Are We There Yet?

The best part about the actual cruise itself (after relaxing and chocolate molten cake) are the shore excursions. 

You either have two options: 
-Sign up for a shore excursion either online or directly when you get on the cruise. They usually fill up quickly, and the lines to book them are always long. 
-Wait until you actually get to your destination, and book with the people on the island itself for sometimes a fraction of the price. It is a risky operation, just in case the tour or excursion has booked up, but the people at these destination points are generally always trying to recruit people for their excursions the second you get off the cruise, and sometimes they drop the price very low to get you to do it. I personally do not like to wait until the last minute.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica was the first destination on Cruise:1 

Here are a couple photographs upon arrival into Jamaica. I thought the "offense of illegal drugs" was pretty ironic, considering the natives did not stop trying to sell us "Ganja" the whole time we were there. 


Here is a photograph from the cruise, as we were pulling into the port. Suggestion: Try to wake up early enough to watch the ship pulling into a port. After being in the middle of nowhere for sometimes over a couple of days, pulling into exotic ports is such a refreshing sight to see. It is definitely worth setting your alarm clock earlier, and sometimes if you are lucky, you can get a table near the window for breakfast and it makes a nice view while you eat.

Another view on zoom.



This is one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken on vacation. Here are Andres and I waiting for our excursion. Sometimes, the ship is positioned just right, off into the distance from the shore. It always makes a great photo-opt.


For our shore excursion, we chose Dunn's River Falls by Catamaran Party Cruise. A mini-ship picks us up at our designated time and sails us over to one of the most famous tourist locations in Jamaica-- Dunn's River Waterfall. The ship transforms into a party deck offering Beer, Rum, Punch, soda and water aboard. Here is a photograph of one of the tour guides dancing to "Cha Cha Slide" while balancing a tray full of beverages on top of her head. Everyone aboard the ship is so friendly and they always encourage you to get up and dance. 


Another shot.



After about a fifteen-twenty minute boat-ride, we arrived at Dunn's River Falls. Over 1,000 feet high, Dunn's River is actually one of the few waterfalls that actually empties out into the sea. Tip: Do not forget a water camera. They are available to purchase on the ship, but for double the price. Lockers are not provided, so leave all personal belongings on the cruise ship.



Suggestion: Bring water shoes! Did I mention that you will climbing the 1,000 foot waterfall? Everyone on the tour will be assigned to hold hands and walk up the waterfall in a single-file line. I personally did not understand this concept-- if one were to fall, others would be dragged down with them. However, it is very safe. Although there are a lot of tricky spots requiring you to maneuver your way around, there are plenty of guides that are there to help you along the way. The people are very friendly; they always offer to take pictures with your camera. At the end of your climb, a video of your climb is offered for purchase. 

Make sure to plan out your excursions wisely; many tours can take up the entire stay at one particular destination. You are only at a certain location for approximately 10 hours, and many of the tours are scheduled halfway during the day. If you are planning on touring the islands, you first should always check how long your excursion will be for. Dunn's River Falls should be approximately 3-4 hours long. 

Before purchasing your excursion, it is best to always find out what each destination is known for. Some other cool excursions for Ocho Rios are river rafting, tubing, and bobsledding. I would not consider horseback riding or snorkeling here.



Here is an image of Jamaican natives. We fortunately had enough time to wander off into the city for a little, to check out some of the different stores. They have really nice hand-made craft jewelry. Just be careful and always watch your surroundings. Tip: Never purchase any hand-made craft from the people selling directly outside the cruise ship. They are tripled-the-price and you can find much better deals once you head into the city. (They were charging tourists to take a photograph with one of the cruise directors dressed up with a Rastafarian wig and bright-colored clothes, when we could just head into the city and take a picture with a real Jamaican.)



Here are Andres and I heading back over to the cruise ship. We really enjoyed our time here in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, however, if you are expecting clear waters and white sand, this is not the destination for you. 

Clear waters and white sand up ahead-- stay tuned. 

Coming from the lost world under the sea, Andres and I decided to voyage from a different standpoint-- Over it.

