Celebrity Millennium cruise preparation continues!

Excursion Update
My excursions are about 75% booked on the Celebrity Millennium.  There is one port that I can’t decide which one is right for me so I’m going to wait until I get on the ship to talk to the excursions staff for more insight.  I’m taking a slight gamble as it means the ones I want might be full. 

To prevent this, I may book the one I like best and I always switch when I get on board.  I can’t wait for kayaking, touring the cloud forest of Monteverde, snorkeling, a city tour of Cartagena, Colombia, and much more.

Logistics & Crucial information to bring

I’ve started printing out important information that I want to bring with me.  Check out my previous blog post on which printed information I recommend you bring with you.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

In addition, since the cruise includes two stops in Mexico, I’m going to call my wireless carrier to see about possible coverage. I always call the credit and debit card companies to tell them when and where I will be traveling.  This prevents the credit card company from accidently putting a hold on my account when a charge comes up from another country.  

This whole process sounds like a lot to do but should only take about 30 minutes and you’ll have peace of mind knowing everything is in order.

FreshCruiser Tip: Get the planning out of the way before you get on board.  That way you can relax rather than trying to figure out what to do in port the next day.

1 month til cruising: Picking the right shore excursion

One month to go to two glorious weeks of cruising!

The countdown is starting to get very close!  In about one month, I’ll be boarding the Celebrity Millennium for 15 nights of cruising through the Panama Canal.  This will be my first time doing this itinerary.  I’ve always been fascinated by the Panama Canal and can’t wait to see how the process works in person.  What am I doing to get prepared? My main goal for this week is to get to know the ports and excursions that are offered.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Excursions & Ports
The trip seemed far away for so long and now it’s almost here.  We’ll be making stops in Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.  I’ve been using Celebrity Cruises' online advanced search for shore and land excursions.  You can search by duration, activity type, and activity level.  I use the duration search filter a lot as depending on the port. Depending on the location, I’ll typically pick the more strenuous option as that typically goes well with my love of adventure.  

Adventure in Puerto Vallarta

In a city port, sometimes I’ll want the longest possible excursion to soak in every minute of the tour or other times, prefer more of the highlights and then time to walk around and explore the city on my own.  There are a lot of excursions to go through and I wish the options could be filtered even more, including one by restrictions (weight, health, age). What type of excursions do you normally do?

Too many to pick from?  Ask the experts.
On a previous cruise, when I was trying to figure out which excursion to do for St. Petersburg, Russia, it was a daunting task and I probably changed it three times as I wanted to make the most out of our one day in Russia. I also wanted to make sure it was right for me.  And in this case, I wanted to see the Hermitage museum but not spend all day there.  We ended up changing it once again when we got on the ship and talked to a specialist at the cruise excursion desk.  It ended up being the perfect day, seeing a lot of highlights of the city.

Aerial Tram in Costa Rica

I would definitely recommend attending the information sessions once you get onboard as the first hand experience was exactly what we needed to find the perfect fit.  What I think is missing is if Celebrity would show past guests’ ratings of particular excursions to find the right tour for me as everyone is looking for something different.  

Join a Roll Call

I also like to join the Roll Call for my sailing date on different websites.  A “Roll Call” is a place where you can find other people sailing on your same voyage.  This is a great way to get insight from other travelers and what they think about a certain excursion as well as meet new people, gather information, and ask questions.  Check out these websites that have sailing Roll Calls. Many cruise lines have their own as well.

• Cruise Addicts
• Cruise Critic
• CruiseLineFans
• Meet on Cruise
• Ship Mate

Ok, I’m off to start my research and planning!  

FreshCruiser Tip: Never too early to start researching ports and excursions.

Princess Cruises focuses on fitness with the announcement of the Royal Princess Fitness Facilities

With the Royal Princess debuting in June, Princess Cruises announced the sports and fitness features that will be aboard. Royal Princess’ fitness facilities will include a Jogging Track, Sports Central and Fitness Center. The ship’s fitness plans have something for all athletic abilities.  

