5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas

March 21, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

For those that don’t know, our family is working extremely hard to be able to go visit Disney World later this year – that means saving money, planning ahead, skipping on some ‘extras’ to make it a reality. We’re all on board, and doing little things along the way to keep us excited and the momentum going – such as planning how we’ll customize our MagicBands! This is a great way to personalize your own band, and can be a fun Disney-themed craft project as you’re preparing for your next trip. Here’s 5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas to help get your creativity going!

If you saw when I shared earlier on why I think MagicBands are completely incredible and super useful on a Disney trip, you’ll know many of the ways you use it at the parks, hotels and more. Well, now you don’t only have your own handy band to help along your trip, but you can personalize it however you want to REALLY make it yours! Plus, it’ll add a little bit of ‘magic’ while you’re planning, preparing and counting down to your next visit.

Don’t forget to check Get Away Today for the best Disney Vacation deals!

The usual – purchase a design, or buy add-on accessories

You can order fully designed/printed MagicBands from Disney – everything from classic characters, to superhero or Star Wars. There’s also some fun accessories from places like the Disney Store that just pop into the holes along the band for some 3D accents.

Paint

Okay, how awesome is this Captain America themed band from Creative Green Living? Head over to see how she used paint to customize hers!

Temporary Tattoos

Check out how simple it is to use a fun tattoo for your MagicBand at Disney Insider Tips.

Or see The Delightful Life for another tutorial…

Jewels

How fantastic is this beautiful jeweled MagicBand from The Delightful Life?! I totally love it – this plus the ‘bonus’ craft at the bottom are likely what I’ll do to customize my own this year!

More fun ideas on the blog at Get Away Today!

Nail Polish & Stickers

There’s so many possibilities when you have some nail polish on-hand, so check out ScrapPop for how to use it on your band!

Bonus – GLITTER!!!

I absolutely LOVE this MagicBand creation from Creative Green Living – not just because it’s sparkly, but it’s also purple! I want to mix this tutorial with the jewel/bling one on my own band for our trip – I’ll be sure to share pics when it’s done!

How would you customize YOUR MagicBand?

FREE Disney Cruise Line Planning Video

January 31, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

While it may come as a shock to those who know our love of everything Disney, I’ve never been on a Disney Cruise before! It’s definitely something we’ve always wanted to do, and hope to be able to experience before our kids get too much older, but it just hasn’t happened quite yet. When it does, though, it’ll be something NEW – which means lots of planning for me – YAY! While I really do enjoy planning trips, it’s a bit challenging to know everything and not get overwhelmed when it’s new. Luckily there’s many great resources out there, like this FREE Disney Cruise Line Planning Video. Just click on the following image, and it’ll take you to the official Disney site to fill out the sign-up form to get your free video.

Not only is it chock-full of great tips and ideas, it’s really playful and fun. Instead of just doing a bunch of lists and spreadsheets (we’re not against these at all – you should see the amount of lists I do before a vacation!) and making your planning more tedious, this video really brings Disney to life so the whole family can begin the fun right from the start, not just when you get on the ship.

And since things are always changing, you can nab the new Disney Cruise Line planning video every year – yup, they update it regularly to keep up with all the new and exciting things! Even if you’ve been on a Disney Cruise many times, at the very least this video is super playful – maybe even emotional for us true Disney-lovers – for the whole family to enjoy together as you prepare for embarking on your adventure.

So nab your Disney Cruise planning video today and being planning your trip ASAP!

(going to Disneyland or Disney World instead? There’s a free video for those too – check it out HERE!)

Other Disney Fun

Kauai Hawaii Helicopter Ride

January 9, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

This Kauai Adventure Trip was provided to me free of charge by Kauai Visitors Bureau, but all opinions are mine alone. #KauaiDiscovery

If you’ve ever wondered or considered taking a trip on a helicopter when visiting the beautiful islands of Hawaii, you’ve got to check out all the beauty & adventure awaiting you during a Kauai, Hawaii Helicopter Ride! And if you’re worried about motion sickness – read on, because I’m right there with ya!

It’s been several months since my unforgettable trip to Kauai, Hawaii last May, but I still love going through all the photos and remembering what an amazing experience it was. I’ve told you about horseback riding in the mountains and seeing dolphins dance/swim with our boat on our Catamaran sail, as well as ziplining over the lush, green mountains. Today, I’ve got one last major adventure to tell you about that was probably my second favorite thing (the sail was the top) we did the entire trip – taking a Hawaii helicopter ride with Island Helicopters Kaua’i!

Okay, so first thing you need to know – you have to arrive early enough to get your weight (total weight WITH your bag and such). It’s simply so they can balance the helicopter the safest way possible. They will assign you seats, so don’t stress about fighting for one. They’re all good because of those big windows! When your helicopter is ready, they’ll give you a short safety briefing, as well as these protective booties so that you don’t risk carrying who-knows-what on your shoes into the mountains of Hawaii. Now, we did the flight where we actually LANDED at Jurassic Falls and got to walk around for about 10-15 minutes, so maybe others that are simply flying don’t have to wear there ‘oh-so-cute’ booties. We also got a yellow emergency pack to wear around our waists, just in case.

You then are escorted safely to the helicopter, get seatbelted in, and put on your headset. This allows you to hear the music AND the pilot. There’s a little microphone available in the helicopter you can grab and use if you need to speak to the pilot, too.

I absolutely LOVED that they actually played music from Jurassic Park as we came closer to the falls, so it went all dramatic when it appears around the mountain – just like in the movie. It was gorgeous, and such a neat experience being somewhere I’d seen so much in the movies.

After our time walking around the falls, taking photos and doing some ‘jumping’ videos because – well – why not, we climbed back into our helicopter to continue our ride. We flew all around the beautiful island of Kauai, seeing clear beaches and bright blue ocean, green mountains with a few more hidden waterfalls, and the coastlines.

Okay, now for all you fellow motion-sickness people – they DO have baggies in there if you get sick. I will say that I get motion sickness pretty darn easy, and during this ride I got REALLY motion sick, to the point I was holding a baggie and let the pilot know (on the microphone) that I was probably going to throw up – but I didn’t end up actually throwing up, thank goodness. The group was super nice and helped turn the air conditioning towards my face and even fanned my face with little pamphlets – they’re awesome! For about 10-15 minutes I was miserable, but then it went away enough that I wasn’t worried about throwing up. Now, THAT BEING SAID, I still loved every minute and it was still an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade at all! Even though I got sick, and even if I had thrown up after all, I still would go back in a heartbeat because it’s THAT worth it! You can’t miss out on something so amazing just because of a few minutes of a bad (or downright awful) stomach.