We booked our first cruise during a week in June of 2009 between breaks in school.

Before ever sailing the seas, I find it safe to say that everyone has some sort of apprehension in regards to sea-sickeness, claustrophobia, or checking in with family and friends back at home. After multiple cruises, I have found ways to ward off all anxiety and put forth the real meaning of "Feeling hot, hot, hot."

After mulling over different cruise sites, I found VacationsToGo to be the most helpful regarding my needs. Booking with a travel agent on this particular website, allows you to bargain prices, inquire about on-board credit, and even warrants you for free upgrades. 

Vacations To Go- Cruising

When booking a cruise, keep a few things in mind:

1. The time of the year in which you are traveling. Summer, Spring breaks, and New Year's cruises are generally the most pricey. Random weeks during January or February always tend to offer better deals because the weather is colder, even in the Caribbean. Thanksgiving cruises are always the cheapest. 
2. Deals are always offered. Make sure to inquire if you are a veteran or senior of 55+. Depending what state you are residing in, there are usually resident deals for a lot of the cruises.
3. On-board Credit. Always, always ask your travel agent about free on-board credit. Depending on the cruise and time of the year, VacationsToGo can offer up to a few hundred dollars for you to spend at your own leisure aboard the cruise. Tip: Upon receiving your on-board credit, make sure to have some sort of documented verification. Upon our last cruise, it was never written on paper and we had a hard time contacting our travel agent from the ship.
4. Bring your own alcohol. You are entitled to bring one bottle of wine or champagne in your luggage, however, hypothetically speaking, there are tricks to the trade. You could try simply wrapping a bottle of vodka inside your clothes at the bottom of your suitcase. Transferring your liquor into a mouthwash bottle could do the trick as well. A little green or blue food coloring would guarantee no issues. Liquor aboard the ship is extremely expensive, and bringing your own could save you a lot of money. Only one time did our bottle get caught upon bag search, and was confiscated until the end of the vacation. It was well worth the risk! 
5. Take out more cash than you need before your vacation. On-board ATM fees are extremely expensive and you do not not want to prohibit yourself to any activities both on and off ship.
6. Look into Motion Sickness Bracelets. They are tiny gray bracelets that you wear on both wrists with a ball on each cuff sticking into your vein. The pressure point triggers the vein in which causes motion sickness (acupuncture.) You can wear them your entire cruise, even in the water. I much prefer wearing the bracelets over taking Dramamine or wearing the ear patches-- no medication is involved. (Bracelets cost around 10 dollars. Put them on before the ship sails.)
7. If you are claustrophobic, I highly urge you to spend a little more money for an ocean-vew cabin. In the inside cabins, there are no windows facing the ocean and no light coming through. You would need to schedule a phone-call from the lobby to be woken up at a certain time. Outside cabins provide one with a beautiful view of the ocean and plenty of light to know when morning has come. Balcony rooms are typically the most expensive rooms. They have a beautiful balcony at the back of your room facing the ocean, allowing you to order in breakfast and watch the sun rise from the comfort of your own room.

Here is a photograph of Andres and I aboard Carnival Liberty. The color-changing chandelier always makes a great photo-opt. Usually, about 2 nights out of the week is formal dinner. Men must be dressed with a jacket and nice slacks, and women in a nice dress or pants-suit. During the Captains Dinner, unlimited lobster is served. Upon booking your cruise, you will be asked if you want early or late dinner. Even though we are late-eaters, I highly recommend doing early dinner, considering most of the adult comedy and game shows are at night, and we found that it was interfering with late dinner. Upon most of the cruise lines, same-seating arrangements are required for dinner. Instead of being seated at a two-seater alone, Andres and I always requested to eat with a large group, in order to meet people. Tip: Have the chocolate molten cake every night of your stay.



Even though the cruise says to originally board around 4 o clock, you can actually get there around lunch-time. Food is already served and music is playing. People are already there dancing and having a good time. Alcohol and casino games are not available until around 30 minutes after the ship has sailed away. Here is a photograph of our ship before we sailed away from Miami. Carnival cruises always encourage their audiences to get up, dance, and participate in the ship's activities. The floor levels are broken up into three different teams: The blue, white, and the red. Throughout your entire vacation, points are awarded throughout game shows and contests and it is always family-fun to participate in the on-going competition, until on the last day, one team is awarded winner. 




