ports in the Caribbean, let’s take a look now at Cozumel!
Popular on Western Caribbean cruise itineraries, Cozumel is an island located on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula opposite Playa del Carmen. The clear, warm water, and spectacular coral reefs make it one of the world’s best scuba-diving locations. In addition to diving, tourists are attracted to Cozumel’s sandy beaches, fishing, water sports, duty-free shopping, and relaxed atmosphere. Let’s take a closer look at some of what the area has to offer!
Traveling within the United States can be tricky because each state has their own requirements. Click here for more information. Basically, if you plan to travel to the Northeast, New Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska, you should be prepared to quarantine upon arrival. The requirements are fluid and ever changing so be sure to check before you hit the road.
For lodging during travel, I'm an affiliate of Booking.com. I noticed they relaxed many of their cancellation policies for both rental houses and hotels. I highly recommend booking a rate that only requires a credit card guarantee and allows you to cancel 24 hours before arrival.
With all travel, it's critical you check your local, county, state, employer or school quarantine requirements. Testing before and after travel is a great idea even if a 14 day quarantine is not required.
For Caribbean travel, airlines are increasing their flights to Cancun, Mexico. Mexico does not require a negative COVID test for entry. The Dominican Republic no longer requires tests prior to arrival, and is randomly testing travelers upon arrival. Several other islands still require tests: Jamaica, Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Turks and Caicos and St Lucia.
My husband and I spent two weeks in Mexico in October. We followed all the CDC guidelines: outdoor dining, social distancing, and masks when within 6 feet. This was difficult at a couple resorts. I think if you are considering traveling, your resort choice is more important than ever to ensure you can keep yourself safe. You cannot rely on other guests to follow the CDC protocols.
The CDC let the Cruise Line No Sail Order expire so that cruise lines can begin to practice sailing safely with:
Tests prior to arriving at the port, tests at the port prior to embarking on the cruise, and tests on the ship prior to disembarking to head home.
Social distancing and mandatory mask requirements
Daily temperature checks
Isolated shore excursions to limit cruise passenger contact with local island residents.
The CDC order also said ships may not sail itineraries longer than 7 nights from US ports so most of the cruise lines stopped selling these itineraries, but they aren't yet cancelled.
What do I think will happen? I think we will know a lot more once the initial test sailings get underway. I think some cruise lines may wait until after Inauguration to see if the CDC changes the framework or reinstates the No Sail Order. If you remember, the CDC originally wanted the No Sail Order to be extended until February, but the White House Coronavirus Task Force pushed that it only be extended until the end of October.
If I had to guess, I'd say we likely won't see guests back on cruise ships until at least April and that depends on getting COVID numbers back under control across the country.
Should you book a trip right now?
For cruises, I think it's a good time to book for late 2021 and 2022. Refundable deposits are available. I think this is the lowest pricing will be for a while.
For all inclusive resorts, I recommend you only book a couple months in advance for right now. I think we may see new travel restrictions after the Inauguration. For Spring or Summer 2021, I recommend we regroup in February when we have more information.
After a warm and dry fall so far, It has been a chilly and rainy week here in Missouri. Even though it’s just now November and getting into the start of winter, this weather already has me thinking of warm weather and sandy beaches. Since we recently finished our Canada and New England cruise port series I thought we could take a look at some of the popular Caribbean ports of call. Let’s start with one of my favorites, St. Maarten/ St. Martin.
Part of the Leeward Islands, this 37-square-mile island is the smallest parcel of land to be peaceably shared by two countries: France and the Netherlands. The French side is known as Saint-Martin and the Dutch side is known as Sint Maarten. The French side is known for shopping, nude beaches and French and Indian Caribbean cuisine, while the Dutch side is known for its nightlife, beaches, jewelry, casinos, and drinks made with native rum-based guava berry liquors. Let’s see what this beautiful island has to offer.
Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf and Spa resort is an adults only all inclusive resort about 40 minutes north of the Cancun airport. Playa Mujeres is a gated community.
Secrets Playa Mujeres offers a great stretch of beach and large pools. Guests at Secrets Playa Mujeres can access the restaurants and amenities at the family friendly Dreams Playa Mujeres next door. This is a great fit if you'd like a resort on a good beach with many dining options.
Thank you to Secrets Playa Mujeres for the discounted room rate in recognition of my Master Agent status with AmResorts.