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises - Royal Princess Center Court

“Many of our passengers are very active on vacation,” said Jan Swartz, executive vice president for Princess Cruises. “These new facilities will offer them state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge classes to keep up – or even step up – their fitness routines at sea.”

Sticking with your Routine

If you work out regularly at home, you’ll probably want to keep up with your exercise routine while on vacation. I always research what type of facilities a hotel or cruise has to offer before leaving to try and create a plan so I don’t feel guilty for taking a day or two off. 

I was extremely intrigued by the plans for the Jogging Track on the Royal Princess as I enjoy working-out outside whenever I can.  In addition to a double-lane jogging track with separate paths for runners and walkers, the Royal Princess will feature a circuit program along the track.  This addition adds function and makes running around the deck less boring as you can run in intervals and stop to at the exercise stations along the track, making time fly by while burning calories.   

Trying something new

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises

The Royal Princess will feature a private aerobics studio at the back of the gym for a variety of fitness classes.  One of the fitness classes is MyRide, which is “a new era in indoor cycling, MyRide offers the opportunity to ride through inspiring scenic landscapes from around the world, with varying levels of intensity controlled by the user.” I enjoy going to spinning classes so this is definitely something I would check out if I were a passenger.

No excuses, you have time  
You’re away from work, errands, and finally have some time for yourself.  Explore new fitness options while you have the time and a great way to find something you like and continue it after the cruise.

Princess Cruises will help lay the foundation for a successful program at home. Participants in Body Sculpt Boot Camp will receive a take-home poster/program which outlines all the exercises and breaks the program up into four manageable workouts so you can continue their workouts after the cruise. I love how the experiences can be long-lasting. Additional class options include TRX^® suspension training bodyweight and Chi Ball Yoga.

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises - Royal Princess

The other fitness facilities on Royal Princess include Princess Sports Central, which is  the multi-sport area that is designed to offer a collection of fun options, including court games, lawn activities and a lounge for virtual gaming. The Fitness Center pairs a state-of-the-art gym with spectacular ocean views.

Click here to view a video of the future activities on board the Royal Princess.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is currently under construction for Princess Cruises. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall. Click here to read the full press release from Princess Cruises.

FreshCruiser Tip: Most equipment will feature personal TV screens, which makes a big difference as why watch the morning news in bed when you can view it while getting some exercise? Start your day this way and I guarantee you’ll have more energy.

My Parents: Landlubbers turned Cruisers

My parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this fall and to mark the occasion, they are going on a Caribbean cruise.  It will be their 5th cruise and first time taking a Holland America cruise. After years of begging and pleading my case, I’m glad my parents are now cruisers.

Parents have cruised on Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess

My dad admitted to me recently how scared he was before their first cruise.  He didn’t know what to expect and although he saw pictures and heard stories from the cruises I went on, he still couldn’t fully grasp the concept.  I’ll never forget the first phone call I received when they embarked and found their cabin.  The tone was one of shock, trying to take it all in.  An hour or so later, I received my second call from them and they already sounded so relaxed after going to the buffet and walking around the Lido Deck wondering why they didn’t take a cruise before.

New adventure awaits my parents on Holland America Line (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)

A new adventure awaits my parents as they will be visiting new ports and trying a new cruise company.  I wait with a lot of anticipation for their trip to arrive. I enjoy hearing my mom ask open-ended questions about things she’s wondering about the ship that she’ll soon find out for herself.  “What will be on the room service menu?”  “I wonder what the entertainment will be like?” are just a few of her questions.  She keeps saying that she’s going on Holland.  I nicely explained that she can use “HAL Cruise” for short.

ms Eurodam Atruim (Photo Credit: Holland American Line

Listening to her questions is why I enjoy traveling so much, the exploring aspect.  Whether it’s exploring a new hotel or cruise ship to learning about a different culture, there’s so much that awaits them. I love that after 40 years of marriage, they still have a lot of excitement and good times ahead of them.