Here are photographs of Miami Beach, Florida. I resided in Boca Raton, Florida my entire life, and have always taken for granted this spectacular scene just 45 minutes from my house. It costed me a cruise to appreciate my hometown.



Here is a picture of Andres and I leaving the port of Miami. (30 minutes must have been up, considering drinks were already in hand.) Cash is not used aboard the ship; you are provided a card before boarding and must fill the card with money. Tip: Put more money on the card then you think you will need, because the lines to refill your card at customer service are always long and stressful. You can cash out whatever money is left on the card anytime you wish to.



Here is a photograph of Andres and I on the ship. Do not let the slide in the background deceive you; I do not encourage families with children to sail with Carnival. Carnival cruise lines have the reputation of being the "Party-Cruise" and do not cater to children's needs. There are no kid-pools or many children activities. Carnival cruise lines are for ages 18-anyone that enjoys a good time. 



A nice shot of the lobby. There are elevators, as well as stairs, so elderly and handicap should not worry.




Here is Andres standing on the stairwell leading to the bar in the lobby. Drinks range from 7 dollars+. If you are going to purchase one beer, it will save you a couple bucks to buy the bucket of four. 



Have anxiety about missing a game? Worry no longer! Here is Andres catching up on a soccer game at the sport's bar aboard ship.



Another nice photograph displaying the ships different levels. There are around 12 floors on the cruise. 

Fun-Facts: Passenger capacity -2,974 Total Crew -1,160
Officer's nationality - Italian
Ship Size - Large
Tonnage - 110,000
Ship Length -952 feet
Registry - Panama

The water is always bluer on the other side.

This notion was confirmed on March 2009, during Spring Break in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Officially opened in 1988, the resort consists of three sub-hotels: The Beach Tower, The Coral Towers, and The Royal Towers.

We chose an All-Inclusive stay for our 3night/4day retreat, and prices heavily vary depending on time of the year. For Spring Break 2009, our price came to 1,000 dollars per person. I highly suggest speaking with a representative rather than booking online; they generally tend to throw in more deals.

Step One: Chose a hotel. If you are on a budget and will only be inside the hotel room to sleep, then I would go with the Beach Resort. It is the farthest hotel from the resort's water park, but all of the hotels are conjoined and you can enjoy a scenic view into all of the different hotels.
Step Two: Dining Options. Chose a dining plan that suites your needs. Andres and I chose a basic plan which included breakfast and a three-course dinner. Restaurant choices are more limited, but there were still a large amount of options considering our 3 night stay. The upgraded dinner plan is usually double the price, but includes more restaurants than you can even chose from in such a short amount of time span.
Step Three: Customize your experience. You can chose to include any activities during your stay. I had managed to bargain the phone representative to throw in a dolphin interaction package, which allowed us to wade with the dolphins.
(Depending on the time period, free companion airfare will not be available.)

All-Inclusive Atlantis

I am personally a member of Jet-Blue, and never fly anything other. 

Cheap Flights

(Apologizing in advance for any dark or blurry images. I had to retrieve most of the photographs from my hand-held video camera.)

Here are Andres and I on the infamous Atlantis throne. You cannot visit the island without taking a picture sitting on it.


We arrived at our hotel at approximately 11:50. I remember not being able to unpack the camera fast enough to take these breath-taking photographs from our hotel room. (This is the view from the Beach Resort.) The water was crystal clear and the sand was white and did not even stick to your feet. The hotel room was a very comfortable size and it even included a flat screen television.


Here is me standing in front of the beach outside of our hotel room. The water was absolutely freezing, so if you are planning to enjoy warm waters, wait until Summer.


Directly on the beach, some of the natives were selling alcoholic beverages served inside real coconuts. They would cut open the coconut, and right in front of you, pour an extremely generous amount of alcohol inside the coconut, followed by the mixture of your choice. 10 dollars got you unlimited drinks for the entire day. Suggestion: Try the Pina Coladas.