If you have been following our Where in the World posts on Wednesdays you know that we just completed a Canada and New England cruise port series. For our next location I thought we would stay in Canada and check out Toronto!
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The city is known for its many skyscrapers and it is home to the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, the CN Tower. The city is also home to many parks, museums and art galleries, and is located only about an hour and half away from Niagara Falls.
Dreams Riviera Cancun All Inclusive resort is a family all inclusive resort located about 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport. Thanks to Dreams Riviera Cancun for extending a discounted rate in recognition of my Master Agent status with AMResorts.
Dreams Riviera Cancun is known for weddings with one of the biggest weddings teams in Riviera Maya. I loved the swim up bar with infinity edge pool. The Dreams Riviera Cancun rooms are comfortable. I love when the beds face the window so you can enjoy the view.
Thank you to Dreams Riviera Cancun for the discounted room rate in recognition of my Master Agent status with AmResorts.
Dreams Natura is a family all inclusive resort near Puerto Morales, Mexico about 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport. Dreams Natura has wonderful infinity edge pools, a splash park, a small lazy river, three water slides, and a Roller Glider ride. I love the chic and colorful decorations of the Dreams Natura restaurants and junior suites. Dreams Natura is compact so it's very easy to get around with kids. The open air lobby at Dreams Natura is a great spot for an evening cocktail or to enjoy the evening entertainment.
The
last city we are going to take a look at in our Canada and New England cruise
port series is Charlottetown, located on Prince Edward
Island in the province of New Brunswick.
For our next port in our Canada and New England series we are going to head back to Nova Scotia and the port of call of Sydney on Cape Breton Island.
Founded by the British in 1785, it was incorporated into a city in 1904, however that was dissolved in 1995 and the area was amalgamated into a regional municipality. Sydney is the largest urban area on Cape Breton Island, and home to the island’s main port. It offers unique shops and services, historic sites and stunning scenery. Let’s take a look!
Located in front of the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion on the waterfront, standing at 18 meters tall the fiddle is hard to miss. It stands in tribute to the folk music and traditions of the province’s Celtic community.
Built in 1787, Cossit House is one of the oldest buildings on the island. Through furniture, furnishings and costumed interpreters it celebrates the Gaelic culture and history of Nova Scotia. Hands-on activities like lace making, butter churning and weaving are also offered. For a peek at the home:
Just around the corner, visit St. Patrick’s Church, the oldest Roman Catholic Church on the island, today it is a museum. The goal of the museum is to represent the religious history of the area. Built between 1828 and 1830 the church features hand-hewn beams, Gothic windows, cut stone around the windows and doors, a tower with cupola and dominating door openings. To learn about the church:
To learn more about the history of Cape Breton visit The Sydney Museum which was originally known as The Cape Breton Centre for Heritage & Science. The museum offers permanent and travelling collections of exhibitions that demonstrate the heritage, culture and science of the area. The museum also offers an area just for kids called Discovery Corner.
Visitors looking to bring back some local crafts from their trip should check out The Cape Breton Artisan Trail Map. Follow the trail to meet and learn about local artisans. There are painters, pottery designers, quilt makers, wood workers, jewelry makers, jam makers, chocolatiers, soap makers and more.
If you are a history buff in general or have an interest in history of the World War II era you will want to check out Fort Petrie Military Museum. The museum was originally one of seven fortifications located along Sydney Harbour to protect the harbor and convoys from military submarines during the Second World War. At that time Sydney was the home of the Royal Navy in the event of a German invasion of the British Isles. To learn more:
Just to the east of Sydney is The Cape Breton Miners’ Museum along the coast of Glace Bay. The museum is a tribute to the mining history of the region, and includes a tour of underground mines. Tours can be booked online, but you can also explore virtually:
Thirty minutes southeast from Sydney, is the town of Louisbourg and the world famous Fortress of Louisbourg. The French fortress was seized twice and helped create today’s Canada. Guided and self guided tours are available. There are also demonstrations in weaponry and puppet shows for kids. Learn more:
About an hour’s drive from Sydney is the town of Baddeck located at the beginning and end of the Cabot Trail. Here you will find the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, the former home to the famous scientist and inventor of the telephone Alexander Graham Bell. Baddeck also offers many popular outdoor activities including golfing at Bell Bay Golf Club, sailing, kayaking, nature tours, and horseback riding at Rocking Horse Ranch. To see more of the area check out this video.