I think our total helicopter ride was like an hour, maybe hour and a half? I think it was just long enough to see all the sites from above, plus our wonderful time walking around Jurassic Falls. Don’t take too much with you because of weight and having to hold it on your lap, but do have something for photos or recording. I highly recommend taking a helicopter ride with Island Helicopters Kauaʻi for your next visit to Kauai, Hawaii because it’s a great, adventurous way to see the beautiful views of the island – and I think the only way to get to Jurassic Falls!

More Fun from my Kauai trip!

* ATV Adventure

* Zipline Course

* Horseback Riding

* My Adventures in Paradise

* Catamaran Sail

* Aqua Kauaʻi Beach Resort

* Kōloa Landing Resort at Poʻipū, Autograph Collection

* Kauai – the FOOD (coming soon)

Follow the Kauai Visitors Bureau on Instagram & Facebook!

Why the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is the Perfect Trip Vehicle

December 8, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I was allowed to drive the 2017 Mazda CX-5 for my trip free of charge to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone. #DriveMazda

When I was planning my super-quick trip to Orlando a few weeks ago, I knew I needed to get a vehicle so I could have easy access to transportation whenever I needed to go to the next location. There was a lot of back-and-forth between parks to fit it all in, so being able to go on my terms was necessary. I was super excited to learn I’d get to drive the new CX-5 for my three days, and I learned Why the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is the Perfect Trip Vehicle.

If y’all remember, we got to test out the 2016 version of the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring back in February, and loved the smoothness of the ride and roomy-ness of the seats and foot areas. I knew the 2017 would be at least as good as last year’s model, but oh my gosh – I wasn’t prepared for my new absolute FAVORITE feature…..

…it displays your SPEED onto the windshield!!! Okay, don’t panic – it’s a screen on the dash that’s designed to reflect up so it displays slightly in front of you – but lightly, so while you CAN see it, it’s definitely not a distraction and doesn’t interfere at all with safe driving or seeing obstacles.

Here’s why this makes it IDEAL for a trip vehicle though – it not only displays the speed you’re currently going, but also what the posted speed is! Ack – that’s my biggest frustration of driving in a new place, like on trips, because I don’t know what the speed limit is on the roads until I pass a sign. And those don’t always show up very often, depending on the road.

It was super nice to 1: not have to look down to check my speed and 2: know what the posted speed limit was on any road I went on, without having to look for/wait for another sign.

That’s not it – it also had indicators on that special display that showed if there was something close behind you, if you were close to the one in front of you, AND if there’s something to your side. They have the side indicators on your side-view mirrors as well, that light up a bright yellow when a car is next to you – but I loved having it right there in my view.

Aside from just this new feature that I think is completely amazing, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring has all the great features I enjoy in a vehicle, like a pop-up screen for navigation, music, etc. There’s dials for it on the steering wheel and the middle dash as well, making it convenient for your co-pilot to help adjust things. It’s a very smooth, quiet ride – and gets about 24 MPG city, so you can save on your gas budget aspect of your vacation while still enjoying a mid-sized vehicle!

The same roomy interior (in both front and back seats) as the 2016 was great, and the trunk has plenty of cargo space for any luggage, souvenirs or whatever else you may have to take along (or back) from your trip.

And one more thing – this blue color that I got to drive around Orlando for three days? It’s my new favorite vehicle color, since it was beautiful, bright, shiny with a hint of silver tint to it and just different enough from all the other blue vehicles to make it special. If I’m lucky enough to get a 2017 Mazda CX-5 in the future, I want it in THIS shade!

What do YOU look for most in a vehicle on a trip?

Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table in the Grand Floridian

December 5, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

When discussing our big anniversary trip, we both decided on a good splurge – an amazing, romantic dining experience. Since we’re both foodies, we decided to try one of the most popular, highly praised and difficult to get reservations at Walt Disney World in Orlando: Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table in the Grand Floridian! Yes, this was a major expense – a restaurant with a 5 DIAMOND RATING isn’t going to come cheap – but we agreed it would be worth us cutting costs in other areas to make this work. We were very fortunate to get a reservation near the end of our trip, and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

Since I know your first question would probably be ‘well, how much DOES it cost?’ here’s the answer: $250 per person, and up to 10 people can dine at the Chef’s Table (but only in the same reservation – you can have just one or two if you want and nobody else can invade on your table). You can also add an optional wine pairing for $150. The main dining room Prix Fixe menu is $235, in case you’re unable to try Victoria & Albert’s Chefs Table. I know that’s a LOT of money – because then you add gratuity (these Chefs and staff definitely earn it – they’re amazing!), so for just two people it can be a hit to the wallet. Hubby and I both agreed that this was probably our FAVORITE experience from the whole trip, and the most amazing food thing we’ve ever done together, so we definitely believe it was worth it.

We checked in for our reservation at their location inside the Grand Floridian, but were early so had time to wander around a little bit. By the way, they do have a strict dress code, so be sure to check that out before you arrive so you’re prepared. Even though we were right next to the kitchen, at times I did feel a bit chilly so ladies, you may want to bring a wrap or elegant jacket, just in case.

Since the Chef’s Table is back through the kitchens, you must be escorted if you’re to leave that area. We had a sweet lady guide us back, and anyone we passed wished us a Happy Anniversary – if you’re there celebrating an occasion, be sure to let them know so they can celebrate with you! Our table was off to the side near the kitchen, so we could watch as they worked their culinary magic. One of our servers, Chris, greeted us quickly and double checked any food allergies or preferences (they also called about a week before to check on this). We had a sparkling cider (or champagne, if you drink alcohol) toast with the wonderful Chef de Cuisine, Aimee Rivera. She talked with us a bit first, explaining how the evening would go and let us know we were free to get up from the table, we just had to stay behind the little half-wall separating our area from the kitchen – due to safety reasons of course. She was very friendly, and though was running a major kitchen and plenty of staff, never made us feel rushed in our conversations.

We got to watch for a tiny bit after that, enjoying learning a bit about the kitchen. They told us we were free to ask questions to any of the staff there, and even though I was hesitant at first because you could tell they were busy and focused on their tasks, they were all very friendly and welcomed anything we asked, offering plenty of answers and conversation.