Here are Andres and I laying out by the beach, enjoying our cocktails. Hint: Alcohol+ Caribbean heat+ banana boat rides= ...I will let you fill in the rest.


The water park "Aquaventure", located on the Atlantis Beach Resort, is a one-of-a-kind adventure. If you are a guest at the resort, the water park is included with your stay, however, if you are visiting for the day or coming off of a cruise, the water park entrance fee witll range you approximately 100 dollars per person, and 80 for minors. Consisting of 200 million gallons of water, the 141 acre park features a mile-long lazy river, water slides, and shark encounters. Featured above, is the Mayan Temple water-slide, shooting you down into a clear tube and inside a pit of sharks swimming above your head.


Here is Andres coming down the Mayan Temple slide and into the shark pit.


Say C
       H
       E
       E
       S
       E
       !


If you did not catch a glimpse at a shark while plunging down the fast-speed Mayan Temple, try a more relaxing ride through a clear, glass tube into the shark pit. Here, are two people floating through the glass tube, while on display for the public to view through a clear tank.


Here is another shot of a shark passing the people on the tube.



Here is another view of the inside of the hotel. The structure of the buildings, water paintings, murals, and fountains fill the resort and complete the lost underworld theme.


Hand-blown glass sculptures fill the resort, furnishing areas such as the lobby and casino. The vibrant display makes a great photo opt.


This is a photograph of the outside of club Aura. When you purchase your All-Inclusive stay, free entrance to this club is available. Make sure to inquire about it. Other fun nighttime activities may consist of the walking the Harborside and checking out nice restaurants and kiosks selling little trinkets. Prices are extremely high in all of the boutiques, so window-shopping is likely. An assortment of different yachts line up the harbor and it is interesting to view the different sizes and features of the mini-ships. The casino is always a fun way to pass the night, featuring tables, slots, tournaments, and race and sports book.

If you are looking for a cheap shopping, downtown Nassau Bahamas is just over the bridge. A taxi cab can take you into the city and there, you can bargain prices. The cruise ship port is located directly in front of the Senor Frogs. If you are looking to have a good time, there is always a wild crowd at Senor Frogs at nighttime.


25,000 dollars will get you a one-night stay in this awe-inspiring arch. According to Forbes, the bridge suite ranks 2 out of 15 of the top most expensive hotels in world. You are paying for a view of the entire resort, water park, and marina, your own personal butler, bar lounge, and entertainment center. You can either spend 25 grand to sleep in red, black, and gold colored sheets, to shower on marble floors, and to surround yourself with dolphin fixtures, or head over to Bed Bath and Beyond, replicate the room, and spend a lifetime living in the comfort of your own home!

If I ever got one good thing out of living in Florida, it was that I was a 15 minute flight to heaven.

I decided it was time to cross over the boundaries of stereotype and explore reality in December of 2008.

Always introducing my boyfriend to new people, one word in particular is frivolously thrown out somewhere amidst the hand-shake: "Cocaine." To settle this argument before we continue, Colombians never dip their pen in the company ink. Yes, Colombia is the largest nation that cultivates this particular substance, producing nearly three-quarters of the world's annual supply. However, cocaine does not profit within its boundaries, which therefore, makes it more readily available to more wealthier nations such as the United States. Behind marijuana, cocaine is the second largest drug in the United States, and has now become the largest consumer of cocaine. The next time I present Andres to any of you, in all actuality, his first assumption should be one particular word: "Cocaine." Throughout this entry, I will distinguish common stereotypes and portrayals from realism and way of life. 

We booked our tickets with Avianca, a Colombian airline. I highly recommend traveling to South America with this airline. Although you may pay a little more extra, their television sets, video games, and hot meals make a complimentary bag of peanuts seem so trivial.

Avianca Airlines

My Stereotype: There are no buildings in Colombia.
Reality: Cartagena's coast provides a breath-taking view with all the asymmetrical buildings in the distance. 



