ODYSSEY TRAVEL BLOG

Ruby Princess to the Eastern Caribbean

2011-03-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

By Marian Blessing

I just returned from a week's cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Ruby Princess. It was a family reunion of sorts as our daughter and her husband and some very good friends joined us. It was wonderful to have time to spend together without having to worry about cooking or cleaning or where or what to eat! It was precious time!

The ship sailed out of Port Everglades escorted by U.S. Coast Guard cutters and waves of enthusiasm from the people in the condos lining the port entry. It was a very cherry send-off indeed.

Our first port was Cococay in the Bahamas. The water is beautiful, very clear and teaming with tropical fish. Princess has plenty of lounge chairs for your comfort and even has some island style cabanas, brightly colored, for rent as well. There are hammocks available and you can rent some great floats to relax in the water. A beach BBQ was served and enjoyed by all.

The next day was a sea day with time to explore the ship and take part in some of the onboard activities. Art auctions, trivia, gaming lessons, spa treatments, music poolside and those wonderful Jacuzzis are just some of the things you can do while the ship floats you from port to port. If you prefer a quiet corner to enjoy the sea breezes and ocean views, there are plenty of places on the ship to accommodate you. You can even try afternoon tea, complete with scones and clotted cream and jam (simply delicious!). We choose to relax poolside, sip some pina coladas, and enjoy the music. It was a good day at sea with plenty of time to catch up with one another.

St. Thomas was our next port of call. After doing our duty free shopping downtown we opted for a 1/2 day catamaran sail to Buck Island where we swam with sea turtles. They surfaced among us for a breath of air and then back down to the bottom to eat. It was amazing to see them. The water was incredibly clear.
The crew of the Catamaran Girl were great. They took a group of us on a snorkeling trail, pointing out some very interesting sea creatures. After the snorkeling we enjoyed some very "good" punch and were under full sail back to the Ruby Princess.
What an incredible experience.

St. Maarten was next and as usual, did not disappoint. We spend a few hours shopping in Phillipsburg, and then headed off to the French side and Orient Beach.
The beach is stunning. We rented lounge chairs and then, later in the afternoon, we opted to have lunch at the Kontiki. The restaurant has picnic tables just a few feet from the ocean. The tables are short with nice cushions and sun umbrellas. Our feet dangled in the sand as we lounged and enjoyed our sushi, pizza and tomatoes and mozzarella. Our waiter, Jean Luc, was terrific. It was a spectacular day.

Our last port of call was Grand Turk. It's a very compact island with gorgeous beaches. The cruise port has been developed there to accommodate the ships. There are plenty of lounge chairs, duty free shopping and an entire Margaritaville complex complete with restaurant, pools, entertainment and even a flow rider station.
We rented a car and took a very short tour of the island. We stopped at the Bohio Dive Hotel and had some of the best conch fritters ever. Well worth the stop!
That night we took advantage of the Movies Under the Stars. This ship has a giant screen on deck and shows movies and music videos. During the day you can lounge in the pools or jacuzzi and watch a movie (or you can go to the other pool and enjoy live music). At night the crew lines the deck with chairs, brings out the very comfy cushions and wool blankets and pops popcorn. It was such fun!

Over all I can say that we had a wonderful week onboard Princess. Captain Giuseppe Romano did a fine job!

For more information on traveling to the Caribbean, contact Marian at 800 333-8113 or e-mail at marian@odysseytravel.com

Trip to Utah

2011-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Grethe recently returned from a 5 day trip to Utah. She describes her trip:

Back home after 5 wonderful days in Utah. What a great place to visit!

Salt Lake City was a really nice city with good restaurants, and lots to do. We spent the first day exploring the city, and started the day on the rooftop of the library. From there we got a good view of downtown and the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. Afterwards we took the free tram to Temple square, and saw the Mormon Temple, the Mormon tabernacle and the Assembly Hall. What an experience!

The next day we rented a car and drove to Moab. The drive was just over 3 hours, with stunning scenery the whole way.