It was really nice getting to be a part of the kitchen experience, but also have our own private space to just be us discussing our meal, our trip and what we were watching from the super busy – yet smoothly-ran – kitchen.

If you’re like us and love taking photos of your food – or plan to share those photos like I am in this article – then I recommend taking a good DSLR camera, so you can adjust it for the lighting. Hubby kept taking pictures of ME while I was taking pictures of things during our whole trip, so of course he grabbed some during the meal 🙂

We had several different staff members come talk to us during the entire experience – which lasted about 4-5 hours – either to just chat with us for some pleasant conversation, or to explain our next course. It was really interesting as they went into detail for each part of our meal, and why certain things were paired the way they were. And don’t worry – you get a copy of the menu to bring home with you, so you don’t have to try to memorize every single course – there are 10-12, after all (and two of those are desserts – yummy)!

Here’s a bigger photo of our menu – keep in mind it does change periodically, so yours may be different than ours. This is the main menu, without any changes or substitutions.

Okay, let’s get to the FOOD!!! It was absolutely delicious – and even though I was worried since I don’t like any seafood, they were very accommodating and made changes as needed. For example, I had a chicken version of the John Dory and roasted quail in place of the wild turbot. If you have a preference, don’t hesitate to let them know. Also, they WANT you to have the most incredible experience possible – they made sure we loved everything we had, and if we didn’t, they were eager to make something different in place. This was probably the most friendly, amazing staff I’ve ever had the joy of meeting at any dining experience!

Bread, Salt & Black Truffle Butter

You get several bread servings throughout the meal, with a variety of salts to choose from. I personally loved the pink one. They also brought out some black truffle butter which was DELICIOUS!

Course 1: Amuse-Bouche, Cauliflower Panna Cotta with Imperial Caviar

The mix of creamy with the crunch of the chips really blended well and the flavor was super smooth. While I don’t like seafood, I did like the caviar with this dish.

Optional Up-Purchase: Galilee Osetra Caviar with Traditional Garnishes ($105 for 1/2 oz. or $210 for 1 oz.) – we opted not to do this

Course 2: Seared Duck Breast with Farro & Asian Pears

I loved the way the sweet pear accented the flavor of the duck, and the little sauce dots just finished it all off perfectly.

Course 3: John Dory with Poppy Seed & Lemon Ravioli (Mine was a substitute of Green Circle Chicken)

This might have been my favorite non-beef dish of the whole evening because oh-my-goodness the lemon sauce was unforgettable. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Course 4: Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers & Preserved Lemon (I had Roasted Quail with House made Sauerkraut)

I was surprised at the great texture of this, and that the capers didn’t have that overly-strong taste that they can often have. Super tasty!

I think they gave us an extra course (because I counted 11 with this, and this wasn’t on my menu at all): New Zealand Langoustine with Nage Crema

This was hubby’s – and he totally loved it! He said it was mild in ‘seafood’ taste, so that I’d probably enjoy it as well, but I didn’t give it a try. Wish I had, though!

Course 5: Marcho Farms Veal with Black Truffles

Guys, they even shaved some black truffle onto our meal – that stuff is VERY expensive, so I felt really special. I don’t typically like veal, but this was tender and the flavor of the the whole dish complimented itself so well that I really enjoyed it.

Course 6: Lamb Loin with Barley Porridge & Compressed Plums

I definitely want to try making lamb at home with some plums because WOW they went together so deliciously.

Course 7: Australian Kobe-Style Beef with Roasted Garlic Potatoes – can also add up-charge of Miyazaki Japanese Beef for $55 (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!)

THIS is the absolute highlight of the meal – and please please please give the Miyazaki beef a try because it was INCREDIBLE! It’s from special cows in Japan that are fed saki, massaged, kept away from most people to keep their stress down, listen to classical music, etc. Crazy, right? When you taste this melt-in-your-mouth-like-butter meat, though, you’ll agree that they’re doing it right. Only about one cows-worth of this beef comes into the USA each year, and Victoria & Albert’s is one of maybe 15 places in the country that get it. Hubby was practically moaning because it tasted so good – you should’ve seen his face, absolute foodie bliss! This beef is the one on the right – the left is the Australian Kobe-style that was still some of the best beef I’ve ever had, until trying the other one, that is 🙂

Course 8: Selection of Cheese from the Market

This is where I learned how eager the team at Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table are to please – there was ONE of the cheeses on this plate that I really didn’t like (a few I loved, some were fine, but one was really too much for me), and within like 20 seconds of trying it – and probably making a weird face – one of our serves, who I didn’t see anywhere nearby, came up asking if they can make me something else to replace it. He asked very earnestly, and though I politely declined (I was already feeling so full – but very happily so) I was really grateful for the attention and offer. So if you don’t like something and DO want something different, I know they’d be glad to oblige!

Course 9: Cranberry Sweet Potato Gateau

I’m a huge chocolate-lover, as you all well know, but this dessert was so creamy and smooth, with an amazing-yet-mild cranberry taste to it that was complemented by the other sauces on the plate that it was probably my favorite dessert of the night.

Course 10: Peruvian Chocolate Crunch

This chocolate dessert definitely didn’t disappoint either – it was rich and dark, but creamy and not overwhelming at all, like some darker chocolates can be. And yes, that’s edible gold foil on there!

Yes, the courses appear really small – but don’t worry, you will leave VERY full and satisfied! We weren’t sure we’d ever be hungry again!

If you happen to notice a box on one of the shelves nearby your table…..it’s full of CHOCOLATES that you get to choose some from at the completion of your evening. If you’re too full (I can almost guarantee you will be) don’t worry, just ask them to box some up for you to take for later.

All the ladies also get a fresh ROSE which was a beautiful touch and really added more romance and thoughtfulness to the whole experience. The staff gave us a delicious orange-bread that we loved having for breakfast the next morning, as their way of thanking us for coming. I felt like laughing because we couldn’t thank THEM enough for how truly unforgettable, delicious and downright enjoyable the whole night was. From the friendly, helpful and generous staff to the food I can’t wait to eat here again sometime – it was our favorite part of our whole trip.

I highly recommend trying Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table the next time you’re celebrating something special – we plan to come back for our 15th or 20th (or both!) wedding anniversary!

Thank you to Chef Aimee, Chris, and the entire team at Victoria & Alberts Chefs Table for such a magical and delightful night!

Tour Guide for Couples: Is it Worth It?