The Cabot Trail itself is a 185 mile loop around Cape Breton and considered one of the most scenic destinations in the world with its stunning views of the ocean, old-growth forests, prehistoric rock scarred by glaciers, and the mysterious Cape Breton Highlands. For the driver to have the easiest drive and to take in the views going in a clockwise direction makes the most sense. However counterclockwise is also good as the pullover spots are on the right side. To see some stunning footage of the area in the fall, click here.
We hope you are enjoying this virtual series of Canada and New England cruise port of calls!
Now Sapphire is a family all inclusive resort in Puerto Morales, Mexico about 25 minutes south of the Cancun airport. Now Sapphire was recently renovated and now offers a Splash Park, three water slides, and oceanfront swim up suites. The Now Sapphire oceanfront swim up suites are very unique. It's rare to find a true oceanfront swim up suite. Now Sapphire's open air lobby is a great space to socially distance and enjoy the evening ocean breezes.
Jumping
over to our next port of call from our Canada and New England cruise port
series is Portland, ME.
Portland
is the largest city in Maine with a population of about 66,700. Include the
metropolitan area and the population is closer to a half million, about
1/3 the population of the entire state. The city is known for its
dedication to the arts, revered dining scene and the historic Old Port area.
There are also secluded beaches and centuries old lighthouses to explore. Let’s
check it out!
Angie spent a day in Portland as part of her Hurtigruten cruise. Check out her recommendations:
The
Old Port area is famous for the wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants.
Visitors enjoy wandering the streets while simultaneously taking in
the sights and sound of the boats in the bay and the ocean. For a look at the
Old Port area, check out this video:
Declared
a National Historic Landmark in 1971, the Victoria Mansion, also known as the
Morse-Libby House is a classic example of American residential architecture
from the 19th century. The brownstone exterior and elaborate interior
design combined with the early technological advances in the home
provide a detailed portrait of lavish living from the time period. To learn
about the home and its previous owners, please click here
.
For
a bird’s eye view of the area visit the Portland Observatory. This is the last
standing maritime signal tower in America and it was used in the 1800s to
monitor ships nearby. Today it is a museum, and admission is free of charge. To
learn more about The Portland Observatory, click here.
The
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine.
Unfortunately visitors cannot go inside the lighthouse itself, but they can
take lots of photos and visit the nearby museum. The lighthouse is
adjacent to Fort Williams Park which offers picnic facilities, hiking,
sports and recreation areas, historic structures and beautiful ocean
views.
Explore
the Casco
Bay Islands, a group of islands located just off the
coast, six of which are accessible by ferry year-round. Great
Diamond Island is home to the historic Fort
McKinley and is lauded for its quintessential Maine
landscape. Cars are not allowed, so walking, biking and golf carts are the
modes of transportation to get around. Stay for the weekend at the Inn
at Diamond Cove, which offers many activities and dining options.
Nearby Chebeague
Island offers a storied history. The island is known for its
stone sloppers - men that transported construction materials for 19th
century ships, as well as the granite for
the Washington Monument. Peaks Island features cafes, shops,
museums and galleries in addition to beaches.
A
popular excursion in Casco Bay is a Maine Lobster Boat Tour. Guests enjoy
learning about a day in the life of a Maine Lobsterman and what it takes
to bring in the haul. Check out this video to learn more.
Fans
of trains will enjoy a visit to The
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum. The collection
consists of passenger and freight equipment, as well as artifacts from the
2 ft narrow gauge railways that ran in the state of Maine in the late 19th and
early 20th century. Train rides on a historic two-foot gauge railroad are also
offered. To see some of the trains in action, click here.
If
you have a few days in the area consider a visit to the Portland Museum of Art,
the oldest public art institution in Maine. The collection includes more the
22,000 pieces of art dating from the 18th century until present. To learn
more, click here.
One
of my favorite things about traveling is trying the local cuisine. For
some food and restaurant recommendations in Portland check out this video…...
….and
for a wonderful general overview of the city and its history, click here.
Continuing
our Canada & New England cruise port-of-call series we are going to head
west of Quebec City and check out Montreal. Montreal most often appears on
cruise itineraries as an embarkation and/or debarkation port, which is nice
because you can tack on a few days before or after your cruise vacation to
explore the city.