Moab is a small resort town at the center of some of the most stunning red rock landscapes on Earth. The next two days we were hiking in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. It was just spectacular! In Moab you can do mountain biking, hiking, four wheel driving, or river trips of any length and experience level.

The last day in Utah we spent skiing in Brighton. It was a fun day for both kids and adults.

For information about Utah, contact Grethe at 800 333-8113 or e-mail at Grethe@odysseytravel.com

Silverseas

2011-03-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Nella just returned from hosting a Voyager Club Sailing on the Silver Cloud. She tells about her trip:

I highly recommend cruising aboard a Silversea ship. The ships are luxurious and well apopointed with the smallest cabin of 240 square feet and largest (the Owner's Suite) at 1668 square feet. You are bathed in luxury from the moment you step aboard. This "small ship" experience allows for very personalized service, such as a butler for everyone. Dining is gourmet and quite delicious.

Our cruise sailed from Barbados to Port Everglades, visiting St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Barts, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Grand Turk. The Virtuoso clients enjoyed an island tour and lunch at the famed Eden Rock Resort in St. Barts. The crystal clear waters of the Caribbean are awash with blues, greens and turquoise and are incomparable. If you have not been there yet-you definitely need to go. There is nothing quite like the combination of the islands of the Caribbean and an ultra luxurious ship!

For more information or to reserve your cruise on Silversea, contact Nella at 800 333-8113 or email her at nella@odysseytravel.com

Regent Seven Seas Navigator

2011-01-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

Nella reports on her recent cruise on Regent:

I was fortunate to host a Voyager Club sailing on the Regent Navigator in early December. This was a 20 day sailing which began in Auckland, New Zealand and ended in San Francisco. The ship called on ports in Fiji, Samoa and Hawaii. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is your ultimate cruise experience. With few exceptions, everything is included: beverages, wine and cocktails, gratuities and shore excursions. Dining is open seating so you can dine with whomever you wish. The food is gourmet and absolutely delicious.
Regent's officers and crew were very creative in enteraining, and offered games between the officers and guests including English Country Fare games, among other activities.
The very experienced cruisers enjoyed the "sea days" as much as the port excursions. The Voyager Club shore event took place in Honolulu. It was spectacular and very well received. I highly recommend Regent Seves Seas Cruises for your next vacation. The line offers unique itineraries that only the smaller ships can navigate, all inclusive cruising, and a loyalty program that rivals the best. On Regent Seven Seas Cruises you will find great food, excellent service and a wonderful feeling of camaraderie.
To find out more about Regent Seven Seas Cruises, call Odyssey Travel at 386 672-8113 or 800 333-8113.

Punta Cana

2010-12-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

Marian comments on her recent trip to Punta Cana.

We went to Punta Cana from December 10-15th. We flew out of Orlando on American Airlines and stayed at the 5 star Excellence Resort. Our accommodations were in the Excellence Club section of the resort which offers many extra amenities. Every room in the resort is a Junior suite complete with two person jacuzzi tub. Excellence, like most of the resorts in Punta Cana, is all inclusive.
We found the food to be quite good with many choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We especially liked the Barcelona restaurant for breakfast and lunch. The drinks were also good and plentiful. The grounds are beautiful and well kept with a sanctuary complete with parrots and flamingos.
The beach in the Excellence Club area has some interesting lounging facilities such as double wicker lounges with the most comfortable, soft pads. There are also a number of four posted elevated lounges with curtains which can be opened or closed for privacy. Throughout the day attendants pass by offering fresh fruit, sandwiches and even pizza, in addition to your favorite beverage.
The pools were quite large (and very clean)with waterfalls, swim up bars and a lazy river type flow. There are plenty of comfortable lounge chairs throughout. The Dominican people are lovely and took very good care of us.
Punta Cana is located on the Eastern tip of the Dominican Republic directly on the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is palm tree lined, and very walkable. Just beautiful!