November 28, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE fan of theme parks, so when I convinced hubby to include Disney World in our big anniversary trip I was THRILLED! One thing he wasn’t sure about, though, was having a tour guide with us some of the days. He was worried it wouldn’t be worth it, or that it’d be awkward having a third person with just the two of us – but he agreed to give it a try. So here’s the big question: Is a Tour Guide for Couples worth it? I was convinced already, but read on to see what hubby thought…

As soon as hubby gave the go-ahead, I contacted my friends at Michael’s VIPs because there were absolutely AMAZING last year when I took my mom to Orlando. As always, Adam was super helpful with the planning and coordinating everything from the very beginning up until our vacation ending. I introduced y’all to the great guides I got to meet and work with last year in this post, and I was super excited to learn that we’d get Renee for our trip this year! She’s one of those people you can’t help but absolutely love, almost like an old friend even if you’ve just met.

She joined hubby and me for two of our days in the parks – the first day at Magic Kingdom, meeting us outside Be Our Guest restaurant after our early breakfast reservation. We went right into a day full of every ride we wanted to do, never waiting more than 10 minutes. She knew how to navigate her way around the crowds, what times events happened so when to avoid certain spots, and which rides had higher traffic at particular times of day. Renee was so good at her job, that we’d done everything we’d wanted to do once by 1pm, when she said her goodbye for the day, leaving us with still hours to redo whatever we decided and having no worries about ‘fitting it in’!

Like I told you, after last year both my mom and I were completely convinced that a tour guide from Michael’s VIPs was the best way to do the parks in Orlando, so I already knew I’d love having Renee with us for this trip. But was hubby convinced? On the very first day after Renee left us in the afternoon at Magic Kingdom, he turned to me and said something like ‘okay, you’re right – that made a huge difference, and was so much less stressful!’ We were use to being rushed, stressed about planning and kind of burnt out in our past trips together because we had to know and handle everything. He realized that having a tour guide saves so much time and effort!

Here’s why you need a Tour Guide for Couples

1: They help with the planning

Yup, whether they’re helping you as just a couple or an entire group, they assist with the scheduling, planning, dining reservations and getting fast passes. They also know which rides get busiest when, so know which rides to do first, what to wait for, and which don’t really matter, which saves you lots of time and hassle.

2: They know the parks and schedules

I ‘sort of’ know my way around Walt Disney World parks now, but still find myself hesitating and getting a little turned around at times. Not only that, but during our night at Magic Kingdom, when it was just us and not Renee, I walked us right into a crowd watching the parade and it took us FOREVER to find our way out and around! With a guide, she took us around the crowds because she knew when people would start lining up, the parade and show routes, and could avoid them completely. This also does help when you WANT to watch the shows and parades – I was mistaken that night for one of the shows and we didn’t get good spots at all, which was disappointing. I know Renee would’ve had us in prime position for seeing the stage if she were with us!

3: The know the bathrooms, food places and more

How much time do you waste trying to find a bathroom asap? Since the guides know the layout and location of everything in the parks so well, they ask you throughout the day when you’re near one so you never end up rushing. This can be especially great for family’s with kiddos, but worked also for us as a couple because we didn’t have to ‘do you need to go? No, do you? No…..’ (but really you do). One of hubby’s ‘have to do’ items was enjoy a Dole Whip, so when we were at a good location and timing to nab one Renee let us know and it fit in flawlessly.

4: They can take photos of the two of you

When it’s just the two of you, it’s super hard sometimes to get good photos together. During our trip, we had TONS of selfies of us together, but you can’t exactly do a great post or have much of a background in those. When Renee was with us, she never hesitated to snap a photo in a good location (she knew lots!) or even catch us on a ride together without us knowing! When you’re on a trip as a couple, photos together are some of the BEST souvenirs you can get!

5: More rides with less waiting, giving you more time together NOT standing around

Since we got so much done and experienced in such a small amount of time, we were able to go slow and really enjoy ourselves, and each other’s company, the rest of the day. We’d done all the rides we wanted to at least once, so it was no big deal to sit on a bench, holding hands or snuggling a bit, and watching people. Or we sat at a table and talked more about the week ahead, the fun we’d had so far, and just have a good time. Without the stress, worry or rush, it’s a whole new world enjoying your time together!

6: Sometimes they can get you AMAZING seats

These guides can work magic, I swear. Renee was able to get us reserved ‘priority’ seating for The Festival of the Lion King during our second day with her at Animal Kingdom, so we were right in the very front – plus we just showed up and were led in right before it started, no waiting around forever while people took their seats. This led to one of my favorite moments of the trip – hubby being called up to demonstrate the ‘warthog sound’ for our Warthog section! He snorted so funny, even the lady couldn’t control her laugh much! I started recording just a split second after he made the sound, but the reaction is clearly comical 🙂

During the show, we also were right were the performers would go by – I had some of the ‘monkey’s trying to pull ‘bugs’ out of my hair to eat as they twirled by!

But does it feel weird having a ‘third wheel’?

Not one single bit! We still enjoyed plenty of time talking just us, but also had fun with our conversations with Renee. She went on just a couple rides with us (Flight of Passage, because I don’t expect ANYBODY to pass that amazing ride up!), but stayed off the vast majority so we had time together with just us. We never felt awkward or like we had to accommodate her even the slightest. Oh, and she was actually super helpful on some of the rides she did go on with us – like the Na’vi River Journey, she offered to take photos for us so that we could just sit and really take it all in as we rode!

I’ll be perfectly honest – hubby was VERY against the idea of hiring a tour guide before this trip, but I’m so glad he let us try it because now he’s completely convinced it’s the best way to do theme parks! We’re hoping to take our kiddos to Walt Disney World next year, and he agreed that we HAVE to give Michael’s VIPs a call because if it was that helpful for just the two of us, he knows it’ll be a total game-changer when we have our five kids along for the fun!

Contact Michael’s VIPS today for the most fun, relaxing and stress-free trip ever!

Still not sure? Check out our other thoughts on hiring a tour guide!

10 Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPS

Meet Michael’s VIPS

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

Gifts for Travelers

November 21, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

Some products were received complimentary to facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone, and we only recommend products we truly enjoy or believe in. This post contains affiliate links that give us a small percentage if you make a purchase through that link, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this site!