Montreal
is the second largest city in Canada and the largest in the province
of Quebec. The city is considered the number one host city in North America for
International events. The city is home to the famous Cirque de
Soleil, hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics and also hosted Expo 67, the most
successful world’s fair in the 20th century. French is the official
language here, but pretty much everyone is bilingual in English and
French.
The
centerpiece of the city is the summit and surroundings of Mount Royal. At 692
acres this expansive city park offers sightseeing in every direction,
forested pathways, picnicking in the summer, and skating, skiing or sliding in
the winter. Enjoy this virtual fall
hike through the park.
Check
out Montreal’s
Underground City, most of the downtown area is interconnected by
underground paths so you don’t have to go out on a rainy day or during the cold
in the winter. The tunnels form a whole new city with shopping malls,
parking lots, restaurants and even fountains. Check out this map of the area.
Considered
to be one of the most important botanical gardens in the world due to
its extensive collections and facilities, the Montreal Botanical Gardens is comprised of 75
hectares of thematic gardens and greenhouses. In addition the
Botanical Gardens offer fun and unique programming year round for children
and families. For a wonderful tour of the gardens, please click here.
Guided tours are
available of Parc
Olympique the multi-purpose stadium where the 1976 Olympic
Games was held. In addition to hosting tours, the site is still used today for
sporting and other events. The Montreal Tower is
also part of the complex, at 165 meters it is the tallest inclined
tower in the world. It has an 45-degree awe-inspiring angle, which
is particularly amazing when you consider the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s tilt
is only 5 degrees.
Take
a street art tour of Saint-Laurent and
its accompanying alleyways. View graffiti art from artists both recognized
and raw. The area is also known for it food, expanded bar terraces and
street fairs. Click here to explore
Mural Fest 2020.
Wander
the cobblestoned streets of Old Montreal. The
area was established in the 17th century by the first settlers of New France.
Today you will find some of the cities best restaurants, shopping, historic
structures and many attractions. Here you will also find Montreal’s oldest
Catholic Church, Notre-Dame Basilica. The church is know for its
intricately designed interior, which includes stained
glass chronicling the city’s history. For a tour and to learn more,
click here.
Visit
the Montreal Biodome, an indoor zoo and aquarium which hosts recreations of
four different ecosystems in North America, plus some Sub-Antarctic Islands.
The structure was originally built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, housing the
judo and cycling events. Today it is home to more than 200 different animal
species and 500 different plant species. The Biodome just underwent a
two-year renovation, click here to learn more about the
project and here for a
peak inside.
Fans
of Cirque du Soleil will surely want to see a show in the city where it all
began, coming in the Spring of 2021 is Under the Same Sky, Cirque du
Soleil’s newest show. Pre-COVID tours were very, very limited, and currently
they are canceled, but you can check out this visit to the
International Headquarters of Cirque du Soleil in
Montreal.
To
try some classic Montreal fare head to this combination of
distinctive neighborhoods, Mile End, the Plateau and the McGill Ghetto.
This area is known to have the best of the best in signature dishes; Fairmount and St-Viateur for fresh
bagels, Schwartz’s for
Montreal-style meat, and La Banquise for
poutine. Begin or end you food tour with a stop at Wilensky’s for their
Light Lunch. Check out this video for some other sweet treats
and see how the St-Viateur makes their bagels, the 30 different options of
Poutine available at La Banquise and how Schwartz’s smokes their meat.
For
a great overview of the city watch this video and for a peak of what
the city looks like during the holiday season click here.
This video has the best all inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We'll check out resorts in Cap Cana, Uvero Alto and Bavaro Beach.
Cap Cana is a private community located very close to the Punta Cana airport. You can be from the airport to the resort in 10 - 15 minutes. The best all inclusive Cap Cana resorts are Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and Sanctuary Cap Cana.
Uvero Alto is further from the Punta Cana airport - about 35 minutes. Uvero Alto is more secluded with tan sand and stronger currents. If you like waves, you'll like this area better than Bavaro. The best all inclusive resorts in Uvero Alto are Nickelodeon Punta Cana and Now Onyx.
Bavaro Beach is the best beach area in Punta Cana. This area has white sand beaches. These beaches can be more crowded than the Uvero Alto area. The best all inclusive resorts on Bavaro Beach are Iberostar Grand Bavaro Beach and Majestic Mirage.