My Stereotype: Gas is cheap.
Reality: Gas is MORE expensive. The price in which you see here has been converted to pesos. 1 U.S Dollar= 1,910 Colombian Pesos. (Almost 2 to 1) Therefore, gas is over 3 dollars for regular and almost 4.50 for diesel. (This was back in 2008; prices have gone up since then in both countries.)


My Stereotype: Pesos were coins.
Reality: Pesos come in paper form as well as coins. Here is me holding up 5 U.S dollars in the back, and 25 U.S dollars in the front.


Me posing with pesos.


My Stereotype: Colombia would not have our fast food joints.
Reality: Ronald McDonald has also poisoned their food as well.
McDonald's is actually really popular in Colombia. A lot of our restaurant food-chains have made their way over seas. Sometimes, they can even be more expensive. Just as Chinese, Mexican, Indian, and Thai are widely popular amongst Americans, our American food makes just as big of impact on other cultures. (It is just a shame that McDonald's has to represent.)



My Stereotype: Colombians would not have taxis.
Reality: They even have MotoTaxis. Besides the fact that Cartagena is covered in taxi cabs, they offer passengers with a quicker and easier way to dodge traffic, even providing safety, lice-infested helmets to ensure your well-being. Cabs in Colombia are not measured by meters or time machines. Haggling is their method of payment, and never settle for the first offer. 


My Stereotype: All cars and trucks looked like this.
Reality: Move out of the way Double-Decker tour bus-- Chiva coming through!
A Chiva is a guided, no air-conditioned, and very claustrophobic tour bus that allows tourists to view the city from a unique point of view. All passengers are provided maracas, congas, and other instruments in order to add a sense of musicality to the tour. From Andres's grandmother's house, we could hear the Chivas passing by at all hours of the night. The unsynchronized performance instantly becomes the soundtrack to your stay. 


My Stereotype: I would not feel safe during my stay.
Reality: Andres's Grandmother's house is also known as a landmark in Cartagena, a Chiva pit stop for a photo-opt, and also featured in a videography clip- destination section on one of our upcoming cruises to Cartagena, Colombia.


I thought this was very interesting-- the entire back of the house is opened and a gated fence serves as a wall. The structure of the house is unbelievable and just absolutely marvelous.



My Stereotype: Do not drink the water, ice-cubes, fruits and salads.
Reality: Just be-careful.
On my very first trip to Colombia, I was very conservative with the foods that I was consuming, in fear of parasites. I made sure to not drink my soda with ice-cubes (because if the ice-cubes melted, then I would be drinking water) and I made sure not to eat any of the fruits and salads that were washed in water. By the end of that trip, I have never been more sick in my entire life! I was so cautious and aware of everything going into my mouth, that I turned into Charlotte in Mexico! (Sex and the City reference.) The next few trips to Colombia, I became exhausted of watching myself rather than enjoying my stay. I figured if the worst that could happen is an upset stomach- then my trip would be worthwhile. I ended up eating all the fruits and snow cones that Cartagena had to offer... And I never got sick again! Just keep in your mind that it is a different country, and the oils and ingredients are not what our bodies are accustomed to. 


Snow cones are served from a cart off a bicycle, and you have to keep an eye out while driving. They do not always look entirely clean and you might wish that you had gotten your Hepatitis shot before coming, however, the taste of the snow cone is something that the United States could never provide. On top of the flavored ice, they pour a generous amount of "leche condensada" (condensed milk) and it adds a sweet touch to the tart taste. It is definitely a recommendation!

Mazorca Desgranada is a "safe" and delicious dish that consists of sweet corn, cheese, crushed potato chips, tarter sauce, and your choice of meat mixed in. 


This is a photograph of my favorite restaurant in Cartagena-- Mr. Chuzz. I ate there for my entire month stay. I highly recommend "Pollo a la Plancha." It is a paper-thin slice of chicken with a disclosed, special sauce, served over a bed of rice. It is absolutely incredible. I personally cannot wait to go back just to eat there again.