I’ve spent a lot more travelling the past year than normal, and I’ve loved every moment of it (minus missing the kiddos & hubby when they can’t go with me)! When I first starting, though, I wasn’t prepared with stuff that would’ve made it a lot more convenient and pleasant. Now that I consider myself a more ‘seasoned traveler’, there’s some items that I keep right by my bags because they’re so great to have on a trip, whether for work or fun! If you have someone on your holiday shopping list that loves to travel, then you’re going to love this list of fantastic ideas for Gifts for Travelers!

This isn’t just bags we love, but also accessories, battery packs, even pillows or other things that make going on a trip that much easier and more enjoyable – and hopefully take some of the stress out of it! There’s a whole range of gifts for travelers in this list, with a variety of prices to fit into any budget – so browse on, get shopping, and happy travels!

Anker Portable Charger

Waterproof Phone Case & Lantern (2-pack)

Batman Passport Cover

Groot USB Car Charger

Foldable Travel Sock/Slippers

Travel Journal

Pikachu Portable Charger

Crossbody Bag (holds tablet)

Travel Blanket

Blackout Sleep Masks

Travel Alarm Clock

Lightweight, Foldable Travel Backpack

Travel Life Journal

DSLR/Laptop Travel Backpack

10-Port USB Wall Charger

Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day

November 11, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

We received discounted passes to Aquaventure courtesy of Atlantis Resort to facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #AtlantisBahamas #BahamasAtHeart

During our recent anniversary trip, our cruise stopped in Nassau, Bahamas for a day. We knew exactly what we wanted to do with our port day – visit the Atlantis Resort! Hubby couldn’t wait to try some of the water slides, while I was eager for the not-so-lazy river. If you’re considering joining in the awesome fun offered here, but not sure exactly what it’s all about, don’t worry – we’re sharing our experience at the Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day so you can decide if you’re family would enjoy it as well.

Atlantis Resort

One great thing about making port at Nassau is that it’s docked, not tendered, so you can just walk on and off the ship. You can even see the Atlantis Resort in the distance from the cruise port!

Once you’re off the ship, it’s just a short walk to an area with plenty of taxis (that have a set rate per person, so no worries about haggling) that will take you on the 15-20 minute drive to the Atlantis Resort.

We were dropped off at the curb, then followed the signs to the admission area – it was towards the left, outside of the building. They gave us wristbands that were our entrance passes to everything Aquaventure includes – water slides, pools, rivers and beaches, plus the Atlantis ‘excavation’ area. Then we were off on our adventure! We took our time walking through the hotel – checking out the fun decor and AMAZING and GIANT glass sculptures. There’s also plenty of fountains and such near their massive aquarium.

Be sure to explore the aquarium and the ‘excavation’ area – they designed it as if there were remnants of the actual Atlantian culture, complete with models, sculptures, and ‘submarines’ that may have been used for them to travel under water. It’s really cool – and the fish and stingrays were really neat to watch. We noticed at least TWO different types of stingrays, which was fun comparing them.

Once we had made our way through this tunnel area, we went to a locker station to place our belongings. We had waterproof phone lanyards so we could keep our phones and credit card with us (for lunch), so we were able to take photos and such. Lockers ranged in price from about $12ish/$14ish up to just over $20ish I believe. Our medium sized one was about $16. It’s important to note that they don’t take CASH, so be sure to have a card with you. They have towels there that you’re allowed to use, as well. Be sure to check out the maps because there are a TON of different areas – be sure to check out your top priorities first, in case you don’t have time to make it to the other ones.

Atlantis Resort Leap of Faith

I wanted to make absolute sure that hubby got to do the Leap of Faith slide – the one that goes almost straight down, then you shoot through a tube in the shark aquarium! Yes, I’ve done it in the past, but this was his first time – he thought it was great fun. Both of us do want to point out that it’s SUPER quick, not even 30 seconds probably, and you don’t really see the sharks while going through the tube because you’re going so fast and there’s water splashing in your face. It’s still a great feeling being able to say you tried it though!

Next to that is the Serpent Slide, which is next to the Leap of Faith. This one allows you to go in a one or two person tube, first through a totally dark enclosed water slide, then coming out to move SLOWLY through a larger tunnel going through the shark area. I like this one because you just glide along in the enclosure, so you have time to look around and actually SEE the sharks swimming in the water on the other side of the glass/tube.

After those two slides, we went over to that not-so-lazy river I told you about – The Current. You’re propelled in tubes (one person or two – we enjoyed the two, since we were on our anniversary trip, after all) with large waves through beautiful rivers, up and down water escalators (you can stay on the tube, no stress), and extreme rapids. There’s plenty of areas to get out, so if you only want to do a section then it’s perfectly fine. We went around a few times, loving the adventurous rapids and rolling waves mixed with the relaxing flow of the slower sections.

During our time on The Current, we stopped for the Power Tower – a very tall building that houses several of the more intense water slides. I chilled in the water by the river while hubby tried these ones, and he said they were a lot of fun! I guess there’s a section along the river we were on that you can get on another water escalator that’ll take you to the top of the tower, so you don’t have to carry your tube all the way up stairs – but we didn’t find it during our time there.

Some of the slides in Power Tower used tubes, while The Abyss was tubeless. Hubby said this was probably the most intense in his opinion, as it drops almost straight down in total darkness, levels out for a bit so you start to relax, then drops again!

There’s actually several places you can choose between to eat (unless your lunch is included in your excursion, I’m not sure how that works), but we were closest to the Riverbend Cafe near the entrance to The Current. It was reasonably priced – about as you would expect from a water park. The pizza I got was about what you’d expect as well – not great, but not awful either – and hubby really enjoyed his wrap. The staff was very friendly and great! Both our meals came with LOTS of fries.

While we focused on more older kid/adult stuff, we did see plenty that young kids could do as well – like this fun water playground! It makes me hopeful that I can bring my whole family here sometime to check out that perspective of Atlantis Resort Aquaventure.

One thing we realized later that we didn’t do but wanted to was The Challenger slide – it’s two slides side-by-side that you race on. They even have a timer board at the bottom of each slide so you can see EXACTLY how fast each person went, and who the real winner was 🙂 I would’ve loved to race hubby, but we’ll just have to prioritize it more next time!

There’s also SEVERAL pools to choose from – some are adult-only, some are reserved just for guests, and some are more shallow and geared towards kids. Basically, they have something for everyone! Plus it’s neat to be swimming along in a pool with beautiful waterfalls nearby 🙂

We had an absolutely AMAZING time, and agree that it’s one of our funnest days on our trip – we can’t wait to go back again, either as a couple (because it was super great to enjoy together) or as a whole family to see how it’d be for kiddos, too! If you’re considering taking a day to do the Atlantis Resort Aquaventure, both hubby and I highly recommend it – and don’t forget to do the Leap of Faith for bragging rights!