Ireland

2010-12-22T12:30:00.001-08:00

Marian reports on her October trip to Ireland.

We flew business class on Delta to Dublin and had a fabulous week. We spend three nights in Dublin and stayed at the Brooks Hotel, which has a great location within walking distance to all of Dublin's attractions. The hotel is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of the World and was quite nice with very comfortable beds and a delicious complimentary breakfast. The staff was quite attentive and couldn't do enough for us. We walked to Trinity College and the Temple Bar area and on our second day purchased the Dublin Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour. This is a great way to see Dublin and stop at the attractions that interest you.
We rented a car on the third day and headed out to County Cork. A Garmen is a must for driving and finding your way around. Driving on the highways is fine, but use caution when driving in the cities as the streets are very narrow and difficult to navigate.
In Cork we stayed at the Hayfield Manor, another one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a member of Virtuoso. The rooms were positively beautiful with attention to every detail. Can't say enough about the staff-they were wonderful. Breakfast and dinner at the Manor were exceptional.
From Cork we visited the lovely seaside village of Kinsale and then on the Cobh, which was the last stop for the Titanic before it's fateful cruise. The second day we visited the Blarney Castle. The grounds of the castle are magnificant with walking paths throughout. The climb to the top of the castle is a bit harry but well worth the effort. The panoramic views from the top are spectacular. While at the top I kissed the Blarney Stone.
We then went on Killarney and stayed at the Loch Lein Country House Hotel. The drive through the Ring of Kerry was beautiful!
I would highly recommend a visit to Ireland!!

Seabourn Pride

2010-12-22T12:27:00.000-08:00

Nella reports on her October cruise on the Seabourn Price:

My first cruise with the Yachts of Seabourn was a great experience. The ship is small, with under 200 passengers and 1 staff member per guest, the service was outstanding. The cuisine was also superb, and the suites were spacious.All drinks and gratuities are included. With Seabourn. Our cruise sailed from Bangkok to Shanghai, with visits to Ho Chi Minh city and Danang in Vietnam, and Xiamen in China. Since this was a Virtuoso Voyager Club cruise, we hosted a private shore event in the Unesco World Heritage city of Hoi An. This was a special event, which included visiting a temple, experiencing a cyclo ride and enjoying a delightful lunch of Vietnamese specialties. We also stopped at the famous China Beach. Seabourn is an excellent choice for the client who enjoys the “small ship experience” .

Panama City, Panama

2010-09-15T12:06:00.001-07:00

Marian just returned from a 4 day excursion to Panama. Panama City was a pleasant surprise. The city has many skyscrapers which include office building, condos and hotels. They skyline resembles that of Miami. She stayed at the Bristol, Panama, which is a Virtuoso property. This boutique hotels offers a luxurious retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Just two years old the hotel offers personalized service including butlers, gourmet dining including one of the finest restaurants in the city, and rooms with state of the art amenities including the most comfortable beds in Panama complete with Hungarian down pillows.
While in Panama she toured the city. There is an area there called Casca Viejo which is being renovated and will resemble New Orleans in its hay days.
She toured the Panama Canal where she witnessed a large container ship transit the canal and then off to the Northwest Pacific Coast to the sister property of the the Bristol, the Bristol Buenaventura. This luxury beachfront resort, also a Virtuoso property, is the finest hotel on the coast. It has a long stretch of beach, 2 miles, that is perfect for walking or running, and the warm waters of the Pacific are inviting for swimmers, kayakers and jet skiiers. The resort offers horseback riding, complete spa services, fitness center, gourmet dining, two pools, jacuzzi and swim up bar. The accommodations are very luxurious with the same wonderfully comfortable beds with Hungarian down comforters, flat screen tv, in-room wifi access,
soaking tub with separate shower, and balconies. The resorts open-air lobby is both inviting and comfortable with cool breezes constantly blowing through. Check out this incredible property on line at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ARHpZze-c.
Nearby activities include ziplining, nature hikes in the rain forest, birding, cycling, trips to local craft markets, and taking in the natural beauty of this area.
The average temperature is 85 degrees and on the coast there is almost always a wonderful, cooling breeze.
If you are looking for a destination that will both surprise and delight you, Panama is it. Call Marian plan your Panamanian experience. You may even come home with a Panama hat!

Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea

2010-09-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Deb sailed the Society Islands on the luxurious Paul Gauguin in August 2010. She flew into Tahaiti and spent 7 incredible days visiting the islands Of Bora Bora, Tahaa, Moorea, Raiatea, and Papeete. The ship's small size, just 300 passengers, offered a friendly yet sophisticated atmosphere. On the Paul Gauguin, gratuities and cocktails, wine and beer are included in the price. The ship is one of a kind offering very personalized service, gourmet dining, onboard naturalists and guest speakers, dive classes and more. It was a complete imersion into the gentle culture of the people of the Society Islands. Deb liked the island of Tahaa best. But you may like another one better. Call Deb today and she can help you plan your trip!

CANADA AND BEYOND

2010-07-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Deb just returned for a week's jaunt in Canada and Montana. She flew into Spokane and drove up to Banff and Lake Louise, where she stayed at the Fairmont Lake Louise. She then drove down to Panorama Ski Resort and through Montana to Glacier National Park. Her favorite activities were hiking and biking, soaking in the Radium Mineral Baths near Banff and enjoying the luxuries of the Fairmont Lake Louise. Cool weather and the natural beauty just couldn't be beat. Call Deb for details or to book your trip!

2010-05-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Escape to the exotic without leaving the States. No passport required!!
The Ritz Carlton, Key Biscayne is Miami's Island Oasis. And now they are offering a exclusive package for travel bewtween May 1st and September 30th 2010. Book any ocean front room or any higher room category and enjoy a complimentary cabana during your stay. Book between April 15 and June 30. Offer not combinable with any discounted rates or any package. Quantities are limited and applies in the pool cabanas only, food and beverage are additional. Call Odyssey Travel at 888 333-8113 to reserve your space!

South America

2010-05-12T11:18:00.001-07:00

Nella just returned from a Trafalgar escorted tour of Brazil and Argentina. She enjoyed visiting Rio with its beautiful beaches, fantastic weather, Folklore and Carnival shows and sumptuous dinners! She took the cog train up Corcovado Mountain to view the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer. After more sightseeing in Rio including Sugar Loaf Mountain she was off to see the imposing Iguassu Falls, two miles of cascading waterfalls complete with rainbows!
Her stay in Buenos Aires included a Tango and dinner show, sightseeing with views of the Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, La Boca, and Avenida 9 de Julio. She especially enjoyed her trip to see the world famous gauchos (Argentine cowboys) and loved the beef BBQ. For more information about Brazil and Argentina, e-mail Nella at Nward@odysseytravel.com or call her at 800 333-8113.

African Safaris

2010-05-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

Deb just returned from an amazing 12 day African Safari with Micato Safaris. She visited Amboseli National Park where she saw the Big Five (buffalo, rhinos, elephants, lions and leopards) and the largest congregation of elephants in Africa. Accommodations there were at the luxurious Tortilis Camp with incredible views of Mt. Kilamanjaro. She visited the Maasai Mara Park and stayed at the Fairmont Mara Safari Club with hundreds of hippos and crocodile swimming in full view. She also visited a Maasai Village and interacted with the warriors. The Ngorongoro Crater was next on the safari where she saw 14 lions in one day! Cheetahs, black and white rhinos, cape buffalo, wildebeest, wort hogs, giraffes, zebras, baboons abound. There was certainly no shortage of wildlife. Off to the Mt. Kenya Safari Club in Kenya's central highland, Deb visited Jane Goodall's Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The luxury camps were amazing and the guides and hosts from Micato Safaris were second to none. To find out more about her amazing experience, contact Deb at deb@odysseytravel.com or call her at 800 333-8113.