Are you loyal to one cruise line?  Do you enjoy trying different hotels or cruises?

FreshCruiser Tip: Sometimes people need a nudge to try a new way of vacationing.  If you think a friend or family member would enjoy a cruise, don’t be afraid to give them a little push.  Encourage them to start with a 3-4 day cruise to get their feet wet!

Take a Hike! Guide to hiking while at port on a cruise to Alaska

Hike from top of Mt. Roberts tramway in Juneau, Alaska

Warmer weather and longer days must mean the Alaska cruise ship season is in full swing.  The popularity of cruising to Alaska lies in the beautiful scenery, seeing animals in their natural habitat and awaiting adventures. Many of the excursions offered by cruise ships are on my bucket list; however, in one of the ports you may want to do a little exploring on your own.  If so, I’d definitely recommend going on a hike. Hiking is a great way to explore while being active and not stuck in the fitness room while in port. Don’t forget, hiking is a free activity!

Burn calories & enjoy the fresh Alaskan air
You can’t beat the feeling of accomplishment when you’re on a hike and reach your destination whether it is a waterfall or top of a mountain, you’ll feel great. 

Lower Dewey Hike in Skagway, Alaska

The amount of calories you burn while hiking depends on a few factors: your body weight, terrain, and pack weight (if you are carrying a pack).  The more weight, the more you’ll burn and obviously, you’ll burn more calories when hiking more difficult terrain. In addition, a fast pace will increase calorie burn, however in this situation, I won’t focus as much on this aspect as you’re in Alaska, take your time and enjoy your surroundings.  

All levels welcome
If you haven’t hiked before or it’s been years, look for a more mild to moderate hike.  Hikes are supposed to be fun and a great way to see a place, so no sense going on a strenuous one if you’re not ready for it.

Hike from top of Mt. Roberts tramway in Juneau, Alaska

In Juneau, Alaska, we took the tram to the top of Mt. Roberts and went on a hike from there. As we climbed and climbed, I kept saying that I wanted to get to the top of the mountain, not realizing that around the corner, was a higher peak and then a higher peak!  The hike turned out to be strenuous but I was caught up in the moment as the views were amazing!

Trail Guide

Below are websites that will guide you in finding a hike for your activity level and are close to where you’ll be dropped off by the cruise ship.  

Hiker in Juneau, Alaska

Juneau
Hop on the Mount Roberts Tramway which will take you to 1,800 feet in elevation.  Trails are well-marked and begin outside the Mountain House. Click here for information about hiking on the top of the Mount Roberts Tramway. Visit the Juneau Alaska Adventure & Lodging Guide for additional trail information. 

Skagway
There are a lot of trailheads close to town. I did the Lower Dewey Hike, an easy to moderate hike that circles a beautiful alpine lake.  Check out the National Parks Service website for more information.

Ketchikan
Deer Mountain Trail is one of the most popular hikes. The USA Today article by Nancy Wagner, gives a great overview of hikes in Ketchikan as does REI, an outdoor gear retailer.

Sitka

There are three trails that are accessible from downtown and vary from one to five miles. The website, Sitka through 4 Seasons, gives information on where to get started.  Or take a walk through the Sitka National Historical Park see totem poles as you progress along the coastal trail. The Visitor Center is located about one-fourth mile from downtown Sitka.  Click here for a map.

Anchorage
As many cruises start or finish in Anchorage, if you’re spending an extra day or two, take advantage of the extra daylight hours and go on a hike such the Flattop Mountain trail.  You can go on your own or go to the Visit Anchorage Information Centers to book a guide.  Check out Anchorage's hiking trails.


Hike Safely

When you’re hiking, it’s important to take safety seriously.  Always follow trail signs, wear comfortable shoes, bring water and bug repellent. Read some more Do’s and Don’ts from FitSugar here.