My Stereotype: I would not be able to capture the beauty of the city from ground view.
Reality: Correct!
La Popa is a mountain standing over 490 feet tall located in the barrier of La Pie de La Popa. Before they gained their independence in 1607, the mountain was used as a militair area. It is now one of the most visited sites in Cartagena, Colombia and makes a great photo opt from the top. At the top of the mountain, sits a Pope Convention, which lights up at night and complements the black sky. It is a nice day-activity to go inside and see the churches and paintings. 


Adult Entrance- 3500 Pesos
Child Entrance- 1800 Pesos


Me holding a sloth at the top of the mountain.


My Stereotype: There is a lot violence within the walls of Cartagena.
Reality: The violence technically faces out of the city.
When Colombia was founded in 1533, it was an instant pirate-magnet and was no stranger to burnt homes and pillaged towns. The natives covered their walls in cannons at the end of the 16th century, after the attack of Francis Drake and French pirate, Martin Cote. The stone fortresses and iron cannons were built facing the coastline to ward off the sea-assaulters as they made their way toward land. 
Suggestion: Take a walk over the wall during sunset. Many nice bars and restaurants have been built at the top, to relieve weary minds of Johnny Depp plundering such a marvelous landmark, dressed in eye-liner and a Rastafarian dreadlocks. 


A really cool shot from the top of the fortress overlooking the city. 


My stereotype: Everyone in Colombia dresses like this.
Reality: Only the women from an old African town called "Palenque" sell fruits and nuts off the streets dressed like this.
These women are called "Palanqueras" and they are dressed in loud colors in order to reflect the city's bustle. They walk around the coast with all different types of fruits, such as bananas and watermelons, and they balance it on top of their heads with the greatest of ease. They were kind enough to allow me to take a picture with them for 1000 pesos (50 U.S cents.)


This is how people dress in Colombia! Here are most of the 25 people from Andres's side of the family in a photo-shoot on New Years. (Andres and I are third and fourth from the left.) Did I mention this is just his father's side of the family?


My Stereotype: There are donkeys on the street.
Reality: There are donkeys on the street!
Andres's father had woke me up early one morning to come outside and check out our delivery. A man had come by to the house on a donkey to deliver some construction materials. I was very ecstatic to have my first donkey encounter, and whoever said that opportunities don't just knock on your door? (I look at my UPS man in a whole different respect now.)


My Stereotype: The people in Colombia cannot relate.
Reality: Some of the greatest friendships have come from our trips there.
Andres was born and raised in Colombia and he did have the privilege to move to the United States until he was 15. All of his childhood friends are from Colombia, and by the time we made it to Colombia together, that was that first time since he has revisited his country in 6 years. My first impression before arriving in Colombia was that I would not have much in common with a lot of his friends-- although I am fluent in Spanish, it is still hard to express some thoughts in other languages other your own. The first couple of nights upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed with the way that we connected with each other. We compared stories and lives and it turned out that language was not even a barrier anymore. We shared similar interests in our relationships, studies, and we had the same goals and we were all graduating college around the same time. It is amazing their interest in learning from Americans and people of other cultures. In this picture above, Andres and I had taught them how to play a couple of drinking games that are popular at home in the United States, such as Beer Pong and Flip Cup. We had such an amazing time teaching and learning a lot in return.


"Aguila" (Eagle) is the typical Colombian beer. During our drinking games, it is safe to say that I became very well familiarized with this particular drink. In stores, you can find one of these beers for 1000 pesos (50 U.S cents.) If you were to go out in El Centro (The Center) you can easily find this beer for 10,000 pesos (5 U.S dollars.) 


Here are Andres and I during his childhood friend's barbecue. We made a trip back to Colombia to celebrate his friend's graduation as a Dentist. We were so thrilled to be in attendance during his special day.

My Stereotype: Over the years, Colombia has not only enlightened me with knowledge of their lifestyle and culture, but it has also made me more conscious about the things that I take for granted as an American. I now completely understand the value of the dollar, and I can never look at store bought pair of earrings the same again, after watching it being strung together by hand from pieces of coral. After living with Andres's family for months at a time, I appreciated family values more; coming from such a small family, I loved being a part of something big and I was grateful to always be welcomed at the table during Saturday afternoon brunches. 

Reality: It is too good to be true.