After visiting Aruba during September 2014 (exactly a year ago), we finally made our way to one of the other islands of the Netherlands Antilles – Curacao. Curacao has the same dry, desert climate as Aruba but is a larger island. Similar to Aruba, it is outside the hurricane belt in the Caribbean and therefore a good place to visit throughout the year. Our Itinerary: Flight: Ontario – Phoenix – Miami – Curacao on US Airways/American Airlines 4 Nights at Hilton Curacao Flight: Curacao – Miami on American Airlines and then Fort Lauderdale – Los Angeles on Southwest Airlines Day 1: After a red-eye …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaSeptember 2015 – Curacao Trip Report
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2015: Port of Call – St. Maarten: Visiting Maho Beach and Mullet Bay
The last port of call for the Caribbean Cruise was the island of St. Maarten. The island holds the record of the smallest island governed by 2 countries (Netherlands and France). The cruise ship docks in the dutch side of the island, close to Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Karen and my parents decided to go shopping at this port so I went out on my own. After disembarking, I made my way to the ferry terminal by the cruise port and bought a day pass for $7 which allows unlimited trips by the ferry. The ferry trip from the cruise terminal to …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2015: Port of Call – St. Kitts: Visiting South Friars Beach
Before the cruise while researching about St. Kitts, I found out from Tripadvisor forums that most previous cruise goers were recommending either Cockleshell Beach or South Friars Beach. Since Cockleshell Beach is much further south compared to South Friars and there did not seem to be that much quality of beach difference based on reviews we chose the latter. After disembarking from the ship and walking through the duty free area of the terminal at Port Zante we started negotiating fares from the terminal to the South Friars Beach. Finally we found a cab driver who would drive us for …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2015: Port of Call – St. Lucia : Visiting Rodney Bay and Reduit Beach
St. Lucia is one of the two port of calls (the other being St. Kitts) in the 7-Day Caribbean Cruise itinary that does not have spectacular beaches compared to what people expect when they think of the Caribbean. After researching online at various websites, I had decided that we were going to go to Reduit Beach at Rodney Bay which is located in the northern part of the St. Lucia island. After disembarking from the ship, we walked through the duty free shopping area and outside the Cruise terminal. There were a lot of cabs outside the terminal but their …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2015: Port of Call – Barbados : Visiting Carlisle Bay
We disembarked from the ship around 9 AM and made our way through the duty-free shopping area in the cruise terminal. Outside the cruise terminal there were a large number of cabs and vans waiting on passengers. We decided on a beach day in Barbados and after researching online about various beaches in Barbados, I had settled on Carlisle Bay. This beach is very close to the Cruise terminal and there are two options to get there. * 5$/person one-way by cab * 2$/person one-way by bus/van to town and then walk to the beach (about 10 minutes walk) Since there were …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2015: Port of Call – St. Thomas : Visiting Trunk Bay, St. John
Our first port of call for the 7 day Southern Caribbean Cruise out of Puerto Rico was St. Thomas, USVI. There are a few very beautiful beaches in St. Thomas, namely Magens Bay and Coki Beach. However, I had read about the Trunk Bay (located in Virgin Islands National Park) in the neighboring island of St. John, USVI which has been listed among top 10 Caribbean beaches, and so I wanted to visit this one during our stop in St. Thomas. Even though Carnival Cruises offers shore excursions for trips to St. John, I did enough research to figure out that it was …
Caribbean Cruises Destination Trip Reports US, Canada, MexicoMay 2015: My Parents’ USA Trip – From Puerto Rico to Portland: Introduction
My parents are visiting us again in May and will be staying with us for just over a month. Since my parents really loved the 5 day Caribbean Cruise we took in 2012, I went ahead and booked a 7 day Southern Caribbean Cruise with Carnival. Also, for the Memorial Day long-weekend, I wanted to take them on a trip to Portland, which we loved during our long weekend trip in 2013. Here is a list of the upcoming Trip Reports and Hotel Reviews for the trips in May 2015: Hotel Review: Days Inn Jamaica – JFK Airport Puerto Rico Trip …
Caribbean Destination Trip Reports North AmericaSeptember 2014: Aruba Trip Report
We visited Aruba for a weekend trip in September. I have always wanted to go to this small Caribbean island (located less than 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela). Lying outside the hurricane belt, this dry, desert island is perfect to visit any time of the year. Our Itinerary: Flight: Los Angeles – Orlando on Delta Airlines and Orlando – Queen Beatrix Airport, Aruba on Southwest 2 Nights at Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa 1 Night at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba – Beach Resort & Casino Flight: Queen Beatrix Airport, Aruba – Orlando on Southwest and Orlando – …
Caribbean Cruises Destination Trip Reports North AmericaMay 2012 – 5 Day Caribbean Cruise
When looking for something exciting yet relaxing to do for my parents visit to the U.S., me and Karen decided on a 5 day cruise out of Miami. My parents had never been on a cruise before so I wanted an itinerary that included places I’d travelled before. We decided to stick with the last cruise Karen and I had taken in the Bahamas, so that there were no surprises when we showed up with our first-time cruisers. Itinerary: Flight: LAX – MIA: US Airways Hotel (1 night): Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront, Collins Avenue Cruise: Carnival Destiny Day 1: Depart …
Caribbean Cruises Destination Trip Reports North AmericaJuly 2009 – 5 Day Caribbean Cruise
After our 1st cruise ever (3 day Mexico Cruise) I was hooked. We decided to try a different itinerary, a Caribbean cruise this time. We had never been to Caribbean before and those beautiful, white, sandy beaches tempted us to book a 5 day Caribbean cruise leaving Miami. Itinerary: Flight: LAX – MIA: Continental Airlines Hotel (1 night): Circa 39, Miami Beach Cruise: Carnival Destiny Day 1: Depart Miami Day 2: Day at sea Day 3: Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands Day 4: Half Moon Cay ( Private Island) Day 5: Nassau, Bahamas Day 6: Arrive Miami Flight: MIA – LAX: …