Do you have a favorite hike that you completed while on an Alaskan cruise?

FreshCruiser Tip:  Start with a healthy breakfast before you leave the cruise ship in the morning as you’ll need the energy for the hike.  I recommend an egg white veggie omelet with whole wheat toast and fruit. 

Fresh Cuisine for me! Review of Blu on Celebrity Cruises

Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises recently announced the completion of the revitalization for the final Millennium Class ship, Celebrity Millennium. The $140-million "Solsticizing" of its Millennium Class ships added features that cruisers enjoy about Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships. The four Millennium Class ships completed the transformation over the course of a three week dry dock period. The ships now have one of my favorite aspects of cruising with Celebrity, the specialty dining restaurant, Blu.

Dining at Blu
Celebrity Cruises describes the restaurant:

“If the concept of "spa restaurant" causes you or your significant other to think you'll never see a steak or a rich dessert on the menu that is definitely not the case. The cuisine at Blu is simply an imaginative way of preparing popular dishes without fussiness or pretense. Tender steak is served with a flavorful truffle vinaigrette instead of a heavy béarnaise."

Blu is only available to guests staying in the AquaClass category of staterooms (Suite guests upon availability). The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner every day.

Sample Salad course at Blu

The modern feel to Blu’s décor transcends to fresh foods and even the actual dishes they use, which offers a sleek presentation.  You forget that you’re on a cruise ship and feel like you’re out at a contemporary restaurant. Celebrity Cruises refers to Blu’s food as “clean cuisine" and this feeling of “clean” is also very visible in the décor.  The use of white as the main color with hints of blues contributes to the overall feel you get while dining there.

Sample Appetizer at Blu

Blu offers gourmet meals in innovative ways. I enjoyed trying new foods while dining there. The food didn’t taste mass produced but prepared just for me.  In addition to bread and butter on the table every night, you also received 3 tiny bowls that had hummus, vegetables, and ranch dressing in them as a snack while waiting for your meal. There was a steak on the menu the first night of the cruise we were on. My husband ordered it and raved about how delicious it tasted.  It was a key point of conversation over the next week as other cruisers’ first experience at Blu was just as memorable and kept them coming back each night.

Overall, I’m happy to see Celebrity Cruises expand this concept of fresh and “clean” food to additional boats in its fleet. I hope to see this theme continue to options in the main dining room as well as on other cruise lines.  Blu proves that a well-prepared meal using fresh and healthy ingredients can taste even better than one prepared with lots of butter, cream, and oil.

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A little extra to spend on your honeymoon cruise: Wedding Registry & Gifts

Norwegian Cruise Line

With seven weddings to attend this year,  I’m in store for a lot of celebrations.  Since I love to travel and talk about travel, I always enjoy asking the couple where they decided to go on their honeymoon.

One of my good friends got married last year and I gave her a Carnival Cruises gift card as part of her wedding gift.  It was her first cruise, and I couldn’t be more excited for her to find out all the joys of cruising. She and her husband were incredibly sweet to tell us that she used the gift card for a city tour in Boston.  She even took pictures and sent them to us showing her appreciation.  The gift card worked out great as she was able to pick what she wanted to spend it on.

There are a few ways to a gift to someone if going on a cruise for their honeymoon including a way for couples to “ask” for a little help in paying for things on their honeymoon cruise.

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More food options for Vegetarians on Holland America

ms Eurdoam Rembrandt Dining Room

Holland American announces new Vegetarian-Only Alternative Menu

Holland America announced today that they are expanding their vegetarian options on board.  The new features include a new vegetarian-only menu.  The additions will be a welcome to vegetarians as it can be a constant struggle trying to find something to order on a dining room menu when many times there is only one main vegetarian entree offered a night.  In a study published by Vegetarian Times, it showed that 7.3 million Americans are vegetarians.  In addition, according to the study, 22.8 million follow a vegetarian-inclined diet.  

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