Which slide at Atlantis Resort Bahamas would YOU do first?

Check out our other posts from our cruising fun!

How to Date on a Cruise

5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked!

Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It

5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked!

November 9, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I received this Carnival cruise complimentary to help facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #CruisingCarnival

I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy writing about our recent anniversary trip, because it’s getting to sort through photos and fun memories for WORK! Not only that, but it took me a long while to be convinced to take my first cruise because of fear or worry, and I don’t want someone else to miss out on a great vacation for the wrong reasons! Today we’ve got 5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked to help you know more of the truth about how amazing cruising is.

Common Cruising Myths Debunked

1: Interior Rooms are Always Cheaper

So many people are convinced that if they want to keep their vacation as affordable as possible, they have to get an interior room. Okay, so this is true quite a bit of the time – but not always, so be careful so you don’t miss out on some of the other options! For example, sometimes cruise lines will discount remaining cabins that didn’t get filled super low right before the departure date, and since many believe interiors to be cheaper, I’ve noticed tons of times when balconies are now the same price or cheaper than interiors were. Be sure to check prices and discounts, and don’t just set your mind on an interior because you ‘believe’ it’ll save you money. Plus, there could be a space difference in the cabins, or proximity to certain areas or the main dining room, that make it actually more value for your money!

2: Cruises are Too Expensive for Families

I honestly believed this for the longest time, so much so that I actually sat down with a bunch of cruise itinerary prices, other vacation sites and prices, and a full-on spreadsheet to figure it out. Yes, I’m a dork – I love my spreadsheets! When it came down to it, taking your family on a cruise can actually be one of the most affordable and value-to-dollar vacations you could do!

Think about it, you’ve got to pay to get there which is a consideration for any trip. You’ve got hotel – but guess what? With a cruise, you pay your cabin fare – or ‘hotel’ – then the entertainment, food and most things are then included! Other trips you’d still have to have a meal and activities/entertainment/tickets column for expenses. Don’t forget about the included ‘Camp Carnival‘ which is a fun, supervision-provided, activity-filled day camp for the kiddos!

3: I’ll Gain a Lot of Weight

Everyone talks about the ’10 lb. gain’ you’re likely to get from cruises. Now this one CAN be true – after all, you’re surrounded by amazing food, with access any hour of the day, and all you can eat! That’s not even considering the specialty dining options available to you. Gaining 10 pounds in a week-long cruise isn’t a ridiculous thought. Here’s the thing – there’s so many ways to balance out all those calories you’ll be inhaling!

Take the stairs on the ship instead of always dealing with the elevator (you can see more of the ship this way, too).
The gym has excellent equipment – and often with a view right out over the ocean! They also offer a variety of fitness classes or even personal training (for an extra fee).
Every ship I’ve been on has had a jogging (or walking) track, so go take a quick or slow stroll
Swimming can burn a LOT of calories, as I’m sure the sports court, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks and other adventurous activities (varies by ship) can

4: I’ll Probably be Sick the Whole Time

Of all my worries, THIS was the worst for me – I get motion sickness super bad, and I heard horror stories of sea sickness. Who wants to be miserable and sick their whole vacation? Sure the heck not me! I’m so glad I gave it a chance, though, because with the help of some Dramamine I had very little issues. If the seas were really rough a few times, I’d get a little ‘eh’, but never have thrown up. The staff on one of our cruises told me that it’s funny how many times they hear people say that they were sure they’d be sick, only to find out they’re just fine. Give it a try to know for sure!

5: Pack Plenty to be Prepared

Before our first cruise, tons of people told me to be sure to pack for a variety of weather, multiple clothing options in case I got wet or sweaty during the day, and several swimsuits. Guess what – I didn’t even use half of what I packed, so wasted some valuable space in our cabin with a ginormous suitcase for no reason!

Yes, you want to be prepared, but don’t stress about having multiple outfits for every single day. Check what the weather will likely be, have a jacket in case of a windy evening, take a nice dress/suit for elegant night(s) if you’ll be participating, and yes I’d recommend taking two swimsuits so one can dry while you wear the other one. I’m not the only one who hates putting on wet swimsuits, am I?

There’s plenty of good packing list ideas for cruises, so search online and use your best judgement. For a week-long cruise, I’ll be honest, it’s not a huge deal to wear the same thing twice (particularly bottoms) so don’t hesitate to mix and match pieces so you’re not packing way too much.

Bonus: You Can’t Fit More Than 3-4 People

Think you can’t go on a cruise with you family because there’s 5 or more of you, so you can’t be in the same room? While getting two joining rooms is definitely an option, it’s by no means the ONLY option for larger groups. There are larger cabins that can fit more – some, I’ve heard, can fit as many as 9 or even 14 in the massive ones! I’d recommend calling a helpful Carnival agent directly to discuss what options your family size has for staying together.

What’s holding YOU back from a fabulous cruise vacation?

Check out our other posts from our Carnival Cruise fun!

How to Date on a Cruise

Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It

Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day

Travel with Kids Made Fun + Giveaway

November 7, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I received complimentary product to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone. #MyZincFlyte #SidTheCyclops #PollyThePanda #PacificBlue

I’m a total lover of travelling, as I’m sure y’all know. When I get to take my family along, it makes it even better! That being said, I’ll be totally honest in admitting that travelling with kids can be super stressful and frustrating, especially through an airport. With a few snacks, games, songs and these awesome part-scooter, part-suitcase luggage for them, travel with kids is made fun again! Plus, we’re giving TWO lucky winners their choice of Zinc Flyte luggage – see below!

How many times have you had to nag your kids to keep up in the airport? If you’re like us, you probably lost count after a few dozen. As excited as kids may be to go on a trip, lugging their bags through the crowds and having to sit around waiting isn’t exactly their idea of a good time. I was thrilled when we received a piece of Zinc Flyte luggage for each of our kids, because I know it’ll make travelling much more enjoyable for them – meaning less stressful for us!

Not only are these great kid suitcases perfectly carry-on size and just the right fit for all their stuff for most trips, but they have a scooter part the can flip down for them to ride around a bit. How fun is that?! When we surprised them with these, they couldn’t wait to test them out…

At first I was curious if the scooter could accidentally flip out, or if it was difficult to put it up and down – but it’s completely secure, so it only changes position if you really want it to. When it’s folded up, it’s going to stay neatly in place without any issues until you grab the top wheel, lift up gently, and fold it down yourself. We even TRIED to shake it down, because maybe a bump would affect it – nope, just when we actively pulled it down! Once down, you flip a little stopper piece to hold it safely into place, and they’re free to ride around – no more nagging them to ‘keep up’. To put the scooter back up for storage or whatnot, you flip that stopper piece back up, pull outward on the wheel and fold it back up. Even the handle has buttons for added securing. I was pleasantly surprised that each case had not only full instructions inside, but also the little metal things to help tighten wheels if/when needed.

There’s multiple sizes, so you can pick whatever matches your childs size/age the best. Ours were all the Midi Flytes, matching ages 4-8 mostly and up to 110 pounds. The Mini Flytes are more for ages 2-4, and they even have a Maxi Flyte size coming fall 2018. The suitcases themselves are designed to hold up to 11 lbs. of luggage – which is about what my kiddos need, anyway!Inside, there’s the straps to hold everything in place on one side, and a zipper mesh pocket (with pocket behind as well) for those little things you don’t want to get lost in all the clothes.

I love that Zinc Flyte has a variety of styles to choose from, so you can pick what matches your child’s personalities or interests best. For my twins, I knew they’d get a kick out of Sid the Cyclops, and my girls absolutely loved Polly the Panda. My youngest is really loving blue lately, so I couldn’t resist the Pacific Blue style for him.

The outsides are sturdy, which is exactly what I want in luggage that I know my kids will be a bit harsh on, plus you never know if it’ll get banged around on the flight or in the vehicle. Sturdy is a MUST! And for those times it’s not exactly fit to be riding a scooter (like through the security scanning – don’t think the TSA would be so happy chasing a bunch of kids down), the wheels and handle are perfect for kids to pull along themselves. Even with their Zinc Flyte stuffed with all their stuff, the luggage is still surprisingly lightweight – and since your kids will be completely in love with their fun and stylish suitcase, it’s likely they’ll never beg and whine for you to carry it for them again. Nope, travel with kids will never be the same again – thank goodness!

Want your own? Here’s a special discount code just for BMH readers – use code: 1MW25R1B6FY1 on www.myzincflyte.com for extra savings!

In the past, we’ve had to get just normal ol’ bags for the kids to share when packing for a trip – but for our upcoming family trip next month they can each have their own, and they were so excited! Yes, they already asked if they could start packing – even though it’s still several weeks away. At least that means they’re looking forward to what’s normally their least favorite parts of travelling, so Zinc Flyte may have just taken a ton of stress out of family travel for us!

GIVEAWAY

Which Zinc Flyte would YOUR kid like best? Tell us in the comments below to WIN one of TWO Zinc Flyte pieces of your choice!

WINNERS: Kelly D and Shawna C Baker!

Please email us at [email protected] with your final choice of suitcase piece, and the mailing address you’d like it sent to. Congrats!

Winner must be 18 years or older and reside in the continental United States. One Winner per household. We will randomly draw a winner from the comments below on November 20th, and announce in the comments (be sure to check back in case you win!). Winner will have 48 hours to email us with their shipping address and luggage choice, otherwise a different winner will be drawn in their place. Giveaway prize & shipping provided by Zinc Flyte.

Don’t forget your special discount code: 1MW25R1B6FY1 on www.myzincflyte.com!

How to Date on a Cruise While Still Relaxing

November 4, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I received this Carnival cruise & dinner at the Diamonds Steakhouse complimentary to help facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #CruisingCarnival

If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship, you know how huge they are – I mean, they hold thousands of people! You’d think it’d be a challenge to leave your stateroom and still get quality time making memories with your special someone, but really it’s the ideal vacation that holds plenty of opportunities for just that. Don’t believe me? Here’s several ideas for how to date on a cruise. Yes, relaxing still encouraged!

Date on a cruise

As we shared during our travels last month – and during our post about shorter cruises earlier this week – hubby and I had the privilege to take a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas aboard Carnival Liberty. This ship can hold almost 3,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew members. While there were typically always people no matter where we went outside of our stateroom, we didn’t feel like it was crowded at all. I told hubby that since this was a trip in celebration of our 10-year anniversary, we needed to spend some really good time together. I was definitely not disappointed, as there’s PLENTY to do for dating on a cruise ship! Here’s a few of my personal favorite ideas…

Enjoy a Playlist Production

On all of my cruises (well, the three I’ve gone on so far) I’ve been surprised at the quality of entertainers during these shows. We were just passing by the theater one evening and heard the music, so decided to sit down – and were so glad that we did! The show ‘FLICK‘ during our cruise was a great evening spent together listening to the wonderful songs and beautiful choreography. Holding hands is a definite must – try to find the seats that aren’t individual, but like a bench for better snuggling. We were still talking about the show well after it was done, so it was certainly a memory for the books.

Get a Special Photograph

I will say that the professional photos taken on cruise ships don’t come cheap, but they often turn out incredible! On our first cruise together I got on with a parrot on my arm – a moment I definitely want a photo of. Most evenings – especially during ‘elegant night’, photographers are stationed in several areas around the ship, ready to take your images and print them off so you can go check them out in the photo gallery. Since we don’t get all dressed up very often, I loved that we got a really adorable photo of us in our date best! Getting at least a photo or two will give you amazing photographs to remember your trip by – since it seems once we’re parents, we don’t get many of just us two!

Laugh Together During the Love & Marriage Show

I was thrilled when I saw on the itinerary that they still had this show going – it was a huge hit with us during our first cruise, so I was hopeful it would still be as entertaining. It definitely didn’t disappoint, and the entertainment master Donkey (no, not his real name, but what he went by on the ship) did a wonderful job keeping us laughing so hard that I was seriously crying. My face even hurt from so much smiling! It was not only great to laugh together, but afterwards we discussed the questions that the couples on stage were asked, such as when they met….and then it gets more R rated from there 😉 We decided that someday we’ll try to be one of the three couples selected – but boy would I be nervous!

Take an Adventurous Excursion Together

Since it was a shorter cruise, we only stopped one day at a port – Nassau, Bahamas. I’d been here before, and couldn’t wait to show hubby everything I’d enjoyed. We went to the Atlantis Resort for the day, and it was wonderful! From swimming together in pools, to sharing a 2-person raft down water slides and the not-so-lazy river, it was a fun day spent together. Not exactly relaxing, but certainly making memories. See – you can date on a cruise even when you’re not on the ship!

Do Thoughtful Little Surprises for Each Other

Sometimes dating can be as simple as a small act of love – such as waking up early, leaving a little note on the pillow in case your significant other wakes up, and grabbing them their favorite drink from the Coffee Bar. I did this for hubby one morning – he was still fast asleep when I got back, of course – and it was a thoughtful little thing that didn’t take much extra on my part but started his day off great. Plus, you never know what surprises they may do for you!

Special Dining

Let’s face it, a LOT of dates are going out to dinner, right? Well how fortunate for you to be on a ship that has MANY different options for dining! Whether it’s a quick date to the 24-hour ice cream and frozen yogurt station, a delicious meal with as much food as you could want in the elegant dining room, or you want to go EXTRA special and pay a small fee for one of the specialty steakhouses, you’ve really got plenty of choices. We had a great time on our nightly ‘dates’ to dinner, from our own table-for-two in the main dining room, and even made one evening extra special by going to the Diamonds Steakhouse. If you’re big foodies like us – or even minorly into quality food – conversation with your sweetheart over an excellent meal is still the perfect date!

Reminisce Your Youth with a Rock Concert

Yup, you heard that right – have a rockin’ good time in the theater with one of the fabulously loud concerts! Our ship had an ‘actual’ rock concert, where their talented team sang, danced and played to old favorites like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and more. They were even handing out bandannas and glow sticks, and doing face painting (I got a purple guitar) before the show! Remember when you were younger (if you are still really young, just roll with me here, okay?) when it was totally common to go on a date to a rock concert? Now you can date on a cruise with this guitar-strumming, drum beating, vocal screaming show!

Relax In a Comfy Hammock

Search out the adult-only Serenity deck, and you’re likely to find a variety of options for sitting together. Either pull up two loungers side-by-side, curl up in one of the round, cushioned canopied seats, or find an empty hammock to snuggle in. It was so nice to just lay there, talking or just relaxing silently, as the hammock swayed back and forth gently with the ship. I seriously could’ve taken a nap there all comfy with my hubby!

What are your best ideas to date on a cruise?

Check out our other posts from our Carnival Cruise fun!

Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It

5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked!

Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day

Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It

October 31, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I received this Carnival cruise complimentary to help facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #CruisingCarnival

Hubby and I returned from our 12-day anniversary trip just last week, and I’m already wishing we could go again asap! We kicked off our trip with a wonderful 3-night Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Carnival Liberty, and it was the perfect start to our relaxing. Only having been on week-long cruises before, I was a little unsure how a shorter cruise would be – but now I’m convinced there are several reasons Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It! If you’re considering whether or not a 3 or 4 night cruise would be good for your trip, read on to see why it could be the PERFECT choice for your next vacation.

Shorter Cruises a Great Way to ‘Test the Waters’

If you’ve never cruised before, or someone in your party hasn’t, then shorter cruises are a great way to try out cruising. There’s still the incredible shows, games and activities, delicious foods, and unmatched service staff that you would expect from a longer cruise, so it’s great to experience it for yourself so you know if you want to book a longer one in the future.

My first cruise was a full week, and looking back I think it would’ve been beneficial to have experienced it on a smaller scale first because it takes a bit to get use to how things work. For the first few days I was hesitant to order more than a ‘normal restaurant’ would serve – but after that I enjoyed ordering two main courses and two (okay, sometimes three) desserts whenever I wanted! Simple things like that may take time for some people to get use to so they can fully enjoy all the cruising has to offer, so trying it out short-term can be a huge benefit.

Shorter Cruises are Easier to Fit Into Your Schedule

Depending on your job or home-life schedule, it can be really difficult to plan a full week away – but you still deserve an excellent vacation, right? A shorter cruise is perfect because you can be more flexible on dates, there’s a LOT of options on when to go, and you don’t miss as much work or school. If you want to just escape for part of the week for a holiday or a little extra PTO that needs to be used, this is just the ticket!

In our case, it was exactly what we needed to fit into the rest of our vacation – we knew we would be very active and exploring all day long for the remaining 8-ish days, so we wanted something that was not only fun and entertaining, but relaxing. Cruising to me is all about the freedom – you choose what activities, movies or shows to attend, when and where you want to eat, if you want to relax on your balcony or a public lounge or even the adult-only deck in a hammock or chair. So if you have a somewhat exhausting event or trip (or even work conference) planned, why not fit in a short cruise at the beginning or end from a port nearby? It’s just what the doctor ordered!

Fits More Budgets

Sometimes the vacation budget can be a bit….lacking. While I firmly believe cruising is one of the most value-to-dollar trips you can do, it may be that even a week-long one simply may be out of reach. Prices for the 3 or 4 night cruises start super low, depending on which ship, port, itinerary or stateroom category you prefer, so they’re really easy to fit into a smaller ‘get away’ budget. Or perhaps you do have enough for a full week of cruise life, but would rather pick a shorter one but go for a higher category suite to mix it up a bit. The lower cost provides you with more choices!

How Will I Do Cruising?

I was pretty nervous before my first cruise, because I had no idea how my motion sickness would be on the ship. What if I was miserable and throwing up the whole time? Luckily it was just fine, with the help of some meds, and I’ve never thrown up on a cruise ship even once! That being said – it can be understandable to worry, because everyone may have different levels of motion tolerance. Testing it out over a shorter time can be great for seeing if your stomach agrees with it or not.

Talking with the staff, some told me that they hear all the time that people waiting a really long time before trying a cruise because of this fear, then regretting having waited because it was such an incredible trip! If you’re hesitant, just try it out on a shorter itinerary and find out for yourself.

Shorter Cruises Still Get All the Benefits

Even though it’s not as long of a trip, you still get to have an amazing vacation with all the cruising offers – incredible stage shows, on-board games and parties, wide variety of entertainment, amazing food (and as much of it as you want), relaxing pools or slides or sunbathing, spa services, exciting ports of call, friendly staff and much more. Seriously, I absolutely LOVE cruising, because it’s like the perfect balance of taking it easy and relaxing, and having a super fun time!

What reasons do YOU think shorter cruises are totally worth it?

Check out our other posts from our Carnival Cruise fun!

How to Date on a Cruise

5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked!

Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day